hi INDiA | March 10, 2023 | The Community First

65-year-old US man ‘robs’ bank of $1 for imprisonment

Los Angeles, March 9 (IANS) The Salt Lake City Police Department has confirmed that officers arrested a 65-year-old man accused of robbing a bank in the US city, who reportedly demanded $1 from employees earlier this week “in an attempt to be sent to a prison”. The man, identified as Donald Santacroce, on Monday entered a bank near 300 South Main Street in Salt Lake City, the capital and most populous city of the western US state of Utah, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Salt Lake City Police Department. The suspect demanded money from bank employees and refused to leave the bank. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one count of robbery, said the department in a news release.

Tiger Woods’ ExGirlfriend Files Lawsuit

Under PM Modi, Military Response More Likely To Pak Provocations: US Intel

This assessment forms part of the annual threat assessment of the US intelligence community that was submitted to the US Congress by the Office of Director of National Intelligence during a Congressional hearing. While India and China have engaged in bilateral border talks and resolved border points, relations will remain strained in the wake of the countries’ lethal clash in 2020, the most serious in decades, said the report.

Five women sue Texas for denying abortion

The American intelligence community on Wednesday told lawmakers that it apprehends increased tension between India and Pakistan and India and China with the possibility of a conflict between them.

It also noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to Pakistani provocations.

The expanded military postures by both India and China along the disputed border elevate the risk of armed confrontation between two nuclear powers that might involve direct threats to US persons and interests, and calls for US intervention. Previous standoffs have demonstrated that persistent low-level friction on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has the potential to escalate swiftly, it said.

Xi accuses US of trying to hold back China’s development

Miami: Tiger Woods’s ex-girlfriend has filed a lawsuit seeking to be released from a nondisclosure agreement she says the golf superstar made her sign at the start of their relationship in 2017, court filings showed Wednesday. Erica Herman, who lived with the 15-time major winner at his Florida mansion until late 2022, filed the request in the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit in Martin County, Florida. According to court records seen by AFP, Herman’s attorneys argue that the NDA she was required to sign is “invalid and unenforceable” under US federal legislation known as the Speak Out Act.

Is the United States out to sabotage China? Chinese leaders think so. President Xi Jinping accused Washington this week of trying to isolate his country and hold back its development.

That reflects the ruling Communist Party’s growing frustration that its pursuit of prosperity and global influence is threatened by U.S. restrictions on access to technology, its support for Taiwan and other moves

seen by Beijing as hostile. Xi, China’s most powerful leader in decades, tries to appear to be above problems and usually makes blandly positive public comments. That made his complaint Monday all the more striking. Xi said a U.S.-led campaign of “containment and suppression” of China has “brought unprecedented, severe challenges.” He called on the public to “dare to fight.”

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Qin Gang sharpened the warning, saying Washington faces possible “conflict and confrontation” if it fails to change course. “The foreign minister is speaking on behalf of a widely held view that the United States is coming after China and they have to defend themselves,” said John Delury, an international relations specialist at Yonsei University in Seoul.

US Senate Panel Votes In Favour Of Biden’s Choice For India Ambassador

New Delhi: The foreign relations committee of the US Senate today voted in favour of former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti becoming the ambassador of India. Mr Garcetti, who is Joe Biden’s choice for the key envoy post, will now face a vote on the floor of the US Senate. The panel approved the nomination by a vote of 13-8, with Republican Senators Todd Young and Bill Hagerty joining all of the committee’s Democrats in voting in favor of Eric Garcetti.

“We did see the action on the part of the Senate today. We heartily applaud that. The US needs a confirmed Ambassador in India. Our team on the ground, incl Charge d’ Affaires, who have served in

Eric Garcetti, who is Joe Biden’s choice for the key envoy post, will now face a vote on the floor of the US Senate.

the place of an ambassador, have done extraordinary work,” said US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price. Clearing Eric Garcetti’s name, the committee said that having a full-time

ambassador to India was a matter of national security. Mr Garcetti’s name had been cleared by the committee last year too, but the appointment did not go through due to allegations of sexual misconduct against some staff members in his office. Owing to the impasse, the US has not had an India Ambassador for two years now. With the key post vacant, the Biden administration last year appointed Elizabeth Jones as the Charge d’Affaires ad interim at its Embassy in Delhi. Mr Garcetti, 52, was nominated by President Biden for the Ambassador to India post in July 2021. But his nomination was not brought to the Senate for a vote as the ruling Democrats did not have enough support to get him through.

Five women who say they were denied abortions despite grave risks to their lives or their fetuses sued the state of Texas on Monday, apparently the first time that pregnant women themselves have taken legal action against the bans that have shut down access to abortion across the country since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The women — two visibly pregnant — plan to tell their stories on the steps of the Texas Capitol on Tuesday. Their often harrowing experiences will put faces to what their 91-page complaint calls “catastrophic harms” to women since the court’s decision in June, which eliminated the constitutional right to abortion after five decades.

Joe Biden to tax high-earners to save Medicare

U.S. President Joe Biden will propose raising the Medicare tax on high earners to help keep the federal insurance program solvent as part of his budget to be released on Thursday, the White House said. The tax increase is part of a package of proposals aimed at extending the solvency of the Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund by at least 25 years, the White House said. Biden has sought to link Republicans to the idea of cutting funding for Medicare as part of negotiations over increasing the United States’ $31.4 trillion debt limit. Biden has pledged to offer his vision for funding Medicare and challenged Republicans to offer their own. The president is expected to unveil his budget on Thursday, including a speech in Philadelphia to highlight his plan. The budget will likely face opposition from Republicans who control the House. Under Biden’s proposal, he would raise the tax rate on earned and unearned income above $400,000 from 3.8 percent to 5 percent.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Navy Pier in Chicago Celebrates Holi Festival Hosted by Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities

Zofeen

Maqsood

HiIndia Newsdesk

CHICAGO, IL- On March 4th, 2023, Navy Pier in Chicago was filled with vibrant colors and festive energy as thousands of guests gathered to celebrate the Holi festival. The Holi Celebration at Navy Pier, a part of Global Connections series presented by ComEd, is a must-do event at the beginning of the Spring season and has become a local favorite. The free event is supported in part by the Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities, Zee5 Global, and Sue Ling Gin Charitable Trust.

The Aon Grand Ballroom was buzzing with interactive programming to entertain guests, including foot-tapping music and dance performances. The event lineup featured various performers, including Chitrahar Cultural Academy, Surabhi Ensemble, and more. The event started with DJ Dave Patel, followed by Bollywood Groove, which got the crowd excited.

As the festivities continued into the afternoon, Navy Pier’s Beer Garden was the perfect spot for guests to throw colored powder and dance to the music of DJs Krush and Jeet. The event had something for everyone and was a fun-filled amalgamation of culture and celebration.

The Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities, led by Smita Shah, CEO

Live music, dance, and educational programming took center stage at the Global Connections Series event presented by ComEd

of SPAAN Tech, Inc., hosted the event in partnership with Navy Pier. The event was part of the annual Global Connections series at Navy Pier presented by ComEd and sponsored by ZEE5 Global and Sue Ling Gin Charitable Trust. The free public event included live performances from music and dance groups, food, beverages, interactive educational programming, and more.

“The Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities is committed to fostering a relationship between our two great cities, and I am thrilled to have helped organize this event to commemorate Holi, a holiday that marks new life and energy,” said Smita Shah, Director on the Navy Pier Board of Directors, Chairman of the Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, ComEd Board Member, and CEO of SPAAN Tech, Inc. Consul General of India Somnath Ghosh, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and ComEd Vice President of Support Services Neena Hemmady also delivered remarks at the event.

Delhi’s position as a sister city to Chicago demonstrates the strong relationship between India and the city as well as the cultural importance of the established Indian-American community to the Chicagoland community. Under Shah’s leadership, the Delhi Committee of Chicago founded the Annual Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi Luncheon in 2014, honoring the long-standing exchange of ideas between Mahatma Gandhi and the U.S., and the everimportant principles of truth and non-violence. Shah also helped secure the designation of October 2nd as Mahatma Gandhi Day in Chicago. The celebration of Holi at Navy Pier highlighted the cultural richness of India and the city’s commitment to fostering understanding and appreciation of different cultures.

“If You Come Here Illegally...”: Rishi Sunak Unveils New Law To Check Illegal Immigration

HiIndia Newsdesk

New Delhi: Rishi Sunak, British Prime Minister, today announced a controversial new plan to stop the surge of illegal migrants coming into the country. Issuing a warning, Sunak said that those who enter UK illegally will not be allowed to claim asylum.

“If you come here illegally, you can’t claim asylum. You can’t benefit from our modern slavery protections. You can’t make spurious human rights claims and you can’t stay,” Rishi Sunak said in a tweet.

“We will detain those who come here illegally and then remove them in weeks, either to their own country if it is safe to do so. Or to a Safe Third Country like

WHO fires director in Asia accused of racist misconduct

The World Health Organisation has fired its top official in the Western Pacific after the Associated Press reported last year that dozens of staff members accused him of racist, abusive and unethical behaviour that may have compromised the U.N. health agency’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In an email sent to employees on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Dr. Takeshi Kasai’s appointment had been “terminated” after an internal investigation resulted in “findings of misconduct.”

Pro-Kyiv group sabotaged pipelines, say US officials

Rwanda and once you are removed, you will be banned as you are in America and Australia from ever re-entering our

country,” he added. Called the ‘illegal migration bill’, the draft law will crack down on those crossing the

Russian air strikes hit cities across country

English Channel in small boats. More than 45,000 migrants arrived on the shores of southeast England on small boats last year -- a 60 percent annual increase on a perilous route that has grown in popularity every year since 2018. Rights groups and opposition parties have criticised the new law and say that the plan is unworkable and unfairly scapegoats vulnerable refugees. The UK has already tried to implement deportations, last year introducing a program to relocate some asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, no flights to Rwanda have left the UK yet after the plan was grounded in June last year by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights.

US tourists killed by Mexican drug cartel

HiIndia Newsdesk

New intelligence reviewed by US officials suggests that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, a step towards determining responsibility for an act of sabotage that has confounded investigators on both sides of the Atlantic for months. US officials said that they had no evidence President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine or his top lieutenants were involved in the operation, or that the perpetrators were acting at the direction of any Ukrainian government officials.

Russia has launched missiles at targets across Ukraine, from Kharkiv in the north to Odesa in the south and Zhytomyr in the west.

Residential buildings and infrastructure were hit in Kharkiv and Odesa, and there are power blackouts in several areas. The strikes come as bitter ground fighting continues for the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

A US intelligence chief has suggested the war may grind on for years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion just over a year ago. Since then tens of thousands of combatants and civilians have been killed or injured and millions of Ukrainians became refugees. A mass missile attack struck an energy facility in the port city of Odesa, triggering power cuts, its governor Maksym Marchenko said. Residential areas were also hit but no casualties were reported, he added.

A U.S. tourist who went missing while visiting Chihuahua’s Copper Canyon region was killed by drug traffickers whom he ran into during a hike, authorities said.

The death comes as the U.S. State Department recently re-issued its travel advisory for Mexico. U.S. citizens are advised to “reconsider travel” to the state of Chihuahua due to crime. The advisory is issued each year.

Suppressing China won’t make America great - Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang

China’s foreign minister says China-US relations have “seriously deviated” while warning of potential conflict.

“Containment and suppression will not make America great. It will not stop the rejuvenation of China,” said Qin Gang.

Mr Qin, China’s former ambassador to the US, held his first press conference as foreign minister on Tuesday.

The spy balloon saga has heightened tensions between the superpowers despite recent efforts to improve ties.

“It [the US] regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge.

This is like the first button in the shirt being put wrong,” said Mr Qin, speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China’s parliament in Beijing.

The foreign minister was responding to a question on whether a healthy ChinaUS relationship was still possible as differences between the countries grew.

The US called for establishing “guardrails”, but what it really wants is for China to not hit back with words or actions when provoked, Mr Qin added. He was referring to US President Joe Biden’s comments last month that the US would “compete fully with China but [is] not looking for conflict”.

Mr Qin said: “If the US does not put on the brakes and continues to roar down the wrong road, no amount of guardrails can stop the derailment and overturning, and it is bound to fall into conflict and confrontation. Who will bear its disastrous consequences?”

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Qin Gang has held his first press conference as China’s foreign minister

Patrick Braxton-Andrew of North Carolina

PAUL VALLAS EMERGES AS VISIONARY CHOICE FOR CHICAGO MAYOR, ENDORSED BY FRIENDS OF INDIAN COMMUNITY

Paul Vallas, born on June 10, 1953, is a well-known American politician and former education superintendent. He is a member of the Democratic Party and has held significant positions in various education departments across the United States.

Vallas began his career as a superintendent in the Bridgeport Public Schools, where he served with distinction. He was then appointed as the Recovery School District superintendent in Louisiana, where he played a vital role in the educational recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Paul Vallas: A Trailblazer in American Education

Following his tenure in Louisiana, Vallas became the CEO of the School District of Philadelphia, where he successfully implemented a range of reforms to improve the district’s performance. He then moved to the Chicago Public Schools, where he served as CEO, leading the district with a firm hand and implementing a number of initiatives that have been credited with improving academic outcomes for students.

Vallas’s early years were spent in the Roseland neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, where he developed a strong work ethic and a deep sense of community. He later moved to Palos Heights, where he completed his education. He attended Carl Sandburg

High School and then went on to study at Moraine Valley Community College and Western Illinois University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, a master’s degree in political science, and a teaching certificate.

Successfully Implemented Reforms in Philadelphia and Chicago Schools

In his early career, Vallas was a leader in the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission, where he served from 1985 to 1990. He then worked as the budget director for the city of Chicago from 1990 to 1993, where he developed a reputation as a skilled financial manager.

Ideal Candidate for Any Position in Education or Public Service.

In conclusion, Paul Vallas is an experienced and dedicated public servant who has made significant contributions to education in the United States. He has a deep understanding of the challenges facing schools and students and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving educational outcomes. With his track record of success, Vallas is an ideal candidate for any position in education or public service. We urge you to support him and vote for him on April 4th, 2023. To learn more about his campaign, visit https://www.paulvallas2023.com/.

Sponsored by Savi Singh & Family

News Breif

K Kavitha to appear before ED on March 11

9 Press Meets In 9 States: How BJP Will Reply To Opposition’s Letter To PM Modi

New Delhi: Stung by a letter from opposition parties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging the misuse of probe agencies against rivals, the BJP has decided to strike back through a series of press conferences in nine states. The press meets have been organised in the home states of the opposition leaders who wrote to PM Modi on Sunday, like Delhi, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Bengal and Kerala.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s politician daughter K Kavitha on Wednesday said she will appear before the Enforcement Directorate on March 11 in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy.

Kavitha Kalvakuntla (44), a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC, declared this in a late-night post on her official Twitter handle.

“I will be appearing before the Enforcement Directorate in New Delhi on March 11, 2023,” she said. The BRS leader landed in the national capital from Hyderabad late evening. She was summoned by the ED to depose before it on March 9. Kavitha has been called by the agency so that she can be confronted with Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandran Pillai, an alleged frontman of the “south group”, who was arrested by the ED on Monday. The agency will record Kavitha’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during this confrontation. Pillai is in ED custody and the agency had earlier said he “represented the south group”, an alleged liquor cartel linked to Kavitha and others.

The BJP’s strategy is to project the letter signatories as corrupt leaders who are afraid of being investigated, say sources. Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari held the first of these interactions in the capital. For the other states, the BJP has fielded leaders like Suvendu Adhikari (Bengal), Sanjay Jaiswal (Bihar), Brijesh Pathak (Uttar Pradesh), and Sanjay Bandi (Telangana).

The opposition leaders wrote to PM Modi days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia’s arrest in a case involving a new liquor policy for Delhi. The policy was launched in November 2021 but withdrawn nine months later after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena asked the CBI to investigate what he called corruption in the distribution of liquor licenses.

The Congress was missing in the letter signed by Chief Ministers K Chandrashekar Rao, Mamata Banerjee, Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal among others. Kerala Chief Minister

Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a solo letter.

“We hope you would agree that India is still a democratic country. The blatant misuse of central agencies against the members of the opposition appears to suggest that we have transitioned from being a democracy to an autocracy,” the letter said. “Out of the total number of key politicians booked, arrested, raided or interrogated by the investigation agencies under your administration since 2014,

Indian-origin professor sues US college for alleged gender, racial bias

HiIndia Newsdesk

New York, March 9 (IANS) An Indian-origin professor at Babson College has filed a lawsuit against the business school in Wellesley, Massachusetts, for allegedly subjecting her to gender and racial discrimination.

Lakshmi Balachandra, an associate professor of entrepreneurship, said despite her research record, expressed interest, and service to the college, she was denied numerous leadership positions and opportunities for more time to conduct research and write, The Boston Globe reported.

Apple To Shake Up International Sales To Make India Its Own Region

Apple Inc is reshuffling management of its international businesses to put a bigger focus on India, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a sign of the nation’s growing importance. The shift will mark the first time that India becomes its own sales region at Apple, which has seen demand surge in the country. That will give India increased prominence inside the tech giant, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the move hasn’t been announced.

Apple is making the change after its vice president in charge of India, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, East Europe and Africa - Hugues Assemanrecently retired. With his departure, the iPhone maker is promoting its head of

The shift will mark the first time that India becomes its own sales region at Apple, which has seen demand surge in the country.

India, who reported to Asseman. That executive, Ashish Chowdhary, will now report directly to Michael Fenger, Apple’s head of product sales.

A company spokesman declined to comment.

The company posted record revenue in India last quarter, even as its total sales slipped 5%. Apple has created an online store to serve the region and is planning to open its first retail outlets in the country later this year. On the last earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said the company is putting “a lot of emphasis on the market” and compared the current state of its work in India to its early years in China.

“We are, in essence, taking what we learned in China years ago and how we scale to China and bringing that to bear,” he said. China currently generates roughly $75 billion a year for Apple, making it the company’s biggest sales region after the Americas and Europe.

the maximum belongs to the opposition. Interestingly, investigation agencies go slow on cases against opposition politicians who join the BJP,” it alleged. Alleging that Mr Sisodia was arrested “without a shred of evidence” against him, the letter said: “Since 2014, there has been a marked rise in the number of raids conducted, cases lodged against and arrest of the opposition leaders. Be it Lalu Prasad Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), Azam Khan (Samajwadi Party), Nawab Malik, Anil Deshmukh (NCP), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), central agencies have often sparked suspicion that they were working as extended wings of the ruling dispensation at the centre.”

Air India Cabin Crew Arrested For Smuggling

1.5

Kg Gold In Kochi

Kochi (Kerala): An Air India cabin crew has been arrested at the Kochi Airport on Wednesday for smuggling gold, officials said.

Shafi, a native of Wayanad, was arrested by Customs officials at Kochi with 1,487 grams of gold.

The Customs Preventive Commissionerate had received confidential information that Shafi, a cabin crew member of the BahrainKozhikode-Kochi service, was bringing gold.

The accused was planning to wrap the gold around the hands and cover the sleeve of the shirt and pass through the green channel. He is being interrogated further, the officials said.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

The BJP’s strategy is to project the letter signatories as corrupt leaders who are afraid of being investigated, say sources.

Starting with Bengaluru, Apple takes up projects for improved water management in India

HiIndia Newsdesk

Tech giant Apple, in partnership with the NGO Frank Water, scaled up efforts to improve water, hygiene and sanitation in India by launching a pilot project at Anekal taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

According to an official release, Frank Water is surveying households in the area and analysing various data sources to map how water is used there.

“To do this, the organisation uses hydrological modeling and is developing a state-of-the-art decision support process, which puts tools in the hands of the community”, the release stated.

Kishan Reddy Offers

Rs 2 Lakh for Family of Child Killed by Stray Dogs

The release also said the multinational company is working along with Applied

Apple has partnered with the NGO Frank Water and launched a pilot project at Anekal taluk on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Environment Research Foundation (AERF). to preserve mangroves along India’s coast.

Since 2021, local villages have signed conservation agreements that helped more than 200 marginal fishing community members across Roha, Pen, and Alibaug blocks in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, it added.

Hyderabad doctor gets patent for his invention — a cardiac device

Dr Koneti Nageswara Rao, is unique in its design of incremental diameter and stretchability to prevent clamping force and shear stress. Having received European EC approval in 2019 and Euro-African and Korean patents in 2021 and 2022, the KONARMF occluder was granted the Indian patent after several critical examinations in February 2023.

Hyderabad: (IANS) Union Tourism and Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Monday announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the family of a four-year-old boy who was mauled to death by stray dogs in Hyderabad last month. He visited the residence of Pradeep at Erukula Basti, in Amberpet and consoled his parents.

Kishan Reddy, who is Member of Parliament from Secunderabad constituency, extended financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh from his salary and another Rs 1 lakh on behalf of BJP corporators. He also announced that he will take care of the expenses for education of Pradeep’s sister.

Woman consumes poison on camera

A Hyderabad-based doctor has received patent rights for his invention, a cardiac device, that can help treat infants born with congenital heart defects. The KONAR-MF occluder, named after

Since 2009, Dr. Rao, Director of Rainbow Children’s Heart Institute and his team, had been working for developing an appropriate occluder for the transcatheter device closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Foxconn to Stay in Contact with Karnataka Govt for Manufacturing Project Near Bengaluru

“Under the agreements, village members receive sustained support in exchange for conserving privately owned mangrove forests”, the release said. Apple said it is already carbon neutral for its global corporate operations and aims to replicate the success in its global supply chain by 2030.

“By supporting innovative, communitybased approaches in India and around the world, Apple is making progress toward our global climate goals while doing our part to help people improve their lives”, Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, was quoted as saying.

One toilet for 700 girls

Telangana High Court asks officials to respond

Disturbed by the plight of students at the Government Junior College in Saroornagar, Hyderabad, the Telangana High Court on Thursday issued notices to the chief secretary, principal secretary (education), and other officials, seeking details of educational institutions under them and steps taken to improve the amenities they offer.

A law student’s letter to the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court on the lack of amenities and presence of only one defunct toilet for over 700 girl students was taken up by the court as a public interest litigation. Seeking a response from officials, the bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Tukaramji adjourned the hearing to April 25.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Bengaluru: (IANS) A shocking incident of a woman -- allegedly not being allowed to see her child -- consuming poison on camera came to light on Monday at Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru. According to the police, the incident took place opposite to the Ozone Urbana apartment. The woman has been identified as Sumayya Banu from Tumakuru city.The police said thar Sumayya is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Technology Group (Foxconn) on Monday said it will be in “close contact” with the Karnataka government to take forward and ensure the “successful grounding” of its manufacturing project near Bengaluru.

Hon Hai Precision Industry chairman Young Liu, who was recently in the city, has written to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in this regard. Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn is the contract manufacturer for Apple’s iPhones.

The letter has gained significance, amid media reports about Foxconn having denied that it had “entered into any binding, definitive agreements,” following the reports saying it was planning new investments in the country.

“My team will be in close contact with your team to take this forward and ensure successful grounding of “Project Elephant” in Bengaluru. I am confident

that this project will lay a strong foundation for our other multiple plans, spanning mechanical/precision machinery, electric vehicle, IC design & semiconductor segments to consider your State as a potential investment destination,” Liu said.

Thanking the Chief Minister and his government for making his visit to Bengaluru a “big success”, he said, “Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma and senior officials made a presentation on three key pillars essential for making “Project Elephant” a grand success.

It was great to note the infrastructure readiness timelines, Government of Karnataka’s support for skilling and talent acquisition and the availability of social infrastructure around the region where the plot is earmarked for the project.” The Chief Minister had held discussions with Liu and his team in Bengaluru on March 3.

In her letter on December 31, Nallapu Manideep shared newspaper clippings to bring to the notice of the court the plight of girls at the Government Junior College, Saroornagar. It said the college had only one toilet for 700 girls and that too was defunct. The news reports mentioned the poor infrastructure on campus and that the requests from the students had not been addressed.

The students had boycotted classes and staged a protest in December demanding toilet facilities. In the letter, Manideep said that despite flagging their concerns for the last three months, there has been no response from authorities. The petitioner sought the court’s intervention in providing basic amenities on the campus.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

US announces new processing of work authorisation; Indian STEM students to benefit

The United States on Monday announced premium processing of work authorisation applications for certain categories of international students, which is likely to benefit a large number of Indian students who come to study in the US in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the premium processing of applications for OPT (optional practical training) from international students in the STEM field or its extension. The premium processing begins March 6, a media release said, adding that for some other categories, it would begin from April 3.

“The availability of premium processing for certain F-1 students, in addition to the ease of online filing, will streamline the immigration experience for a great many international students,” said USCIS Director Ur M Jaddou. “The ongoing expansion of online filing is a

Indian-American named first justice of Ayer District Court in US

New York, March 6 (IANS) IndianAmerican judge Tejal Mehta took oath as the first justice of Ayer District Court in the US state of Massachusetts.

Mehta, who served as an the associate justice with the same court, was unanimously selected and sworn in by Judge Stacey Fortes, chief justice of the District Court, on March 2, the Lowell Sun reported.

“I’m confident that with her leadership a that the best is yet to come for the Ayer District Court,” Fortes said. The ceremony was attended by several members of Mehta’s family, including her 14-year-old daughter Mena Sheth, who was among the ceremony speakers. “As a lawyer you can help people, but you can only help them to a point,” Mehta was quoted as saying in the Lowell Sun. “As a judge, you can do so much more and get to the root of issues and talk to people in such a way that really gets through to them.”

Mehta said her goal is to make a positive impact on the community she has grown close to. “I have seen the same hopes and despairs in every court I have sat in as a travelling judge. But when you are the first justice, then you can really get to know the community and make a real impact.” Born to a chemist father and a mother who worked in a hospital, Mehta earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1997.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the premium processing of applications for OPT (optional practical training) from international students in the STEM field or its extension.

priority for USCIS as we continue to create operational efficiencies and increase access to the immigration system for stakeholders, applicants, petitioners,

requestors and those we serve,” he said.

Ajay Bhutoria, community leader figure fighting for fair immigration policies, has welcomed the USCIS announcement to expand premium processing to include certain F-1 students seeking OPT and STEM OPT extensions.

The new online-filing procedures for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, is now available to F-1 students who are seeking employment authorisation in the above categories.

“This is great news for foreign students who have been facing long wait times for their OPT approvals. USCIS’s announcement is expected to provide welcome relief to F-1 students who are seeking to obtain employment authorisation in the United States,” Bhutoria told PTI. “USCIS will now accept Form I-907 requests filed either via paper form or online for certain F-1 students who have a pending Form I-765. This includes those filing under pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT and 24-month extension of OPT for STEM students,” he said.

2 convicted in UK for killing Sikh teen in case of mistaken identity

Rishmeet, who came to the UK in October 2019 with his mother and grandmother to seek asylum from Afghanistan, was mistakenly targeted and murdered after being stabbed 15 times while lying defenseless on the ground.

British Sikh MP gets threatening email saying ‘watch your back’

London: (IANS)

London: (IANS) Two teenagers have been found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old Sikh boy who they mistakenly thought belonged to a rival gang in West London.

Vanushan Balakrishnan and Ilyas Suleiman, both 18 year-olds from Hillingdon, were found guilty of murdering Rishmeet Singh, following a trial at the Old Bailey on Monday.

“I have lost my husband and now I have lost my only child, my son. Justice is finally served for Rishmeet but their sentence will never be enough for me. They have taken my whole life away from me and Rishmeet will never come home again,” the victim’s mother Gulinder said in a statement. The court heard that on the night of November 24, 2021, Rishmeet was walking home when he saw two unknown males running towards him. He ran down Raleigh Road, in Southall, where he tripped and fell, according to a Metropolitan Police release.

Another Hindu temple bears brunt of Khalistani hatred in Australia

22, has left the Indian community angry and shocked.

Britain’s first female Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill has said she was forced to contact police after receiving a threatening email message saying: “watch your back”. The senior Labour MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said that following the email, she is forced to keep a bodyguard at her constituency surgery meetings. “It was very direct. It’s a worry because I’m with my daughters in the constituency all the time. My family live there. It really puts into context the kind of job that you do. It’s tough enough as it is, but then when you’re faced with that, there’s very little support. This latest direct threat has really worried and concerned me,” Gill told GB News on Saturday.

Ex-Top Cop Alleges

Institutional Racism in British Police Force

Melbourne: (IANS) There seems to be no let-up in cases of temple attacks in Australia with Khalistan supporters targeting the Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane on Saturday.

Temple President Satinder Shukla told The Australia Today: “Priest and devotees called this morning and notified me about the vandalism on the boundary wall of our temple. We have informed the Queensland police officers, and they assured to ensure the safety of Temple and devotees.”

The latest incident, which comes just after Khalistani supporters targeted the Indian consulate in Brisbane on February

Beginning 2023, Hindu temples in Australia have seen a spurt in vandal attacks by Khalistani elements defacing the walls with anti-India slogans and graffiti. Last month, Brisbane’s Gayatri Mandir received intimidating calls from Khalistan extremists based in Pakistan, asking the Hindu community to support the Khalistan referendum. Between January 12 to 23 alone, three prominent Hindu temples in Melbourne were targetted. “Khalistan supporters are terrorising the Australian Hindu community and making it a very traumatising experience to practice our religion and visit temples,” a Brisbane resident told The Australia Today.

“The frequency and impunity with which the vandals appear to be operating are alarming, as are the graffiti which include glorification of anti-Indian terrorists,” the Indian High Commission in Australia had said in a strongly-worded statement.

London,: (IANS)

Two-thirds of Britain’s Chief Constables were either “too terrified” or did not care enough to acknowledge institutional racism in the force, the country’s most senior Indian-origin police officer has said.

According to The Telegraph, Neil Basu, who retired from the Metropolitan Police last year, said that “positive discrimination” should be introduced while recruiting ethnic minorities to combat institutional racism.

The UK’s former counter-terror chief revealed how a Chief Constable was told by his senior that he would be sacked for calling the force institutionally racist.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Caste bias exists in US, has to be countered

Kshama Sawant

Kshama Sawant made history last month when Seattle adopted a resolution moved by her to ban caste-based discrimination, become the first US city to do so. She took and stared down critics like the Hindu American Foundation, a powerful advocacy group, and many Hindu Indian Americans who argued the ban discredits and singles out Hindus.

YASHWANT RAJ HiIndia Newsdesk

IANS: What would you say to critics of the ban on caste-based discrimination that that okay cost is bad and we are dealing with it internally but with this resolution, you have put a target on the entire community of Indian Americans and South Asians?

Kshama: First of all, it’s i’s completely dishonest to say that there is any target on Indian American community or South Asians because the Seattle anti-discrimination law already bans discrimination on the basis of religion or national origin. And my question to these people is, if you oppose discrimination based on caste, why would you oppose a law that bans caste discrimination. It’s contradictory to what you claim to stand for.

In fact, throughout history, we have seen right-wing forces start their right wing talking points couched in progressive sounding rhetoric, like ‘Oh, I’m against discrimination, but this is not the way to go’. So no matter how you put a fight against discrimination, they will say, ‘Well, this is not the right way to go about it’. It’s not surprising that it’s the Hindu American Foundation (an advocacy group that led the opposition to the caste ban) and coalition of Hindus in North America that are opposing this, because they, you know, their entire agenda as you can see from their website is very aligned with Hindutva ideology. And they actually don’t want to address caste discrimination because they are some of the purveyors of caste oppression because it’s an integral part of Hindutva ideology.

Although it’s far from the only one. So it’s not surprising that it’s not only that they oppose this legislation. They are also the right wing Hindu, right wing forces, who are the purveyors of Islamophobia as well. So it’s not just about this issue. And this argument that it’s somehow anti-Hindu, it’s all a fake argument, it’s, as I said, it’s a right wing talking point.

IANS: Critics of the ban also argue that Seattle already banned all sorts of discrimination, including on the basis of ancestry, which would include your country, religion, background. Why add caste to it, specifically?

Kshama: They’re grasping at straws to oppose something that is clearly -- was clearly -- needed. And, in fact, you can see from the response that we’ve gotten globally, just this overwhelming support shows that this is actually needed. Even from a legal point of view, the reason this kind of case was filed in California was because the state does not have a specific discrimination (law) against caste (refers to a case filed by a tech company employee).

And if you look at the pre-existing discrimination law in the city, you know, before we won this ordinance, for example, it bans discrimination on the basis of gender, and also bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. At that time when people were advocating for having sexual orientation also, in addition to gender, the right wing at that time said ‘Well, why do you need to do that, it’s already protected by the ban on discrimination based on gender’. But that’s not true.

I mean, they’re separate things. In fact, the law is stronger when it recognises and stops a very specific form of discrimination. And the reason you need to put in caste is because this type of discrimination is very real, and it is becoming more widespread as the concentration of South Asian immigrant workers increases.

IANS: The last point that critics have brought up is that caste-based discrimination is not so rampant in the US and, in fact, it’s very rare. So why bother? And that some of the data cited in support for the need for a caste ban is suspect, specially those coming from Equality Labs (a Dalit civil rights organisation in the US).

Kshama: All the data that we have, which is a lot, completely defies this talking point from the Hindu American Foundation. Yes, we have the Equality Labs study. We’re very clear that none of these studies has perfect methodologies but they do reveal something very important about what’s happening in relation to caste discrimination. And it’s not just a study by Equality Labs.

There’s also another study which used a different methodology, but reached the same conclusion: that there is a serious issue of caste oppression and that it is pervasive in the United States where we have South Asian community members. That study was by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Carnegie study also acknowledged limitations of their own methodology. What they said, and this is a very important point, given how much fear oppressed caste people feel in even coming out as Dalits or oppressed caste, if anything, there’s under-reporting. In addition to the statistical studies, we’ve also seen hundreds upon hundreds of Dalits and other oppressed caste workers speak up about the kinds of discrimination that they face in the workplace. It ranges from being denied raises and promotions to being treated unfairly in reviews, peer reviews and appraisals, and also include day-to-day harassment, day-to-day indignity of being the target of so-called jokes on the basis of caste.

IANS: So just to be clear, this discrimination based on caste is by Indians on other Indians?

Kshama: I wouldn’t say only Indians because other people from South Asia also face discrimination. For example, the ban on caste discrimination that was achieved by the movement in California State University was spearheaded among others by a Dalit activist from Nepal. This type of discrimination which, as I said, is very specific, is faced by oppressed castes

- South Asian immigrant workers - from dominant caste South Asian bosses.

IANS: So it’s basically a brown-on-brown kind of thing?

Kshama: I wouldn’t use that term because that’s a phrase used by the right wing to dismiss the real racism in our society.

Question: So essentially, it’s South Asians on South Asians?

Kshama: Again, I wouldn’t put it in that way. I wouldn’t use that phrase, because it’s important to explain that the reason this is happening has nothing to do with them being South Asian. Under capitalism, we see different types of oppression. And so there’s racism in the United States; and that’s not just by South Asians, racism is rife in all of society.

There is sexism in India and other countries as well. What it really points to is what Malcolm X once said, which is, you can’t have capitalism without racism. Similarly, you can’t have capitalism without sexism. You can’t have capitalism without caste oppression. Different types of oppression have a common thread running through them which is originating in a very class based society, a society that benefits a very few people at the top, and then divide-and-conquer strategies are used to divide masses at the bottom.

IANS: So when did you start thinking of bringing a resolution to ban caste-based discrimination?

Kshama: In many ways, the genesis of this movement goes back to our fight against another type of oppression, which is discrimination against Muslims. It really began with many activists - Hindu, Muslim, Dalit and other activists - fighting alongside Socialist Alternative (her political organisation) and my office three years ago for another historic resolution we won that year -- in February of 2020 -- condemning the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and NRCA citizenship laws of the Modi regime.

“PM Modi Believes Women Are Not Just Homemakers But...”: India’s UN Envoy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes that women are not just “homemakers” but also the nation-builders, India’s permanent ambassador to United Nations Ruchira Kamboj said in a video message.

New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes that women are not just “homemakers” but also the nationbuilders, India’s permanent ambassador to United Nations Ruchira Kamboj said in a video message.

In the video, Ms Kamboj said, “Today, new India is driven by the deployment of modern technologies for the benefit of women and girls. This is in keeping with the vision of the honourable Prime Minister of India, who has stated unequivocally that women are to be no more seen as homemakers only, but also as nation-builders.”

“This also aligns perfectly with the priority theme of the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which kicks off today at the United Nations headquarters through the next ten days. India today is transitioning from a model of women’s development to women-led development,” she added.

India’s representative to the UN further stated that womenled development is priority in the G-20 under India’s presidency.

“If we are to be future-ready, the focus should be to place women at the centre of the discourse and at the centre of the decision-making process. Ladies and gentlemen, let us leave no stone unturned to make gender equality a reality. After all, as Swami Vivekananda, the great Indian philosopher Thinker had said, it is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing,” Ms Kamboj said.

While talking about India’s presidency at G20 in Indonesia, PM Modi said that the member countries have to extend the benefits of development to all human beings with compassion and solidarity. He also said that without women, global development is not possible.

“We have to maintain priority on women-led development even in our G-20 agenda. Without peace and security, our future generations will not be able to take advantage of economic growth or technological innovation,” PM Modi said. “The G-20 has to convey a strong message in favour of peace and harmony. All these priorities are fully embodied in the theme of India’s G-20 Chairmanship - “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” he added.

Earlier, in February this year, the G20 Empowerment and progression of the Women’s Economic Representation (EMPOWER) group of the Ministry of Women and Child Development was held.

Empowerment and women’s rights were the key areas of discussion. During the G20 Empower Inception meeting, Union Minister Smriti Irani highlighted the three focus areas under India’s G20 Presidency.

These three areas include -- “Women’s Entrepreneurship: A win-win for Equity and Economy”, “Partnership for promoting women’s leadership at all levels including at grassroots” and “Education, the key to women’s empowerment and equal workforce participation”.

Military Expansion Increasing Risk Of Conflict Between India-China: Report

HiIndia Newsdesk

Washington: Expanded military postures by both India and China along the disputed border elevate the risk of armed confrontation between the two nuclear powers, according to the Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community.

This might involve direct threats to U.S. persons and interests, and calls for U.S. intervention, according to the US Intelligence Report.

The report said that India-China relations will remain strained in wake

Rahul Gandhi Rejects Notion of BJP Being the Only Power

of the countries’ lethal clash in 2020, the most serious in decades. This comes despite the two countries engaging in bilateral border talks and resolving border points.

Previous standoffs between India, and China have shown that persistent low-level friction on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has the potential to escalate swiftly, as per the US Intelligence Report. Amid the ongoing military standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control, defence intelligence agencies recently issued a solid advisory for formations to ensure that the troops are not using Chinese mobile phones.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) likes to believe it will be in power in India eternally but that is not the case, and to say the Congress is “gone” is a ridiculous idea, Opposition MP Rahul Gandhi said in London London: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) likes to believe it will be in power in India eternally but that is not the case, and to say the Congress is “gone” is a ridiculous idea, Opposition MP Rahul Gandhi said in London on Monday. Addressing an in-conversation session at the Chatham House think tank on Monday evening to round off his weeklong UK tour, Gandhi also pinpointed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s lack of focus on a shifting nature of the political discourse in India as the key factor behind its failure.

“To put it in perspective, if you look at the time from independence to now, the Congress party has been in power for the majority of the time,” he said.

“Before the BJP was in power for 10 years, we were in power for 10 years. The BJP likes to believe that they have come to power in India and they are going to be in power eternally, that is not the case,” the Congress leader added. The BJP-led government came to power in India in 2014.

Mr Gandhi, the MP from Kerala’s Wayanad, pointed to a set of changes taking place in India that had caught the Congress and the UPA government off guard, such as a shift from rural to urban. “We were focusing a lot on the rural space and we missed the ball in the beginning on the urban space, that is a fact. Those things are there. But to say that the BJP is in power and the Congress gone, that is actually a ridiculous idea,” he said.

The BJP has accused Mr Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil while praising China.

Union minister Anurag Thakur hit out at the Congress leader on Monday for his remarks and asked him not to betray the nation. “Don’t betray India, Rahul Gandhiji. The objections to India’s foreign policy are evidence of your scant understanding of the issue. No one will believe the lies you spread about India from foreign soil,” Mr Thakur told.

The decision to ban women from educational institutes was announced by the Taliban officials in December and it drew widespread condemnation from foreign governments and the United Nations.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Afghanistan universities reopened today after the winter break, but only men returned to the institutions, with the Taliban’s ban on women in higher education still in place, as per a report in Al-Jazeera.

The decision to ban women from educational institutes was announced by the Taliban officials in December and it drew widespread condemnation from foreign governments and the United Nations.

“You all are informed to immediately implement the mentioned order of suspending education of females until further notice,” Minister for Higher Education Neda Mohammad Nadeem said in a letter issued to all government and private universities last year. The Taliban officials were

Universities Reopen In Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan But Women Still Banned

also asked to “immediately” withdraw the choice by the UN mission in Afghanistan. However, nothing fruitful was achieved out of it. The Taliban enforced the restriction, claiming that female students

disregarded a stringent dress code and a necessity to be accompanied to and from university campus by a male relative. The majority of colleges and universities had already implemented

“PM Should Join My Justice Front”: Kapil Sibal On His New Platform

New Delhi: Former Congress leader Kapil Sibal slammed the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) questioning of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Monday, saying it was one example of “political injustice”. Mr Sibal’s new platform “Insaaf ki Sipahi (platform for justice)” has been praised by parties from opposite ends of the opposition spectrum, holding out hope of being a catalyst to bring them together ahead of the 2024 national election.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Mr Sibal said he welcomes the response “Insaaf ki Sipahi” is receiving and would support it becoming an opposition platform.

Since its soft launch two days ago, the website has been praised by the Congress, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Tejashwi Yadav and the former NDA ally Shiromani Akali Dal -- a feat by any standard.

Even a letter to the Prime Minister alleging misuse of central investigation agencies against opposition parties, has not been able to bring AAP and the Congress on the same side of a common cause. The Congress had not signed the letter signed by eight opposition parties.

“Who can oppose Insaaf (justice)? even Narendra Modi-ji cannot oppose insaaf. He is welcome to join us and address the injustices that are taking place,” Mr Sibal told NDTV, underscoring that his platform stood for justice “social, economic and political” as promised in the preamble to the Indian Constitution.

Asked whether it can be a platform for opposition players to come together, Mr Sibal said, “Absolutely. That is the

purpose”.

Even if only the opposition parties come, “I’ll support it,” added the former Union minister, who quit the Congress in May last year amid much bitterness, after filing nomination papers for Rajya Sabha as an Independent candidate.

At the time, he had told NDTV that it was not a sudden decision, and instead of joining any political party, he would stand for the idea of an “inclusive India”.

Speaking of the questioning of Rabri Devi, Mr Sibal said, “What will they get? You know Lalu-ji’s (Lalu Prasad Yadav’s) condition. He is a transplant

patient. He can’t even give speeches or go anywhere. You are conducting raids at his home. You know you will not get anything. Even if you file a chargesheet, when will the trial take place?”

It is clear why the BJP is doing this, he added -- “There is an alliance there. And you are putting pressure on the man”. “The way they are sending the CBI and ED in some particular states… everyone knows what is going on… They have brought down eight governments this way. Is there a parallel anywhere else in the world?” he said.

On the other hand, those who cross over to the other side, “They live in peace. They are happy… You know this happened in Assam, and I Bengal. I don’t wish to name names,” he said. The ED has become the “Valentine of the government and the CBI is the temporary girlfriend,” he added. Asked why temporary, he said, “Because they have to take the consent of the state. Without it, they cannot go”.

gender-specific entrances, classrooms and policies permitting only older men or women professors to teach female students, according to the outlet. As per the report in Al-Jazeera, Taliban officials have cited a number of reasons for the closure, ranging from a lack of funds to the time required to redesign the curriculum in accordance with Islamic principles. Citing Taliban members, news agency AFP said that the Islamic experts and scholars who counsel Afghanistan’s supreme leader Haibatullah Akhunzada are “deeply skeptical” of modern education for women. The university ban is one of many restrictions placed on women since the Taliban regime retook control in August 2021. Women in the country have also been banned from going to parks, gyms, fairs and must cover themselves in public. Many have also been removed from their government jobs.

Crisis of democracy gave birth to Yatra: Rahul in UK

Rahul Gandhi is assiduously building a “democracy-in-crisis” narrative ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections, and has presented the Bharat Jodo Yatra as the best possible response when a dysfunctional institutional framework puts the Opposition at a debilitating disadvantage.

The Congress leader contends that the walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir was born out of the crisis of democracy — there was no option left but to connect with the people directly because the Opposition’s voice was not allowed to be heard in Parliament or the media, and other key institutions were not operating autonomously. Rahul points to RSS dominance, misuse of agencies by the government, concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, and the centralisation of power within the government and the BJP to explain his charge.

Only mass contact programmes like the Bharat Jodo Yatra could help the Opposition regain lost ground, he said. Rahul said during his interaction at the Chatham House in London: “I think, the walk that we did in the last four and half months is a powerful model. It brings in a lot of the ingredients of a response to (the BJP’s dominance) and it works for most of the Opposition in India.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

“Who can oppose Insaaf (justice)? even Narendra Modi-ji cannot oppose insaaf. He is welcome to join us and address the injustices that are taking place,” Kapil Sibal said.

Izzat abhi tak nahi mili

Janhvi Kapoor says she gets a lot of opportunities

Actor Janhvi Kapoor, who has often talked about the privileges of being a star-kid, said that despite getting ample opportunities, she is yet to earn the respect of the audience. Janhvi, who said that she is ‘unapologetic’ for her identity, talked about the traumas and the responsibilities that follow.

In an interaction with Barkha Dutt as part of We The Women event, Janhvi was asked about how she

Janhvi Kapoor said that despite getting a lot of opportunities, she is yet to earn the respect of the audience.

chooses her scripts and the thought process behind it. The actor replied and said, “I think it might hurt my ego a bit to be inconsequential in a film. I believe I have more to offer and I want to prove to myself that I can take up new challenges and emerge from it. Somewhere it comes down to the line that ‘Mujhe mauke bohot mile hai, par izzat abhi tak nahi mila,’ (I have got a lot of opportunities, but I am yet to earn the respect) and I think that’s what I am working for, in my own eyes. It takes a lot to build perception and then break it.” The actor also spoke about how she works hard to deal with the entire nepotism narrative but added that she occasionally feels traumatised. She told Mojo Story, “I don’t know how alienating it might be for me to sit and talk about being traumatised in my designer saree, taking a first class flight to shoot a Dharma film. It is important to recognize that, but it is just as important to recognize that trauma does not always mean the struggle to put food on your table. That might be the most relatable struggle.”

Feel I am part of the victory on RRR euphoria Rana Daggubati

Rana Daggubati believes that SS Rajamouli’s extravagant film, RRR, has bestowed a moment of great pride upon India by highlighting the country’s film industry.

The recognition that SS Rajamouli’s lavishly mounted RRR has brought to Indian cinema is nothing short of a moment of pride for the country, says actor Rana Daggubati. Having worked with Rajamouli on the Indian epic drama franchise Baahubali, Daggubati described the filmmaker as a “visionary” who has brought the focus of the world on Indian films.

“It is amazing that Rajamouli as a filmmaker and a visionary is pushing the envelope of cinema consistently. He has just blurred all the lines, he did that within our country, he did that with the world. It’s going to be a great time for

Amitabh Bachchan injured

films overall in India,” the actor told PTI in an interview.

“It is just extreme pride in a way, every time whether it is pictures of them (RRR team) or them speaking at a platform, it is just an extreme high for me because I feel I am part of that victory because I am so close to all of them,” he said.

Ever since its worldwide release in five languages last year, RRR has been setting new records.

Starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR in the lead, it is the first Indian film in over two decades to be nominated for the Academy Awards. The movie is up for the Best Original Song Oscar for its foot-tapping Telugu track “Naatu Naatu”, which already scooped up a Golden Globe win — the first Indian song to do so. Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, the singers of “Naatu Naatu”, are set to perform the Oscar-nominated song at the upcoming awards ceremony in Los Angeles on March 12.Daggubati, also a childhood friend of RRR star Ram Charan, is pleased with the rise of Telugu cinema but said the industry too had its anxious moments.

Actor-Director Satish Kaushik Dies At 66

Mumbai: Actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik passed away following a heart attack early Thursday morning, said his close friend and industry colleague Anupam Kher. He was 66.

Amitabh Bachchan said he suffered an injury to rib cartilage and a muscle tear while shooting for Project K. He added that all his work commitments have been cancelled as he recuperates at home.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan recently took to his blog to confirm the news about his injury on the sets of the upcoming Nag Ashwin film, Project K. The actor assured his fans that he is now recuperating after suffering an injury on his rib cartilage and a muscle tear near it.

“In Hyderabad at the shoot for Project K, during an action shot, I have got injured .. rib cartilage popped broke and muscle tear to the right rib cage .. canceled shoot .. did Doctor consult and scan by CT at the AIG Hospital in Hyderabad and flown back home .. strapping has been done and rest been advocated .. yes painful .. on movement and breathing .. will take some weeks they say before some normalisation will occur .. some medication is on also for pain ..” wrote the 80-year-old actor.

The actor confirmed that he is back in Mumbai, and at his home Jalsa, taking the time to recuperate.

According to Kher, Kaushik was at a friend’s home in Delhi when he complained of uneasiness. “He felt uneasy and he told driver to take him to the hospital and on the way he suffered a heart attack around 1 am,” Kher told PTI. In a tweet earlier, Kher said he was shocked to hear about Kaushik’s sudden death.“I know that death is the ultimate truth but never in my dreams I thought that I would have to write that about my best friend Satish Kaushik. A sudden full stop to 45 years of friendship. Life will never be the same without you Satish! Om Shanti,” Kher tweeted.

Ananya Panday: I am laughing every moment on the sets of ‘Dream Girl 2’

After an emotionally exhausting role in Gehraiyaan (2022) and a hardcore actioner in Liger (2022), Ananya Panday needed a light-hearted entertainer. It looks like the actor has gotten what she desired with Dream Girl 2. As she taps into her comic side for the sequel to the 2019 hit of the same name, she says she couldn’t have asked for better co-actors than Ayushmann Khurrana, Paresh Rawal and Seema Pahwa. For Panday, it has been a learning experience to see the veteran actors elevate their scenes with their spontaneity. She shares, “From Ayushmann to our ensemble cast, Paresh ji, Rajpal Yadav sir and Seema ma’am, all of them are funny, and so are their improvisations. I am laughing every moment on the set. I have to try hard to not laugh when my shot begins as they come up with the funniest antics.”

Besides Raaj Shaandilyaa’s directorial venture, the actor has Zoya Akhtar’s production Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, opposite Siddhanth Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav. Panday is looking forward to Arjun Varain Singh’s directorial offering that revolves around the youth’s obsession with social media. “I chased the film for so long, and finally got to be a part of it. Working on it has been the best feeling.”

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui‘s legal tussle with former wife Aaliya refuses to abate. A few days ago, in a video, Nawaz was seen being barred from entering his house to meet his ailing mother, even as Aaliya and the actor’s brother Shamas claimed Nawaz is pretending to be ‘holier than thou’ and called the whole thing a ‘PR stunt’. “I am termed as a bad guy everywhere because of my silence. The reason why I have kept quiet is because all this tamasha will somewhere be read by my small children. Social media platforms, press and a bunch of people are really enjoying my character assassination on the basis of one sided and manipulated videos. There are a few points I would like to express — First of all me and Aaliya do not stay together since several years, we are already divorced but we definitely had an understanding only for our kids. Does anyone know, why my kids are in India and not attending school for 45 days, wherein the school is sending me letters everyday that it has been too long an absence. My kids have been made hostage for past 45 days and are missing their schooling in Dubai,” he began.

Janhvi Kapoor announces Telugu film debut with NTR Jr

Manoj Bajpayee

on his life’s darkest phase was chased away, abused

Actor Manoj Bajpayee, one of the most respected actors in Bollywood today, talked about the hardships he had to face in his early years as he struggled to get offers for films. In a recent interview, Manoj, who was recently seen in the film Gulmohar, revealed after reaching Mumbai, he neither could find opportunities for theatre or films. It was difficult for him to imagine where the next meal would come from, and he struggled with varying phases of frustration. This phase returned again after Pinjar, where he didn’t have any films for seven years. Talking to Ranveer Allahabadia, Manoj talked about his worst days, “The worst days of my life were when I left Delhi for Mumbai. in Delhi, I used to work for 18 hours and sometimes without money—but there was a feeling of creative satisfaction and happiness. We didn’t know where our food would come from. We didn’t even have money for the bus, so we would walk for 10 km. I didn’t know English, so I used to keep practising to be fluent and people would think I am crazy. But I was busy, despite all the difficulties. Yet, when I came to Mumbai, there

Actor Janhvi Kapoor announced her latest film, NTR 30, with RRR star NTR Jr. On the occasion of her birthday, she took to Instagram and shared a photo of herself and expressed her happiness, saying that she couldn’t believe it was finally happening. In the poster, Janhvi is dressed in a saree and looks over her shoulder, as she sits on a rock. The Telugu film has been directed by Koratala Siva. NTR 30 has been produced by NTR Jr’s elder brother, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, and Yuvasudha Arts.

Jr NTR leaves for the US a week ahead of the Oscars 2023

Actor Jr NTR has left for the US, a week ahead of the 95th Academy Awards. The song Naatu Naatu from Tarak’s film RRR, featuring him and Ram Charan, has been nominated for the Best Original Song. The song had earlier won at the Golden Globes in the same category. Recently, Jr NTR and Alia Bhatt were awarded the Spotlight Award at Hollywood Critics Association 2023.

was no work—no money, and no food.”

He recalled how he questioned his acting abilities and thought that everyone who was complimenting his acting, were making fun of him. “So when you start doubting yourself, that’s the worst phase. This was the most difficult, when I kept looking in myself to see if I was good enough to act. I used to be ill frequently, and there was no money. I used to go to production sets and get chased away with abuses. I was an outsider. Finally, after much talking, I found roles,” adding that this was how he got the role in Satya.

He recalled how Ram Gopal Varma had noticed him in Bandit Queen when no one else had. “He noticed my performance during a private screening, ironically when no one else in the world had cared. Everyone in Bandit Queen got offers, except for me. Years later, I was taken to Ram Gopal Varma for Daud as a henchmen role, he got up from his seat and said, “I’ve been looking for you for years, where were you?” Manoj attributes this to luck.

Manoj said that there were several bad phases, including the one after Pinjar, where ‘no one came near him’ and how he was shunned by most. “Nobody was offering me anything. The films, today that are considered my best, didn’t work at the box office at the time. In our industry, a terrible film can become a hit—and then there will be the same pattern of films. But a good one will not do business at the box office, and actors have to sit at home. When I used to go for functions—and believe me I’ve experienced it—cameramen, reporters and anchors, would just turn the mic and not even turn towards me.”

Manoj Bajpayee, who was recently seen in the film Gulmohar, said he found no work after reaching Mumbai from Delhi, and faced the toughest time of his life.

‘I am termed as a bad guy everywhere because of my silence…’ : Nawazuddin

Truck Bursts Into Flames, Training Saves Lives

Indian-American Admits Sending Child Porn To Online Communities

depictions involving a minor engaged in sexually-explicit conduct and one count of distributing and producing visual depictions, the Lexington HeraldLeader reported.

Indian American Comedian Hasan Minhaj To Host Spirit Awards

U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted other first responders in extracting the driver from this burning vehicle in McAllen, TX

ABRAM, TX – U.S. Border Patrol agents working in McAllen, Texas rescued a civilian from a burning vehicle and a migrant from drowning in the river near Abram, Texas, on March 1.

McAllen agents, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Peñitas Fire Department responded to the vehicle accident. Upon approach, first responders saw that the vehicle was smoking, and the driver was still inside. The vehicle burst into flames as authorities safely extracted the driver. The driver was transported via ambulance to a local hospital for further medical screening. Border patrol processed all subjects accordingly.

Mayank M. Patel, 27 has pleaded guilty to federal charges of sex-related crimes, and admitted he was a part of 30 online communities, which traded sexually-explicit images of minors, a media report said.

New York: (IANS) An Indian-American man has pleaded guilty to federal charges of sex-related crimes, and admitted he was a part of 30 online communities, which traded sexuallyexplicit images of minors, a media report said.

Mayank M Patel, 27, of Lexington pleaded guilty in US Eastern District Court to one count of producing visual

Members of the Electronic Crime Branch with Kentucky State Police went to Patel’s home on January 23, 2023 after they suspected him of distributing and possessing explicit material. According to court documents, Patel’s phone number was found on dozens of online communities tied to child sex abuse. After searching his iPhone and Apple MacBook, officers found videos and photos depicting obscene material involving young children, according to court documents. All the images were produced using his cell phone. The court was told that Patel created explicit images and videos with a victim who was seven years old at the time. Patel was a member of 30 private communities and at least one private group for at least three months, and a member of other private groups for an unknown length of time, according to the Herald-Leader.

For his conduct, Patel faces a maximum of 50 years in prison, $500,000 in fines and supervised release between 10 years and life.

SANTA MONICA, CA- Held in Santa Monica, every year the Film Independent Spirit Awards recognizes top talent from TV and films and. The prestigious awards are one of the most sought-after events in Hollywood circles. This will be perhaps the first time ever that an Indian origin person will be hosting the event The 2023 Film Independent Spirits will stream live on IMDb and YouTube Saturday, March 4 at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

Oakton College Announces Women’s History Month Events

DES PLAINES, IL – Community

members are invited to Oakton College Women’s History Month events. In addition to events for students, Oakton is hosting three events – free and open to the public – about the feminist movements in the Global South to honor Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.

“During Women’s History Month, we want to center the important intellectual and activist work of feminists across the Global South, whose voices are not often included in the dominant narratives of women’s history. We hope these events will shed light on the diverse experiences and perspectives of leaders within transnational gender justice movements,” said Lindsey Hewitt, professor of Anthropology and Humanities and coordinator of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

The Global South generally includes Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Oakton’s three events examine feminist movements in Asia and Latin America. Join Oakton’s Associate Professor of Humanities Ahalya Satkunaratnam, as she leads a virtual talk about feminism in Asia and the Asian Diaspora in honor of International Women’s Day. During the presentation, Satkunaratnam will share the roots of the globally recognized day and talk about a few known and lesser-known struggles across Asia that uphold feminist values of dignity and liberation. Participants will also be invited to share their inspirations in

During Women’s History Month, we want to center the important intellectual and activist work of feminists across the Global South, whose voices are not often included in the dominant narratives of women’s history. We hope these events will shed light on the diverse experiences and perspectives of leaders within transnational gender justice movements,” said Lindsey Hewitt

social movements locally and globally.

https://bit.ly/3KG6xh8

Satkunaratanam earned a Ph.D. in dance history and theory from the University of California, Riverside. Her book, “Moving Bodies, Navigating Conflict: Practicing Bharata Natyam in Colombo, Sri Lanka” won the 2021 Dance Studies Association’s de la Torre Bueno® First Book Award. Satkunaratanam is a dancer and choreographer and recently produced the dance film “Agni,” which is available on YouTube.

Join Oakton’s Assistant Professor of

Earth Science and Geography Valeria

Benson-Lira, to learn more about the evolution and current trends in feminist movements in Latin America and the Caribbean. In both regions, gender roles have been defined by power, colonialism and religion. In recent years, women have achieved some recognition of their rights, however, at a great cost. Hear more about their ongoing efforts for equality.

https://bit.ly/3kv3kGB

A native of Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Benson-Lira joined Oakton in 2019 and has lived in Chicago since 2015. She has a master’s degree in geography from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s in industrial engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico. Her research interests include the following areas: urban climatology, human migration due to climate change, world regional geography, student learning development through community involvement, online learning and online course design accessible to minority students. In addition, Benson-Lira has presented at international and national

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan

Wednesday, April 5, 9:30 – 10:45 a.m., in-person (Des Plaines campus) and virtual Join Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan, Rabia Ali to discuss gender equality and women’s empowerment issues in Pakistan. https://bit.ly/3IZoBlb

Currently, Ali is a Fulbright Scholar in Residence at Harper College. She received the Australia Award for her doctorate from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and was a Fulbright fellow at Brown University (2019-2020). Ali specializes in the sociology of gender, and her expertise includes globalization, higher education, women’s empowerment, women’s leadership, violence against women, identity, culture, work and occupation, and qualitative research methods.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Ahalya Satkunaratnam will facilitate the “Feminism in Asia and the Asian Diaspora” lecture.

Valeria Benson-Lira will facilitate the “Feminism in Latin America and the Caribbean” lecture.

Rabia Ali will facilitate the “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan” lecture. conferences on various topics.

Human Traffickers Adopt Drones For Border Patrol Surveillance Evasion

Indian Heritage Night With The Windy City Bulls By FIA Chicago

SAN DIEGO, CA – US border patrol has reported that human smugglers are increasingly using drones to surveil border patrol agents. On Jan 30, two agents encountered 30 migrants crossing the US border illegally. Smugglers were seen picking up the migrants and transporting them to a stash house in National City. The following day, agents conducted a vehicle stop and arrested two US citizens on charges of human smuggling. During the investigation, arresting agents discovered drone footage recorded by the smuggling organization of the agents encountering the migrants. San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Aaron M. Heitke says that the use of drones by human smugglers is a growing trend along the border. The US Border Patrol is maintaining a high level of vigilance to prevent illegal smuggling and urges the public to report any suspicious activity o the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.

Oakton College Baseball Team Kicks Off Season Ranked 6th In Nation

CHICAGO, IL- Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of Chicago, celebrated Indian Heritage Night at the NOW Arena where the Windy City Bulls – the official NBA G League affiliates of the Chicago Bulls, took on the Raptors 905, a Canadian Basketball Team FIA Chicago is a non-profit umbrella organization of other Indian Associations in the Chicago land and Midwest representing in excess of 300,000 culturally diverse but united Asian-Indians. Besides an exciting game with the Windy City

Bulls finally winning in the end, the highlight of the evening was the exquisite dance performances arranged under the auspices of the FIA Vice President Richa Chand, showcasing the Indian Dance forms, during the quarter breaks and the half time that enthralled the audience.

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to all the performers by Chairman Sunil Shah & President Vinita Gulabani along with Team FIA. Live mascots of Gus T. Bulls entertained the cheering crowds.

USCIS To Start Collecting Fee For EB-5 Integrity Fund

USCIS Clarifies O-1B Visa Eligibility

DES PLAINES, IL- Oakton College’s baseball team is gearing up for a big season as they enter the new season ranked as the sixth-best team in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DIII baseball pre-season poll. The team will be opening their season on Friday, March 10th against Alexandria Technical and Community College in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The head coach, Bill Fratto, is confident in his team’s potential to do well this season and even compete for the national title. Last year, Oakton had a successful season, finishing with a record of 3428-1 and winning both the Regional and District championships. The team also made an impressive debut in the NJCAA World Series tournament, with a win over the second seed Rowan College of South Jersey. This season is also significant for a few Oakton alumni, who have moved on to pursue careers in professional baseball.

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, the Department of Homeland Security posted a Federal Register notice providing information related to the EB-5 Integrity Fund. We will use the EB-5 Integrity Fund primarily to administer the EB-5 Regional Center Program, as required by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Starting March 2, we will collect an annual fee from each designated regional center to finance the EB-5 Integrity Fund.

As required under the new EB-5 law, the fee is $20,000 for regional centers with more than 20 investors and $10,000 for those with 20 or fewer investors. The fee payment for fiscal year (FY) 2023 is due by Apr. 1, 2023, and regional centers must pay the fee online directly at Pay.gov, a system managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Starting in FY 2024 (October 2023), the fee will be due at the start of each fiscal year between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31.

In addition, the filing fee for Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor, increased by $1,000 on Oct. 1, 2022, to incorporate the Integrity Fund fees.

We may use fees collected for the EB-5 Integrity Fund to detect and investigate fraud and other immigration crimes. We will not impose late fees for payments that were due in FY 2023. We will start imposing a late fee, beginning October 2023, for any payments made more than 30 days later than the due date. We

We may use fees collected for the EB-5 Integrity Fund to detect and investigate fraud and other immigration crimes.

will announce the amount of the late penalty and the process for collecting in a future publication before we collect it or it is due.

Per the new EB-5 law, we must terminate the designation of any regional center that does not pay the fee within 90 days of the due date. Termination will not be automatic, and we will provide a notice of intent to terminate and the opportunity to prove that the fee was paid in the proper amount within 90 days of the due date before sending a notice of termination.

The EB-5 Regional Center Program makes visas available to qualified immigrants (and the eligible spouses and children of such immigrants) who pool their investments with other qualified immigrants in a “regional center” in the United States. We designate regional centers based on a proposal for the promotion of economic growth, including prospective job creation and increased domestic capital investment in their requested geographic region. The Federal Register notice and the EB-5 Integrity Fund page explain the requirement for the fee and provide the process for how it is to be paid.

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today issued policy guidance (PDF, 310.33 KB) clarifying how it evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1B nonimmigrants of extraordinary ability in the arts and nonimmigrants of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry. Policy updates include adding a chart in the appendix that describes examples of evidence that may satisfy the O-1B evidentiary criteria, as well as considerations relevant to evaluating such evidence. The chart also assists petitioners in submitting appropriate evidence that may establish the beneficiary’s eligibility.

The Oneness 5K Run/Walk Is Organized In June

CHICAGO, IL- The Oneness Run 5K Run/Walk is a great way to bring the community together and promote a healthy and active lifestyle. The event will take place on June 10, 2023, at East Deer Grove Park in Palatine, IL, and is open to all, regardless of race or religion. The proceeds from the event will benefit underprivileged kids in local school cross-country programs. Participants can run, walk, or a combination of both, and there will be light food and refreshments available, as well as healthy lunch options provided by Singh Kitchen.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Stay Alert To Telephone Frauds

Wisconsin Republicans Oppose Student Vaccination Mandates

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), around 60 million Americans reported falling victim to a phone scam in 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA – Phone scams come in various forms, with the most prevalent ones being one-ring scams, traffic-pumping scams, and package delivery scams. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), around 60 million Americans reported falling victim to a phone scam in 2021. It’s crucial to never answer or return calls from numbers you don’t recognize unless you have verified its legitimacy. One-ring scams, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the U.S., appear to be from local phone numbers and may resemble U.S. area codes. However, scammers

International numbers or use spoofing techniques to conceal their true identity. If you call back, you may be connected to a number outside the U.S. and charged expensive fees for connecting and per-minute charges for as long as you remain on the call. These charges may appear on your bill as premium services, international calling, or toll-calling.

To protect yourself, the FCC recommends avoiding calls from numbers you don’t know and checking if the area code is international before calling unfamiliar numbers. You can also ask your phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line if you don’t make international calls. Always exercise caution, even if the number appears to be legitimate. Keep in mind that government agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration will never call to confirm sensitive information.

If you are billed for a call made as a result of a scam, first try to resolve the issue with your phone company. If unsuccessful, you can file a complaint with the FCC for free. If you believe you are the victim of an international phone scam, you are also encouraged to file a complaint with the FTC.

Two United Airlines Planes Collided At Boston’s Logan Airport

BOSTON, MA- It is fortunate that no one was injured in the incident where the wings of two planes clipped at Boston Logan International Airport. The incident caused inconvenience to the passengers as they had to deplane and be accommodated on different flights to reach their destinations. The airline, United, issued a statement apologizing for the delay and inconvenience caused to the passengers. The incident is under investigation and the authorities are working towards finding a solution and ensuring that such incidents do not occur in the future.

MADISON, WI. – Wisconsin Republicans are blocking a new policy from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers that requires students to get vaccinated twice against meningitis and tightens chickenpox vaccination mandates. The GOP-controlled rules committee is set to hold a public hearing on the policy and a vote to block it could soon follow. The committee’s co-chair, Republican Sen. Steve Nass, called the new provisions “arbitrary and

capricious” and said that Evers, the state Department of Health Services, and legislative Democrats are opposing the right of parents and adults to make free decisions regarding immunizations. The policy, which will take effect this fall, requires students entering 7th grade to get vaccinated against meningitis and a booster shot for those entering 12th grade. The health department also requires students to get vaccinated against chickenpox to enter every grade from K-6th, and parents must provide evidence of infection from a health care provider to secure an exemption.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll in December found less support among parents for school vaccine requirements compared with a 2019 survey. CDC data shows chickenpox vaccination rates fell more sharply than the rate for shots for measles

Urgent Blood Shortage In NYC: Donate At Local Center

NEW YORK, NY —New York City is facing a blood shortage with only 1-2 days of Type O Negative blood and B2 subtype, and 2-3 days of all other blood types left, according to the New York Blood Center. The shortage is due to several factors, including poor weather, school breaks, cold and flu season, and the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on blood donations.

The New York Blood Center received 6,000 fewer blood donations in February compared to the previous year and is in need of more donors. Platelet donors are also urgently needed. People interested in donating can find more information on nybc.org or by calling 800-688-0900.

Indian-origin woman killed, daughter hurt in small plane crash in US

from where it had also taken off. Her daughter Reeva Gupta, 33, and the pilot are in hospital with severe burns, according to NBC New York TV channel.

“It was a demonstration flight, an introductory flight to see if people are interested” in flying lessons, Oleh Dekajlo, the lawyer for Danny Waizman Flight School, told the channel. The crash in a residential area of Lindenhurst that missed houses and crashed in a field was captured on home surveillance cameras.

New York: (IANS) An Indian-origin woman has died in a small plane crash in the New York area while her daughter and the pilot were injured when they were on a “demonstration flight” to explore flying lessons, according to media reports.

Roma Gupta, 63, was killed on Sunday on Long Island when the plane, a fourseater single-engine Piper Cherokee, went down in flames as it was returning to the Republic Airport on Long Island

A witness told CBS New York TV, “The pilot did a great job, in my opinion, trying to avoid any houses, people and traffic.” Reeva Gupta is a neurosurgery physician’s assistant with the Mount Sinai Hospital System, according to an appeal set up by co-workers on Gofundme. “To help fulfil a longstanding wish of theirs, they booked a flight lesson”, according to the appeal which had collected nearly $70,000 by Tuesday evening to help Reeva Gupta and her family”.

OSHA Fines

Wisconsin Food

Cannery $222K For Safety Violations

PLOVER, WI – Del Monte Foods has been cited by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for machine safety violations after a 20-year-old seasonal worker suffered a partial amputation of their finger. The lack of machine guarding and safety procedures at the cannery in Plover, Wisconsin exposed workers to machine hazards.

The company was cited for similar violations at another Wisconsin facility in 2019 and now faces proposed penalties of $222,779.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

NJ Legislators and Professionals Address Teen Suicide Rates

Suhas Subramanyam to Run for Virginia Senate

Senator John Bell and several Democratic elected leaders representing the Eastern Loudoun county.

Suhas Subramanyam

TRENTON, NJ- New Jersey lawmakers, parents, and mental health experts gathered for a hearing on teen suicides in Trenton to learn about ways to prevent them. The Senate Education Committee heard testimony from nearly a dozen speakers on the need for mental health resources to support young people. The speakers discussed the importance

Man From Andhra Killed In US Train Mishap

of schools in providing a sense of belonging and purpose to prevent suicides, and highlighted the need for continued resources to address the issue. The hearing also revealed the extent of the crisis, with an increase in pediatric visits for mental health by nearly 50% and frequent interventions by school staff to prevent suicides. The state lawmakers plan to use the testimony to draft legislation and increase funding for mental health resources.

American Democrat Suhas Subramanyam has announced his bid for Virginia’s newly-drawn 32nd Senate District. Subramanyam, who is serving the 87th District of Virginia, will succeed Senator John Bell, who announced he will not be in the race for Senate again.

“If elected to the Senate, I will continue the work I started as a delegate to empower my constituents, put people and families before special interests, and stand up for our core values,” Subramanyam said in a statement.

In his bid, Subramanyam is endorsed by Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton,

A resident of Loudoun County, Subramanyam became the first IndianAmerican and South Asian to ever be elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2019. “I look forward to sharing my vision this campaign season of creating a robust economy that works for Loudon families and businesses alike, protecting our freedoms like reproductive rights and voting rights from extremism, delivering a world-class education to our kids, and keeping our community safe and healthy,” he added.

A technology and regulatory attorney, Subramanyam served as a White House advisor to President Barack Obama in 2015, where he led a task force on technology policy that addressed job creation, IT modernisation, and regulating emerging technology.

Prior to that, he earned his law degree with honors from Northwestern University School of Law, volunteering at the Center for Wrongful Convictions, where he was part of the legal team that freed a man who had spent 21 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Paul Vallas Emerges As Visionary Choice For Chicago Mayor, Endorsed By Friends Of Indian Community

CHICAGO, IL- Paul Vallas, born on June 10, 1953, is a well-known American politician and former education superintendent. He is a member of the Democratic Party and has held significant positions in various education departments across the United States.

New York: (IANS) A 39-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district died after he was struck by an inter-city train in New Jersey, leading to the suspension of rail services between New York and Philadelphia briefly.

Sreekanth Digala, a resident of Plainsboro in New Jersey, died in the incident that occurred at Princeton Junction Station last week. The Amtrak train 178, was traveling from Washington D.C. to Boston when the victim was struck east of Princeton Junction, an Amtrak spokesman told Daily Voice.

Vallas began his career as a superintendent in the Bridgeport Public Schools, where he served with distinction. He was then appointed as the Recovery School District superintendent in Louisiana, where he played a vital role in the educational recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Following his tenure in Louisiana, Vallas became the CEO of the School District of Philadelphia, where he successfully implemented a range of reforms to improve the district’s performance. He then moved to the Chicago Public Schools, where he served as CEO,

leading the district with a firm hand and implementing a number of initiatives that have been credited with improving academic outcomes for students.

Vallas’s early years were spent in the Roseland neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, where he developed a strong work ethic and a deep sense of community. He later moved to Palos Heights, where he completed his education. He attended Carl Sandburg

Paul Vallas: A Trailblazer in American Education Ideal Candidate for Any Position in Education or Public Service.

High School and then went on to study at Moraine Valley Community College and Western Illinois University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, a master’s degree in political science, and a teaching certificate.

In his early career, Vallas was a leader in the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission, where he served from 1985 to 1990. He then worked as the budget director for the city of Chicago from 1990 to 1993, where he developed a reputation as a skilled financial manager.

The Song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” Has Been Removed From Disneyland’s Parade

ANAHEIM, CA- The lyrics from the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” have been removed from the musical medley in Disneyland’s Magic Happens parade. The song was originally featured in the 1946 film “Song of the South,” which has received criticism for its stereotypical portrayal of Black men and its romanticized view of the postCivil War South. Disneyland officials confirmed that the song was removed

and replaced with a song from the 1953 film “Peter Pan.”

The “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” song and characters from “Song of the South” are also heavily featured in Disneyland’s Splash Mountain ride. In 2020, Disney announced plans to re-theme the ride into “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” based on “The Princess and the Frog” following backlash and civil unrest. The re-imagined ride is expected to open in late 2024 in US Disney parks.

The Walt Disney World Resort has already closed its version of Splash Mountain and Disneyland has not yet announced a closure date for its version.

The Magic Happens parade returned to Disneyland in late February after a three-year hiatus due to the park’s closure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade is scheduled to run twice a day at the theme park.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Paul Vallas Emerges as Visionary Choice for Chicago Mayor

Vote By Mail Applications Open For The April 4th Municipal Run-Off Election

HiIndia Newsdesk

CHICAGO, IL – Voters within the City of Chicago may now apply to Vote By Mail for the April 4th Municipal Run-Off Election. The application portal is now live at: https://www. chicagoelections.gov/en/vote-by-mailapplication.html

**Please note: unless a voter is already on the Permanent Vote By Mail Roster, they will not automatically receive a new Vote By Mail ballot for the April 4th Run-Off Election. The voter would need to re-apply to receive a Vote By Mail ballot for April 4th.**

Voters can request that their Vote By Mail ballot be sent out of the city and out of the state. Voters can apply and choose to receive a Vote By Mail ballot in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, and Tagalog.

When voters receive their Vote By Mail ballot, they may return it through standard US Mail and it must be postmarked on or before Election Day on April 4, 2023. Voters may also submit the Ballot Return Envelope in a secured drop box at any Chicago Early Voting location before and on Election Day.

This past Sunday, saw Chicago’s iconic spot, Navy Pier come alive with colors and festive fervor. The occasion was the celebration of the Holi festival. Thousands of guests arrived for this inclusive event and

March 6, 2023 – First day to apply to Vote By Mail online for the April 4th Municipal Run-Off Election.

March 17, 2023 – Earliest expected* day for Vote By Mail ballots to be mailed to voters. *subject to change March 30, 2023 – Last day for the Board to receive new Vote By Mail applications. April 4, 2023 – Last day for postmark on the Ballot Return Envelope if returning by mail. If a voter decides not to return the Vote By Mail ballot, the voter may submit the Vote By Mail ballot to the judges at the precinct and polling place for that voter’s home address, and then cast a ballot in person. If the Vote By Mail ballot was lost or did not arrive, the voter may sign an affidavit and cast a ballot in person, also at the precinct and polling place for that voter’s home

address.

April 18, 2023 – Last day that a mailed Vote By Mail ballot (postmarked or certified April 4 or earlier) may arrive at the Election Board to be included in the count.

Early Voting in all 50 Wards of Chicago and at our two Downtown Sites for the April 4th Municipal Run-Off Election will begin Monday, March 20 and run through April 4, 2023 (Election Day).

All 50 Ward Early Voting sites and the Board Supersite (191 N. Clark) will be open as vote centers on Election Day. All locations are ADA-compliant and fully accessible to voters with disabilities.

Early Voting Open March 20 – April 4, 2023

Weekdays: 9:00a – 6:00pm

Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Election Day: 6:00am – 7:00pm (April 4)

To learn more about Voting By Mail for April 4th, go to: https://www. chicagoelections.gov/en/vote-by-mail. html

For voter registration services, voters may go to https://www.chicagoelections. gov/en/register-to-vote-change-ofaddress.html or call (312) 269-7936.

Teen arrested for shooting Indian student in Chicago Walmart parking lot

Zofeen Maqsood

Earlier this year an Indian graduate student Devasish Nandepu who had just arrived from India, days ago was killed in a shooting. The incident that took place outside a Walmart parking lot in South Side Chicago, also seriously injured his roommate. Now, a 14-year-old has been arrested in connection to the shooting. Devasish Nandepu was gunned down at the 8400 block of South Holland Avenue. The robbery attack also left his roommate, another 22-year-old guy wounded in the chest. The third roommate who was with them was also left badly traumatized. The accused is not being publicly identified because he is a juvenile. He was charged with murder and robbery while armed with a firearm. According to reports, the incident caught the three young men from India by surprise when they were running errands and were walking to the Walmart parking lot. Suddenly a stolen Kia Forte pulled up and two masked men jumped out and demanded cash and phones. One of the robbers opened fire as men tried to retrieve their cash – a total of just $6. Nandepu died just hours later in the hospital.

Colors, Culture and Diversity at Holi

Celebrations in Navy Pier, Chicago

each other with powdered colors. The beautiful experience has been one of the must-do events in Chicago, beginning of the Spring season and has become a local favorite. The Holi Celebration at Navy Pier, is a part of Global Connections series presented by ComEd. The free event is supported in part by the Delhi Committee of Chicago Sister Cities, Zee5 Global, and Sue Ling Gin Charitable Trust.

The Aon Grand Ballroom saw many interactive programs to enthrall the guests along with foot tapping music and dance. The event had a roaring start at the ballroom with DJ Dave Patel followed by Bollywood Groove. The event line-up had something for everyone and people enjoyed the performances and a general feeling of festivity in the air was palpable. From Chitrahar Cultural Academy to Surabhi Ensemble everything managed to strike a chord with the crowds.

participated in the festivities. For a few hours, the city’s major tourist attraction, Navy Pier, looked like a global village where people of all ethnicities were seen enthusiastically celebrating, enjoying the live music, dancing to the beats and showering

Post noon, Navy Pier’s Beer Garden saw DJs Krush and Jeet belting out music that was a hit with the crowd. The thoughtful event had something for everyone and was a fun-filled amalgamation. As the colors of Holi mixed with the air and people happily sported colors and showered each other with it, it was a sight to behold and capture.

Yummy food from Bombay Wraps and the warm feeling of festivity made the event a successful way to herald the much-awaited Spring in Chicago.

Zofeen Maqsood

The corporate sector has witnessed numerous workplace trends including great resignation, quiet quitting, moonlighting and rage applying. However, all of it is expected to be replaced by “quiet hiring”, a fad that has already begun to rule the employment industry.

Amid mass-layoffs by tech companies, “quiet hiring” has gained prominence as it refers to a method of finding new talent without hiring new full-time employees. It was named one of the nine workplace trends of the year by the technical consulting and research company Gartner.

According to the company, “Quiet hiring enables organizations to strategically address acute, immediate business needs by assigning existing employees to new roles, expanding existing employees’ responsibilities through stretch and upskilling opportunities by hiring temporary workers to perform specific tasks or any combination of the three.” This entails carefully evaluating the talent companies already have on hand and making trade-offs on where talent is most required and where the firm can afford to slow down production or reduce staff.

For example, in order to meet its goals for the year, a company may determine that it needs to add five more data scientists to its team. It may then look at the hiring forecast and realise that filling those five

Coronavirus Pandemic

Quiet Hiring A New Workplace Trend Is Helping Companies

“Quiet hiring” is a term used to describe a recruitment process that is done in a discreet or confidential manner. In quiet hiring, a company seeks to identify and attract top talent for a particular job opportunity, but does so in a way that does not involve publicly advertising the position.

which is known as quiet hiring.

roles could take up to several months, implying that they will not meet their targets. As a solution, the company may decide to temporarily

transfer five employees from another department, such as data analysts in human resources and marketing, into the five open data scientist positions,

According to Gartner, quiet hiring is also beneficial for employees as it allows them to work on challenging assignments, expand their current skills, learn new skills and advance their careers. All this will ultimately lead to the employee becoming indispensable for their current organisation and more marketable to others. However, the research firm also adds that the companies should be “expected to offer incentives, such as additional compensation, onetime bonuses, extra personal time off, flexible hours and working conditions” to avoid attrition. According to Inc, tech giant Google was actively involved in quiet hiring in 2022. The company’s hiring strategy “doesn’t look just to internal candidates to fill positions but it does look to internal staff when considering external candidates.”

Covid: FBI Chief Christopher Wray says China lab leak ‘most likely’

and wildlife market.

The market is a 40-minute drive from a worldleading virus laboratory, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which conducted research into coronaviruses. Other US government agencies have drawn differing conclusions to the FBI’s, with varying degrees of confidence in their findings.

US media reported on Sunday that the US energy department had assessed with “low confidence” that Covid leaked from a lab. The agency had formerly said it was undecided on how the virus began.

On Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that US President Joe Biden supports “a whole-ofgovernment effort” to discover how Covid began. But he added that the US still lacks a clear consensus as to what happened. “We’re just not there yet,” he said. “If we have something that is ready to be briefed to the American people and the Congress, we will do that.”

“The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident,” he told Fox News. It is the first public confirmation of the FBI’s classified judgement of how the pandemic virus emerged. China has denied a lab leak in Wuhan, calling the allegation defamatory. Mr Wray’s comments come a day after the US ambassador to China called for the country to “be more honest” about Covid’s origins.

In his interview on Tuesday, Mr Wray said China “has been doing its best to try to thwart and obfuscate” efforts to identify the source of the global pandemic. “And that’s unfortunate for everybody,” he said.

Some studies suggest the virus made the leap from animals to humans in Wuhan, China, possibly at the city’s seafood

An unclassified report released by the US top spy official in October 2021 said that four US intelligence agencies had assessed with “low confidence” that it had originated with an infected animal or a related virus. For months, at the height of the pandemic, the lab leak hypothesis was widely dismissed as a fringe conspiracy theory. Top health officials publicly rejected the idea that the coronavirus could have been created in a lab before escaping. A World Health Organization (WHO) investigation called the lab leak theory “extremely unlikely”, but after deep criticism of that investigation, the agency’s director-general called for a new inquiry, saying: “All hypotheses remain open and require further study.” Covid-19 first emerged in late 2019 and has since led to the deaths of nearly seven million people.

“Quiet hiring” has gained prominence amid mass lay-offs as it refers to a method of finding new talent without hiring new full-time employees.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has said that the bureau believes Covid-19 “most likely” originated in a “Chinese governmentcontrolled lab”

News Breif

Jasprit Bumrah Undergoes Back Surgery In New Zealand: Report

“Unworthy To Even Respond”: India Slams Pak Minister’s Kashmir Remarks

India has previously told Pakistan that the entire territories of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are, and shall always be part of India.

United Nations: India tore into Pakistan after its foreign minister raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at a Security Council debate on women, peace and security, saying it is “unworthy” to even respond to such “malicious and false propaganda”.

HiIndia Newsdesk

Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has undergone back surgery in New Zealand, as he races against time to get fit for the ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be held at home from October-November this year. As per ESPNCricinfo, the surgery was done on Monday. The pacer is expected to stay in New Zealand till Marchend. As per his roadmap for return, designed by the BCCI medical staff, he will resume bowling and training by August. His workload will be increased gradually to get him fit for the marquee cricketing event.

Bumrah has not played any competitive cricket since September last year when he pulled out of the white-ball series against South Africa at home. His withdrawal from the series was due to a stress reaction in his lower back. He attempted a comeback in January during the white-ball home series against Sri Lanka, but niggles in the back did not let it happen either.

Responding to Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday termed his statement as “baseless and politically motivated”.

“Before I conclude, let me dismiss the frivolous, baseless and politically motivated remarks made by the delegate of Pakistan regarding the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said. Speaking at the UN Security Council open debate on ‘Women, Peace and Security’, Ms Kamboj said: “my delegation considers it unworthy to even respond to such malicious and

India To Send 20,000 Metric Tonnes Of Wheat To Afghanistan

structure in Kabul that respects rights of all Afghans including women and minorities.

At the first meeting of the India-Central Asia joint working group on Afghanistan, New Delhi also announced a fresh tranche of assistance of 20,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan and the consignments will be sent through the Chabahar Port in Iran.

New Delhi: India and five central Asian countries on Tuesday asserted that Afghanistan’s soil must not be used for any terrorist activities and called for formation of a “truly inclusive” political

The situation in the war-ravaged country came up for extensive deliberations at the first meeting of the India-Central Asia joint working group on Afghanistan that took place in Delhi.

Delhi Prison Trashes AAP’s “Plot To Kill Manish Sisodia In Jail” Charge

The Delhi prisons department today trashed the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) allegation of a plot to murder its senior leader Manish Sisodia in Tihar jail.

false propaganda.”

“Rather, our focus is where it shall always be - positive and forward-looking. Today’s discussion is critically important to strengthen our collective efforts to accelerate the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. We respect the topic of the debate and recognise the importance of time. As such, our focus shall remain on the topic,” she said.

Modi govt to work on women’s empowerment

Rahul Gandhi can legitimately claim he has not “defamed India” on his weeklong tour of the UK. But he has certainly been forthright in his condemnation of the BJP and the RSS. On Monday evening, when the Congress leader rounded off his visit by going to the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House in London, he described the RSS as a “fundamentalist, fascist organisation”. Since this was relatively new territory for many English members of the audience, he was asked an innocent question: “What is the RSS?”

New Delhi: The Delhi prisons department today trashed the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) allegation of a plot to murder its senior leader Manish Sisodia in Tihar jail.

Mr Sisodia, AAP’s Number 2 and Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister, is in judicial custody after he was arrested last month in the liquor policy case. His bail petition will be taken up on Friday.

The prisons department said in a statement that Mr Sisodia “has been assigned to a segregated ward keeping his security in mind”. “The ward of CJ-1, where he is lodged has minimum

number of inmates who are not gangsters and are maintaining good conduct inside the jail,” the prisons department said, responding to AAP’s allegation that Mr Sisodia has been lodged with dangerous and violent prisoners.

“A separate cell makes it possible for him to meditate or do such other activities without any disturbance. All the arrangements, as per Jail Rules, are in place to ensure his safety and security. Any aspersions cast about his lodgings is unfounded,” the department added.

The prisons department’s reply came after AAP leaders alleged that Mr Sisodia has been lodged with the country’s most dangerous criminals “who face dozens of murder cases and can kill anyone”.

On International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the role of women in India’s progress and said his government will keep working to further women’s empowerment.

“On International Women’s Day, a tribute to the achievements of our Nari Shakti. We greatly cherish the role of women in India’s progress,” Modi said in a tweet. “Our government will keep working to further women empowerment,” he said using the hashtag ‘Nari Shakti for New India’.

The prime minister also shared on Twitter a compilation of women achievers whose life journeys were chronicled in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recalled the glorious contributions of ‘Nari Shakti’ in all walks of life.

“The government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is relentlessly working towards women empowerment through its various effective schemes and programmes,” he said. “From being operationally deployed in Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, to being posted on warships, Indian women are breaking barriers in almost every field in the Armed Forces,” Singh tweeted.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

Rahul Gandhi calls RSS ‘fundamentalist, fascist’

Pat Cummins to miss fourth Test against India

Australia captain Pat Cummins will miss the fourth Border-Gavaskar Test against India in Ahmedabad, Cricket Australia said in a statement. Cummins left India just hours after the second Test loss in Delhi, flying home to Sydney to be with his mother, Maria is ill with breast cancer and is in palliative care.

Indian origin golfer

PM Modi, Australian PM’s Lap Around Stadium Ahead Of 4th Test

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese were greeted with huge applause as they took a lap of honour at Narendra Modi stadium in Gujarat today. The two Prime Ministers took a round of the massive sports arena on a golf car before the start of the fourth Test match between India and Australia. PM Modi and Mr Albanese were handed over Test caps to their respective team captains Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith.

The Australian PM arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, as part of a state visit to India. PM Modi reached the state late last night. “An incredible welcome to Ahmedabad, India. The beginning of an important trip for Australia-India relations,” the Australian PM tweeted shortly after his arrival.

Kidambi Srikanth pulls out, Lakshya Sen top Indian contender at German Open

Akshay Bhatia, a 21-year-old who turned pro at 17 and plays on the Korn Ferry Tour, closed with a 65 to finish alone in second in the Puerto Rico Open and earned special temporary membership on the PGA Tour, giving him unlimited sponsor exemptions for the rest of the season. “I can’t believe I’m crying,” Bhatia had said on Sunday as quoted by the PGA tour website. “It means a lot. Worked really hard; it’s been a crazy journey, for sure. Last year was really disappointing; I got hurt and didn’t get my card through the Korn Ferry Tour. It’s crazy. I have so many people to thank … it’s a crazy day. Didn’t even know I shot 7 under.

Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth has pulled out of the German Open Super 300 badminton tournament which starts with the qualifiers here on Tuesday. While Srikanth will be missing in action, finalist of the last edition, Lakshya Sen will hope to go the distance this time as he spearheads the Indian challenge.

Sen, and newly-crowned national champion Mithun Manjunath, will be the top Indian players.

Sen, the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist, had defeated wold No. 1 Viktor Axelsen in the semifinals, only to lose the final in the last edition. This time the 21-year-old from Almora, seeded sixth, will meet France’s Christo Popov in the opening round and is expected to face top seed Malaysian Lee Zii Jia in the quarters, if he can cross the initial rounds.

“I might face Lee Zii Jia in quarterfinals, so looking forward to it. I have done everything in my hand to approach this week in best shape, so hope to get a good momentum ahead of All England,” Sen said.

Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) mentor Sania Mirza on Friday joined the camp and spent quality time with the players, giving them advice about handling pressure, shutting down the outside noise and more, ahead of their first match of the inaugural season of WPL. Speaking to the players, Sania revealed that after having recently retired from Tennis, she vowed to help women athletes in India in any sport with the mental aspects of things.

“If somebody has anything to talk about I’m here I can give you my number for when I’m not here…we can have a chat, I’m just here as a friend.”

When New Zealand’s Sophie Devine asked Sania about how hard her retirement was, Sania said, “I was ready. I have a son and the last one year has been a struggle. I have had three surgeries.”

Sania also revealed that after playing in the Australian Open she really wanted to stop playing the game. “I just made the final of Australia in the mix. I was like it’s good to go out on the top like I just wanted to stop. It’s exciting. I’m happy.” “Photoshoots, media attention, I have dealt with all this for the past 20 years and I think I can help girls cope up with pressure,” she added.

I don’t think the Indian bowling attack is strong…..therefore I think these pitches are being made: Sunil Gavaskar

Having retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the fourth consecutive time having won the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi, India were bested by Australia in the third meeting in Indore, leaving the series at 2-1 going into the final Test.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the primary reason behind India opting for rank turners, pitches that have induced Tests that have concluded in less than three days time, is owing to the absence of a strong pace attack.

“Taking 20 wickets is not going to be easy in India. On a lot of Indian pitches, without your ace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and a slightly inexperienced Mohammed Siraj, I don’t think that bowling attack is such (strong). But with a little bit of help from a dry pitch, India can probably take 20 wickets. I think that is the thinking behind preparing such pitches,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Jasprit Bumrah has been been out of action since the India-Australia T20 series last September and per The Indian Express is set to miss the entirety of IPL 2023 as

well as the World Test Championship Final. Gavaskar further added, “For India to reach the World Test Championship Final, they did not have any other options (than producing turning tracks). If you would have had a strong attack, maybe you could have done something different but your strength is your spinners

and therefore I think these pitches are being made. You do not want a flat pitch where the batters go out and dominate. These pitches are testing the temperament of the batters.”

Having retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the fourth consecutive time having won the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi, India were bested by Australia in the third meeting in Indore, leaving the series at 2-1 going into the final Test.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India bundled out for 109 on day one before Australia secured an 88 run lead in the first innings.

In the second innings, the hosts only managed to score 163, giving the visitors only 76 runs to chase, which they did early in the first session on day three with nine wickets in hand.

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

HiIndia Newsdesk

‘I’m here to help, I’m here as a friend: RCB mentor Sania Mirza

Akshay Bhatia finishes runner-up

Dutch DJ Martin Garrix, known for his hit singles Animals, In the Name of Love, and Scared to Be Lonely, will perform for the Sunburn Arena in eight cities across the country. On his sixth visit to the country, the DJ says he is grateful for the support he gets from his Indian fans. “India will always be special to me as the support I’ve been getting there, from the beginning, has been huge. I’m super excited to finally return and party with all my fans. Hope to see you there,” says Garrix in an email interview to

India’s support has always been special: Martin Garrix

On his sixth visit to India, the 26-year-old former World No 1 DJ will kickstart his mostexpansive tours of India on March 3 in Bengaluru, followed by seven other cities

The Indian Express. Garrix will begin his eight-city tour across the country, starting with Bengaluru today (March 3), followed by Hyderabad on March 4, Chennai on March 5, Pune and Mumbai on March 8, Kolkata on March 10, New Delhi on March 11 and Ahmedabad on March 12. Calling India one of his favourite countries to perform at, and the Taj Mahal one of his favourite monuments, Garrix says, “I love how different India is from other countries, which makes it a truly unique experience. I have a very busy schedule when I’m in India, but would love to squeeze in some sightseeing.”

Vada Pav

recognised as 13th best sandwich in the world

Recently, a list of 50 ‘Best Sandwiches in the World’ was released by Taste Atlas, an experiential travel guide founded by Matija Babic for traditional food that collates authentic recipes, food critic reviews, and research articles about popular ingredients and dishes.

Crossword Puzzles

* Tombik

* Butifarra

* Sandwich de lomo

* Spiedie

* Banh mi heo quay

* Lobster Roll

* Choripan * Toast Skagen

* Sanguche de milanesa

* Arepa andina

* Cuban Sandwich

* Chivito

* Vada Pav

* Montreal Smoked Meat

* Prego

Aries

Author Bio:

Celebrity Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla is the son of famous astrologer Bejan Daruwalla. He is known for his detailed astrological predictions on career, health, love, finance, and business. You can visit their website bejandaruwalla.com for guidance on problems related to your life and solve your problem with the help of expert astrologer Chirag Daruwalla. For guidance on problems related to your life you can talk to Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla on Call/Whatsapp: +91 9825470377 or also mail on: info@bejandaruwalla.com

3rd March to 9th March 2023

Ganesha says that this week you can contribute financially to the issues of religion and society. Unnecessary expenses may come to the fore. Avoid unnecessary expenses and travel. This is a difficult week to deal with obstacles and difficult hurdles. Instead of giving air to the aspirations of others, focus on your goals and priorities.

Taurus

Ganesha says that your enemies can dominate you and give you some trouble in your professional field. Some of you may have problems with your partner or colleagues.

Gemini

Ganesha says that this week you can be ambitious about increasing your savings. But it may be difficult to save this week. It would be better that instead of saving, you invest the money in business expansion plans to get more profit.

Cancer

Ganesha says that you will get cooperation from your seniors and the government. You can also make good contacts with some important people. Expected progress is possible in the economic context.

Leo

Ganesha says that that this week the business class can fly high. Take advantage of the better opportunities around you. Set your objectives and start working hard towards their achievement. Most of you employed people may have to face new challenges and problems. Try not to overcommit yourself to a better position. If you can establish some boundaries, you will be happy with the end results.

Virgo

Ganesha says that this week is not very good for financial matters. At the beginning of the week, you will have to spend money on some domestic matters even against your will. Don’t let family disputes get out of hand, otherwise, you may have to incur expenses to resolve them.

Libra

Ganesha says that you may have to face some problems

this week. There are chances that some problems may arise due to hasty decisions. Avoid depending completely on colleagues. Marketing professionals will work hard to enhance their technical skills. Businessmen can take a tough stand to complete important work.

Scorpio

Ganesha says that you may have some differences with your colleagues on the job. Still, you will make good progress as your seniors will support your point of view. Your responsibilities will increase or you may progress. New sources of income will increase your income..

Sagittarius

Ganesha says that for some, this week can be difficult in terms of finances. Despite innovative ideas and strategies, there are strong chances that most colleagues and superiors will not take your ideas seriously. Avoid arguments with your boss and colleagues as they may harm you adversely. Success is possible for students in competition.

Capricorn

Ganesha says that the financial condition will be stable during the week. Some of you may bring in good profits from real estate. Do not get upset if things do not turn out as per expectations at the workplace. Try to prepare a new strategy and strategy for better production in the coming days. It would be better not to force others to do things for you.

Aquarius

Ganesha says that there may be a lack of commitment in partnership, and negative fluctuations in business may increase. It is better to listen to others before forwarding your views. Avoid lending money. Positive impact awaits you, along with progressive changes, professional gains, and success. Seeing things in the context of a wider perspective and priorities can eliminate confusion.

Pisces

Ganesha says that this week will be called good for economic matters. You can travel for any financial issue. Some can also build up their bank balances. The middle of the week is also good for financial matters. At this time, the journey done for economic matters will be successful. Still avoid spending extravagantly for others.

Just 11 minutes, or 75 minutes a week, of moderateintensity physical activity such as a brisk walk would be sufficient to lower the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and a number of cancers, a new University of Cambridge led research has found.In a study published on Tuesday in the ‘British Journal of Sports Medicine’, researchers conclude that one in 10 early deaths could be prevented if everyone managed at least half the recommended level of physical activity by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Physical activity, particularly when it is moderateintensity, is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and the NHS recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week.

“If you are someone who finds the idea of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week a bit daunting, then our findings should be good news,” said Dr Soren Brage from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.

“Doing some physical activity is better than doing none. This is also a good starting position – if you find that 75 minutes a week is manageable, then you could try stepping it up gradually to the full recommended amount,” he said.

Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, are the leading cause of death globally, responsible for 17.9 million deaths per year in 2019, while cancers were responsible for 9.6 million deaths in 2017. Seventy-five minutes per week of moderate activity was found to be enough to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular

What to do in an emergency

Heart attack

One of the most typical emergencies is when a person seems to be having a heart attack. They clutch their chest, and bystanders think they will collapse and die in front of you. Remember that in a heart attack the pain is not present in the front of the chest alone. It radiates up the neck, down the arm, moves to the back and is associated with sweating, fainting and pallor. It lasts for 15 minutes or more. Most importantly, on pressing, there is no tender localised area of pain on the chest wall. What to do? Take a tablet of aspirin, crush it and administer it with water. Aspirin given during a heart attack prevents it from progressing till you reach the nearest hospital. In 23 per cent of cases, it actually prevents sudden death.

Daily 11-minute walk can cut early death risk: Cambridge University study

Physical activity, particularly when it is moderate-intensity, is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer

Try to walk or cycle to your work or study place instead of using a car, or engage in active play with your kids or grand kids. Doing activities that you enjoy and that are easy to include in your weekly routine is an excellent way to become more active

disease by 17 per cent and cancer by 7 per cent. For some specific cancers, the reduction in risk was greater – head and neck, myeloid leukaemia, myeloma, and gastric cardia cancers were between 14-26 per cent lower risk. For other cancers, such as lung, liver, endometrial, colon, and breast cancer, a 3-11 per cent lower risk was observed.

Professor James Woodcock from the MRC Epidemiology Unit said: “We know that physical activity, such as walking or cycling, is good for you, especially if you feel it raises your heart rate.

“But what we’ve found is there are substantial benefits to heart health and reducing your risk of cancer even if you can only manage 10 minutes every day.” Moderateintensity physical activity is that which raises the heart rate and makes us breathe faster but still able to speak during the activity, such as brisk walking, dancing, riding a bike, playing tennis and hiking.

To explore the amount of physical activity necessary to have a beneficial impact on several chronic diseases and premature death, researchers from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge University carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis, pooling and

Insect problems

A insect entering the ear is a sudden, painful, unexpected occurrence. The first thing to do is turn the head towards the affected side, tilt it downwards and shine a bright light like a torch into the ear. With luck, the insect will be attracted to the light and fly out. If it doesn’t, place a few drops of baby oil in the ear. The insect will float up and fall out. The important thing is not to place buds or fingers in the ear. That will push the insect further inside and damage the eardrum

Insects can also sting or bite a person. Immediately remove any sting or hair that may be at the bite site. Wash the area with soap and water and then apply ice. This will usually reduce any pain or swelling. If there is generalised itching, take an antihistamine and proceed to a doctor.

analysing cohort data from all of the published evidence. This approach allowed them to bring together studies that on their own did not provide sufficient evidence and sometimes disagreed with each other to provide more robust conclusions, the university said.

In total, they looked at results reported in 196 peerreviewed articles, covering more than 30 million participants from 94 large study cohorts, to produce the largest analysis to date of the association between physical activity levels and risk of heart disease, cancer, and early death.

The researchers calculated that if everyone in the studies had done the equivalent of at least 150 min per week of moderate-intensity activity, around one in six (16 per cent) early deaths would be prevented. One in nine (11 per cent) cases of cardiovascular disease and one in 20 (5 per cent) cases of cancer would be prevented. However, even if everyone managed at least 75 min per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, around 10 per cent early deaths would be prevented. One in twenty (5 per cent) cases of cardiovascular disease and nearly one in thirty (3 per cent) cases of cancer would be prevented. Dr Leandro Garcia from Queen’s University Belfast said: “Moderate activity doesn’t have to involve what we normally think of exercise, such as sports or running. Sometimes, replacing some habits is all that is needed. “For example, try to walk or cycle to your work or study place instead of using a car, or engage in active play with your kids or grand kids. Doing activities that you enjoy and that are easy to include in your weekly routine is an excellent way to become more active.” The research was funded by the Medical Research Council and the European Research Council.

Electric shock

Many houses do not have proper earthing. This needs to be addressed. Some of the older constructions need proper trips or fuses. If the fuse blows too often, someone may connect the wire directly, dispensing with safety features altogether. Any appliance can cause a shock, especially if it is old or the wires are frayed. It can be severe enough to kill. When someone is receiving a shock, they may be unable to let go of the wire or appliance. Do not attempt to pull them away, as that will only result in your getting a shock too. Instead, turn off the switch or mains using a wooden handle (a broom or mop). Make sure you are wearing rubber-soled footwear. A shock can be fatal.

MATRIMONIAL

COOK WANTED

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

Hindu Physician Parents seeking US based matching professionals for beautiful US citizen daughter 34, 5’ 2”, Masters Researcher in Psycho-neuroendocrine, Caste No Bar Please send Bio/Photos

Email: shubhkalyan108@gmail.com

LIQUOR STORE HELP

Now hiring Store Associate and Manager for Cardinal Warehouse Wine and Liquor, Northside Liquor Stores Call: 773-931-7650

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

HELP WANTED

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

Household help wanted in Glenview and Skokie IL. for elderly lady. cooking, cleaning, and general housework. Call 847-971-3265

HOTEL OPERATIONS MANAGER

Looking for an experienced person with excellent cooking skills to cook Indian vegetarian food. Willing to do light housekeeping and grocery shopping. Must be able to drive. Six days a week. Permanent position. Excellent benefits. Please send resumes to:

Email: emp2022@gii-group.com or Vinod Thanki, Globetrotters, 300 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 400, Chicago IL 60606

Call: 312-697-3521 (leave a message)

EYEBROWS THREADER WANTED

Full time job. $16 hourly pay plus tips & commission. Family or without family. We will help her with status or without status. Call:(269) 830-3468 or (269) 330-0453

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

Seeking Hotel Operations Manager. Previous Hotel Management experience preferred. Salary plus accommodations provided. Call 314-330-4621 or 314-497-3292

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

MOTEL HELP Wanted Housekeeper

for Franchise Motel

HOUSEHOLD HELP WANTED

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

in St.

Louis MO. Good Salary, Accommodation Provided. CALL: 314-497-3292 or 314-330-4621

MATRIMONIAL

Gujarati, Hindu parents looking for a suitable match for 26 yrs. old handsome son, Ht - 5’11”, working in reputed Construction Design Firm in Los Angeles, California for a girl from Gujarati family, well educated, beautiful, slim girl from USA or Canada. Please send biodata and recent picture.

Email: Hvarma9691@gmail.com

Looking for a person to help my 80-year-old mother who lives in Glenview, IL. The job requires helping her with housework, cooking, doing groceries, laundry, and giving her company.A plus if the person can drive and speak Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu. 30+ hours a week. We need daytime hours but have some flexibility on timing. Hourly rate based on experience. Reference requested. If interested, or if you know someone, please contact Call: 847.477.7766 or

Email: sweetrose2@hotmail.com

Franchise Motel in Des Moines, Iowa needs Single or Couple for Frontdesk and Housekeeping. Accommodation will be provided. Legal Status must.

Call Dipak Amin 319-601-0923

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

A/R SPECIALIST & SALES SUPPORT REP.

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

Food Importer needs a person with experience in invoicing, A/R, receiving payments, remote bank deposits, collections follow up. Responsibilites inclue assisting field sales personnel with order entry, closing open orders. Team player with good communication skills.

Email resume: hari@fyvelements.com

We are looking for young couple who is fluent in English to run and manage the property around Austin, TX area for the Wyndham Franchise property. Accommodation will be provided at the property. Previous hotel/motel experience will be highly considered.

Call: 213-880-5989

North Indian, Punjabi, Hindu parents looking for a suitable match for their 29 yr, Ht 5’4”, beautiful, slim, working in reputed bank in California from Punjabi family, handsome, well educated, well settled boy from USA or Canada. Please send biodata and recent picture.

Email: sbhalla007@gmail.com

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

HIRING

Now Medicare Advantage PPO Plans available with:

MATRIMONIAL