Indian origin Shopkeeper Hailed as “Brave” January 03, 2017 10:55
An Indian origin shopkeeper is being hailed as "brave" after he wrestled a knife-wielding thief to the ground in northern England. Sandeep Yadala a 30 year old man from Indian was injured after he grappled a robber to the ground in the second attack on his shop in Timperley, Greater Manchester, has seen in a matter of months. During the incident that occurred last week, Yadala suffered slashes of wounds on his right hand as he caught the intruder, disarmed him and pinned him down to the ground until the police arrived, the Sun reported. The local police arrived within three minutes to the incident location and they arrested a 15 year old intruder and praised Yadala as "brave". The intruder is alleged to have asked for cigarettes, but when Yadala asked for an ID proof to check the age of the suspect, suspect threatened Yadala with a knife. The suspect has now been released on bail. Yadala previously tackled a group of four masked burglar’s, when they got into his shop in February last year. According to a footage recorded on CCTV camera, Yadala was seen struggling to fight with one of the four as they stole cigarettes worth 3,000 pounds. Sandeep Yadala, came to the England to pursue a post graduate degree and he manages the store part time. Indian Origin British received a Knighthood AMandeep
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Indian origin British Professor received Knighthood January 02, 2017 19:15
An Indian-origin British professor of chemistry and DNA expert at Cambridge University, had received a Knighthood along with the Olympic super stars Andy Murray and Mo Farah among others by Queen Elizabeth II. Shankar Balasubramanian a 50 year old, Herchel Smith Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at Cambridge University, had been recognised for his work as a co-inventor of Next Generation DNA sequencing, which is described as the most advance method in biology and medicine for decades. Parents Grapple with Schools in Dubai "Solexa sequencing, allows one individual genome to be sequence in mostly two days at a cost of less than one thousand pounds; before, sequencing a human genome took years of hard work and costed billions of pounds. Balasubramanian’s work had spawned an entirely new discipline of Bioinformatics." "Most recently, he had made a major contribution into understanding the character of DNA-quadruplexes in cancer and invented a method for the sequencing of epigenetic modifications," his citation reads. Andy Murray, Farah and British track and field athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill are among the others who were honoured Knighthood in the 2017 New Year Honours list, which also includes big names in the world of Entertainment, including actor Mark Rylance and Patricia Routledge. Rio 2016 men's tennis champion Andy Murray and double gold-winning athlete Farah receive Knighthoods, while heptathlete Ennis-Hill becomes a Dame. Neena Gill, Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands for parliamentary and political service, Ravindra Pragji Govindia of Wandsworth Borough Council for services to local government and the community in Wandsworth, London and Anita Thapar from the Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University for services to child and adolescent psychiatry are also included in the list. - AMandeep
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Indian free from Death Penalty In Saudi December 31, 2016 16:47
An Indian worker who was given death penalty by Saudi court will now walk free. A Saudi businessman came to the rescue of Limbadiri who has been in jail for more than eight years now. Limbadiri was a worker at a farm in Najran. While working there, he got into a dispute with a Saudi national and the fight ended in the murder of the latter. He was then arrested and sentenced to death by Saudi court. With the date of the execution approaching, Awad bin Guraiah Al-Yami, a millionaire who spoke to the kin of the victim and asked them to show mercy upon Limbadiri. The businessman also offered them SR 1.3 million as blood money. The family accepted the blood money and gave mercy to Limbadiri. Later, the court endorsed the mercy and the Indian would be released from prison soon. In a similar case the Al Ain city court of United Arab Emirates sentenced death penalty to 10 youths from Punjab on October 26 for murdering a Pakistani national in 2015. The appeal for the case was admitted in Abu Dhabi Court. The High Court of Abu Dhabi on 28th December gave permission to SP Singh Oberoi a hotelier cum social worker in Dubai, to hold talks with the family of the deceased Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Ezaz regarding payment of blood money till 23 January. SP Singh Oberoi have saved lives of 70 youths from the gallows and also got another 17 youths from death row in the UAE from India released in the past, said most of the young men from Punjab indulged in the bootlegging businesses, which are illegal and a very serious offense. “The court always awards death sentence in these cases and blood money is the only way out,” he said.
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South Indian Bank launches mobile banking app for NRIs! December 30, 2016 16:40
A full-fledged NRI-focused mobile banking app named ' SIB Mirror+ across major mobile platforms' has been launched by the South Indian Bank. The new application was introduced after the path-breaking 'E-Lock' feature which provided a single tap solution to fully secure all digital transaction from frauds. The SIB Mirror+ allows the customers to perform almost all banking transactions from their smart phones. The app comes with self-registration facility for ease of activation and utilizes NEFT facility for interbank fund transfers. It also features bill payment facility, cheque book request, 24x7 ‘within bank’ fund transfer and instant mobile/DTH recharge. V G Mathew, MD & CEO, said that, "By launching this latest technology product, South Indian Bank has yet again delivered on its promise of offering next generation banking services to its customers, especially the NRIs." The innovative feature ‘Social Money’ allows customers to transfer money from and to their friends through social media channels like Whatsapp and Facebook. Punjab launched Punjabi learning website for NRIs! Nandini
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Indian-origin surgeon receives prestigious UK professorship award! December 19, 2016 10:55
The United Kingdom's Royal College of Surgeons has awarded a British-Indian orthopaedic surgeon with the prestigious Hunterian Professorship and Medal for 2017 for his research on stem cells in articular cartilage repair. The renowned knee surgeon in the UK, Anan Shetty is a Chair and Director of stem cell research at Canterbury Christ Church University. The citation reads that, "The Hunterian Professorship is considered one of the proudest traditional honours of the college bestowed on surgeons of eminence who have richly contributed to the field of surgery by original research or innovations. The honour of delivering the Hunterian lecture is regarded by surgeons around the world as a great privilege and high accolade awarded to recognize their work." Shetty is leading world class research in knee surgery and also trains orthopaedic surgeons at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Indian-origin Shetty is the founder and director of the Kent Knee Unit based at the Spire Alexandra Hospital in south-east England. It was established in response to the requirement and management of knee disorders. Britain to reduce student visas by almost half! Nandini
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Britain to reduce student visas by almost half! December 13, 2016 11:31
The recent media reports say, the British Home Office is planning to cut down international student numbers at universities and institutes in Britain, by nearly half. The threat was being greeted with dismay by university heads, who say some good overseas applicants were already being refused visas on spurious grounds. The Guardian reported that, a vice-chancellor at one Britain's university, said that the judgments being made by Britain Visas and Immigration have changed significantly in the past few months. Indian students, in particular, seem to be having a tougher time. Another vice-chancellor said that, "They are telling some students there is exactly the same quality of course available in India so why are you coming here." "That is outrageous." Sir Keith Burnett of Sheffield University, one of the vice-chancellors who accompanied PMTheresa May on a recent trade delegation to India, said that, "If we genuinely want to be open to the world and a global leader in free trade, we can only do so by welcoming talent." "This cannot simply be our own assessment. International students need to feel welcome and that accessing Britain to study and for a period of work experience is easy. Even a hint that students are unwelcome and they will go elsewhere," Burnett added. Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, said that, "The Home Office seems to have decided that cutting international students is the only way of delivering the manifesto target of getting net migration down to the tens of thousands. But it does not address people's concerns about immigration." "The problems people are seeing on the ground are certainly not caused by international university students or staff," he said. Also Read: Trump says H1B visa holders can not replace American workers! Nandini
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Demonetisation a huge cause of concern for NRIs, PIOs December 06, 2016 11:35
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) president Niraj Baxi wrote a letter to India's Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, to express their support to government of India's desire to curb terrorist funding and black money by banning Rs 500 and Rs 1000 rupee notes. Baxi said that, "It is a bold decision by Prime Minister Modi and we fully support him." However, the organization also conveyed its concerns on behalf of the NRI and PIO community. GOPIO is the largest organisation that looks after the well-being of the NRIs and PIOs living outside India. It is a 'non-partisan, secular global organization engaged in promoting their well-being and enhancing cooperation and communication between Indians living in different countries'. GOPIO has received numerous calls and emails from NRIs and PIOs regarding withdrawal of higher currency, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. Dr Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International, said that, "NRIs and PIOs should be allowed to exchange whatever amount they have as long as they show the proof of past conversion of foreign currency to Indian currency in the last 10 years." GOPIO is the largest organization which looks after the well-being of the NRIs and PIOs living outside India. It is a non-partisan, secular global organization linked in promoting their well-being and enhancing communication and cooperation between Indians living in different countries across the world. Also Read: US says demonetisation necessary step to address corruption! Nandini
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Indian-origin girl wins International Children's Peace Prize! December 05, 2016 12:52
A UAE-based Indian girl won the prestigious International Children's Peace Prize for 2016. The award was presented the award by Bangladesh's Nobel peace laureate Mohammad Yunus. A 16-year-old Indian environmental activist Kehkashan Basu was awarded at a glittering ceremony in The Hague for her for climate justice and combating environmental degradation. Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 underlined the urgency and importance of Kehkashan's work. He said that, as more than three million children under the age of five die every year from environment-related diseases and many more suffer deeply from environmental issues. Yunus said that, "It is a great achievement for such a young person to already have such reach and impact with her important message." "A healthy environment is essential for the survival, well being and development of children, and therefore it is a precondition for the realization of the rights of the child. Kehkashan teaches us that we all have a responsibility to work towards a sustainable future," he said. Basu said after receiving the prize, that, she would "keep campaigning to encourage children and adults to create a more sustainable future." "I call upon everyone to think of how they can contribute to the preservation of the environment. Time is not on our side we have to act now, or we will have polar bears under palm trees," she said. Marc Dullaert, the Chairman and Founder of the Dutch KidsRights Foundation has initiated the International Children's Peace Prize and the prize is awarded annually to a child, anywhere in the world, for his or her dedication to children's rights. Also Read: Trump picks Seema Verma to head Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Nandini
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Preet Bharara meets Trump, agrees to stay on as US attorney December 02, 2016 09:55
India-American powerful US attorney, Preet Bharara, met with the United States president-elect Donald Trump and agreed to remain in the position. Mr. Bharara has facilitated many high-profile insider trading convictions. Preet Bharara was appointed as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 2009 by outgoing US President Barack Obama. He has earned the reputation of a "crusader" prosecutor. Indian-origin Bharara said that, "The President-elect asked, presumably because he's a New Yorker and is aware of the great work that our office has done over the past seven years, asked to meet with me to discuss whether or not I'd be prepared to stay on as the United States attorney to do the work as we have done it, independently, without fear or favour for the last seven years." "We had a good meeting," he said after meeting with president-elect Donald Trump. "I said I would absolutely consider staying on. I agreed to stay on," said Bharara. The top Indian-American attorney said that, "I have already spoken to Senator (Jeff) Sessions, who is as you know is the nominee to be the attorney general. He also asked that I stay on, and so I expect that I will be continuing to work at the southern district." Bharara was born in a Sikh family in 1968 in Ferozepur in Punjab state of India. He grew up in New Jersey after his parents moved to the US. Also Read: Several Indian Americans in race for place in Trump administration! Nandini
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Trump picks Seema Verma to head Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services November 30, 2016 10:02
US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Indian-American (Dr) Seema Verma as the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in his administration. She is the second Indian-American woman picked by Republican Donald Trump to a top administration position. Mr. Trump put her in charge of a federal agency within the health department as part of a "dream team" which he said would transform America's healthcare system. Trump said in a statement, "I am pleased to nominate (Dr) Seema Verma to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services." On the same occasion Trump also nominated Congressman Tom Price as his Health and Human Services Secretary. "She has decades of experience advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems. Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans," Trump said. "I am honored to be nominated by President-elect Trump today," said Verma, who met Trump in New York last week. "I look forward to helping him tackle our nation's daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way," she said. Verma completed her Master's degree in Public Health, with a concentration in health policy and management from Johns Hopkins University, and received her Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the University of Maryland. The presidential transition team, said that, "Verma has extensive experience redesigning Medicaid programmes in several states. Verma is the architect of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), the nation's first consumer directed Medicaid programme under Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana and then-Governor Pence's HIP 2.0 waiver proposal." Also Read: Trump chooses Nikki Haley as US Ambassador to UN! Nandini
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Australia to build memorial in honour of Indian bus driver! November 26, 2016 10:27
A memorial will be set up in Australia to honour the Indian-origin bus driver who was brutally killed by a man in Brisbane last month triggering massive outrage among the Indian community in the country. According to the preliminary investigation by the Australian authorities, the probable cause behind the the horrific killing of 29-year-old Manmeet Sharma alias Alisher was the mental illness of the assailant. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said in response to a question in Rajya Sabha that, the Brisbane City Council has pledged to honour Manmeet by setting up a permanent memorial for him. He was a well-known singer in the Punjabi community. The Council also has set up a fund to support Manmeet's family to which an initial contribution of $10,000 each has been made by the Queensland Premier's Office and Lord Mayor's office. Manmeet was burnt to death on October 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised India's concern over the incident with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. Singh said that, "Motive for the attack is still under investigation but preliminary interrogation has indicated mental illness of the assailant as the probable cause." India has called for a thorough investigation so that justice is delivered to the bereaved family, he said. Also Read: Modi takes up killing of Indian-origin bus driver with Australian PM! Nandini
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Trump chooses Nikki Haley as US Ambassador to UN! November 23, 2016 18:59
The United States President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as the US Ambassador to the United Nations. She will be the first woman tapped for a top-level administration post during Trump's White House transition so far. The Washington Post reported, the move comes as Mr. Trump's advisers are seeking to diversify his ranks and marks his first female appointment to a Cabinet-level post. Ms. Haley will replace Samantha Power as the next US Ambassador to the UN. According to the leading newspaper of South Carolina, “The move, expected Wednesday, continues the steep political rise of the daughter of Indian immigrants that started six years ago when the Bamberg native was elected as South Carolina’s first female and minority governor.” Ms. Haley is serving her second term as the South Carolina Governor. She has worked on trade and labor issues as the Governor but brings little foreign policy experience. Her views on various US military and national security matters usually fall within the Republican Party’s hawkish mainstream. “The planned nomination to the Cabinet-level post, confirmed by multiple sources with knowledge of the decision, is likely to raise questions about Ms. Haley’s qualifications for a major foreign policy role since she has little diplomatic experience as state lawmaker and governor,” it reported. Also Read: Nikki Haley to meet Trump, considered for Secretary’s post Nandini
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