14 minute read
Modi Meets Biden
16 Austin South Asian | December 2022 Nishad Singh, Under Scanner For Crypto Exchange FTX Crash
Indian-origin Nishad Singh is under scrutiny for financial practices that caused the stunning collapse of FTX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, which is now staring at bankruptcy. He, along with 9 others, lived with FTX founder.
Nishad Singh joined Alameda Research, FTX’s sister organisation which is at the centre of the controversy, in December 2017. Before this, he worked as a software engineer at Facebook for close to five months. His LinkedIn profile says he worked on machine learning at the social media giant.
At Alameda Research, he was Director of Engineering for 17 months. He then moved to the cryptocurrency exchange FTX in April 2019, and has been there in the same top engineering post since.
Nishad Singh was in the inner circle of 30-year-old founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried. “Gary (Chief Technology Officer Gary Wang), Nishad and Sam control the code, the exchange’s matching engine, and funds,” a person familiar with the matter told crypto news website CoinDesk on the condition of anonymity. “If they moved them around or input their own numbers, I’m not sure who would notice,” they said. Reuters reported that former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried had secretly transferred $10 billion of customer funds from FTX to Alameda.
Caroline Ellison, CEO of Alameda Research, told employees in a video meeting that she, Sam BankmanFried, and two other executives, Nishad Singh and Gary Wang, were aware of the decision to move customer funds to Alameda, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he studied at Crystal Springs Uplands School in Califor-
India’s Modi Meets Biden At G20 Summit
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed global and regional developments in a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Indonesia, India’s foreign ministry said.
Modi and Biden “expressed satisfaction” about close cooperation between India and the United States in new groupings such as the Quad, which includes Australia and Japan, and the I2U2, which includes Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
“They reviewed the continuing deepening of the India-U.S. strategic partnership,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Modi also exchanged courtesies with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of a G20 dinner, according to government sources.
A video footage of the event aired by Indian news broadcasters showed the two leaders shaking hands and exchanging words in an informal setting, surrounded by other officials. Relations between India and China have soured since deadly border clashes between troops in June 2020 in the Galwan area of Ladakh region in the western Himalayas, in which at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand fighting.
Modi and Xi came face-to-face previously at a summit of regional security group Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Uzbekistan in September. The two leaders have not held not held any bilateral meetings since the 2020 clashes. The Indian premier has also met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, World Bank president David Malpass, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva, among other leaders, at the G20 summit on the Indonesian island of Bali. nia and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 2017. (Courtesy: https://www.ndtv.com/)
(Continued From Page 12) Austinites can also be more prepared by following the Four Pillars of Preparedness. Make a Plan: Before an emergency sit down with your family to plan out what you may need to shelter at home or what you need if you have to evacuate. Use the Neighborhood Preparedness Guide to help you get started. Build a Kit: Once you know your plan and have your supply list, build a kit of needed emergency supplies in a go-bag so it can be used quickly. Include items like medication, pet supplies and use a check list to help get started. Know your Neighbors: In an emergency, your neighbors are the closest resource and can often be the fastest to respond. Making friends with your neighbors can also have more benefits than just during an emergency.
Stay Informed: There are many ways to stay informed before, during and after an emergency. Follow readycentraltexas.org for emergency preparedness information. Other recommendations include:
Sign up for emergency alerts at warncentraltexas.org.
To get Emergency Alerts in American Sign Language (ASL) through the City’s Accessible Hazard Alert System (AHAS) register here, or for quick SMS registration textAHAS to (737) 241-3710. Austin and Travis County AHAS subscribers in an area affected by an emergency or disaster will be able to receive an accessible alert message in ASL and English voice and text.
Download the Ready Central Texas app on your smart phone to get alerts and a digital copy of the Neighborhood Preparedness Guide. Get real time emergency information in multiple languages by saving austintexas. gov/alerts to your favorite websites. Community members may also notice the Emergency Preparedness Super Hero supporting preparedness efforts streaming in 12 priority languages across multiple channels. Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to critical information before and during an emergency. (Continued On Page 18)
Kallanai (also known as the Grand Anicut) is an ancient dam. It is built (in running water) across the Kaveri river flowing from Tiruchirapalli District to Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.
The dam located in Thanjavur district. Located at a distance of 15 km from Tiruchirapalli, 45 km from Tanjavur, the dam was originally constructed during the reign of Chola king Karikalan in c.150 CE.
It is the fourth oldest water diversion or water-regulator structures in the world and the oldest in India that is still in use. Because of its spectacular architecture, it is one of the prime tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. The dam was originally built by
King Karikalan of the Chola Dynasty in c.100 – c.150 CE. It is located on the river in Thanjavur district, exactly 14 km from the city of Tiruchirappalli and 45 km from the city of Tanjavur. The idea behind the construction of the dam was to divert the river to the delta districts thereby boosting irrigation.
This dam was re-modeled by the British during the 19th century. In 1804, Captain Caldwell, a military engineer, was appointed by the British to make a study on the Kaveri river and promote irrigation for the delta region.
He found that a large amount of water passed onto the Kollidam leaving behind a small volume for irrigation purposes. Caldwell initially proposed a solution by raising the dam and hence raised the dam stones to a height of 69 centimetres (27 in), thus increasing the capacity of the dam.
Following this, Major Sim proposed the idea of undersluices
Raman The Detective
Tenali Raman was once walking along a forest path when he was stopped by a merchant. “I’m looking for my camel which has strayed away. Did you see it passing by?” asked the merchant.
“Had the camel hurt its leg?” asked Raman.
“Oh yes! That means you have seen my camel!” said the merchant.
“Only its footprints. See, you can see footprints of an animal with three legs,” said Raman, pointing out the footprints on the ground. “It was dragging the other leg because it was hurt in that leg.”
“Was it blind in one eye?” Raman asked the merchant.
“Yes, yes,” said the merchant eagerly.
“Was it loaded it with wheat on one side and sugar on the other side?” asked Raman.
“Yes, you are right,” said the merchant. “You can see grains of wheat fallen on the other side. The bag on this side also must have holes in it,” said Raman.
“I can see everything you showed me,” protested the merchant,”but I still don’t see my camel.” “You follow this trail and soon you will catch up with your animal. After all it is hurt in one leg and you seem to be hale and hearty,” said Raman.
“So you have seen my camel!” exclaimed the merchant.
Raman looked upset. “Did I say I saw your camel?” on both sides of this path? You can clearly see, some animal has eaten leaves of plants on the left, but the plants on the other side remain untouched. So the animal could see with only one eye. The merchant took his advice and followed the trail left by the camel.
“You have given the exact description of my camel,” said the merchant.
“I saw no camel,” said Raman. “Look down. You can see ants lined up on this side which means, the animal was loaded with sugar bag on this side. The bag had a hole, which allowed the sugar to fall off.” Soon he caught up with the poor animal, limping along.
“Rani!” the merchant shouted in happiness, as he ran to his camel. across the river with outlets leading to the Kollidam River (Coleroon) thus preventing formation of silt. The Lower Anaicut built by Sir Arthur Cotton in the 19th century across Coleroon, the major tributary of Cauvery is said to be a replicated structure of Kallanai.
The Kaveri river splits into two at a point 20 miles (32 km) west of Kallanai. The two rivers form the island of Srirangam before joining at Kallanai.
The northern channel is called the Kollidam (Coleroon); the other retains the name Kaveri, and empties into the Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar. On the seaward face of its delta are the seaports of Nagapattinam and Karaikal.
The purpose of the Kallanai was to divert the waters of the Kaveri across the fertile delta region for irrigation via canals and to its northern delta branch Kollidam/ Coleroon.
Downstream of the barrage, the river Kaveri splits into four streams known as Kollidam Aru, Kaveri, Vennaru and Puthu Aru. However, the flood waters can be allowed, by opening the barrage/anaicut gates, to pass through the other three delta branches also to join the sea.
It is constructed from unhewn stone spanning the Kaveri and is 329 m (1,079 ft) long, 20 m (66 ft) wide and 5.4 m (18 ft) high.
The dam is still in excellent condition, and supplied a model to later engineers, including Sir Arthur Cotton’s 19th-century dam across the Kollidam, the major distributary of the Kaveri.
The area irrigated by the ancient irrigation network is about 69,000 acres (28,000 ha). By the early 20th century, the irrigated area had been increased to about one million acres (400,000 ha).
The delta farmers of Tamil Nadu have demanded the Tamil Nadu government to honor Karikala Cholan, who built this dam.
18 Austin South Asian | December 2022 It Is Time To Make Winter Weather Preparedness A Priority
(Continued From Page 16) Follow @AustinHSEM on Facebook and Twitter. Across the City, departments are preparing for colder weather. Follow winter weather safety guidance to keep your most precious resources safe this winter.
Austin Code Winter Weather Safety Guidance Common weather-related issues related to property damage may include no hot water, burst pipes, and cracks in the ceiling or walls. One way to prevent damage is to proactively follow the following property maintenance tips: Test your gas service lines annually for possible leaks. Check if your furnace is operating correctly. Check if the boilers are working as intended. Check if you have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Tenants who experience unresolved code violations, can request a Code Inspector by calling Austin 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. Visit the Austin Code Safe and Sound webpage for more property maintenance winter tips.
Austin Water Winter Weather Safety Guidance Austin Water encourages customers to take steps now to prepare for winter. Following a few, easy steps now will help customers protect their property and prevent damage when freezing weather does arrive in Austin. Locate your water shutoff. Locate the water main shutoff valve and keep it clear of debris and obstacles at all times. For most homes, the property owner’s shutoff valve is on your side of the water meter at the meter box. For renters, please consult with your property manager. If you cannot find your shutoff valve or if it is damaged, then you should be prepared to access the City shutoff valve in the meter box in an emergency. You may need a water meter key to open the meter box, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. Watch a video about how to locate your water shutoff.
Weatherize to keep out cold air. Make repairs to broken or drafty windows, doors, and walls. Seal all leaks in crawl spaces and basements. Winterize unheated spaces and be prepared to close garage doors for the duration of the freeze. Gather supplies to cover vents on your home’s foundation. Weatherize exposed pipes and water heaters. Prepare to insulate pipes in unheated and drafty areas, such as an attic or garage. Also check manufacturer recommendations for your tanked and tankless water heaters. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to help keep pipes from freezing. Get all supplies now so you are ready to wrap pipes and water heaters when a winter storm is approaching.
Kids Corner
Vasundhara Varadarajan
Learn how to drip faucets properly. After the measures above are taken, drip one cold water faucet slowly if you feel your pipes may still freeze. The faucet you choose should be the one that is the greatest distance from your main shutoff valve. It does not need to be a running trickle. If you do drip your faucet, capture the water for future use. Watch a video about how to drip faucets properly. Outside faucet protection. Austin Water encourages all customers to turn off irrigation systems during the winter months to help conserve water. Prepare supplies to wrap outside faucets with towels or a Styrofoam insulator. Gather supplies to be prepared. Having one gallon of water per person and pet per day for seven days on hand to help avoid the rush at stores when the first winter storm of the season approaches. Stay Informed:
Sign up for Austin Water’s My ATX Water customer portal Austin Water’s 24-Hour Emergency Hotline can be reached at 512972-1000, Option 1 Customers are also urged to tune in for Austin utility emergency alerts by bookmarking COAUtilities. com and austinwater.org. Follow Austin Water on social media: Facebook.com/austinwater Instagram.com/austin_water Twitter.com/AustinWater Austin Energy Winter Weather Safety Guidance In case of a power outage:
Unplug appliances and turn off most lights to avoid overloading circuits when power is restored. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage and follow FDA guidelines for food safety. Electrical Safety Tips:
If using an electric space heater, be sure it has an automatic shut-off switch and non-glowing elements, and make sure to keep away from flammable materials. Never heat your home with a gas oven or burn anything in a stove or a fireplace that is not vented. Do not burn paper in a fireplace. Do not drive over or go near a downed power line, as it could be energized. Call 311 if you see a downed line to report it. If the line is sparking, call 911. If you see limbs on wires or see downed tree limbs, please call 311 to report them. Stay Informed
To report a power outage, text OUT to 287846 or visit outagemap.austinenergy.com. You can also report an outage by calling 512-322-9100. Register for Austin Energy’s Outage Alerts by texting REG to 287846 Learn more about how to stay warm, stay safe, and save on your utility bill during winter weather at austinenergy.com/go/winter. Monitor ERCOT grid conditions at ERCOT.com for information impacting local and statewide electricity service. Customers are also urged to tune in for Austin utility emergency alerts by bookmarking COAUtilities. com, austinenergy.com. Follow Austin Energy on social media: Facebook.com/austinenergy Twitter.com/austinenergy YouTube.com/austinenergy Austin Transportation Winter Weather Safety Guidance Low temps, ice and wintery weather can make driving hazardous. Before driving in inclement weather this season, be sure to:
Check for updated weather conditions Avoid bridges and overpasses Check tire pressure + tread Make sure windshield wipers + lights are functioning Keep a winter emergency kit with the following items in your vehicle: Jumper cables Flares or reflective triangle Ice scraper Car cell phone charger Cat litter or sand for better tire traction. Cold Weather Sheltering The public may call the Cold Weather Shelter hotline to check the activation status: 512-305ICEE (4233).
