Tag: Indian-Americans

  • September 25 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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  • Indian Americans favor Biden despite big shift towards Trump

    Indian Americans favor Biden despite big shift towards Trump

    Kamala Harris’ historic nomination, Modi-Trump rallies give political clout to Indian origin voters

    WASHINGTON  (TIP): Despite a significant shift towards President Donald Trump, two thirds of Indian Americans, who have emerged as an influential voting bloc in “battleground” states, currently favor his Democratic challenger, according to a new survey.

    While only 28 percent favor Trump for the 2020 presidential election, it marks a significant 12 point uptick in his support since 2016 when only 16 percent voted for Trump as against 77 percent for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

    Both Democratic and Republican parties are reaching out to the increasingly influential voting bloc of Indian Americans for the 2020 presidential election, according to Indiaspora and AAPI Data’s joint survey.

    High turnout by Indian Americans could make a huge difference in this election given senator Kamala Harris’s historic vice-presidential nomination, as well as highly publicized rallies that Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held together, it says.

    Indiaspora is a nonpartisan community organization, while AAPI Data, records demographics and policy developments relating to Asian American and Pacific Islanders.

    Their joint survey documents the strengthening political power of the Indian American electorate in the US due to factors such as their rapidly growing population and increased political participation.

    “With increased attention being paid to the Indian American vote given our growing numbers, increasing political contributions and overall political engagement, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the issues that really matter to Indian American voters,” said MR Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora.

    The report, which has survey results of 260 Asian Indian registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, found that some of the issues at the top of the list for Indian Americans in this election included education, jobs and economy, health care, and the environment.

    The report also chronicles the rise of the Indian American electorate as one of the fastest growing minority groups in the US, with significant numbers in “battleground” states.

    “Indian Americans are positioned to make a difference in several swing states that may be close in this election, such as Florida (87,000), Pennsylvania (61,000), Georgia (57,000), Michigan (45,000), and North Carolina (36,000), and perhaps even Texas, which has 160,000 Indian-American voters,” said Dr. Karthick Ramakrishnan, professor of public policy and political science at UC Riverside, and founder of AAPI Data.

    “Given Senator Kamala Harris’s historic vice-presidential nomination, as well as highly publicized rallies that President Trump and Prime Minister Modi held together, high turnout could make a huge difference in this election.”

    Currently, there are 1.8 million Indian Americans in the US who are eligible voters. About 310,000 Indian green card holders remain in a backlog for citizenship as of 2019, and another 310,000 Indian residents in the US are in a backlog to obtain their green cards.

    In addition, Indian American political engagement extended to several areas, with a fifth of Indian American registered voters saying they contacted their representative or government official in the US this year.

    As many as 74 percent had discussed politics with family and friends, and a quarter of those surveyed had donated to a candidate, political party or campaign this year.

    By the end of June 2020, Indian Americans had donated at least $3 million to 2020 presidential campaigns.

    As many as 54 percent of Indian Americans identified as Democrats, 16 percent as Republicans, and 24 percent as Independents.

    In 2016, 46 percent of Indian American voters identified as Democrat, 35 percent were Independent or Other, and 19 percent identified as Republican.

    Both Democratic and Republican parties have conducted outreach to Indian Americans in this election, with 56 percent of Indian American registered voters surveyed saying they had been contacted by the Democratic party in the past year, and 48 percent saying they had been contacted by the Republican party.

    This is a marked increase from 2016, when only 31 percent of Indian Americans said they had been contacted by a political party, compared to 44 percent of White voters and 42 percent of Black voters.

    In addition, several hundred Indian American candidates also are running for office in record numbers at federal, state and local levels.

    “Given the Indian diaspora’s increasing political importance in the US, it’s no surprise they are being courted by both sides of the aisle,” said Rangaswami.

    “It’s great that both major political parties have begun to realize just how critical it is to reach out to Indian Americans – our impact is only going to increase over time.

  • Indian American NY based celebrity chef Vikas Khanna for Asia Game Changer award

    Indian American NY based celebrity chef Vikas Khanna for Asia Game Changer award

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York based India-American Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna has been chosen for the prestigious 2020 Asia Game Changer Award for feeding millions across India amid the covid-19 pandemic through a massive ‘FeedIndia’ drive.

    The Asia Game Changer Awards, launched by the Asia Society — a US-based non-profit organization — in 2014, identify and honor true leaders who make a positive contribution to the future of Asia.

    Asia Society’s 2020 Asia Game Changer Awards honorees were chosen for their responses to the year’s twin traumas of COVID-19 and racially motivated violence.

    In partnership with Citi, Asia Society annually honors game-changing leaders from a broad geographic range and varied backgrounds, it said. “This year’s honorees have saved lives, changed lives, and lifted spirits all across the globe.”

    Khanna, 48, is the only Indian among the six honorees including Korean boy band BTS, noted US cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Japanese-American tennis star Naomi Osaka, producer of Oscar-winning Korean film ‘Parasite’ Miky Lee and business leaders and philanthropists Joe and Clara Tsai.

    The six will be honored at a virtual event in October featuring a special message by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a performance from Yo-Yo Ma, and a special moment to honor frontline health care workers in the US and Asia.

    “I have always looked up to Asia Society for connecting East & West. Today, I am proud to be awarded #AsiaGameChangers Award 2020,” Khanna tweeted.

    “Humbled to be in the company of @BTS_twt, @naomiosaka, @YoYo_Ma, @JoeClara #MikyLee,” he wrote

    “By September 23rd, we complete 175 Days of #FeedIndia and also cross 40 Million+ Meals(Cooked and Dry Ration) Working 24/7, best to our abilities to ensure that kitchens are running in our homeland,” Khanna wrote in another tweet.

    The Asia Society noted “Khanna has been feeding people since he was a child. But not until 2020 did it become a matter of life or death.”

    “In April, while quarantining in his Manhattan apartment, Khanna, host of MasterChef India, monitored news out of his homeland and watched, with horror and helplessness, as a virus-fueled humanitarian crisis unfolded.”

    “Millions of Indians needed food. Khanna desperately wanted to help, but how? Khanna turned to Twitter, where he has more than 2.3 million followers, and issued a heartfelt plea for information on communities in need,” the Society said in its citation.

    “I wanted to show that solidarity still exists,” he was quoted as saying. Khanna received a torrent of responses, and #FeedIndia was born.

    Khanna partnered with India’s National Disaster Relief Force for logistical and on-the-ground support and his movement soon received aid from grain companies, tech firms, and offers of industrial kitchen space in Mumbai.

    By late-August #FeedIndia had delivered more than 30 million dry food packets and cooked meals to hundreds of cities throughout India.

    “I feel like the past 30 years … have prepared me for this moment,” Khanna said. “This has been the most gratifying [time] in my culinary career.”

    Past awardees include PepsiCo’s former CEO Indra Nooyi, South Delhi Deputy Police Commissioner Chhaya Sharma, and co-founder and CEO of non-governmental education organization Pratham, Madhav Chavan.

  • September 11 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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  • September 4 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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  • August 21 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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  • Indiaspora Releases Report on Philanthropic Impact of Indian Americans on COVID-19 Relief

    Indiaspora Releases Report on Philanthropic Impact of Indian Americans on COVID-19 Relief

    WASHINGTON (TIP):  Indiaspora, a nonprofit organization of global Indian diaspora leaders from various backgrounds and professions, released  last month 2020 Indian Diaspora in Action: Tracking the Indian American Response to COVID-19, a report detailing the philanthropic impact of the diaspora on COVID-19 relief.  The tremendous outpouring of support for both the U.S. and India has been witnessed across the board from helping to provide meals to migrant workers in India, personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers, education through e-learning and healthcare.

    The report details the actions of 58 non-profit organizations re-purposing their efforts in response to the pandemic and illustrates the power of the Indian Diaspora community.

    “Never before have we witnessed such a united all-out community relief effort amongst the diaspora. One of the most unique aspects we witnessed was the efforts by the next generation of philanthropists through their incredible volunteer efforts,” said Gabrielle Trippe, Indiaspora Philanthropy Initiatives Manager.

    A notable group that has been at the forefront of the response since the onset of the pandemic is the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA). IPA is a coalition of twelve development and humanitarian organizations working together to mobilize resources and build alliances to benefit India. Charmain of India Philanthropy Alliance Deepak Raj stated, “It is an honor to lead such a remarkable group of organizations coming together in a historic response to support those most in need during these incredibly challenging times.”

    The actions taken by the Indian Diaspora show they are committed to providing sustained long-term relief during the pandemic and serve as a model and inspiration for individuals and communities across the globe.

    “We feel it is our dharma, or duty, to help others during this time,” said Arun Kankani, President at Sewa International, USA, whose nonprofit has been providing on-the-ground relief, and also began a COVID-19 plasma registry to help physicians treat patients with respiratory failure from COVID-19. “When we saw so many affected, we didn’t feel like we had a choice in the matter.”

  • Indian-Americans Protest in Washington against China

    Indian-Americans Protest in Washington against China

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A group of Indian-Americans from in and around the national capital held a protest here against China’s aggression towards India and the human right violations of Uyghur minority groups in the country’s restive Muslim-majority Xinjiang region.

    Maintaining social distancing and wearing masks, the peaceful protestors on Sunday gathered at the historic national mall facing the US Capitol and displayed anti-China posters, banners and raised slogans against the Communist Party of China and its leaders.

    “This summer while the world was fighting coronavirus, China was trying to encroach upon other’s land. It’s not only in Ladakh in India but also against its other neighbors as well. It’s time that the world unites against this Chinese aggression,” said Adapa Prasad from Overseas Friends of BJP USA.

    Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a bitter standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May 5. The situation deteriorated after the June 15 Galwan Valley clashes in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed and an unconfirmed number of Chinese soldiers died.

    “China’s Communist party has infringed on the religious rights of the Uyghur community and violated human rights of people of Hong Kong,” Puneet Ahluwalia, who is an Indian-American Republican and founder of the Proud American Political Action Committee, said.

    Mr Ahluwalia, who is exploring to run for the post of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, said US President Donald Trump’s hard measures against China was in the right direction.

    “China has to play international rules,” he said.

    “We have seen what they have done in Africa. We have seen that they are doing in Iran…. Most importantly, they recently backstabbed India,” Ahluwalia said, alleging that China is spying on Americans through various social media applications and by stealing data and information.

    Sunil Singh, an eminent Indian-American from the Greater Washington DC area, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for banning Chinese applications in India.

    Noting that people of India have stopped buying China made goods, he said there was also a need for the Americans to make a similar move.

    This was the second major anti-China protest by Indian-Americans here in Washington DC.

  • Indian-American Muslims, Sikhs on Kamala Harris say “Great Deal to all Immigrants”

    Indian-American Muslims, Sikhs on Kamala Harris say “Great Deal to all Immigrants”

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian-American Muslims and Sikhs here have hailed the selection of Senator Kamala Harris as the Democratic party’s vice-presidential candidate, calling it a remarkable success for the entire community.

    Democratic party’s presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday, August 11,  picked Ms Harris as his running mate, recognizing the crucial role Black voters could play in his determined bid to defeat President Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

    The 55-year-old California senator, whose father is from Jamaica and mother an Indian, becomes just the third woman to be selected as the vice president on a major party ticket. Then-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in 2008 and New York Representative Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 were the other two.

    In a statement, the Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM) congratulated Ms Harris on her nomination and lauded the Indian-American community for its extraordinary success in the face of tough competition in US in just about five decades.

    Kaleem Kawaja, the executive director of AIM, expressed joy at the remarkable high success of a second generation Indian-American in becoming a candidate for the second highest public office in America.

    Kamala Harris is the daughter of Prof Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer biologist, who was from Chennai, India, and had emigrated to US in 1965.

    Welcoming the addition of Ms Harris to the Democratic presidential ticket, Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education and Senior Adviser to National Sikh Campaign, said that it is a great step for such as major party to add someone from the minorities for the national office in America.

    “It means a great to deal to blacks, women and to all immigrants,” he said.

    “We are thankful to both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for reminding Americans about the 8th anniversary of the shooting at Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, just a few days ago. We need more of our political leaders to be forthcoming on these critical issues of gun violence and hate crimes facing America,” Dr Singh said.

    Ms Harris being on the national ticket opens the door for many people from all minority communities to aspire to lead this great nation, Dr Singh added.

     

     

     

  • Indian Origin Sikh Man Dies Trying to Rescue 3 Children from Drowning

    Indian Origin Sikh Man Dies Trying to Rescue 3 Children from Drowning

    CALIFORNIA (TIP): A 29-year-old Sikh man died after he jumped into a river to rescue three children who were swept away in the US state of California, according to media reports.

    The man, identified as Manjeet Singh, was visiting Reedley Beach on Wednesday evening near his home in Fresno County when he saw the three children struggling in the Kings River, the media reported on Friday.

    Two eight-year-old girls and a 10-year-old boy were playing in the river when they were pulled under a bridge by the current, CNN quoted Reedley Police Department commander Mark Ediger as saying.

    Manjeet Singh, who was at the river with his brother-in-law and other friends, removed his turban and attempted to use it as a rope to pull the children in but was quickly pulled under himself.

    “He went in to try and help them and unfortunately, went underwater fairly quickly and never came back up,” said Reedley police commander Marc Ediger.

    Manjeet Singh was found unresponsive 40 minutes later, downriver. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

    Other bystanders were able to pull two of the children out to safety. One of the eight-year-old girls was underwater for about 15 minutes before she was pulled out, Ediger said. She was taken to Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno and as of Friday afternoon remained in critical condition and on life support.

    Singh moved to California from India two years ago. He had plans to start a trucking business and had been taking truck-driving lessons on Wednesday before visiting the river.

  • Indian American Community Organizes Memorial Run for Researcher killed in Park

    Indian American Community Organizes Memorial Run for Researcher killed in Park

    Lovllien Kaurr

    DALLAS  (TIP): Hundreds of community members at Plano city in Texas state of the US organized a memorial run in honor of an Indian-American woman researcher and athlete who was killed last week while she was out jogging.

    According to the police, 43-year-old Sarmistha Sen was randomly attacked and killed while jogging on August 1 near the Chisholm Trail Park in Plano.

    Her body was found lying in the creek-area near Legacy Drive and Marchman Way by a passer-by. Sen was a pharmacist and researcher who studied molecular biology and worked with cancer patients.

    She was originally from Sindri in Jharkhand and moved to Plano after her marriage to Arindam Roy. She has two young sons.

    At the daybreak on Saturday, local community members gathered at the Chisholm Trail Park to pay their tributes to Sen. They organized a memorial run/walk on the same trail she frequented and followed the path of the park which she took on the day of her murder.

    “She did leave an imprint behind and that is why we are all here today to remember her,” one of Sen’s friends said.

    Later in the afternoon, a large number of people showed up to pay respects to Sen and her family at a public visitation.

    Police arrested a 29-year-old youth on the same day of Sen’s murder for a burglary that happened in the area.

    According to police, Bakari Moncrief is a person of interest in Sen’s death and remains in jail on an unusually high USD 1 million bond but he is not charged in Sen’s murder.

    Sen used to run the popular Chisholm Trail nearly every morning before her children woke up.

    A day after her killing, strangers, neighbors and friends surrounded two trees near the park with flowers and hundreds of running shoes.

    Sen’s husband has set up a CaringBridge page to share Sen’s story and a GoFundMe page, all proceeds of which will be donated to charities devoted to issues that she deeply cared about such as cancer awareness, cancer research, healthy living and protection of the environment.

  • FIA Hosts Community Reception to Welcome New Consul General of India in New York

    FIA Hosts Community Reception to Welcome New Consul General of India in New York

    FORDS, NJ (TIP): The Federation of Indian Association of NY, NJ, CT (FIA Tristate) hosted a welcome reception on Aug. 7, 2020 for Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, the newly appointed Consul General of India in New York, at the Royal Albert’s Palace in Fords, New Jersey.

    It was an intimate affair due to New Jersey state and local restrictions and regulations on gatherings.

    FIA leadership, prominent members of the Indian American community and members of the press attended the event. Guests networked and mingled with each other, observing social distancing guidelines.

    Ambassador Randhir Jaiswal and Deputy Consul General Shatrughna Sinha with FIA leadership

    Andy Bhatia, member of the FIA Board of Trustees, compered the evening. FIA leaders including President Anil Bansal, Chairman Ankur Vaidya, senior advisors  Dr. Sudhir S. Parikh and   Dr. H. R. Shah, among others, welcomed Consul General Jaiswal and Deputy Consul General Shatrughna Sinha.

    Dr. V. K. Raju, founder and president of the Eye Foundation of America, spoke eloquently about the importance of vision and the role his organization plays in restoring vision for the underprivileged community in India and around the world.

    Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, Chief Editor of The Indian Panorama who spoke on the occasion was appreciative of FIA’s tremendous contribution in forging the spirit of nationalism among the Indian American community through the India Day Parade to commemorate the Independence Day of India, and hoped that the 50th annual India Day parade next year will attract bigger crowds and prove to be historic. He also spoke of the need for greater cooperation between the Consulate and community organizations, in particular with the FIA which he said, is the most representative organization of the Indian American community.

    Mahesh Bhagia (right), chairman of the Edison Democratic Party, delivering a Proclamation from the State Assembly to Consul General Jaiswal. Also seen in the picture, from L to R: H.R. Shah and FIA President Anil Bansal

    Mahesh Bhagia, chairman of the Edison Democratic Party, delivered a Proclamation from the State Assembly to Consul General Jaiswal.

    Dipak Patel, FIA Board of Trustees, introduced the Consul General. Prior to being appointed the Consul General of India in New York, Jaiswal was the Joint Secretary cum Social Secretary to the President of India Ramnath Kovind. A 1998 Indian Foreign Service officer, Jaiswal headed the foreign affairs office of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and advised the President on India’s foreign policy. Prior to that he served as the Consul General of India in Johannesburg in South Africa.

    In his address, Consul General Jaiswal thanked the FIA for a warm welcome, and acknowledged the contributions made by the community in various fields. “The Indian story all over the world is very engrossing, very deep” he said. “It is a story that carries a message of peace and harmony.” Consul General Jaiswal lauded the FIA for putting a stamp on New York City with its flagship India Day Parade “which has become iconic, not just in New York and in this country, but all over the world.”

    Consul General Jaiswal noted that the Indian American story is that of “peace and progress,” as well as a story of “sharing and caring for others.” And that, he said, is what defines the community and has also become its identity. He urged the community to keep playing a pivotal role in “strengthening the friendship between the U.S. and India, which is going to be a defining pathway of the century.” He said he is looking forward to the time when the Indian American community “will have a stronger imprint of our strength, of our hard work, of our identity, culture, color, and vibrancy, in this country and everywhere else.

    He said he seemed the community’s support and wishes, as he “carries out his responsibilities as a representative of the Government of India.” The Consulate will “have an engaging relationship with the FIA,” he said, and added that during this time of the pandemic “we have to see how to hold each other’s hands and see how best we can help each other.”

    FIA ladies with Ambassador and FIA President
    Photos / Paresh Gandhi -Gunjesh Desai

    He said he looks forward to interacting with the Indian American community which is full of “great ideas and great energy.” He said the Consulate General of Indian in New York is “looking forward to supporting the FIA support next year when it will celebrate 50 years. He said, he, along with his college Deputy Consul General Sinha and the entire team in New York is “ere for you whenever you need us.

    Consul General Jaiswal’s first introduction to prominent members of the community was on July 19, a few hours after his arrival in New York. He administered the oath of office to FIA’s new executive committee. “No sooner than I arrived in New York, I had the opportunity to engage with a few members of the Indian American community when I swore-in the new FIA team,” he said.

     

  • Harris promises jobs, fight climate change and affordable care act as part of Biden administration

    Harris promises jobs, fight climate change and affordable care act as part of Biden administration

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic party’s vice-presidential nominee, has said that once elected the Joe Biden administration will create millions of jobs, fight climate change and build an affordable care act among various other strong initiatives for the welfare of Americans.

    Hitting hard on the three and half years of the Trump administration during her first appearance after being picked as the vice-presidential nominee of the Democratic party on Tuesday, Harris, 55, presented a long list of missteps taken by the current US government.

    “As Biden-Harris Administration, we will create millions of jobs and fight climate change through a clean energy revolution, bring back critical supply chains so the future is made in America, build on the Affordable Care Act so everyone has the peace of mind that comes with health insurance, and finally offer caregivers the dignity, the respect, and the pay they deserve,” she said.

    “We’ll protect a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own body, root out systemic racism in our justice system, and pass a new Voting Rights Act, a John Lewis Voting Rights Act, that will ensure every voice is heard and every voice is counted,” Harris added.

    During her speech alongside Biden, Harris said the case of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence is open and she has worked every day to hold the officials accountable to the American people.

    “Let me tell you, as somebody who has presented my fair share of arguments in court, the case against Donald Trump and Mike Pence is open and shut,” said Harris.

    “And the people are who Joe and I will fight for every day in the White House,” she said.

    During the speech, she mentioned a lot of sectors where the current administration has created a complete mess.

    “Just look where they’ve gotten us. More than 16 million out of work, millions of kids who cannot go back to school, a crisis of poverty, of homelessness afflicting black, brown, and indigenous people the most, a crisis of hunger afflicting one in five mothers, who have children that are hungry, and tragically, more than 165,000 lives that have been cut short, many with loved ones who never got the chance to say goodbye,” she said.

    “It didn’t have to be this way. Six years ago, in fact, we had a different health crisis. It was called Ebola. And we all remember that pandemic. But you know what happened then? Barack Obama and Joe Biden did their job. Only two people in the United States died, two,” Harris said.

    That is what’s called leadership, she told the audience.

    “But compare that to the moment we find ourselves in now. When other countries are following the science, Trump pushed miracle cures he saw on Fox News. While other countries were flattening the curve, he said the virus would just, poof, go away like a miracle,” she alleged.

    She said it was due to the fault of the Trump administration that the US had to shut down various of its regions again while other countries were opening up.

    “So when other countries open back up for business what did we do? We had to shut down again. This virus has impacted almost every country, but there’s a reason it has hit America worse than any other advanced nation,” she said.

    Harris alleged that it is because of Trump’s failure to take it seriously from the start.

    “His refusal to get testing up and running, his flip-flopping on social distancing and wearing masks, his delusional belief that he knows better than the experts. All of that is the reason, and the reason that an American dies of COVID-19 every 80 seconds,” she said.

     “It’s why countless businesses have had to shut their doors for good. It’s why there is complete chaos over when and how to reopen our schools. Mothers and fathers are confused and uncertain and angry about childcare, and the safety of their kids at school, whether they’ll be in danger if they go or fall behind if they don’t. Trump is also the reason millions of Americans are now unemployed. He inherited the longest economic expansion in history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden,” she said.

    Harris said that this is what happens when one elects a person “who just isn’t up for the job”.

    “Our country ends up in tatters, and so does our reputation around the world. But let’s be clear. This election isn’t just about defeating Donald Trump or Mike Pence. It’s about building this country back better, and that’s exactly what Joe and I will do,” she said.

    She said the Biden-Harris administration will ensure equality for the people of America.

    “The civil rights struggle is nothing new to Joe. It’s why he got into public service. It’s why he helped reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and restore unemployment discrimination–and employment discrimination laws. And today, he takes his place in the ongoing story of America’s march toward equality and justice as only–as the only, as the only who has served alongside the first black president and has chosen the first black woman as his running mate,” Harris said.

    (Source: PTI)

     

  • August 7 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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    E-Edition

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  • Indian arrested for stabbing wife to death in Miami

    Indian arrested for stabbing wife to death in Miami

    MIAMI, FL (TIP): Philip Mathew (Nevin), 34, of Wixom, Michigan has been arrested and charged in the murder of his Malayalee wife Merin Joy, 26. She was a nurse at Broad Health Coral Springs Hospital.

    Merin died around 7:30 am on Tuesday, July 28 as she was returning to the parking area to return home after her night shift. At approximately 7:38 a.m., Coral Springs Dispatch received a 911 call from Broward Health Coral Springs, about a possible stabbing and hit and run in progress.  Once officers arrived on the scene, contact was made with the victim, Merin Joy, age 26, who was in the west parking lot with multiple stab wounds.  Rescue arrived on the scene and transported the victim to Broward Health North for treatment where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

    Coral Springs Police detectives conducted an investigation and determined the suspect to be Philip Mathew, age 34, of Wixon, Michigan. The incident is believed to be part of a domestic dispute that was ongoing between the suspect and the victim. Mathew was located in Coral Springs at an area hotel where he sustained a self-inflicted knife wound and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. He was taken into custody within a few hours of the initial 911 call and was charged with First Degree Murder.

  • Indian American Congressman Introduces Lifesaving Legislation to Curb COVID-19 Surge

    Indian American Congressman Introduces Lifesaving Legislation to Curb COVID-19 Surge

    WASHINGTON  (TIP): As COVID-19 infections continue to surge across America and nearly 30 states impose public mask-wearing requirements, Indian American Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and over three dozen of their Democratic colleagues in the Senate and House introduced lifesaving legislation July 28 to manufacture and distribute high-quality, reusable masks to everyone in America.

    “If we can afford a $740 billion defense budget, we can afford to send every American a face mask,” said Rep. Khanna. “We are the wealthiest country on earth, yet our health care workers are still facing a shortage of N-95s, our essential workers are having to purchase their own protective face masks, and far too many vulnerable Americans are being left to figure out how to procure this basic need. Congress has a responsibility to step up where the White House has abdicated its responsibility and ensure every family has the equipment, they need to stay safe. If we’re asking folks to wear a mask, which is absolutely essential, it’s on us to provide one.”

    “We are the only high-income country in the world where infections and deaths are skyrocketing instead of falling. Nearly 150,000 are dead and 1,000 more are dying every day. That is an absolute scandal,” said Sen. Sanders. “Dozens of my colleagues and I are proposing that we do what our public health experts and scientists say we must do. This is not a political or partisan issue. Providing all of our people with high-quality, reusable masks without cost could save tens of thousands of lives and avoid hundreds of billions of dollars in economic harm.”

    According to one estimate, widespread mask wearing could save over 40,000 American lives by November 1, while another analysis predicted $1 trillion in the economic benefits of mask wearing through avoidance of strict lockdown measures. In questioning by Sanders at a recent Senate hearing, Dr. Anthony Fauci voiced his support for the proposal, echoing the consensus of the medical community. “There’s no doubt that wearing masks protects you and gets you to be protected. So it’s people protecting each other,” Fauci said. “Anything that furthers the use of masks, whether it is giving out free masks or any other mechanism, I am thoroughly in favor of.”

    This proposal, developed in consultation with health experts including Andy Slavitt, the former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under President Obama, would use the United States Postal Service to distribute three free, reusable masks to every person in the country, including individuals who are experiencing homelessness or living in group settings such as prisons, shelters, college dorms, and assisted living facilities.

  • July 31 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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  • Indian American Professor Venkatesan Guruswami Named 2020 Simons Investigator

    Indian American Professor Venkatesan Guruswami Named 2020 Simons Investigator

    NEW YORK (TIP): Venkatesan Guruswami, a Carnegie Mellon University professor of Theoretical Computer Science, has been named a 2020 Simons Investigator by the New York-based Simons Foundation.

    Venkatesan Guruswami’s research has led to major advances in the theory of error-correcting codes, approximate optimization, pseudorandomness and related complexity-theoretic and mathematical aspects. His work on list decoding has yielded codes with minimum possible redundancy for correcting worst-case errors. His recent works include notable progress on polar codes, deletion-correcting codes, codes for cloud storage and constraint satisfaction problems.

    The Simons Foundation names investigators each year who are outstanding scientists engaged in mathematics, physics, astrophysics, computer science, or several related fields. The designation, which comes with $100,000 per year for five years and is renewable for a second five-year term, is meant to support outstanding theoretical scientists in their early years, when they are establishing creative new research directions, providing leadership to the field and effectively mentoring junior scientists.

    Venkatesan Guruswami received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology at Madras in 1997, and his PhD in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2001. From 2002 to 2009, he was a faculty member at the University of Washington. He was a Miller Research Fellow at UC Berkeley from 2001 to 2002, and was a member in the School of Mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study from 2007 to 2008.

    He currently serves on the editorial boards of the SIAM Journal on Computing, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, and the ACM Transactions on Computation Theory, and was program committee chair for the 2012 Computational Complexity conference. He was an invited speaker at the 2010 International Congress of Mathematicians. He is a recipient of the Presburger Award (2012), Packard Fellowship (2005), Sloan Fellowship (2005), NSF CAREER award (2004), ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award (2002), and IEEE Information Theory Society Paper Award (2000).

     

     

  • Indian Origin Uttam Dhillon Named Interpol Washington Director

    Indian Origin Uttam Dhillon Named Interpol Washington Director

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Attorney General William P. Barr announced July 20 that Uttam Dhillon will become INTERPOL Washington Director after Wayne Salzgaber returns to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following his over two-year detail serving as INTERPOL Washington Director, effective August 1.  INTERPOL Washington, the U.S. National Central Bureau, is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice and is co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

    As INTERPOL Washington Director, Mr. Dhillon will act on behalf of the Attorney General as the official U.S. representative to INTERPOL, the world’s largest International Criminal Police Organization, and its 194 member countries, leading the U.S. Government’s efforts to share and exchange international criminal investigate, border security and humanitarian assistance information across the INTERPOL communications platform, and be responsible for all personnel and assets dedicated to INTERPOL Washington’s mission of supporting domestic and international law enforcement and border security operations around the globe.

    Mr. Dhillon is a dedicated public servant who has served in the Department of Justice, the White House, DHS, Congress, and as a career federal prosecutor. Dhillon was appointed Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), on July 2, 2018, and for nearly two years led a workforce of over 15,000 and oversaw a budget of $3.2 billion. He was responsible for DEA’s enforcement, intelligence, administrative, and regulatory activities worldwide. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and is co-chair of the IACP Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Committee.  Prior to joining the DEA, he served as Deputy Counsel and Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States.

    In 2006, Mr. Dhillon was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement at DHS. Prior to DHS, Mr. Dhillon served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Justice Department. Earlier in his career, Mr. Dhillon served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California for six and one-half years. He also has significant experience in the Legislative Branch, holding several senior roles, including Chief Oversight Counsel for the House Financial Services Committee, Chief Counsel and Deputy Staff Director for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, and Senior Investigative Counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  

    Mr. Dhillon graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He earned a Master of Arts degree in psychology from the University of California, San Diego and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from California State University, Sacramento. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

     

     

     

  • Indian American CBS reporter Nina Kapur dies in moped accident in New York

    Indian American CBS reporter Nina Kapur dies in moped accident in New York

    NEW YORK (TIP): Nina Kapur, a 26-year-old Indian origin reporter in New York, died after she fell from a moped that had been rented from Revel, a popular moped sharing service.

    The accident, which a company spokeswoman said was believed to be the first fatality involving a Revel moped, happened about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18 near the intersection of Franklin and India Streets, the police said, in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn — a mostly residential area that is dotted with neighborhood bars and restaurants.

    Kapur was a passenger on a scooter that was being operated by a 26-year-old man. According to authorities, the moped was northbound on Franklin Street when “the operator swerved for an unknown reason” and the two “fell to the roadway as a result.” Kapur was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

    “Reporter Nina Kapur joined the team in June 2019 and was known for her contagious smile and love for storytelling,” the station announced in a video tribute. Before joining CBS New York as an on-air reporter, Kapur had worked at News 12 Connecticut since 2017. “News 12 staff members are remembering Kapur for her incredible work ethic, as well as her sense of humor and smile,” a statement from the station said.

    Nina, a native of Newtown, Pa. is survived by her mother, Monica, father, Anup, and her 24-year-old brother, Ajay.

     

     

     

  • Indian American Sara Gideon Endorsed by Joe Biden for U.S. Senate

    Indian American Sara Gideon Endorsed by Joe Biden for U.S. Senate

    NEW YORK (TIP): Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden announced his endorsement of Sara Gideon in the Maine U.S. Senate race, citing her record of fighting for Mainers by working to expand access to affordable health care, cracking down on the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs, and taking bold action on climate change.

    “I want to congratulate Sara Gideon on her win in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. This November, we need to restore the soul of America by ending the Presidency of Donald Trump. To do that, I need the help of every voter in Maine,” said Joe Biden. “But ending the Trump nightmare is not enough. We can’t just go back to the way things were. We need to make progress on health care, the climate crisis, criminal justice reform, our courts, and so much more. And to do that, I need Sara Gideon in the U.S. Senate. Sara has been a leader on expanding health care coverage and lowering costs. On fighting against opioids and fighting for working families. She’s taken on the drug companies and she’s fought for the environment. I support Sara Gideon for U.S. Senate and hope you will too.”

    “I’m so honored to have Vice President Biden’s support in this race and I know that together, we will make real progress on the issues that matter most to Mainers,” said U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon. “Here in Maine, we’ve fought to expand access to affordable health care, passed meaningful prescription drug reform, and set ambitious goals to fight climate change – and that’s the kind of leadership Mainers and Americans need in Washington. The future of our country is at stake in this election, and I’m proud to stand with Joe Biden to win back the White House and flip the Senate in November.”

    Sara has visited all sixteen counties in Maine over the course of her campaign, holding in-person and virtual events to meet and talk with voters about their concerns and challenges they face. Sara has been endorsed by over 75 elected officials from across Maine, as well as the Maine AFL-CIO, Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council, Maine State Association of Letter Carriers, the Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers District Council (LiUNA MNNELDC), the Painters and Allied Trades International Union District Council 35, the Human Rights Campaign, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, NARAL, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, End Citizens United, and Everytown for Gun Safety.

  • Indian American Sutapa Ghosh Stricklett Named USAID Asia Bureau Assistant Administrator

    Indian American Sutapa Ghosh Stricklett Named USAID Asia Bureau Assistant Administrator

    WASHINGTON (TIP): US President Donald J. Trump has nominated Sutapa Ghosh Stricklett, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (Bureau for Asia).

    Her nomination was sent to Senate July 22.

    Sue Ghosh Stricklett is an attorney in private practice with over twenty-five years of experience in national security law and foreign affairs.  The scope of her practice includes Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance, intellectual property licensing and technology transfer, U.S. dual-use and defense trade control licensing, and sanctions law enforcement.  She has served as an Asia policy advisor to three Presidential campaigns and several major Indo-American advocacy organizations.

    Ms. Stricklett hails from Queens, New York, and is a graduate of the State University of New York, Buffalo.  She earned her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.

    Stricklett has been the general counsel for American Hindu Coalition, which says it is a non-partisan organization that says its aims is to “build a stronger America through Hindu Enlightenment Principles.”

    She is the author of several articles in US media advocating close relations with India and on “Trump’s outreach to Hindu Americans, both before and after his election” with a slew of important appointments in his administration.

  • Indian American Scientist Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, Pioneer in Molecular Imaging, Passes Away

    Indian American Scientist Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, Pioneer in Molecular Imaging, Passes Away

    NEW YORK (TIP): Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, professor and chair of radiology at the Stanford School of Medicine and an internationally recognized pioneer in molecular imaging, died July 18 of cancer. He was 57.

    The Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research, Gambhir dedicated his career to developing methods of early disease detection, ushering in a new era of molecular imaging to flag signals of disease in its nascent stages. He was director of the Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, director of the Stanford and director of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford.

    “Sam was a true visionary and a scientist of the highest caliber. His research and innovations have, with no uncertainty, founded modern medicine’s approach to early disease diagnostics and will continue to guide the future of precision health,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. “Sam’s contributions to Stanford, to human health, to the science of diagnostics and to the many lives he has touched and impacted throughout his career have been immeasurable.”

    Within the field of radiology, Gambhir was known for the development of positron emission tomography reporter genes, which can flag molecular activity that signals something’s gone awry in the body.

    To colleagues far and wide, he was known as a leader and scientist with sprawling expertise and a work ethic to aspire to. More than that, colleagues said he was a kind and generous friend, a nurturing mentor and a catalyst for collaboration.

    On the eve before his death, he was awarded the Dean’s Medal, the School of Medicine’s highest honor, for his “revolutionary contributions to biomedicine and to human health.” In tandem with the honor, Minor announced that a new professorship, the Sanjiv Sam Gambhir Professorship in Translational Medicine, would stand as a tribute to Gambhir’s remarkable career “to further recognize his unwavering leadership, compassion and commitment to science and medicine.”

  • Sikh-American Store Owner Attack: Hate Crime Charge  Added against the Attacker

    Sikh-American Store Owner Attack: Hate Crime Charge Added against the Attacker

    DENVER (TIP): Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has decided to add a hate crime charge against Eric Breemen for attacking Mr. Lakhwant Singh. Moving forward, Breemen will be charged with multiple counts–now including a bias-motivated crime–in the violent April 29 assault of Mr. Singh.

    “I am so very grateful to everyone–Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike, from Lakewood, elsewhere in Colorado, across the country, and beyond–who have stood with me and my family in this incredibly difficult time,” said Lakwhant Singh. “I appreciate the Jefferson County authorities hearing my story and, through these charges, recognizing the role that hate played in my horrible attack.”

    Nearly three months ago, Breemen verbally accosted Mr. Singh and his wife in their store in Lakewood, CO, repeatedly telling them both to “go back to your country.” Immediately afterwards, in the parking lot outside the store, Breemen struck Mr. Singh with his car and left him for dead; he later described Mr. Singh as an “older Arab” to the officers who arrested him.

    “The decision to add a bias-motivated charge against Breemen is a resounding victory not just for Mr. Singh, but for minority communities who are threatened by bias and bigotry every day,” said Amrith Kaur, Sikh Coalition Legal Director. “Adding these charges sends a clear message: Hatred is not welcome in Jefferson County, and those who are targeted for being different know that this community will acknowledge it and stand with them in solidarity.”

    The Sikh Coalition, along with support from local community members–including the leadership of Colorado Singh Sahba and the Colorado Coalition Against Hate–as well as the law firm of WilmerHale, has worked diligently over the past several weeks to push for the addition of this hate crime charge. Through these efforts, more than 2,600 people sent emails to Jefferson County District Attorney Peter Weir urging him to pursue a hate crime charge; in addition, 29 organizations joined a sign-on letter earlier this month urging for the same, and many others  signed and delivered additional petitions from across the world.  We extend our deep gratitude to all of the allies who came together to demand #JusticeForLakhwant.

    The Sikh Coalition also helped raise awareness for this case through successful media coverage from the local to the national levels. We will continue to provide updates in this case and also work with Colorado authorities to minimize the risk of future attacks.

  • Indian-American  Puneet Ahluwalia announces PAC for Lt Gov of Virginia race

    Indian-American Puneet Ahluwalia announces PAC for Lt Gov of Virginia race

    WASHINGTON (TIP): An Indian-American Republican businessman will run for the powerful office of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and has launched a political action committee for it.

    Puneet Ahluwalia, 55, in an e-mail to his supporters on Tuesday, announced: “I have taken the leap by launching the Proud American Political Action Committee to explore my run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.”

    A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a tax-exempt organization in the US that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation.

    “I’m forming Proud American PAC because for those Virginians who believe, as I do, that America is the greatest nation in the world, but our political leaders are not living up to the promise of our great state,” said Ahluwalia, who was a member of the Trump Campaign’s Asia Advisory Committee in the 2016 presidential election campaign.

    Delhi-born Ahluwalia migrated to the US in 1990. He serves as a consultant to businesses on client acquisition, marketing, and strategic affairs. His wife is from Pakistan and of Afghan heritage.

    “As a person of color, I sympathize with those who are frustrated and angry about race in this country, but not for the same reasons as the progressive politicians in Richmond,” Ahluwalia said, referring to Left-leaning groups.

    “We need to launch a real discussion among all Virginians about race and the ways we can bridge the gap in opportunities, income, and education,” he said.

    In a press statement, the Proud American PAC said it will work to elect candidates who are aligned with the core principles that everyone is created equal, with personal dignity, and constitutional rights the government should never be allowed to take away.

    “I believe with all my heart that American free market capitalism is the greatest engine of economic prosperity ever devised. But our economy has left too many people behind,” he said.

    “We can and we should do better by making it easier to start and fund small businesses in minority communities, encouraging greater job creation, organizing private internships for every Virginia high school graduate, helping people climb the economic ladder, improving schools, and modernizing our infrastructure,” Ahluwalia said.

    (Source: PTI)