NRI Top Stories ( Page 41 of 46 )

Indian-Origin Man Arrested for 'Knock-out attack' November 25, 2013 17:10

An Indian-origin man has been arrested on charges of hate crime in the US. The 28-year-old man had allegedly punched a Jewish man that has been termed as part of "knock-out attacks." The New York Police Department said that Brooklyn-based Amrit Marajh is charged with assault as a hate crime, aggravated harassment as a hate crime, and misdemeanour assault, according to reports. On Friday Marajh punched a 24-year-old Jewish man in Brooklyn after discussing the knockout games with his three friends, said the police. He allegedly assaulted his victim after one of his friends challenged him to a knock-out attack. Apparently, before assaulting his victim Marajh also expressed an anti-Semitic statement, reported the New York Daily News. Soon after the early morning attack, police had taken all the four men into custody but only Marajh is believed to have assaulted the Jewish man. 'Knock-out' assault incidents have been growing across US, and has become a concern with a spate of attacks in Washington, New York, New Haven and Philadelphia. (Picture Source: bezpredelka.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-American Nisha Desai sworn in as US assistant secretary of state November 23, 2013 17:45

Nisha Desai Biswal has become the first Indian American to be sworn in as the US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia. Biswal was formally sworn in by John Kerry, US secretary of state at Foggy Bottom, the headquarters of the state department. According to reports, the ceremony was attended by all the important officials of the Obama Administration including Dennis McDonough, the chief of staff in White House. Dering the ceremony Kerry appreciated the contribution of Indian-Americans to the US and said that India and the United States have deep ties that is evident to rest of the world. Biswal, in her soft-spoken voice, said that she considers her appointment as an opportunity to serve her country, the United States of America, just like her grandparents who had served India as freedom fighters. She also said that she was honoured by the responsibility invested in her as the region she has to take care of has a vital role in shaping global economics and politics of the 21st century. (Picture Source: newseastwest.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Lakshmi Mittal's Home in Second Most Expensive Street November 22, 2013 17:30

Indian steel tycoon, Lakshmi Mittal's home in London's Kensington Palace Gardens is the second most expensive street in the world. The steel baron owns house number 9a and 18-19 in the coveted tree-lined avenue. According to reports, he has put his neo-Georgian style mansion, bought in 2008, on sale. The 14,736 square feet property (9a) has been put up for only £110 million, seven million pounds less than the price it was bought by Mittal. When Mittal had bought it at £117 million, the palatial house with 12 bedrooms was the most expensive in Britain. According to realtors the average price of properties in this coveted street are sold at £122 million. The house was bought for Lakshmi Mittal's son Aditya. (Picture Source: img.thesun.co.uk) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

US Sikh gets $50,000 for Job Denial November 21, 2013 17:13

A Sikh man got a compensation of $50,000 for being denied a job, only because he refused to shave his beard. In 2009 Gurpreet Kherha had filed a lawsuit against Tri-County Lexus alleging discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to reports, Kherha had applied for a position of a sales associate. He even qualified for the job but was not hired as he keeps a beard. Rights group Sikh Coalition and the EEOC had filed the lawsuit on behalf of Kherha. "The car dealership had asked Kherha to shave his beard, but due to his religious beliefs he refused," said the EEOC. So he was refused the job. Apparently, Tri-County Lexus has a strict dress code policy that includes "no-beard" policy for sales staff as well as the administrative personnel. The lawsuit went in favour of Kherkha. The New Jersey car dealership company will now compensate monetarily to settle the lawsuit on religious discrimination. Tri-County will have to take "remedial" measures that includes revising its policies that may cause employment discrimination and also to provide anti-discrimination training to its management and employees. (Picture Source: harisingh.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Top honor for UK based Bengali geriatrician November 20, 2013 16:14

A Bengali doctor working in Britain has been honored with the esteemed "Pride of Reading" award. Dr Apurba Chatterjee, who hails from Jamshedpur, was unanimously declared the " Health Worker of the Year" for successfully establishing a first-of-its-kind of a multidisciplinary Parkinson's clinic at Royal Berkshire Hospital. Chatterjee, who specialists in diseases of the elderly, is a geriatric medicine expert with a long-drawn experience in caring for a Parkinson's patient - his dad. Dr Chatterjee, who first arrived in UK on August 31, 1997 said: "My father who now lives in Kolkata has been suffering from Parkinson's for the past 23 years. I therefore have a special insight into the disease from the carers point of view." "In India for example, patients with Parkinson's are still managed by neurologists. But they need a holistic care by a geriatrician who has the training to deal with other co morbidities which have an impact on Parkinson's diseases itself," Dr Chatterjee, an alumni of North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri and School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata added. Dr Chatterjee wants to launch extensive geriatric programme in India by setting up homes for the elderly suffering from dementia or Parkinson's. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury

Newly Wedded Sikh Couple Killed in California},{Newly Wedded Sikh Couple Killed in California

Newly Wedded Sikh Couple Killed in California November 19, 2013 17:03

News of a Sikh couple killed in Fresno city of California has shocked people of Pholriwal village in Jalandhar district. The couple, Harmandeep Singh and his wife Kirandeep Kaur, had been married only for two months. According to reports 33-year old Harmandeep Singh, a US resident, belongs to Pholriwal while Kirandeep Kaur is from Batala. The couple was found dead in their Fresno house, where a gun was also found. Harmandeep's family had earlier lived in Germany and moved into US a few years ago. The US-based Punjabi community has demanded a thorough investigation into the killings of the Fresno couple. According to reports, Satnam Singh Chahal, the executive director of North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has said that there were no instances of violence and the couple seemed to be living a normal life. Chahal further said that the neighbours of Harmandeep were quite shocked by the killing incident. (Picture Source: media.salon.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-American Surgeon Awarded November 14, 2013 18:52

The US government has awarded Dr Rahul Jindal, an Indian-American transplant surgeon for his outstanding achievements in the country. He has been presented with the "Outstanding American by Choice" award, according to reports. Dr. Jindal is currently working with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre as a staff transplant surgeon. He is also assocaited with the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences as a professor of surgery. The deputy director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, appreciated Dr. Jindal's work while giving him the award. Jindal had played a crucial role on the groundbreaking surgery performed by the Walter Reed AMC medical team in 2009 on Thanksgiving Day. The American Society of Nephrology and other medical journals have widely covered Jindal's work in press releases. He has also set up a monthly support group for kidney patients. In Guyana Dr. Jindal had helped to setup the first comprehensive kidney dialysis and transplant program. Till now Vivek Wadhwa, Amarpreet S Sawhney, Renu Khator and Indra Nooyi are the only Indian-Americans to be honoured by this prestigious award. (Picture Source: topnews.in) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

10 Indians arrested in Leicester November 12, 2013 19:12

Not less that 10 Indians were detained by the British officials following a raid at a Leicester factory late last week under the suspicion of immigration offense. Nearly 20 border agency officials and police officers raided the Spring Shades Ltd in Friday Street. The officials sealed off the exits, launching their operation in dawn that coincided with the factory's shift swap. By the end of three-hour long operation, a total of eight workers out of 40 at the factory were handcuffed. Following the initial raid, officers raided two more homes in Leicester and arrested other more people under immigration offense. Alison Spowage, assistant director for immigration enforcement in the East Midlands, said: "This was a large scale operation targeting suspected illegal working in Leicester." "Employers who flout the law will not be tolerated. Illegal working is unfair on honest employers and takes jobs away from those with a legal right to work." All the10 men are aged between 20 and 54. “If the eight people arrested at the factory are found to be illegal workers, then the firm's owners could face a fine of 80,000 pounds, unless they can prove that they made every effort to check the employees' immigration status,” the Economic Times stated. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury

Michelle Obama's Diwali Bash November 08, 2013 15:41

US First Lady Michelle Obama had organized 'Diwali' bash at the White House, in the East Room. For the celebration, 200 guests, belonging to three generations of Indian Americans, were invited. The celebrations included Bollywood dance numbers where Mrs Obama tried out the filmy steps with choreographer Nakul Mahajan. The US First Lady greeted guests with a cheerful 'Happy Diwali' and there was 'Laxmi' puja to complete the celebration. Later in her address to the guests Michelle paid a tribute to the victims of Oak Creek Gurdwara and also appreciated the courage and grace shown by the Indian community. (Picture Source: rediff.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Kali Puja celebration in UK November 05, 2013 18:32

Bengali NRI's in the UK are going all out to celebrate their festivals even while staying away from home. Durga Puja is being celebrated by the Bengalis of UK since the 1960s, when it started. Durga Puja is popular among non-resident Bengalis not only in the UK, but also in America, Europe and other continents. Recently, since last year Kali Puja is also being celebrated with devotion. Sanskriti, a non-profit organization, was formed by the Bengalis in Reading to organise cultural programmes. Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja are celebrated every year. Last year Kali Puja was added to the list of activities organised by Sanskriti, said Anuradha Biswas, president of Sanskriti. According to reports, the Trunkwell Mansion House organised Kali Puja in 2012. The puja pandal was visited by 400 people, who were treated to a meal of dal, bhaat, chhana dalna, mangsho, chutney and mishti. This year also a grand Kali Puja celebration was organized at Shinfield Grange.A large number of non-resident Bengalis were expected at the puja pandal. Devotees were to be treated to a delicious feast of Bengali delicacies, followed by a display of fireworks. (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Big feat for Indian-American Gurbir Grewal October 05, 2013 17:05

Indian American Sikh lawyer Gurbir Grewal has been formally nominated as the Bergen county prosecutor by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. If he wins, then he will be the first Indian-American prosecutor as well as the first Sikh to occupy the office. "Since 2010, Grewal has worked at the US Attorney's Office in Newark as the Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit and Computer Hacking and IP Crimes Unit.He previously worked at the US Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York as an Assistant US Attorney at the Business and Securities Fraud Unit,” reported DNA news. "With his experience as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey and New York, Mr. Grewal has the right credentials and background to be the chief law enforcement officer for Bergen County," said Christie announcing his intent to nominate Grewal. "He also brings diversity to a highly diverse county, which will serve him and the community well," Christie added. Grewal would replace retiring prosecutor John Molinelli. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury

Indian scientist in US creates 'brain' for robots October 04, 2013 17:26

A US scientist of Indian-origin has created a new feedback system that would facilitate robots to operate with minimal supervision. In short, the scientist has developed a robot brain. His latest invention might allow robots to think for themselves, learn, adapt and use active critique to work unassisted. Dr Jagannathan Sarangapani, from Missouri University of Science and Technology has developed a new feedback system will allow a "follower" robot to take over as the "leader" robot if the original leader has a system or mechanical failure. “In a leader/follower formation, the lead robot is controlled through a nonholonomic system, meaning that the trajectory is set in advance, and the followers are tracing the same pattern that the leader takes by using sonar. When a problem occurs and roles need to change to continue, the fault tolerant control system comes into use. It uses reinforcement learning and active critique, both inspired by behaviourist psychology to show how machines act in environments to maximise work rate, to help the new, unmanned robot to estimate its new course. Without this, the follower wouldn't have a path to follow and the task would fail. "Imagine you have one operator in an office controlling 10 bulldozers remotely," said Sarangapani, the William A Rutledge - Emerson Electric Company's distinguished professor in Electrical Engineering at S&T. "In the event that the lead one suffers a mechanical problem, this hardware allows the work to continue," said Sarangapani. The innovative research will be useful for robotic security surveillance, mining and even aerial maneuvering. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury