NRI Top Stories ( Page 37 of 46 )

'Chai pe charcha' events in US April 02, 2014 15:59

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has a great support base in the United States among Indian Americans. The Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) has taken a cue from his "chai pe charcha" at home and is organising hundreds of such events in the US. OFBJP has also been calling up people in India to try and garner support for the BJP. Such enthusiasm has not been evident among overseas Indians in recent times, said OFBJP US president Chandrakant Patel. He has been travelling across the length and breadth of US to meet non-resident Indians with his "Modi for PM" campaign. OFBJP and some other organisations have come together prior to the general elections in India for organising "chai pe charcha" events at over 100 places in the US. Even in small citeis, with less than a few hundred Indian Americans, the "chai pe charcha" event is being held. More than 100 "chai pe charcha" events in US have already been held in the last three months. Some of the cities where these events were held include Los Angeles, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Memphis, Washington DC metropolitan area, Edison, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Parsippany, Mahwah in New Jersey, Tampa, Melbourne and Orlando in Florida, Houston and Dallas in Texas. Besides the "chai pe charcha" programmes, OFBJP has organised two groups of volunteers - one group will make phone calls to people in India while the second group will be involved in social media activity. (Picture Source: livemint.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian man accused of molesting 7-year-old in Dubai, jailed April 01, 2014 15:50

An Indian man accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl in Dubai was jailed on Monday. The 25-year-old man molested the minor girl in alift, according to reports in local media. The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the accused man, who is a cafeteria cleaner, and has been identified as AA. Presiding judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi also ordered the accused to be deported soon after the completion of his jail term of three months. However, the defendant denied the allegations against him. According to records the accused had asked his co-workers to tell the girl's mother that he was sorry and also to plead for forgiveness. The prosecutors charged the accused of taking advantage of the minor Algerian girl when she accompanied the cafeteria cleaner to get the change for an order her mother had placed on December 2013. The girls mother reportedly ordered a meal from the cafeteria for the victim. The accused delivered the meal and the victim's mother paid him 50 Dirham. But he didn't have change. So the defendant took the victim with him to give the balance for the 40 Dirham to her. The girl returned after fifteen minutes, crying and scared. On being enquired by her mother she told her what had happened. The victim said that the accused touched her and kissed her neck. The woman immediately went downstairs with her daughter to the cafeteria and confronted the defendant. The accused seemed afraid and confused when he saw the girl with her mother. The sentence can be appealed within 15 days. (Picture Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian man stranded in UAE airport for 5 days March 27, 2014 14:48

Little did Mohammed Ali know that forgeting his passport behind in the plane would see him stranded in the connecting airport for five days. The Indian man from Kerala had to wait for five days at Abu Dhabi airport before an Emergency Certificate was issued to him by the Indian Embassy. On March 6, Mohammed Ali had a flight from Calicut to Riyadh via Abu Dhabi. The flight was delayed due to fog and reached Abu Dhabi airport after the scheduled time. When they reached Abu Dhabi airport, Riyadh-bound passengers were told to board a connecting flight. But after waiting for some time in the connecting aircraft, they were asked to deboard again for unknown reasons. When they deboarded again, Ali realised that he had left his passport on the seat of the plane in an envelope. But he could not retrieve his passport as security rules prevent passengers to board the plane again. Ali needed an emergency certificate, which was issued after five days after the Abu Dhabi Police and his friends in Riyadh informed the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi about his plight. (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian embassy forbids women workers from striking in Saudi Arabia March 24, 2014 16:28

Indian women workers have been warned against going on a strike in Saudi Arabia by the Indian embassy there. The women have complained of not being paid their salary for the last nine months. The Indian embassy has stated that some "self-styled social activists" are instigating women workers of India to go on a strike. According to the Indian embassy, these illegal agents spoil the goodwill that Indians enjoy in Saudi. It was found that the same illegal agents had earlier instigated Indian workers to give negative statements against the Saudi Arabia government and posted them on social media, Indian embassy stated. The embassy also alerted Indian workers to stay away from such nefarious social workers. The embassy impressed upon the Indian workers that they live in a foreign land and have to follow the rules and regulations of that country. People found to be violating local laws and taking part in strikes may be penalizes, imprisoned or deported by the Saudi government. Indian workers in Saudi were given assurance by the Indian embassy that there is a proper mechanism to take up issues with the authorities and will be dealt with accordingly. Indian embassy issued the statement following a strike by a group of Indian women, who worked as cleaners in a Riyadh hospital, for facing discrimination and not getting their salaries for the last nine months. (Picture Source: images4.fanpop.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-origin girl rescued from swimming pool in Australia March 17, 2014 15:17

Picture is Representational Indian-origin girl was rescued from a swimming pool in Australia. The six-year-old girl had gone to a swimming pool at Winston Hills in Sydney on Friday with her mother.The women had taken her three daughters to the pool along with a relative. The girl did not know swimming, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Incidentally, the girl was saved from drowning in the same pool where her younger sister had almost drowned two years ago, at the age of 15 months. The incident has left her younger sibling with brain damage and the child is learning to walk all over again. The girl was immediately admitted to a hospital after her mother gave cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The girl's father, who gave his surname as Singh, stated that no water was found in his daughter's lungs by the hospital staff. He believed that his girl might be suffering from a mild seizure. Singh further added that it was purely bad luck that his daughter was in the pool when the mishap took place. (Picture Source: auto.pege.org) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Visa on arrival for Indians attending Bahrain grand prix March 12, 2014 15:34

Indians planning to attend the Bahrain grand prix for the formula one event scheduled next month will be granted visa on arrival, announced the Bahrain government. India is one of the 46 countries, whose name appeared in the list released. The contest is scheduled to take place from April 4 to April 6. According to a statement released by the organisers, an F1 visa on arrival can be obtained by expatriates living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to attend the Bahrain grand prix, the Bahrain News Agency reported. Organisers suggested that citizens of GCC countries can avail the online service to get visas prior to their arrival. However, people from other countries would require a guarantor to get their visa. A Bahraini commercial entity or a Bahraini citizen can be a guarantor for these countries. (Picture Source: f1fanatic.co.uk) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian passports stolen in San Francisco March 11, 2014 15:13

Almost 70 Indian passports were stolen from a private company in San Francisco, according to reports. The company named BLS International processes visa and passport related services that were assigned the task by the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, US. The San Francisco police department in investigating the incident that involves a serious breach of security as the passports can be misused. The state department has been informed about the theft, both by the Indian Consulate and the San Francisco police. The incident took place in November last year at the BLS International's San Francisco Office. The stolen passports have been cancelled by the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. A consulate official reportedly said that the stolen passports cannot be misused as they are machine-readable throughout the world. Local police had started investigation of the case on December 2, 2013. The passports were stolen from a locked safe along with cash and checks, according to a BLS employee. (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian origin 'curry queen' seeking partners in Britain March 10, 2014 15:59

Perween Warsi, popularly known as curry queen in Britain is looking for partners to expand her ready-made Indian meals business. The Indian-origin British entrepreneur has been supplying ready-to-eat Indian meals to supermarkets and pubs since 1986. Perween was inspired to start S&A Foods in 1986 after eating a samosa bought from a supermarket. She was dismayed at the quality of the popular Indian snack and decided to start her local Indian takeaway. The next year she got a big break after successfully persuading various large grocery chains to include her food in several taste tests. Warsi started her curries business from home. However, when she became popular and defeated established food manufacturers during the taste tests, she opened a factory. Perween Warsi was recognized for her efforts and honoured with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2002. At present Warsi's food empire employs 600 staff, and supplies Indian curry dishes to the supermarkets in UK. Chain Asda is S&A Foods' biggest customer. The Derby-based caterer, who migrated to the UK from India in the 1970s, now wants fresh funds to set up new production facilities and expansion of her firm. (Picture Source: ukmalayalee.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-American woman allegedly sets hubby on fire March 06, 2014 16:10

A Texas court is deliberating the case of an Indian-American woman charged with setting her husband on fire in the bathtub. The court is trying to find out whether the man was killed by Shriya Patel or it was a suicide. According to the prosecutors, Shriya coaxed her husband Bimal Patel into the bathtub to give him a massage. But instead she poured gasoline over him, put him on fire and shut the victim in the bathroom. However, the defense lawyers argued that Bimal Patel had commited suicide and forced Shriya, who was a subservient wife, to help him in the act. The incident took place on April 17, 2012. After suffering for five months 29-year-old Bimal Patel succumbed to his injuries at the burn centre of the San Antonio Military Medical Centre. The 27-year-old woman has been jailed and court has set the bail amount at $1 million. She has been under arrest for almost two years now. Shriya has been charged with capital murder and arson, with intension to cause bodily injury or death, and violent assault. If convicted Shriya will automatically face a sentence of life in prison, without parole. (Picture Source: nripulse.com ) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Sikh man wins legal battle to wear turban at work February 27, 2014 15:55

A Sikh man in Finland won a legal battle to wear a turban at work. The man employed as a bus driver had filed a lawsuit, which continued for almost a year, against his employer after being restricted from wearing a turban while at work. The man named Gill Sukhdarshan Singh won the year-long dispute against Veolia Transport Vantaa, his employer. The decision came in favour of Gill after an agreement was signed between the employers' organisation (ALT) and Transport Workers Union (AKT). The transport company had refrained Singh from wearing the turban. He was told not to wear it while driving as it was not a part of the company's uniform. Following the agreement, Sikhs can now wear a turban that can be their own or one the employer provides. Gill was happy that he can finally wear a turban at work and reportedly said that it feels nice. Wearing a turban has religious implications for members of the Sikh community, so winning the battle was very important for Gill. (Picture Source: s1.ibtimes.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-American firm slapped with $15 million settlement

Indian-American firm slapped with 15 Dollars million settlement February 26, 2014 16:47

An Indian-American couple, who founded Diagnostic Imaging Group (DIG), have agreed to pay $15 million as settlement to the federal government. The firm has been charged with false billing for health tests that DIG never performed. DIG will pay $13.65 million to the federal government and another $1.85 million to New York and New Jersey as case settlement. In 2009 and 2010 three lawsuits were brought against the firm by private individuals in federal courts. The lawsuits were filed under False Claims Act that has a whistleblower provisions. The act allowing citizens to bring civic action, on government's behalf, against fradulent practices and entitles the whistleblower to get a share on recovery. A total amount of 2.77 million dollars will be given to the three whistleblowers under the settlement. The firm agreed to settle the allegations and the liabilities have not yet been determined. Leena Doshi and her husband Nitin Doshi have not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing. (Picture Source: jackurquhart.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-origin boy, American girl outsmart judges at US spelling bee February 25, 2014 14:57

The judges at a spelling bee competition in the US ran out of words during the competition. Judges declared the round to be a tie to be resumed again on March 8. Kush Sharma and Sophia Hoffman spelled out all the words successfull in the 66 rounds they duelled. When the judges ran out of words they decided to resume the marathon on March 8 in Washington, to name the winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The Indian-origin boy, Kush Sharma studies in seventh grade at Frontier School of Innovation while Sophia Hoffman is a student in fifth grade at Highland Park Elementary. The marathon between the 13-year-old boy and the 11-year-old girl took place during the annual spelling bee competition Missouri county, where both got all the words correct. Sophia and Kush emerged successful from the original pool of 25 students on Saturday. The Spelling Bee on March 8 will decide the winner between the two contestants. (Picture Source: brainyacademyny.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)