European finance ministers express concern about trade war
DAVOS (TIP): President Donald Trump arrived in Switzerland on Thursday, January 25, to attend the World Economic Forum where he will push his “America First” agenda and seek more fair, reciprocal trade between the United States and its allies, amid concerns of the European finance ministers about an imminent trade war.
Trump, never invited as a businessman, will be the first US president to attend Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000, giving him a chance to mingle with the same elite “globalists” he bashed in the 2016 election campaign.
Meanwhile, a day after sending the dollar reeling with comments supportive of a weak US currency, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Trump administration was not seeking a trade war but would defend its economic interests.
At a news conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mnuchin played down his comments on Wednesday, January 24, that a weaker dollar was “good for us as it relates to trade and opportunities”, saying they had been “balanced and consistent”.
The remarks were seen by markets as departing from traditional US currency policy and elicited thinly veiled warnings from European finance ministers, as US President Donald Trump arrived in Davos to promote his “America First” agenda.
“I thought my comment on the dollar was actually quite clear yesterday,” Mnuchin told reporters. “I thought it was actually balanced and consistent with what I’ve said before, which is, we are not concerned with where the dollar is in the short term.” Mnuchin said there were “both advantages and disadvantages of where the dollar is in the short-term” and stressed that the US wanted fair economic competition.
“We want free and fair and reciprocal trade. So, I think it’s very clear. We’re not looking to get into trade wars. On the other hand, we are looking to defend America’s interests.” But the finance ministers of France and Italy expressed concerns about Mnuchin’s remarks, which pushed the dollar down to multi-year lows. A stronger euro, hovering at a three-year peak against the dollar, could hurt the European economy by making its exports less competitive. It also risks complicating the European Central Bank’s exit from years of ultra-loose monetary policy.
“We want currency levels to reflect economic fundamentals,” French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters in Davos. His Italian counterpart Pier Carlo Padoan said Mnuchin’s comments reminded him of American policy in the 1970s and expressed concern about a trade war.
NEW DELHI (TIP): Amid an unprecedented security cover, celebrations for the 69th Republic Day began on the Rajpath here on Friday in the presence of the leaders of 10 ASEAN nations who are attending the event as chief guests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs.
Later Modi, wearing a saffron, red and green colored safa, reached the Rajpath and received and greeted President Ram Nath Kovind.
Most of the ministers of the Modi government, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister JP Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan were among those present on the occasion.
BJP president Amit Shah was also present.
The ASEAN leaders, here to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, are the chief guests at the Republic Day parade which was termed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “historic and unprecedented”.
The ASEAN, founded in 1967, comprises Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.
The ASEAN leaders attending the parade are Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao PDR’s Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.
Twenty-three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, will roll down the Rajpath.
Public broadcaster Doordarshan has 38 cameras installed for the coverage of the celebrations. For the first time, six cameras have been deployed for coverage beyond India Gate.
The parade commenced amid a heavy security blanket with thousands of security personnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters deployed in view of the event being attended by ASEAN leaders.
Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the spirits of those who came to watch the parade
BY 2020 (some suggest this is happening now) WHAT A UNIVERSITY STUDENT LEARNS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF A 4 YEAR DEGREE – WILL BE IRRELEVANT AND REDUNDANT BY THE TIME THE THIRD YEAR IS COMPLETED.
OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE ENTERING A COMPLETELY NEW WORLD THAT IS BECOMING FOREIGN TO US WITH EACH NEW YEAR.
In 1998 Kodak had 170,000 employees and sold 85% of all photo paper worldwide. Within just a few years, their business model disappeared and they went bankrupt. What happened to Kodak will happen to many industries in the next 5-10 years. Did you think in 1998 that 3 years later you would never take pictures on film again? Yet digital cameras were invented in 1975. The first ones only had 10,000 pixels but followed Moore’s law. So as with all exponential technologies, it was a disappointment for a time, before it became way superior and became mainstream in only a few short years. It will now happen again (but much faster) with Artificial Intelligence, health, autonomous and electric cars, education, 3D printing, agriculture and jobs.
Welcome to the 4th Industrial Revolution. Welcome to the Exponential Age.
The software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-10 years.
Uber is just a software tool, they don’t own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi company in the world.
Airbnb is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they don’t own any properties.
Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world this year, a computer beat the best Go-player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected.
In the US, young lawyers already don’t get jobs. Because of IBM’s Watson, you can get legal advice (so far for more or less basic stuff) within seconds, with 90% accuracy compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans.So, if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% fewer lawyers in the future, only omniscient specialists will remain.
Watson already helps nurses diagnosing cancer, its 4 times more accurate than human nurses.
Facebook now has a pattern recognition software that can recognize faces better than humans. In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans.
Autonomous cars: In 2018, the first self-driving cars will appear to the public. Around 2020, the complete industry will start to be disrupted. You won’t want to own a car anymore. You will call a car with your phone, it will show up at your location and drive you to your destination. You will not need to park it, you only pay for the driven distance and can be productive while driving. Today’s very young children will never get a driver’s license and will never own a car. It will change the cities because we will need 90-95% fewer cars for that. We can transform former parking spaces into parks.1.2 million people die each year in car accidents worldwide. We now have one accident every 60,000 mi (100,000 km); with autonomous driving that will drop to 1 accident in 6million miles (10 million km). That will save a million lives worldwide each year.Most car companies will doubtless become bankrupt. Traditional car companies use the evolutionary approach and just build a better car, while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will do the revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels.Many engineers from Volkswagen and Audi are terrified of Tesla.
Insurance companies will have massive trouble; without accidents, the insurance will become 100x cheaper. Their car insurance business model will disappear.
Real estate will change. Because if you can work while you commute, people will move further away to live in a more beautiful neighborhood.
Electric cars will become mainstream about 2020. Cities will be less noisy because all new cars will run on electricity.
Electricity will become incredibly cheap and clean: Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you can now see the burgeoning impact. Last year, more solar energy was installed worldwide than fossil. Energy companies are desperately trying to limit access to the grid to prevent competition from home solar installations, but that simply cannot continue – technology will take care of that strategy.
With cheap electricity comes cheap and abundant water. Desalination of salt water now only needs 2kWh per cubic meter (@ 0.25 cents). We don’t have scarce water in most places, we only have scarce drinking water. Imagine what will be possible if anyone can have as much clean water as he wants, for nearly no cost.
Health: The Tricorder X price will be announced this year. There are companies who will build a medical device (called the “Tricorder” from Star Trek) that works with your phone, which takes your retina scan, your blood sample and your breath into it. It then analyses 54 biomarkers that will identify nearly any disease. It will be cheap, so in a few years, everyone on this planet will have access to world-class medical analysis, nearly for free. Goodbye, self-serving medical practitioners and establishments.
3D printing: The price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from $18,000 to $400 within 10 years. At the same time, it became 100 times faster. All major shoe companies have already started 3D printing shoes. Some spare aeroplane parts are already 3D printed in remote airports. The space station now has a printer that eliminates the need for the large number of spare parts they used to have in the past. At the end of this year, new smartphones will have 3D scanning possibilities. You can then 3D scan your feet and print your perfect shoe at home. In China, they already 3D printed and built a complete 6-story office building. By 2027, 10% of everything that’s being produced will be 3D printed.
Business opportunities: If you think of a niche you want to go in, first ask yourself: “In the future, will we have that?” and if the answer is yes, how can you make that happen sooner? If it doesn’t work with your phone, forget the idea. Any idea designed for success in the 20th century is doomed to failure in the 21st century.
Work: 70-80% of jobs will disappear in the next 20 years. There will be a lot of new jobs, but it is not clear if there will be enough new jobs in such a short time. This will require a rethink on wealth distribution.
Agriculture: There will be a $100 agricultural robot in the future. Farmers in 3rd world countries can then become managers of their field instead of working all day on their fields.
Aeroponics will need much less water. The first Petri dish produced veal; which is now available and will be cheaper than cow produced veal in 2018. Right now, 30% of all agricultural surfaces is used for cows. Imagine if we don’t need that space anymore.
There are several startups who will bring insect protein to the market shortly. It contains more protein than meat. It will be labelled as “alternative protein source” (because most people still reject the idea of eating insects).
There is an app called “moodies” which can already tell in which mood you’re in. By 2020 there will be apps that can tell by your facial expressions if you are lying. Imagine a political debate where it’s being displayed when they’re telling the truth and when they’re not – it will ultimately compel all politicians to be truthful (a truly unique & novel occurrence).
(Article / Courtesy Ashook Ramsaran, President, Indian Diaspora International Council)
(The author is a Business and Financial Consultant and Entrepreneur, with over 40 years of senior executive experience with three of the world’s largest corporations-ITT Industries of Canada, Financial Services Div. (1977-90); Senior VP & Director, HR and Administration, Deutsche Bank Int’l Financial Services Division (1990-03); Senior VP, HR and Administration with GE Capital, Int’l Financial Services Division (1993-2004). He is the National Coordinator, Indian Diaspora Council, Canada)
History of January 26; Birth of constitution of India; Grand celebrations
India is a proud Republic, with a vibrant democratic system with the largest constitution of the world, which guarantees inalienable equal rights to all of its nearly 1.3 billion people. But the road to Republic has not been smooth. There was a long struggle to realize the dream of a vast population to be an independent nation and a Republic. Much sweat and blood went in to the struggle.
On December 9, 1946 the Constituent Assembly met for the first time in the Constitution Hall of Parliament House, with the intention of putting together the document that would go on to form the backbone of the independent India’s government. Exuberant and full of hope, the 207 members out of 292 present in the first session started the debate and discussions which would continue for the next three months, culminating in the constitution of India.
British government sent the Cabinet mission to India in 1946 to discuss with Indian leaders, the process for the peaceful transfer of power. As per the guidelines laid down by the mission, provincial legislative elections were held resulting in the nomination of 292 representatives who would go on to form the Constituent Assembly. Those elected included Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini Naidu and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, among others. The task at hand was humongous. Resolutions laid out had to take care of aspects like territorial integrity, socio-economic equality, justice of law and minority rights. Setting out the objectives for the Constituent Assembly, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, “The first task of this Assembly is to free India through a new constitution, to feed the starving people, and to clothe the naked masses, and to give every Indian the fullest opportunity to develop himself according to his capacity. This is certainly a great task.”
In the next 3 years, the Constituent Assembly held 11 sessions over 165 days. The draft constitution was approved on December 9, 1949. About a month later, on January 26, 1950 the Constitution of India came into force officially, making the newly born nation of India a modern republic.
The date chosen for the official enforcement of the constitution had a significance attached to the sentiments of the Indian nationalists. When on December 31, 1929, Nehru hoisted the tricolor in Lahore and demanded “purna swaraj”, the date set for independence was January 26, 1930. The day was celebrated as the “purna swaraj” day for the next 17 years. When independence was finally granted in 1947 however, the day set upon by the British was August 15. It is said that the independence day was so chosen to coincide with the second anniversary of the day when Japanese forces submitted to allied powers after the Second World War. In the words of Ramachandra Guha, “freedom finally came on a day that resonated with imperial pride rather than nationalist sentiment.”
When the constitution of India was born, it was considered necessary by the makers of the document to celebrate it on a day associated with national pride and the best choice available was that of “poorna swaraj” day- January 26. For the next 68 years, India has been celebrating January 26 as the date when it elevated itself from an independent nation to a modern republic, strengthened in all its glory by a fully functioning constitution.
Republic Day is celebrated with great pomp and show throughout the nation each year. Preparations begin almost a month ahead of the actual day. A massive parade is held in the capital of India which reflects a touch of modernity in the display of might and technology and the capabilities of growth in various sectors. While the parade symbolizes the power and force, the different regional tableaus reflect the cultural themes and motifs.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India. He took the oath of office at the Durbar Hall in the Government House, which was followed by the Presidential drive along the five-mile route to the Irwin Stadium. He unfurled the National Flag at the stadium. This transition of India into a sovereign democratic republic nation is indeed a historic event. The two-decade long journey, right from the conceptualization of the dream in 1930 to its actual realization in 1950, is certainly worth a grand celebration. Today, the Indian Constitution is the longest in the world, consisting of 397 articles and 12 schedules, providing a single citizenship for the whole nation.
The national holiday is celebrated with festivities and patriotic fervor across the whole nation.
REPUBLIC DAY PARADE
The grandeur of the Republic Day of India is visible in the grand parade that is held along Rajpath, beginning from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s Palace) and moving on to Rajpath past India Gate and proceeding to the Red Fort.
The occasion witnesses the presence of the President, the Prime Minister and several other high-ranking officials of the country. The parade starts with the arrival of the President of India, who is escorted by a group of bodyguards on horses. Next, the Prime Minister of India offers wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate in memory of the martyrs of the Indian army.
The national flag is unfurled by the President of India, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. This is succeeded by the cheerful tune of the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute. Led by three different divisions of the armed forces , viz: Navy, Army and Air Force; the Republic Day Parade has all of them displaying their might along the Rajpath, saluting the President. The Armed Forces staff performs motorcycle rides whereas the staff of the Indian Air Force performs flying parade in fighter planes.
The rich and colorful culture of India is showcased in the Republic Day parade. Traditional as well as cultural performances are given by professionals belonging to different regions. School children in picturesque costumes also participate in the display of different aspects of the glorious history of the country on this big day.
The real heroes of the nation are honored with bravery awards and medals. National Awards are given to children for selfless sacrifice and bravery.
A row of IAF jets marks the end of the grand celebration, leaving behind a trail of colored smoke. It bids goodbye to the gathered audience by showering rose petals on them.
Beating the Retreat Ceremony
The Republic Day celebration ends officially with the Beating the Retreat ceremony, which is held on the 29 January every year. The event symbolizes retreat after a day on the battlefield and features remarkable performances by the Indian Air Force, the India Navy, and the Indian Army.
CHIEF GUESTS ON REPUBLIC DAY OF INDIA 2018
The chief guests on Republic Day of India 2018 are 10 Great Leaders of the 10 nations of the world . They are Heads of ASEAN states. Below is the list of names of chief guests and their nations:
Sultan and incumbent Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah – Brunei
Prime Minister Hun Sen – Cambodia
President Joko Widodo – Indonesia
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith – Laos
Prime Minister Najib Razak – Malaysia
President Htin Kyaw – Myanmar
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte – Philippines
President Halimah Yacob – Singapore
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha – Thailand
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc – Vietnam
Republic Day 2018 has some very special features associated with it.
For the first time in history, India will celebrate its Republic Day 2018 with the great leaders of all 10 Asean countries (Association of South East Asian Nations).
It is very special because the Southeast Asian bloc completed its 50 years of formation (created on 8 August 1967) and India completed its 25 years of partnership (started in 1992) with the grouping in 2017.
It is for the first time that ASEAN Flags will be displayed through fly in the sky over Rajpath.
It is for the first time that one of the floats will show “All India Radio” to display Prime Minister’s monthly address “Mann Ki Baat”.
One of the floats will be there from Income Tax Department to display anti-black money drive.
113 BSF women will perform motorcycle stunts such as pyramid, shaktiman, fish riding, seema prahari, bull fighting, etc.
Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant is going to be displayed by the Indian Navy which will be commissioned in 2020.
“Nirbhay missile” and the “Ashwini radar system” from The Defence Development and Research Organization will be displayed.
“Airborne Early Warning and Control System (Netra) is going to fly over the Rajpath.
Group of students from Delhi school will perform to represent Indo-ASEAN ties.
Around 700 students from the guest countries will perform in the parade other than the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy.
A float by Punjab will be displayed under the theme “Sangat and Pangat” (Sangat means communal harmony; Pangat means community kitchen) representing love for humanity.
Folk dances of many countries like Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, etc will be performed.
Around 61 tribal guests are invited to participate in the Republic Day celebration.
100-odd government agencies are involved in the preparations of Republic Day parade 2018.
State capitals will celebrate republic day in the presence of governors of state.
FAMOUS QUOTES BY FREEDOM FIGHTERS
On this occasion, it will be pertinent to remember our great freedom fighters and what inspiring words they uttered.
“Give me blood, I will give you freedom” — Subhas Chandra Bose
“Patriotism is religion and religion is love for India” — Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
“A country’s greatness lies in its undying ideals of love and sacrifice that inspire the mothers of the race” — Sarojini Naidu
“The sanctity of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people” — Bhagat Singh
“The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India” — Lala Lajpat Rai
“Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it.” — Bal Gangadhar Tilak
“Every Indian should now forget that he is a Rajput, a Sikh or a Jat. He must remember that he is an Indian.” — Sardar Patel
“If yet your blood does not rage, then it is water that flows in your veins. For what is the flush of youth, if it is not of service to the motherland.” — Chandra Shekhar Azad
“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge… At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.” — Jawaharlal Nehru
“We believe in peace and peaceful development, not only for ourselves but for people all over the world.” — Lal Bahadur Shastri.
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
India is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with a parliamentary system of government. The Republic is governed in terms of the Constitution of India which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949 and came into force on 26th January, 1950.
The Constitution provides for a Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. The constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President. As per Article 79 of the Constitution of India, the council of the Parliament of the Union consists of the President and two Houses known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
Article 74(1) of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head to aid and advise the President, who shall exercise his/her functions in accordance to the advice. The real executive power is thus vested in the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head.
Background
The major portion of the Indian subcontinent was under British rule from 1857 to 1947. When the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, it repealed the Indian Independence Act. India ceased to be a dominion of the British Crown and became a sovereign democratic republic. The date of 26 January was chosen to commemorate the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence of 1930.
Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392, 393 and 394 of the Constitution came into force on 26 Nov 1949 and the remaining articles on 26 Jan 1950.
Previous legislation used as sources
It is drawn from many sources. Keeping in mind the needs and conditions of India its framers borrowed different features freely from previous legislation viz. Government of India Act 1858, Indian Councils Act 1861, Indian Councils Act 1892, Indian Councils Act 1909, Government of India Act 1919, Government of India Act 1935 and the Indian Independence Act 1947. The last legislation which led to the creation of the two independent nations of India and Pakistan provided for the division of the erstwhile Constituent Assembly into two, with each new assembly having sovereign powers transferred to it, to enable each to draft and enact a new constitution, for the separate states.
Constituent assembly
It was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by elected members of the provincial assemblies. The 389 member Constituent Assembly took almost three years (two years, eleven months and eighteen days to be precise) to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for independent India, during which, it held eleven sessions over 165 days. Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the draft Constitution. On 29 August 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to prepare a draft Constitution for India. While deliberating upon the draft Constitution, the assembly moved, discussed and disposed of as many as 2,473 amendments out of a total of 7,635 tabled. Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Sanjay Phakey, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Kanaiyalal Munshi, Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, Sandipkumar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Nalini Ranjan Ghosh, and Balwantrai Mehta were some important figures in the assembly. There were more than 30 members of the scheduled classes. Frank Anthony represented the Anglo-Indian community, and the Parsis were represented by H. P. Modi. The Chairman of the Minorities Committee was Harendra Coomar Mookerjee, a distinguished Christian who represented all Christians other than Anglo-Indians. Ari Bahadur Gurung represented the Gorkha Community. Prominent jurists like Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, Benegal Narsing Rau and K. M. Munshi, Ganesh Mavlankar were also members of the Assembly. Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai Deshmukh, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Vijayalakshmi Pandit were important women members
The first temporary 2-day president of the Constituent Assembly was Dr Sachchidananda Sinha. Later, Rajendra Prasad was elected president of the Constituent Assembly.The members of the Constituent Assembly met for the first time on 9 December 1946.
Drafting
On the 14 August 1947 meeting of the Assembly, a proposal for forming various committees was presented. Such committees included a Committee on Fundamental Rights, the Union Powers Committee and Union Constitution Committee. On 29 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed, with Dr B. R. Ambedkar as the Chairman along with six other members assisted by a constitutional advisor. These members were Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi (K M Munshi, Ex- Home Minister, Bombay), Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer (Ex- Advocate General, Madras State), N Gopalaswami Ayengar (Ex-Prime Minister, J&K and later member of Nehru Cabinet), B L Mitter (Ex-Advocate General, India), Md. Saadullah (Ex- Chief Minister of Assam, Muslim League member) and D P Khaitan (Scion of Khaitan Business family and a renowned lawyer). The constitutional advisor was Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (who became First Indian Judge in International Court of Justice, 1950-54). Later B L Mitter resigned and was replaced by Madhav Rao (Legal Advisor of Maharaja of Vadodara). On D P Khaitan’s death, T T Krishnamachari was included in the drafting committee. A draft Constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947, which was debated and over 2000 amendments were moved over a period of two years. Finally on 26 November 1949, the process was completed and the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution. 284 members signed the document and the process of constitution making was complete. This day is celebrated as National Law Day or Constitution Day.
The assembly met in sessions open to the public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution, the 308 members of the assembly signed two copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. The original Constitution of India is hand-written with beautiful calligraphy, each page beautified and decorated by artists from Shantiniketan including Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose. The illustrations on the cover and pages represent styles from the different civilizations of the subcontinent, ranging from the prehistoric Mohenjodaro civilization, in the Indus Valley, to the present. The calligraphy in the book was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizda. It was published in Dehra Dun, and photolithographed at the offices of Survey of India. The entire exercise to produce the original took nearly five years. Two days later, on 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India became the law of all the States and territories of India.
LONDON (TIP): Indian actor Twinkle Khanna met Malala Yousafzai at Oxford University while promoting her husband Akshay Kumar’s upcoming movie ‘Pad Man’. The two ladies posed with other students and faculty members of the prestigious university while holding sanitary pads.
During media interactions, the Pakistani women’s activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner praised the movie theme which revolves around menstrual awareness and women hygiene. Malala said that Pad Man has an inspiring message. She said, “I’m really excited to see the film Pad Man… because the message behind the film is truly inspiring.”
Twinkle also spoke to the Oxford students in her speech. She complained that Indian school girls in villages have to sit with a rag cloth or a rolled-up sock or even wadded up newspaper between their legs. “Pads are still seen as a luxury item. It is odd that pads are taxed at 12 percent in India but brooms are tax free,” she resented.
Pad Man is Twinkle’s maiden production. It stars Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte. Pad Man will now release on February 9, 2018.
Official Site: https://www.facebook.com/PadManTheFilm/
SYNOPSIS:
Pad Man is a fictionalized account of Padmashri Arunachalam Muruganatham, the man who revolutionized the manufacture of the low cost sanitary napkin in India. Lakshmi is a newly married, humble welder from a rural village in the heart of India. Lakshmi’s incredible journey starts when he is shocked to discover that his wife uses an unhygienic cloth during her periods. Unable to afford a branded pad, he decides to make a sanitary pad himself. After several attempts, his irate wife refuses to be a part of his experiments. Lakshmi’s love and concern for his wife, his determination to make the pad, leads him into situations that cause so much shock and embarrassment that it compels his wife to leave him and his village to banish him.
Lakshmi doesn’t give up. His simplicity of thought, his resilience, his focus and his complete disregard for convention finally leads him to his destiny. A machine that can make a pad! The revolution that follows…from spreading menstrual hygiene, to empowering women, to starting mini cooperatives, to a vision of making India a 100% Pad using country, to accolades, to international glory and to a final resolution of his personal life, makes the rest of the feature “PAD MAN”. His journey to make India a 100% pad using country goes on…even today.
Aries:Ganesha says the scope of your activities, especially professional ones, will narrow. This phase is all about money and money matters. Income, assets and all sorts of monetary gains are your major pursuits. The desire to have a larger income overshadows all your other considerations and activities. Your working life will hover around business issues, acquisitions, capital, funds, and so on. Yes, this is a good time to launch a project, finish pending work, take on new assignments.
Taurus: Life has taught you, in recent times to assign realistic goals and priorities. Once again, the focus is on the material plane. You are looking at providing comfort, security and protection for both yourself and your loved ones. Many issues need to be resolved. Real estate property, renovation and family matters are uppermost in your mind. You also need to get your way without hurting others and that is a tightrope walk.
Gemini: This interesting and reasonably profitable phase is all about money and honey. The highlight is personal and shared finances. Love, passion and romance, partnerships and trade also flourish. Ganesha says that you have a very hectic time ahead and your plate will be full of professional and emotional demands. But, you are determined to enjoy it all and give your very best to the situation. I assure you that in the long haul this will pay dividends.
Cancer: You change tack. Pretty dramatically this period you will also have more time to pursue hobbies and interests that are close to your heart. Here, love needs to be mentioned in particular. This is where you register your greatest and most pleasing gains. Loved ones, your spouse / partner, in particular, will get special attention. There may be more than one person who falls in the ambit of your love interests.
Leo:The highlight of the period is a true and genuine reaching out to people. This period sets the trend for a sudden and pleasing shift of interests. Communications – whether phone calls, the media, or just dealing with correspondence, building up fresh contacts – will be the highlight of this period. You are satisfied with concrete gains and there will be pleasing fellowship with those you meet. You may even reach out in friendship to complete strangers!
Virgo: This will be a great period. With your money worries and issues resolved, you turn to the arts, theatres, music, fun and enjoyment at parties, find occasions for happy times with children and also for pursuing your own interests and hobbies. Leisure is at the forefront; you are not slogging away. You are also more resolute in all your domestic affairs and make some important decisions now. You have the resources and style to make a success of anything you enter into, even if it is falling in love.
Libra: This is not the phase for flights of fancy; it is certainly not the phase for light romance and fantasies. You focus more on the physical. You plunge headlong into love, passion, the pleasures of sex, and are yet firmly entrenched in the more pragmatic pursuits of funds and loans, legacies and money matters. This is very interesting period. You will also be captivated by meditation, and religious and spiritual practices.
Scorpio:There is a natural and logical progression from last period. But there is a change here – you will seek spiritual solace, metaphysical truths and deeper insights into life. After the frantic pursuits of the previous period, the mood is somber, even meditative. Work issues will have to be resolved during this period of introspection. You are interested in genuine and strong bonding but the pressures of work will create an equally strong contrary pull.
Sagittarius: You have somewhat lost track of your priorities, or perhaps focus, with all the thinking and introspection of recent times and it is now necessary to get back to what you love best – people and your interactions with them. You will be bonding with family like never before. They will be your strength, solace, comfort and above all, your inspiration to get ahead in life. Loved ones and the family take centre stage, and you are more rooted in domestic matters.
Capricorn: Your family will be the centre of attention in every way. But it may not all be hunky dory; there will be negative trends too. You will continue working hard but are drawn into family and property matters, house and home and renovations of all kinds. Ganesha says that family and work are the twin themes that will require probably twice as much involvement and effort.
Aquarius:You carry on and make the most of all your powers and skills. It is an action-packed time. The focus is on research, discoveries, inventions and new fields of study. There will also be meetings and conferences, interviews and committees. You will be on the move, reaching out in every conceivable way. A journey may also prove rewarding. Travel for both business and pleasure is almost definitely foretold and it will be productive, lucrative and rewarding – both financially and intellectually.
Pisces: You need to curb your ego and get more tactful and diplomatic if you want to relate better with people, which is actually the need of the hour. This is a welcome realisation. Your sense of your self-image intensifies and diversifies to include not only how you see yourself but also how others see you. While reviewing both your public and personal image and person it is also time to weigh, evaluate and assess what you have achieved.
NJSO Celebrates Immigrant Composers at Winter Festival 2018
“This season, it (NJSO) celebrates the inspiration that is America, showcasing musical works by immigrants and foreign visitors…” Gabriel Van Aalst, President & CEO, NJSO
“These composers speak to me because their story is my own. While I had a wonderful musical education at the Conservatory in Beijing, I needed to come to the United States to follow my dream of becoming a conductor”. Xian Zhang, NJSO Music Conductor
“(Xian Zhang’s) conducting gestures reveal a passion, a precise knowledge of the score and a constant attention to detail. Her relationship with the musicians is producing great music and the orchestra members respond beautifully” …..The Asbury Park Press
By Mabel Pais
At the NJSO, January is always a busy month with the Winter Festival. “This season, it (NJSO) celebrates the inspiration that is America, showcasing musical works by immigrants and foreign visitors who drew their stimulation from America’s wide-ranging impacts” said Gabriel Van Aalst, President and CEO of the NJSO, who opened the Winter Festival on January 11.
The 2018 Winter Festival highlights the myriad ways America has inspired not only those who call it home but also those who have visited its welcoming shores. Leveraging the power of art to transcend differences, a series of NJSO Accents and special events further explore the immigrant experience and how foreign artists have illustrated American inspiration in their work.
Spanning three weekends, January 11–28, the Winter Festival includes orchestral performances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and Bergen PAC in Englewood.
The NJSO Chamber Players perform a special chamber music concert at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson and Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit.
Week I: America, Inspiring: Respighi & Prokofiev
Xian Zhang_Music-Conductor Photo credit Benjamin EalovegaXian Zhang-conducts-the-NJSO Photo credit Fred StuckerXian Zhang-at-NJPAC Photo credit Fred StuckerXian Zhang at NJPAC Photo credit Fred Stucker
Music Director Xian Zhang conducted NJSO premiere of Che Yi’s Ge Xu and Respighi’s Fountains of Rome. George Li performed Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. Zhang, the orchestra’s 14th music director, is the first woman to hold the position.
In a nod to Zhang’s own journey to America and New Jersey, she led Respighi’s Pines of Rome—a work she conducted in her first-ever performances with the NJSO in 2010. Chinese pianist George Li, the 22-year-old silver medalist of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition, performed Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto.
Performances took place on Thursday, January 11 at Bergen PAC in Englewood; Saturday, January 13 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark; and Sunday, January 14, at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick.
WEEK II: America, Inspiring: Ravel & Rachmaninoff
George Li, Pianist Photo credit Simon FowlerTerrence Wilson, Pianist
Andrew Constantine, conductor
Terrence Wilson, piano
MARTINŮ Thunderbolt P-47 (NJSO Premiere)
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G Major
RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances
Fri, Jan 19, at 8 pm | Richardson Auditorium in Princeton
Sat, Jan 20, at 8 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick
Sun, Jan 21, at 3 pm | NJPAC in Newark
NJSO ACCENTS:
Panel Discussion—Fri, Jan 19, at 6:45 pm and Sun, Jan 21, at 1:45 pm
Host Naomi Lewin and a panel of experts discuss the political climate in Europe that drove so many of the Winter Festival’s composers to come to America.
Wine Tasting—Sat, Jan 20, before the concert
Join wine and music expert Ron Merlino in an exclusive tasting of wines made of old-world grapes in new-world soil. For reservation and tickets, visit www.njsymphony.org/grapes
Performance & Painting—Sun, Jan 21, after the concert
Watch creative inspiration in action as artist Ken Ahlering (www.ken-ahlering.com) paints in response to a performance by the NJSO Chamber Players.
Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/america-inspiring-ravel-rachmaninoff.
America, Inspiring: Special Chamber Music Concert
Violinist Eric Wyrick, Concertmaster of NJSO Photo credit Tristan CookViolinist Chloe Hanslip, international artist of distinction
Tue, Jan 23, at 3 pm | St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson
Thu, Jan 25, at 7:30 pm | Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit
NJSO CHAMBER PLAYERS
Eric Wyrick, violin
Brennan Sweet, violin
David Blinn, viola
Na-Young Baek, cello
TAN DUN Eight Colors for String Quartet
BARTÓK String Quartet No. 2
DVOŘÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, “American”
A free pre-concert reception begins at 2 pm on Jan 23.
Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/america-inspiring-special-chamber-music-concert.
The 38-year-old daughter of Canada’s first turbaned MP Gurbax Singh Malhi was sworn in as Minister of the Status of Women on Thursday, January 18.
TORONTO (TIP): Harinder Malhi, the Indo-Canadian member of the Ontario provincial parliament and the mover of the 1984 genocide motion in the House last April, has been given a cabinet berth in the Ontario cabinet, making her the first-ever Sikh cabinet minister in the Canadian province.
The 38-year-old daughter of Canada’s first turbaned MP Gurbax Singh Malhi was sworn in as Minister of the Status of Women on Thursday, January 18.
The decision by Premier Kathleen Wynne to elevate Malhi seems to have been taken with an eye to Sikh votes as Ontario goes to the polls in June.
Ms Malhi represents the Punjabi-dominated ‘riding’ (or constituency) of Brampton-Springdale in the Ontario assembly, whose members are called MPPs or members of provincial parliament.
She joins another Indo-Canadian woman minister Dipika Damerla in the Ontario cabinet.
Interestingly, her elevation to the cabinet comes when two senior Sikh MPPs Amrit Mangat and Vic Dhillon have been ignored.
It is being speculated that because of her 1984 genocide motion, Ms Malhi can help her Liberal Party retain Sikhs votes which may drift to the New Democratic Party (NDP) which has just elected Jagmeet Singh as its national leader. After her genocide resolution, many in the Sikh community view her as the champion of the cause in the community.
Her party may also benefit from her father and former MP’s huge hold over Sikh voters.
Interestingly, as a member of the Ontario assembly, Jagmeet Singh too had introduced a similar motion on the anti-Sikh riots, but his motion failed. He was also denied a visa to India in 2013.
Brampton, on the outskirts of Toronto, has the second largest concentration of the Sikh community in Canada after Surrey in British Columbia.
Ms Malhi’s genocide motion in the Ontario assembly in April 2017 read: “That, in the opinion of this House… should reaffirm our commitment to the values we cherish — justice, human rights and fairness — and condemn all forms of communal violence, hatred, hostility, prejudice, racism and intolerance in India and anywhere else in the world, including the 1984 genocide perpetrated against the Sikhs throughout India, and call on all sides to embrace truth, justice and reconciliation.”
The motion was passed 34-5 votes in a House of 107 members.
Reacting strongly to it, India rejected it calling it a “misguided motion which is based on a limited understanding of India, its constitution, society, ethos, rule of law and the judicial process”.
CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Washington Post, Time among the awardees
WASHINGTON (TIP): Announcing the much-awaited Fake News Awards, US President Donald Trump declared ‘The New York Times’ as the winner of the ‘Fake News Award’. Others in Trump’s unique award were ‘ABC News’, ‘CNN’, ‘Time’ and ‘The Washington Post’. Trump announced the award in a tweet January 17 night.
The website GOP.Com where the winners were listed crashed soon after Trump announced the awards.
“2017 was a year of unrelenting bias, unfair news coverage, and even downright fake news. Studies have shown that over 90 per cent of the media’s coverage of President Trump is negative,” it said.
Topping the list was The New York Times’ Paul Krugman story which claimed on the day of Trump’s historic, landslide victory that the economy would never recover.
ABC News’ Brian Ross was positioned second. It “CHOKES and sends markets in a downward spiral with false report,” the website said.
‘CNN’ received the third prize for reporting that candidate Donald Trump and his son Donald J Trump Jr had access to hacked documents from WikiLeaks.
Time was placed fourth for reporting that Trump removed a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. from the Oval Office.
The Washington Post was laced last for reporting Trump’s massive sold-out rally in Pensacola, Florida was empty.
Below is the full list of winners of the 2017 Fake News Awards.
1) The New York Times’ Paul Krugman claiming markets would ‘never’ recover from a Trump presidency
2) ABC News’ Brian Ross’ bungled report on former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn
3) CNN falsely reporting the Trump campaign had early access to hacked documents from WikiLeaks
4) TIME report that Trump removed a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Oval Office
5) The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel tweeting that Trump’s December rally in Pensacola, Fla., wasn’t packed with supporters
6) CNN’s video suggesting Trump overfed fish during a visit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
7) CNN’s retracted report claiming Anthony Scaramucci-Russia ties
8) Newsweek report that Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda did not shake Trump’s hand
9) CNN report that former FBI Director James Comey would dispute President Trump’s claim he was told he was not under investigation
10) The New York Times report that the Trump administration had hidden a climate-change study
11) In Trump’s words, “‘RUSSIA COLLUSION!’ Russian collusion is perhaps the greatest hoax perpetrated on the American people. THERE IS NO COLLUSION.
NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court, on January 18, paved the way for the nationwide release of ‘Padmaavat’on January 25, as it stayed orders issued by the Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat governments banning the screening of Deepika Padukone-starrer film.
Noting that maintenance of law and order was the duty of state governments, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra asked states to provide the security needed for the film’s peaceful screening.
The Supreme Court also restrained other states from similar ban notifications. It sought to emphasize that theatre and cinema were a part of right to freedom of speech and expression. “Let it be released… a movie might not be so successful at the box office and people might not go to watch it, but its exhibition cannot be prohibited like this,” it said.
Based on the saga of the historic battle of 13th century between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, the film has been opposed by Rajputs for alleged character assassination of Padmavati.
On behalf of producers Viacom 18, Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi contended that once the Central Board of Film Certification had cleared a movie, states could not interfere with it. CBFC was “extra cautious” and it issued a certificate after a few cuts suggested by an expert committee were carried out, they said. They cited the top court’s 2011 ruling in the case of Prakash Jha’s film ‘Aarakshan’, which was banned by some states for a certain period.
“Once the parliamentary legislation confers the responsibility and power on a statutory board and the board grants certificate, non-exhibition of it by states will be contrary to statutory provisions,” the court said.
On behalf of the BJP-ruled states, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there were intelligence reports regarding law and order problem. “If you go by this, 60 per cent of literature, even classical literature of India, cannot be read,” the CJI said.
The Bench fixed March 26 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, while there is excitement among moviegoers for watching the much-awaited movie, there is also tension in the air with regard to some taking to streets and try blocking the movie’s screening. The BJP ruled states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat may have to deal with law and order problem which they seem to have invited themselves. Politicians opposed to BJP are hinting at State sponsored demonstrations and disturbances in these states to block the screening of the movie. Only January 25 will tell what happens.
WASHINGTON (TIP): President Donald Trump said, January 11, his primary concern with the Paris climate accord was that it treated the United States unfairly and that if a better deal could be reached, Washington might be persuaded to rejoin the agreement.
“It treated the US very unfairly,” Trump said during a news conference with Norwegian PM Erna Solberg. He said he had no problem with agreeing to a climate deal, but the Paris accord was “a bad deal. So, we could conceivably go back in.” However, he did not indicate any move in that direction.
In June, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change and decided to renegotiate the deal that was agreed upon by over 190 countries during the previous Obama administration.
Defending his decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Trump said: “The Paris Agreement as drawn and as we signed was very unfair to the United States. It put great penalties on us. It made it very difficult for us to deal in terms of business. It took away a lot of our asset values.” “Frankly, it’s an agreement that I have no problem with, but I had a problem with the agreement that they signed, because, as usual, they made a bad deal,” Trump told a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
“So, we could conceivably go back in,” Trump said, stressing his administration’s commitment to environmental issues, “clean water, clean air”, but added “we also want businesses that can compete”.
Trump justified his decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate accord, saying there was a “tremendous” penalty for using the country’s rich in gas and coal and oil and that hurt American businesses.
The US has appeared to be so far globally isolated on this issue, but Trump strongly defended his decision. Trump insisted that his administration feels very strongly about the environment.
“I feel very strongly about the environment. Our EPA (environment protection agency) and our EPA commissioners are very, very powerful, in the sense that they want to have clean water, clean air, but we also want businesses that can compete,” he said.
“The Paris Accord really would have taken away our competitive edge, and we’re not going to let that happen. I’m not going to let that happen,” Trump asserted. — PTI
Climate accord goals
The Paris agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise in this century well below 2° Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5° Celsius
The landmark agreement, which entered into force last November, calls on countries to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future, and to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.
SRIHARIKOTA (TIP): India on Friday, January 12, successfully launched weather observation satellite Cartosat 2 Series and 29 other spacecraft onboard its dependable Polar rocket from here.
The successful orbiting of the satellites by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV C-40 comes four months after the Indian space Research Organisation’s mission to launch backup navigation spacecraft IRNSS-1H onboard PSLV-39 ended in a rare failure.
My heartiest congratulations to @isro and its scientists on the successful launch of PSLV today. This success in the New Year will bring benefits of the country’s rapid strides in space technology to our citizens, farmers, fishermen etc. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 12, 2018
A jubilant ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar announced that the Cartosat 2 Series satellite, the seventh in the series, a nano satellite and 28 commercial payloads were successfully injected into the orbit one by one by the PSLV C-40, in the space of about 17.33 minutes since lift-off.
A micro satellite of India would be orbited after about 90 minutes following the re-ignition of the fourth stage, Kumar said.
International customer satellites are three micro and 25 nano-satellites from six countries — Canada, Finland, France, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Earlier, at the end of the 28-hours countdown, the 44.4-meter-tall PSLV-C40 in its 42nd flight, lifted off at 9.29 am and soared into a cloudy sky from the first launch pad.
The opening mission of 2018 was considered crucial for ISRO as the previous PSLV launch came as a setback to scientists as the backup navigation satellite IRNSS-1H could not be placed in orbit following a snag in the final leg of the PSLV-C39 mission in August last year.
The heat shield of the rocket did not separate in the final leg of the launch sequence, trapping the satellite in the fourth stage of the rocket.
A visibly relieved Kiran Kumar, on his final mission as the chief of the space agency, said he was happy to provide Cartosat 2 Series as a New Year gift for the country.
“ISRO is starting 2018 with the successful launch… all customer satellites (besides Cartosat and nanosat) released and the microast after one hour. So far Cartosat performance is satisfactory,” he said at the mission control room.
Referring to the previous launch, he said it had heat shield problem and an ISRO committee had addressed it and taken steps to ensure the vehicle was ‘robust’.
INTERVIEW BY PROF. INDRAJIT S SALUJA, CHIEF EDITOR, THE INDIAN PANORAMA
“The power of one is about passion, commitment and indomitable courage and keeping faith with the causes we serve no matter the difficulties and setbacks. It’s about not giving up ever.” Ambassador Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary General & Deputy Executive Director UN Women, had said, receiving her Diwali Power of One Award at the United Nations on December 11, 2017. The only woman among five diplomats to be honored, Ambassador Puri made her resolve known: “I will power on believing in the infinite possibility of all of us to achieve our infinite potential for good”.
As this champion of gender equality prepared to leave the UN Women towards the end of January 2018 to go back to India, after having served the apex women’s body of the United Nations since its inception in 2011, The Indian Panorama succeeded in securing her nod for an interview.
So, on a January 2 cold morning I reached her office in the iconic Daily News building on 42nd Street in New York City to speak with her. In a candid conversation with me she spoke passionately about her work at the UN Women – how much needed to be done, how much has been done, and how much more needs to be done – for gender equality, for emancipation of women, for empowerment of women. I could see a tigress in her when ready to pounce if she thought she was being challenged. During the conversation, at one or two points, she flipped at some remark which she considered was sexist or discriminatory.
I tried to wean her away from the subject so dear to her, to her personal life and succeeded but only briefly because she was possessed with thinking only of women and their rightful and dignified place in society.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
TIP: You have put your heart and soul in your work to care for the dignity of women as guided by your parents and that’s what,Ibelieve, you have instilled in your children. You are known to be a fiercely feminist personality. I would like my readers to know what is the role of UN Women when it comes to emancipation, ending bias and grant women their rights as human beings I will then come to my other question.
AMB: Un Women was founded in Jan. 2011, and I joined in March 2011. So, Iam in the leadership team since the beginning and this forum is the only global advocate for gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s right in every area. So, what does that mean? It means for us that international agreements and commitments made by govts. to uphold and advance gender equality and empowerment, norms and standards. And that has been UN women’s and my own contribution.Because we have in place today historic gender equality compact on the part of international community which is reflected in the Beijing platform for action not only recommitted but taken forward.
Similarly, the UN’s sustainable development agenda has made gender equality central to the agenda. And there is a sustainable goal on achieving gender equality and empowering all women. So, we mobilized all countries tostrongly support and take forward the goal.
And that goal is about ending all forms of violence against women, child marriage, women trafficking, harmful practices like honor killing, sex selection, and everything. apart from that all harmful practices that we have in, includingIndia, south Asia. So, this is a strong sustainable target.
Similarly, ending all forms discrimination, laws and practices. Women’s economic empowerment equal ownership over productive resources. Similarly, parity in voice participation and leadership in all public life, economic and political life. That means in parliament, in the executive, in judiciary, in law enforcement, in public service, in corporations, everywhere. and, then it also involves universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Women need control over their bodies and their reproductive role. And, then, the goal also recognizes that women have to bear disproportionate role in domestic care. This is really frontier pushing. 2/3rds of such work is done by women and in places like in India, it is higher which is without compensation and it also without opportunity, cost on education, income and employment, economic empowerment. So, valuing that, reducing that, redistributing that and provisioning that. so, these goals are something that were very hard to attain and that’s something that I count that as my legacy – the whole gender equality, climate change, peace and security, the new urban agenda. My husband is the urban affairs minister in India,but we have been advocating before the govt. of India and implementing smart cities program and all the urban programs that they are doing. PM Modi is very much supportive of gender equality program and his new India campaign.
Receiving the Diwali Power of One Award, in recognition of powerful advocacy and leadership in ensuring the adoption of a dedicated goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment (SDG 5) within the Sustainable Development Goals, and championship of the cause, December 11, 2017 Photo /Jay Mandal
But sexual harassment in work place is very pervasive. It is challenging to women who are coming out and participating in different sectors of political life and professions. So, all these stories are now coming out like “metoo” movement.
TIP: I concur with what you are saying but centuries old cultural, social and patriarchal norms take time to change. Compared to US, there are not many women rising to top in Punjab or Africa. How tough do you think your ground is whether in Punjab or Africa?
AMB: Well, cultural,social, and patriarchal norms are critical and that is why we believe in movement building. and that is why I believe govt. of India’s – bibi bachao, beti padhao – unless you start building culture and social norms around valuing the girl child that she is of equal value and also you dismantle all the patriarchal institutions and norms that devalue the child and aversion to the girl child, you are not going to get any change. So, movement building has to be done. This movement building has been going on through village councils. UN women has been working in India through women village councilors and zilla parishad councilors. Because they have got elected on quota and there are 1.5 million women councilors who are acting as staff. What we have do is to work with them, train them and demand rights and public services from authorities and also implementation of the programs that have been approved, money to be spent on programs that have been approved. So, our governance program is very successful program.
Women’s economic empowerment, access to energy and water and sanitation are really important. But you have to target gender equality when you target these programs. And equally these programs will benefit gender equality in return. For example, the jan-dhan program, the access to finance, women’s disadvantage in terms of owning property, lands and in Punjab this is prevalent in spite of having a law that prevents it and also to disincentivize the discrimination. So effective laws and policies and their effective implementation, movement building, and youth have to be part of all this.
On the youth side, we have this LEAP program – Leadership, empowerment, action and prevention of violence against women and partnership with women’s organization, young men’s organization and intergenerational dialog. So that is the youth part.
We are very successful in our “he or she” programs. men and boys have to be made champions of gender equality. Women have to stand up for their rights. I have seen in India women are transmitting harmful, discriminatory patriarchal norms. So social transformation by women themselves is important. but men and boys have to be taught from the beginning.
With Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, October 2017 Photo / PMO
TIP:That is where the problem is. When there are many women in the family, only then men are sensitive to feminist issues.
AMB:Yes, it has to begin when youare a boy. Every father and mother must bring up their children in a gender equal way. Boys must learn in their textbooks in the way their teachers teach them about how women and girls are lower in dignity. The other day PM Modi said in “swacha Bharat abhiyan” – he talked about how everybody in the house leaves the woman to do the cleaning work. Why? It should be the responsibility of each one. So that kind of new culture respecting the dignity and equal rights of women has to be developed. Education is an important part, but prevention, protection, prosecution of perpetrators, ending violence against women and provision of multisectoral services- in all of that again, changing mindset and educating from the beginning is needed. We are now dealing with generations of people who have grown up on gender unequal basis and mindset that have stereotypes. So, we have to change that and to change that we have to work with them. and we have been working with them.
90% of the world is governed by men leaders and they are leading from the front. You asked about Africa. We have worked with tribal leaders, advocating and championing. It has been successful.
Faith is another important thing. In Sikhism, women are always seen as equal. And, what has happened now? it is with all other religions including Hindus that we worship them on one side and on the other, we devalue them.
Farewell call with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, December 2017 Photo/ Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia
In order to build 50/50 progress by 2030, we have to take some measures. We are leading not only in India but many parts of the world, “Gender parity Democracy” movement.
TIP: Do you think, likereservation system, we should have a similar system in political and corporate world?
AMB: I entirely advocate what is in the Beijing platform and what is in the convention for ending all forms of discrimination against women. There is a rule for special temporary measures. it is not that these measures will be there forever, but when you levelthe playing field, you need some special measures to take those who are at the position of disadvantage now to the position of equality and once that has been achieved, then those measures will become irrelevant. So thatis what we should aspire for.
Now to your question, even before going to corporate, we have been advocating, and achieved constitutional amendments in many countries whereby quotas have been set for parliaments but not yet in India.We are strongly advocating for “reservation bill” in India. There are electoral system challenges and diverse community cultures, but we are advocating reservation bill strongly and parliamentary seats for women for some time. I remember one case in a village panchayt near Jaipur when she stated that she was first nominated and now she defeated 15 other contestants on her own strength. She said people voted for her because she delivered -“I built roads, got schools opened, got projects opened”.
It is not only women and girls that we do reservation for; it is for good governance.
Accepting the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award In recognition of her contribution to furthering the mission of the United Nations, her deep-seated commitment to human rights, as well as the global impact of her work, November 2016
TIP: So those girls are advocating requirements for themselves.
AMB: So, you need to bring us up to a level when we don’t need any more help and also to a point where people recognize women’s equal participation in governance.
That brings me to the corporate world. It is a major challenge. There are many countries – like Norway – that have special measures which state that any company that wants to be listed on stock exchange has to have 50 percent women on board. China and Japan are also working towards having women board members. So, it is a mandatory movement. There are movements in India, European union and Germany as well.
In Australia, women owned business companies are given certain preferences. These kinds of incentives build women’s management and governance capacity in the corporate sector as well.
So, you need some measures to achieve that.
With Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, global champion of gender equality and UN Women; and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. June 2016
TIP: Even though India had Lady PM and President in politics, what about corporate sector?
AMB: We have women CMs, ministers etc. We are taking many steps but not enough.This is a very slow progress. In order to build 50/50 progress by 2030, we have to take some measures.We are leading not only in India but many parts of the world, “Gender parity Democracy” movement.
We have great women’s movement in India, many NGO leaders are women.
As UN organization, we have our first MOU with NYC and we have partnership program on all aspects of gender equality. Like NYC, we are working with many cities in in the world. We also have safe and sustainable cities program which include 66 cities in the program and India has about 8 or 9 cities that participates in the gender equality program which includes many areas like transport, business etc.
Regarding your earlier question on women, apart from this norm setting and movement building, one major project has been how to build a knowledge hub. we want to bring out the facts for a “gender statistics revolution”.
We need to know and bring out what is happening with women and girls – whether economic empowerment, violence etc. and we have this program called “making women and girls count”.
India is a pathfinder country. There are about now 20 countries that participating in this program. Now social media is also helping in that – gender statistics revolution.
We need to bring out the facts to make people outreach to bring about the emancipation of women. As Swami Vivekananda said -“arise, awake and stop not” – this whole knowledge is important and that is the basis of the revolution.
TIP: Is there a time frame for that?
AMB:We have set a time-frame of 2030. That is why the slogan is – “planet 50/50 by 2030”. We are asking every country to step up.
We are very strapped and under-resourced. Original target was 1 billion, then it became 500 million and now we are struggling to reach 300 million. It has been a big challenge. We have tried to raise from philanthropist and private sectors, including India. We are doing everything, but governments are not forthcoming.
TIP: Just like any country that violates UN resolutions, are there any sanctions for the country that violates the gender equality?
AMB: UN women is intergovernmental organization. There are no sanctions that can be placed but we work with every country to make them speed up the gender equality. In UAE we have opened an office. We are having dialog with Saudi Arabia and we have a very strong Arab office in Egypt that oversees all of the Arab world.
We are working in conflict countries, natural disasters, refugee countries, we are working on humanitarian response and resiliencebuilding, making sure that whateverhumanitarianresponse is provided, there is a very strong focusing on differential and disproportionate response on women as they are more prone to exploitation.
TIP:Regrading your 2030 target, do you think your organization needs more resources and extra power to meet the target?
AMB: Absolutely. This has been one of my regrets that the international community has been very strong in committing in terms of norms and standards to women’s empowerment and gender equality, they have not setup institutions to take this forward. So, the financial commitment part has not been commensurate with declared political commitment. We are very strapped and under-resourced.
Original target was 1 billion, then it became 500 million and now we are struggling to reach 300 million. It has been a big challenge. We have tried to raise from philanthropist and private sectors,including India. We are doing everything, but governments are not forthcoming.
“Making Women and children count” is supported by Gates Foundation.
With the godmother of feminism, Gloria Steinem at the launch symposium of the Women, Peace and Security program at Columbia University, October 2017
I would like all women to come forward and claim their rights which are equal to all the men and boys. And to all men and boys, join the gender equality cause, because this is not only good for your mothers, sisters, colleagues etc.; it is good for you.
TIP: US president has decided to cut back funding for UN. So, are you also affected?
AMB: No, we were in fact very happy that in 2017 contribution from US increased by a million.
TIP: What about now?
AMB: In 2017 US govt. gave 8.5 million, 1 million more than the previous year.
TIP:How is India performing?
AMB: India, from the inception, has played a very stellar role and they are the only country contributing 1 million every year.
TIP:One last question. Your husband, Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri has been a wonderful diplomat. Now that he has chosen to go into politics, how do you look at the new avatar of your husband.
AMB: He always wanted to be in politics. He was in politics during his student days. He always wanted to break out of his civil service mantle and go into politics. After retirement, he chose to go into politics. I am very happy that he has assumed the role of minister for urban and housing development which is very critical in order to achieve all the 17 goals of sustainable development and he has my full support.
TIP: Before we close, would you like to say something to The Indian Panorama readers?
AMB: I would like all women to come forward and claim their rights which are equal to all the men and boys. And to all men and boys, join the gender equality cause, because this is not only good for your mothers, sisters, colleagues etc.; it is good for you.
An Associated Press report published on January 8 in USA Today said that a trio of monster hurricanes and a ferocious wildfire season led to the costliest year for natural disasters on record in the U.S. in 2017, with nearly a third of a trillion dollars in damage, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday, January9.
The U.S. endured 16 separate weather and climate disasters with losses that each exceeded $1 billion last year, with total costs of about $306 billion, a new record for the country. It broke the previous record set in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina and other disasters caused $215 billion in damage to the U.S.
Last year’s disasters killed 362 people in the U.S., including Puerto Rico, NOAA said. However, NOAA climatologist Adam Smith said the death toll could increase based on information that continues to come in from Puerto Rico.
It was also the most expensive hurricane season on record at $265 billion and the costliest wildfire season on record at $18 billion, Smith said.
The news comes only weeks after the House passed an $81 billion disaster aid package. The Senate did not take up the bill and is working on its own version.
Hurricane Harvey racked up total damage costs of $125 billion, second only to Hurricane Katrina in the 38-year period of record keeping for billion-dollar disasters. Rainfall from Harvey caused massive flooding that displaced more than 30,000 people and damaged or destroyed more than 200,000 homes and businesses, NOAA said.
Hurricanes Maria and Irma totaled $90 billion and $50 billion in damage, respectively. Maria now ranks as the third-costliest weather and climate disaster on record for the nation and Irma ranks as the fifth-costliest.
The total of last year’s disaster costs is nearly the same as Denmark’s gross domestic product, which the World Bank tallied at $306.9 billion in 2016.
Climate change is “playing an increasing role in the increasing frequency of some types of extreme weather that lead to billion-dollar disasters, most notably the rise in vulnerability to drought, lengthening wildfire seasons and the potential for extremely heavy rainfall and inland flooding,” Smith said.
Another expert, University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd, said that “while we have to be careful about knee-jerk cause-effect discussions, the National Academy of Science and recent peer-reviewed literature continue to show that some of today’s extremes have climate change fingerprints on them.”
The announcement came at the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society in Austin.
As for temperatures in 2017, the U.S. sweltered through its 3rd-warmest year on record, trailing only 2012 and 2016, NOAA said.
For the third consecutive year, every state across the contiguous U.S. and Alaska was warmer than average.
Five states — Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina and South Carolina — experienced their warmest year on record. Thirty-two additional states, including Alaska, had annual temperatures that ranked among the 10 warmest on record.
“While the weather can change on a dime, our climate is steadily warming,” said Shaun Martin of the World Wildlife Fund. “Each year provides another piece of evidence in what science has already confirmed — the consequences of rising temperatures are putting people and wildlife at risk.”
“In the U.S., we’re seeing more severe droughts, wildfires, crop losses and more frequent coastal storms with deadly impacts,” Martin added.
Global temperature data for 2017 will be released on Jan. 18 by NOAA and NASA.
Harinder Panaser, President, Global Haryana Chamber of Commerce, and CEO, Harman Wellness Professionals Inc characterized victories of Indian Americans, like Vin Gopal and Ravi Bhalla, who has been elected Mayor of Hoboken, as indicative of the growing involvement of Indian American community in the political process of the country, which, he said, is good for both the community and the country.
ASBURY PARK, NJ (TIP): New Jersey Senator-Elect Vin Gopal will host a swearing-in reception on Tuesday, January 9th, 2017 in Asbury Park, in celebration of his official swearing-in as the newest State Senator representing New Jersey’s 11th District.
Gopal became the first Democrat in 30 years to win the 11th District seat and at 32 years old, will be the youngest legislator in New Jersey’s upper-house. He will take the oath of office on the morning of January 9th at the State House in Trenton.
“I know taking the oath of office will be one of the proudest moments of my life, and I cannot wait to get to work serving the people of Monmouth County,” Gopal said, “I look forward to personally thanking the supporters, elected officials, and community leaders who have stood by me every step of the way.”
The Swearing-in reception on January 9, from 7 to 10 PM. at Wonder Bar, 1213 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712 will be attended by Assemblywoman Joann Downey, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, other local elected officials, and community members.
Vin Gopal, the former Monmouth County Democratic chairman with deep roots in the party there, defeated longtime state Sen. Jennifer Beck in the state’s 11th legislative district.
According to unofficial results from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, Gopal defeated Beck 28,750 votes to 25,108 votes.
The Indian American community is really excited at the electoral victory of a large number of their members in the State of New Jersey.
Harinder Panaser, President, Global Haryana Chamber of Commerce, and CEO, Harman Wellness Professionals Inc characterized victories of Indian Americans, like Vin Gopal and Ravi Bhalla, who has been elected Mayor of Hoboken, as indicative of the growing involvement of Indian American community in the political process of the country, which, he said, is good for both the community and the country.
Vin is a lifelong Monmouth County resident, born in Neptune Township and raised in Freehold. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Penn State, he spent years building his business from the ground up and now has 14 employees, based out of his Tinton Falls and Hazlet offices.
“I’ve felt the crushing burden that over-regulation and red tape can have on a small business in Monmouth County’s local economy. It’s a waste of time and a waste of hard earned dollars. When I get to Trenton, the first thing I promise to do is cut the red-tape and work to get businesses growing and hiring again. Enough is enough.”
A successful local small-business owner, Vin previously served on the Board of Directors for the now Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce where he chaired the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee. He is a past-President of the Hazlet Township Business Owners Association and a past-Board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County. Vin previously served as a volunteer EMT for the Colts Neck and Freehold First Aid Squads, responding to hundreds of 911 emergencies.
Ayad Akhtar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Disgraced, has now returned to Broadway with his play JUNK.
He had long wanted to write “a very big play about finance” he confesses. He is not going to be solely defined as an ethnic playwright. Having been a decoder of a strain of Muslim-American life — middle-class, educated, assimilated, though less comfortably so after 2001 — he has, for now, moved on.
Company of Actors in JUNK.
His interest in finance is longstanding. When Akhtar set off for New York to become a writer, his Muslim-American father who founded a cardiology practice in Wisconsin, made him promise to read The Wall Street Journal, every day. He helped support himself by trading stocks, using as seed money annual stipends of $12,000 or so sent by his parents.
JUNK is set in the 1980s, in the high-flying, risk-seeking, teetering financial world and inspired by the real junk bond kings of the day. This fictionalized, riveting story shows us from the inside how money became the only thing that mattered.
“The play strives, frankly, to implicate us ALL: the culture that seems driven by money, “the financialization of everything.” “It’s about the forces that are secretly or not-so-secretly running our lives: it’s the “financialization” of everything! …the fact that it’s happened so quickly…it’s happened in my lifetime. I think the country has undergone a sea change…about what constitutes wealth” bemoans Tony winning director Doug Hughes (Doubt).
Although his drama is set a quarter-century ago, JUNK speaks to the present day. Mr. Akhtar believes that all the sound and fury and political chaos of the Trump-era America covers for even greater shifts of money and power to the upper classes — and that we are looking in the wrong direction and have been for quite some time. “The new landed gentry are those who manufacture money, who have access to massive amounts of capital,” says Akhtar. “That’s the strand the play is really following.”
Identity politics on both sides, he believes, has the nation “consumed and distracted from the real story.” “Money,” he says, “is what’s happening.”
In the play, financier Robert Merkin (played by Steven Pasquale as a Michael Milken-like junk bond king), the resident genius of the upstart firm Sackler Lowell, has just landed on the cover of Time Magazine. Hailed as “America’s Alchemist,” his proclamation that debt is an asset has propelled him to dizzying heights. Zealously promoting his belief in the near-sacred infallibility of markets, he is trying to re-shape the world. He will stop at nothing to take over an iconic American manufacturing company, changing the rules as he goes. With his brilliance matched only by his swagger, Merkin sets in motion nothing less than a financial civil war, pitting magnates against workers, lawyers against journalists, and everyone against themselves.
Steven Pasquale (The Bridges of Madison County and TV’s Rescue Me) leads an impeccable cast, in this portrait of the dark side of the American Dream.
Steven Pasquale, plays the lead in JUNKThe Stock Ticker.
“It is not a judgment or an indictment about how we do things on Wall Street, but it is an examination of where we are as a country in terms of how we live economically, and it asks the audience to really think about it” explains Steven Pasquale. He plays the lead among a cast of 23 actors: Ito Aghayere, Philip James Brannon, Tony Carlin, Demosthenes Chrysan, Jenelle Chu, Caroline Hewitt, Rick Holmes, Tec Koch, Ian Lasiter, Teresa Avia Lim, Adam Ludwig, Sean McIntyre, Nate Miller, Steven Pasquale, Ethan Phillips, Matthew Rauche, Matthew Saldivar, Charlie Semine, Michael Silberry, Miriam Silverman, Joey Slotnick, Henry Stram, and Stephanie Umoh.
JUNK has sets by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Ben Stanton, and original music and sound by Mark Bennett.
Junk had its world premiere season production at La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA in 2016,
For tickets or more information, call Telecharge at 212 239 6200, visit lct.org org or the box office at The Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 West 65th Street, New York.
Twelfth Night, or What You Will?
A Shakespeare Comedy
Classic Stage Company (CSC) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary season. CSC is committed to re-imagining classic stories for contemporary audiences.
Emily YoungNoah Brody
Classic Stage Company, as part of its 50th anniversary season, presents Fiasco Theater’s Twelfth Night, Or What You Will by William Shakespeare. “Twelfth Night is a fitting companion piece to As You Like It (that initiated the season earlier in Fall 2017),” both among Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, “in Act I of (the) 50th anniversary season,” explains John Doyle, Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company.
Shipwrecked on the island of Illyria, Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated, each fearing the other lost to the sea. Viola disguises herself as a boy and wades into a complex romantic triangle with Duke Orsino and the Countess Olivia. New York’s innovative Fiasco Theater brings their hallmark style and expansive imagination to one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies.
“One of the primary realms of interest in Twelfth Night relies equally on prose as well as verse,” say Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, directors of Fiasco’s production of Twelfth Night. Being heavily influenced by the works of Cicely Berry and Andrew Wade, and having developed the tools of purpose, structure, and rhythm of prose since 2010, the directors were excited to put them to use in Twelfth Night.
“Fiasco was born out of the crucible of (their) shared graduate training at the Brown/Trinity MFA acting program,” they said.
In spite of presenting work by other playwrights, they have consistently returned to the work of Shakespeare mainly for the language, the stories, the wilderness, the boldness, the honesty, the surprise, the rhythms, the specificity, the depth, the silliness.
Shakespeare was uniquely capable of breathing the full richness of universal human experience into the language of his characters: love and hate; honor and sin; the mortal thoughts that drive us; humor and wit …are all realized.
Ben Steinfeld, serving as musical director for Fiasco’s Shakespeare productions considers it “a gift” “to help figure out how to serve the production, while simultaneously giving the ensemble a chance to explore their musical identities and indulging his own musical passions.” The joy of making “music together, flows into the acting.” “It’s important,” says Steinfeld, for him and the ensemble “that the actors make that music live on stage.”
The Full Company Photos / Joan Marcus
Directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, the cast of Twelfth Night, Or What You Will features Jessie Austrian (Olivia), Noah Brody (Orsino), Tina Chilip (Maria), Paul L. Coffey (Malvolio), Andy Grotelueschen (Sir Toby Belch), Javier Ignacio (Sebastian), David Samuel (Antonio), Ben Steinfeld (Feste), Paco Tolson (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) and Emily Young (Viola). Scenic design is by John Doyle, costume design by Emily Rebholz and lighting design by Ben Stanton.
For tickets or more information, call (212) 352 3101 or (866) 811 4111, visit classicstage.org or the box office at 136 East 13th Street, New York.
(Mabel Pais is a freelance writer. She writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, and Spirituality)
WASHINGTON (TIP): An Alabama circuit judge on Thursday, December 28, rejected Republican Roy Moore’s request to halt the certification, arguing the court did not have jurisdiction. Meanwhile, officials from the secretary of state’s office dismissed accounts of voter fraud provided by Moore’s attorneys.
“There have not been any issues at this time that have been reported and determined to be verified as fraud,” said John Bennett, Merrill’s deputy chief of staff.
Still, Moore, 70, the defiant former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, refused to concede.
The three Republicans who make up Alabama’s canvassing board — Gov. Kay Ivey, Atty. Gen. Steve Marshall and Secretary of State John Merrill — certified Jones as the victor of the closely watched Dec. 12 special election.
“I’ve had to fight not only the Democrats but also the Republican Senate Leadership Fund and over $50 million in opposition spending from the Washington establishment,” he said in a statement after Republican state leaders certified Jones’ win. “I have stood for the truth about God and the Constitution for the people of Alabama”
“I have no regrets,” he added. “To God be the glory.”
In the 80-page complaint filed in state court, Moore’s attorneys asked that state officials be ordered to preserve election-related documents and data, block the certification, and direct state officials to set a new special election.
On Thursday, an attorney for Jones filed a motion to dismiss Moore’s complaint on the grounds that “there is a lack of subject matter jurisdiction; [the complaint] fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; and/or [it] has no basis in the law.”
In a statement, a spokesman for the Jones transition team urged Moore to bow out of the race.
“This desperate attempt by Roy Moore to subvert the will of the people will not succeed,” Sam Coleman said. “The election is over, it’s time to move on.”
In the complaint, Moore’s attorneys maintain that he will “suffer irreparable harm” if the election results are certified “without preserving and investigating all the evidence of potential fraud.” He would be denied “his full right as a candidate to a fair election,” they argue.
Merrill, a Republican, maintains his office has found no evidence of voter fraud. Last week, he issued a statement noting that his office had discounted one widely publicized report of potential voter fraud — a viral video in which a male voter claimed in a local news broadcast that he and others had come “all the way from different parts of the country” to vote and canvass for Jones.
“The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office was able to identify the young man who was anonymously featured on the news broadcast,” Merrill said in a statement. “After additional research was conducted, it was determined that this young man has lived and worked in Alabama for more than one year and is currently a registered voter in this state.”
Yet Moore’s campaign states in the complaint that Merrill never conducted a “meaningful, in-depth investigation of voter fraud.”
They also list a series of election “anomalies,” claiming there were an unusual number of out-of-state drivers’ licenses and suggesting that Democrats attempted to intimidate voters, with a Democratic super PAC running “fraudulent, false and misleading advertisements” against Moore.
“I am looking forward to going to work for the people of Alabama in the new year,” Jones said in a statement. “As I said on election night, our victory marks a new chapter for our state and the nation. I will be an independent voice and work to find common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Washington back on track and fight to make our country a better place for all.”
Official totals indicated Jones won by 21,924 votes, his margin of victory up to 1.6 percentage points from the previous unofficial total of 1.5 points.
How many more have to die this way before the Legislature will act? – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas
I.S. Saluja
MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Police announced December 23 that the suspected killer of Taranjit Kaur Parmar had been arrested and that he will be arraigned on December 24.
On December 24, Nassau County Police held a press conference to announce the arrest and the arraignment of Daniel Coppolo, 31 of Kinsella Street, Deer Park, New York.
D/Lt. Fitzpatrick of Homicide Squad recounted that Taranjit K Parmar, 18 of Levittown was on November 9, operating a 2018 Jeep traveling eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike when she was struck by a red pickup truck, traveling northbound, attempting to turn eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike in the vicinity of Gardiners Lane. After the minor collision- a fender bender – both operators immediately pulled off the roadway at 3300 Hempstead Turnpike. While the victim was out of her vehicle, the suspect fled the scene striking Taranjit and running her over.
Fitzpatrick also spoke about how Coppolo was arrested. He said,” Investigators did not have far to look once they determined Coppolo was their suspect: He was being held in the Nassau County jail on an unrelated robbery charge.
“On Dec. 23, Daniel was released from the jail. We were there to arrest him,” Fitzpatrick said.
The suspected killer Daniel Coppolo is led by detectives at the Nassau County Police Headquarters on December 24.
Detectives determined Coppolo was a suspect in Parmar’s death through witness testimony, video from nearby cameras, and tips from the public. They also scoured motor vehicle records for a red late-model pickup truck, Fitzpatrick said. Detectives identified Coppolo’s red 2013 Toyota Tacoma pickup by decals and lights on the vehicle, and obtained a court order to impound and search the truck on Nov. 16.
Nassau County Acting Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the investigators received 50 tips about the crime and did a great job to identify the suspect.
Speaking at the press conference, Ranjit Parmar, father of Taranjit Kaur appreciated the Homicide department of Nassau County Police who, he said, had worked tirelessly to piece together the case which led to arrest of the suspect. “It makes us feel good that so many people were involved in this investigation,” Ranjit Parmar said. Later, he told The Indian Panorama that he was satisfied with the investigation.
The victim: Taranjit Kaur Parmar
Speaking on the occasion, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas, apart from giving details of the case and the story of investigation done exhorted the Legislature to come up with measures to prevent loss of life in such cases. She said, “How many more have to die this way before legislature acts?”
Coppolo was charged with Manslaughter 2nd degree, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree.
Coppolo faces up to 26 years in prison if convicted of the charges, Coppolo was arraigned, December 24 in the court of Judge Eileen J Goggin. Coppolo pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Judge Eileen Goggin set bail at $1 million bond or $600,000 cash, more than the prosecutors had asked for, citing previous contacts with police and the seriousness of the charges.
Coppolo’s attorney, Lawrence V. Carrà of Mineola, told Goggin his client had been on psychiatric medical leave from the New York City Fire Department for three months. Carrà said Coppolo suffers from manic depression and does not always take his medication. Carrà asked for bail to be set at $25,000 and for mental health treatment for his client.
But Parmar’s attorney Brian R. Gunn of Garden City said the bail was appropriate “given the serious nature of the charges as well as the relatively young defendant’s past criminal history.”
Cuppolo has a criminal record. He was arrested for DWI in 2016 and, in another case, was charged with attempted robbery at a Target Store.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
KABUL (TIP): At least 41 persons were killed when an Islamic State suicide bomber struck a Shiite cultural center in Kabul, December 28
An AFP report says that the attack may have targeted the pro-Iran Afghan Voice news agency housed in the two-story building. The Sunni extremists of IS view Shiite Muslims as apostates and have repeatedly attacked Afghanistan’s Shiite minority and targets linked to neighboring Iran.
The attack wounded more than 80 persons, many of whom suffered severe burns. The center was marking the anniversary of the 1979 Soviet invasion with a seminar about the event’s impact on the country.
Local Shiite leader Abdul Hussain Ramazandada said the bomber slipped into an academic seminar at the center and blew himself up among the participants. More bombs went off just outside the center as people fled.
The IS-linked Aamaq news agency said four bombs were used in the assault, one strapped to the suicide attacker. It said the center was funded by Iran and used to propagate Shiite beliefs.
Ali Reza Ahmadi, a journalist with Afghan Voice, said he leaped from the window of his second-floor office after the first bomb went off and saw flames pouring from the basement.
“I jumped from the roof toward the basement, yelling at people to get water to put out the fire,” he said. At nearby Istiqlal Hospital, Director Mohammed Sabir Nasib said the emergency room was overwhelmed. Additional doctors and nurses were called in to help. At the height of the crisis, more than 50 medics were working to save the wounded.
By late afternoon, Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mujro said 41 people were dead and 84 others wounded. The IS affiliate in Afghanistan, which emerged in 2014 at around the same time the group declared a caliphate in large parts of Syria and Iraq, has vowed to target Shiites.
“How many more have to die this way before the Legislature will act?” asked Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas
MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Police announced December 23 that the suspected killer of Taranjit Kaur Parmar had been arrested and that he will be arraigned on December 24.
The victim: Taranjit Kaur Parmar
On December 24, Nassau County Police held a press conference to announce the arrest and the arraignment of Daniel Coppolo, 31 of Kinsella Street, Deer Park, New York.
D/Lt. Fitzpatrick of Homicide Squad recounted that Taranjit K Parmar, 18 of Levittown was on November 9, operating a 2018 Jeep traveling eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike when she was struck by a red pickup truck, traveling northbound, attempting to turn eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike in the vicinity of Gardiners Lane. After the minor collision- a fender bender – both operators immediately pulled off the roadway at 3300 Hempstead Turnpike. While the victim was out of her vehicle, the suspect fled the scene striking Taranjit and running her over.
Fitzpatrick also spoke about how Coppolo was arrested. He said,” Investigators did not have far to look once they determined Coppolo was their suspect: He was being held in the Nassau County jail on an unrelated robbery charge.
“On Dec. 23, Daniel was released from the jail. We were there to arrest him,” Fitzpatrick said.
Detectives determined Coppolo was a suspect in Parmar’s death through witness testimony, video from nearby cameras, and tips from the public. They also scoured motor vehicle records for a red late-model pickup truck, Fitzpatrick said. Detectives identified Coppolo’s red 2013 Toyota Tacoma pickup by decals and lights on the vehicle, and obtained a court order to impound and search the truck on Nov. 16.
Nassau County Acting Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the investigators received 50 tips about the crime and did a great job to identify the suspect.
Taranjit Parmar’s father Ranjit Parmar speaking at the press conference. Also seen are Taranjit’s mother Kulvinder Kaur (second from left). Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas (7th from left). Others present included Nassau County Acting Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Detective Fitzpatrick among others.
Speaking at the press conference, Ranjit Parmar, father of Taranjit Kaur appreciated the Homicide department of Nassau County Police who, he said, had worked tirelessly to piece together the case which led to arrest of the suspect. “It makes us feel good that so many people were involved in this investigation,” Ranjit Parmar said. Later, he told The Indian Panorama that he was satisfied with the investigation.
Speaking on the occasion, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas, apart from giving details of the case and the story of investigation done exhorted the Legislature to come up with measures to prevent loss of life in such cases. She said, “How many more have to die this way before legislature acts?”
Coppolo was charged with Manslaughter 2nd degree, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Reckless Endangerment 2nd degree.
Coppolo faces up to 26 years in prison if convicted of the charges, Coppolo was arraigned, December 24 in the court of Judge Eileen J Goggin. Coppolo pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Judge Eileen Goggin set bail at $1 million bond or $600,000 cash, more than the prosecutors had asked for, citing previous contacts with police and the seriousness of the charges.
Coppolo’s attorney, Lawrence V. Carrà of Mineola, told Goggin his client had been on psychiatric medical leave from the New York City Fire Department for three months. Carrà said Coppolo suffers from manic depression and does not always take his medication. Carrà asked for bail to be set at $25,000 and for mental health treatment for his client.
But Parmar’s attorney Brian R. Gunn of Garden City said the bail was appropriate “given the serious nature of the charges as well as the relatively young defendant’s past criminal history.”
Cuppolo has a criminal record. He was arrested for DWI in 2016 and, in another case, was charged with attempted robbery at a Target Store.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
CBI court says prosecution failed to prove any charge; agency to file appeal in HC
NEW DELHI (TIP): Former telecom minister and DMK leader A Raja, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and others were today acquitted in the politically sensitive 2G spectrum allocation cases by a special court which held that the prosecution miserably failed to prove the scam involving corruption and money laundering.
The court, which held there was no scam in the 2G spectrum allocation in 2007-08 when Raja was the telecom minister in the erstwhile UPA regime headed by Manmohan Singh, also set free all accused in two offshoot cases lodged by the ED and the CBI.
It said some people created a scam by “artfully arranging a few selected facts and exaggerating things beyond recognition to astronomical levels”.
In the main CBI case, besides Raja and Kanimozhi, the 15 other accused allowed to walk free include former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja’s erstwhile private secretary R K Chandolia, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra and three top executives of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (RADAG) — Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair.
Bollywood film producer Karim Morani, Kalaignar TV’s director Sharad Kumar, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Aggarwal of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd were also acquitted. The companies which were not found guilty are Shahid Balwa’s Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd, Chandra’s Unitech (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd and Reliance Telecom Ltd of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.
Raja and Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, along with 17 others were also let off in another case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate under the money laundering law arising out of the 2G scam. Raja remained in jail for over 15 months while Kanimozhi was in prison for six months before they were granted bail.
Other accused persons were also in jail for varying term.
The court also acquitted Essar Group promoters Ravi Kant Ruia and Anshuman Ruia and six others in a separate CBI case arising out of the 2G scam probe. Besides Ruias, Loop Telecom Promoters I P Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan and Vikash Saraf, one of the Essar Group Directors, Loop Telecom Ltd, Loop Mobile (India) Ltd and Essar Teleholdings Ltd were also acquitted.
While giving clean chit to all the accused in the three case connected with the 2G spectrum allocation, Special Judge O P Saini was critical of the CBI and the apex court-appointed special public prosecutor Anand Grover, saying the quality of prosecution had “totally deteriorated” and by the end it became “directionless”.
It observed that the CBI had started its case with “great enthusiasm and ardour” but at the final stage of the trial, SPP Grover and the regular CBI prosecutor moved in “two different directions without any coordination”.
Further, the judge was not convinced with the prosecution theory that the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was misled by Raja or that the facts were misrepresented to him, saying such arguments were taken “just to prejudice the mind of the court by invoking the high name and authority of the prime minister of the country.
In embarrassment to the CBI, the court said the genesis of the instant case lies not so much in the actions of Raja but in the action or inaction of others and “there is no material on record to show that the telecom minister was ‘mother lode of conspiracy’ in the case”.
“There is also no evidence of his no holds barred immersion in any wrong doing, conspiracy or corruption,” it said about the alleged scam in which high profile witnesses like the then Attorney General G E Vahanvati, Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani, corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, then TRAI Chairman Nripendra Mishra, then DoT secretary D S Mathur, former RBI governor D Subba Rao and former Law Secretary T K Vishwanathan deposed.
In the main CBI case involving Raja, Kanimozhi and others, the court held that the depositions of senior officers of Department of Telecom (DoT) and key prosecution witnesses were contrary to the record and they were just passing the buck without suggesting anything.
However, it said Raja’s statements matched with the official record and “appeared to be cogent, truthful and as such acceptable”.
