Reykjavik (TIP): Lava flows from a volcano in Iceland were slowing on December 20 as heavy snows cloaked the area, reducing visibility of an eruption that for now looks set to spare a nearby town that was evacuated following weeks of earthquakes. The eruption late on Monday on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland spewed … Lava flows from Iceland volcano slow as heavy snow sets in
Gaza (TIP): Fighting in the Gaza Strip escalated on December 21 with what residents described as some of the most intense Israeli bombardment of the war, even as the enemies held what Washington called “very serious discussions” on a new truce. Bombing was at its most intense over the northern part of the Gaza Strip … Israeli strikes on Gaza intensify even as truce talks grow ‘serious’
Haidong, Qinghai (TIP): Braving below-freezing conditions, rescuers pulled to safety victims of an earthquake that rocked a remote area in China’s northwestern Gansu province more than a day ago, while survivors faced months of uncertainty ahead without permanent shelter. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Jishishan county near the border straddling Gansu and Qinghai provinces a minute … Death toll in China’s earthquake rises to 131; victims pulled to safety in subfreezing weather
BEIJING/MANILA (TIP): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippines that any miscalculation in their escalating dispute in the South China Sea would bring a resolute response, and urged dialogue to address “serious difficulties” between the two neighbours. Beijing and Manila have traded sharp accusations in recent months over a succession of run-ins in the … Beijing warns Manila against S China Sea ‘miscalculation’
PRAGUE (TIP) : A gunman killed at least 15 people and wounded 24 others at a Prague university on December 21 before he was “eliminated”, marking the country’s worst-ever mass shooting. The Czech police responded to the shooting at Charles University’s faculty of arts building in Jan Palach Square shortly after 3 pm (1400 GMT). … 15 killed as gunman goes on rampage in Prague varsity, shot
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro, on December 21, released a list of key wins for immigrant New Yorkers. A comprehensive list of accomplishments and services delivered for the immigrant community will be released in MOIA’s 2023 Report on the City’s Immigrant Population and Office … MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS DELIVERS KEY RESOURCES TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Members of the United Nations Security Council observed Tuesday a minute of silence to mourn and honor Kuwait’s late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The UN lowered its flag to half-mast at its New York headquarters in honor of the late Amir on Monday, December 18. The UN paid tribute to … UNSC observes a minute of silence to mourn Kuwait’s late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
BAYSIDE, NY (TIP): Senator John Liu, on December 20, concluded his 2023 Holiday Toy Drive with thousands of toy donations for families of soldiers at the 77th Sustainment Brigade in Fort Totten, Queens. Toy donations were collected throughout the month of December at the office of Senator Liu in Bayside, Champions Martial Arts schools and … SENATOR LIU, CHAMPIONS MARTIAL ARTS INTL, OPERATION CHILD RESCUE, JIBARITOS WITH TROOPS, PRESENT TOY DONATIONS TO MILITARY FAMILIES
GLEN COVE, NEW YORK (TIP): Former Congressman Tom Suozzi, on December 19, unveiled a 10-point plan to help restore sanity to Washington and get things done. The intention of Suozzi rolling out his plan is to demonstrate his belief that Congress needs to move beyond petty, partisan, and performative finger-pointing and focus on working across … Suozzi Unveils 10-Point Plan to Help Restore Sanity to Washington and Get Things Done
Participants submitted hundreds of photos showcasing community, nature, and culture in Middlesex County MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ (TIP): Middlesex County is proud to announce the winners for the fall edition of Picture Middlesex County, which was open to all amateur and professional photographers who live in New Jersey from September 21–November 30, 2023. Overall winners include … Middlesex County announces winners for Picture Middlesex County photography contest
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): As part of an ongoing initiative aimed at combating dubious Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims, the Internal Revenue Service, on December 21, launched a new Voluntary Disclosure Program to help businesses who want to pay back the money they received after filing ERC claims in error. The new disclosure program, which has … IRS New Voluntary Disclosure Program lets employers who received questionable Employee Retention Credits pay them back at discounted rate; interested taxpayers must apply by March 22
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): As part of continuing transformation work, the Internal Revenue Service, on December 18, announced the launch of the second phase of a new online self-service tool for businesses that expands the business tax account capabilities and eligible entity types. As a result, individual partners of partnerships and individual shareholders of S corporation … IRS expands Business Tax Account access to S corporations, partnerships; adds ability to view business tax transcripts
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service, on December 20, issued Notice 2024-05 regarding the commercial clean vehicle credit for commercial vehicles placed in service in 2024. The guidance provides a safe harbor for certain qualified commercial clean vehicles placed in service in calendar year 2024, which allows for reliance on the … IRS issues guidance on the incremental cost for the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit
CHICAGO, IL (TIP): FIA, Chicago in partnership with the Consulate General of India Office in Chicago organized an OCI camp at Manav Seva Mandir, Bensenville, Il on Dec 10, 2023. The camp was attended by more than 500 people of Indian descent families. The camp had focused mainly on two issues faced by the Indian … FIA of Chicago and Consulate General of India, Chicago organized OCI / Passport Camp
To begin with, 20,000 H-1B specialty occupation workers will be able to renew their visas in the US beginning from January next year NEW YORK (TIP): In a move likely to benefit Indian professionals, a pilot program allowing H-1B holders to renew visas without leaving the US, has cleared a review by the White House … Pilot program allowing H-1B holders to renew visas without leaving US clears White House review; to benefit Indians
NEW YORK (TIP): Rudy Giuliani, once famous as “Mayor of America” and a longtime associate of former President Donald Trump, has filed for bankruptcy just days after he was ordered to pay $148m (£116m) in a defamation case. He was ordered to pay the sum after a judge found he defamed two Georgia election workers … Rudy Giuliani files for bankruptcy after $148m defamation verdict
Court ordered exclusion of his name from the state’s Republican presidential primary ballot. WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): In a stunning verdict, the Colorado Supreme Court has barred Donald Trump from running for President next year in the state citing his role in the unprecedented attack on the US Capitol in 2021 and ordered exclusion of his … Colorado Supreme Court bars former president Donald Trump from running for President over 2021 Capitol riots
NEW DELHI (TIP): French President Emmanuel Macron is set to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, people familiar with the development said on Friday, December 22. The development comes after the US was unable to accept India’s invitation for President Joe Biden to be the chief guest for the … French President Emmanuel Macron to be India’s Republic Day chief guest
At core of predicament is Congress’s inability to mold itself into a leader of a heterogeneous bloc “What do the circumstances portend for the Opposition’s coalition? The constituents of INDIA met in New Delhi on December 19, apparently to clear the air of disunity that had begun to cloud the coalition after its earlier sessions … Sense of consensus eludes INDIA
Need to thoroughly probe what prompted the intruders to cause a ruckus in the House “Is unemployment now a major factor in India and did the youth involved feel that they had to highlight the plight of the unemployed before those empowered by the voters to make laws? Was this the sole motive for the … Questions aplenty over security breach
NEW YORK (TIP): A 21-year-old Indian-origin man has pleaded guilty to leaving a threatening voicemail targeting a Jewish organization in New York. Deep Alpesh Kumar Patel, a resident of Sarasota city in Florida, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted, US Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced last week. He was arrested … Indian American from Florida pleads guilty to threatening Jewish organization in New York
CHICAGO (TIP): Shaik Zaheera Naaz, who was doing MS in physiotherapy, died in Chicago due to gas leak in a car in which she was travelling. According to information received by her family at Prasadampadu on the outskirts of Vijayawada, she fell unconscious along with the car driver following the gas leak. She was shifted … 22-year-old MS physiotherapy student dies following gas leak in car
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP) : Leading cybersecurity firm Securonix has appointed two Indian Americans to key posts. Former Google executive Venkat Kotla has been named as Chief Technology Officer and former Onapsis executive Biju Muduli as Chief Marketing Officer. In his new role, Kotla is responsible for leading and scaling the company’s engineering function and fostering … Indian American Venkat Kotla appointed CTO of cybersecurity firm Securonix
BOSTON (TIP): Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineers, including an Indian American, have developed a robotic replica of the heart’s right ventricle, which mimics the beating and blood-pumping action of live hearts. The robo-ventricle combines real heart tissue with synthetic, balloon-like artificial muscles that enable scientists to control the ventricle’s contractions while observing how its … Indian American MIT engineer led team designs heart’s robotic right chamber
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American economist Bharat Ramamurti, former Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, has joined Economic Liberties Project, working to advance economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy, as Senior Adviser for Economic Strategy. “Throughout his career, Ramamurti has been a vocal advocate for economic justice and has contributed significantly … Indian American Economist Bharat Ramamurti joins Economic Liberties as Senior Adviser
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Associated Attorney General Vanita Gupta will leave the Department of Justice at the beginning of February, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced on Thursday, December 21. “I am deeply grateful to Vanita for her extraordinary service as Associate Attorney General. Vanita’s commitment to the pursuit of justice, and her relentless focus on … Indian American AAG Vanita Gupta to step down from DOJ
As December unfolds, the Sikh community commemorates a pivotal chapter in their history, a poignant moment that resonates with the spirit of sacrifice and valor. These upcoming days hold profound significance, marking the tribute to the supreme and unparalleled martyrdom of Sahibzadas, the revered sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Their sacrifice remains etched in … Honoring the Unparalleled Sacrifice of Sahibzadas: A Historic Time for the Sikh Community
The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that former US President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, is not eligible to return to the White House because of his role in the attack on the US Capitol in 2021. The court has ordered the exclusion of his name from the state’s Republican presidential … Trump’s White House comeback plans hit Colorado hurdle
Govt must reach out to the Opposition The indiscriminate suspension of 141 Opposition MPs — 78 on Monday, 49 on Tuesday and 14 last Thursday — has left parliamentary democracy in shock. The Congress has accused the BJP-led government of carrying out a purge to ensure the passage of ‘draconian’ Bills without a meaningful debate … Suspension spree
Inclusive green industrial strategies belong neither to the left nor the right. They are about creating an economy that serves people and conserves the natural world on which we all depend “Equally important, the green transition will succeed only if it is also a “just transition.” To support the necessary shift of workers from brown … There is no alternative to green industrial strategy