Indian banks in China to not accept scrapped bank notes! November 19, 2016 12:44
Indian embassy in China said in an advisory that, scrapped currency notes of Rs 500 and 1,000 cannot be deposited at Indian bank branches in China or Hong Kong. Indians living in China will not be able to deposit the demonetised bank notes at branches of Indian banks located in China or Hong Kong. The embassy said that, "The person so authorised has to go to the bank branch with the specified bank notes, the authority letter given by you and a valid identity proof." One will have to authorize in writing enabling another person in India to deposit the notes into his or her bank account. Thousands of Indians live in China, mostly in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. There are seven India banks in China, two are from the private sector. Isha Luthra, who works in Beijing, reacted sarcastically, "I couldn't be more grateful." "I am glad I have a trip back home before December 30." Also Read: Indian Government sets up panel to look into cash concerns of tourists, NRIs Nandini
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Indians to be impacted as Australia cuts stay of '457 visa' holders November 18, 2016 13:12
Indian working in the Australia will adversely affect as the country announced changes to the ‘457 visa’ programme for skilled foreign workers. The move aims to limit their ability to look for another job after their official employment ends. According to the new norms, foreign workers on a 457 visa will only now be able to stay in Australia for 60 days instead of 90 after their employment ends. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said that, “From November 19, 2016 the period that a subclass 457 visa holder may remain in Australia after their employment ceases will be reduced from 90 days to 60 days.” The government was committed to ensuring that Australian workers have priority and to reducing the potential for temporary visa holders to be exploited, he added. The largest number of employees come from India (26.8 per cent), followed by workers from the United Kingdom (15 per cent) and China (6.6 per cent). Also Read: Record 25 per cent rise in number of Indian students in US! Nandini
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Trump shortlisted Indian-origin Amul Thapar for Supreme Court judge November 15, 2016 13:06
US President-elect Donald Trump picked for the Supreme Court judge includes Indian-American Amul Thapar. His name was figured in the Trump's second list of individuals to be considered for the nomination of a Supreme Court judge. They announced the list on September 23. At present, Thapar is serving as the US District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Another minority candidate to be shortlisted is 64 years old Venezuelan-born Federico Moreno, who hold the position of the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Trump Campaign said that, "He has taught law students at the University of Cincinnati and Georgetown. Thapar has served as an Assistant US Attorney in Washington and the Southern District of Ohio." Trump had said in September while releasing the list that, "This list is definitive and I will choose Justices of the United States Supreme Court only from it." "I would like to thank the Federalist Society, the Heritage Foundation and many other individuals who helped in composing this list of twenty-one highly respected people who are the kind of scholars that we need to preserve the very core of our country and make it greater than ever before," he said. Thapar was born in 1969 in Detroid, Michigan. He was nominated by George W Bush to a seat vacated by Joseph M Hood on May 24, 2007. On December 13, 2007, he was confirmed by the Senate and received commission on January 4, 2008. Also Read: Indian-American Kamala Harris to take on Donald Trump's Immigration Policies! Nandini
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Record 25 per cent rise in number of Indian students in US! November 15, 2016 11:21
A recent report shows that, a record 165,918 Indians students were pursuing study in the United States during academic year 2015-16, which is a rise of 25 per cent over the previous academic year. With this rise, India has became the second leading country of origin among international students in the USA. According to the 2016 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, "It was the highest absolute rise of students ever and followed the previous year's record growth." According to the new report, "The number of international students at US universities and colleges surpassed one million for the first time during the 2015-16 academic year, a hike of seven per cent from the previous year to a new high of nearly 1,044,000, representing five per cent of the total student population at United States institutions." The Institute of International Education publish the Open Doors report in partnership with the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, annually. "The new report indicates there were a record 165,918 students from India, a 25 per cent increase on the year before, making it the second leading country of origin among international students in the US," the report said. "In 2015-16, there were nearly 69,000 more international students in United States higher education compared to the previous year," it said. US Ambassador Richard Verma said that, "Higher education continues to be the bedrock of our people to people ties. More students from India studied in the United States than ever before at all levels and I am especially pleased to see the record back-to-back, year-on-year growth in student numbers." "With efforts such as our Passport to India initiative, we are also seeing the number of American students in India beginning to grow," he added. The report said, "India stands on 13 number among the top 25 destinations of US study abroad. The number of US students going to India to study for academic credit at their home university in the United States decreased by 3.2 per cent to 4,438, although this number has remained relatively flat across the last five years at 4,500." Also Read: No OCI card for people with military background! Nandini
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No OCI card for people with military background! November 14, 2016 14:50
The Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card will not be given to Indian origin persons with military background as a inter-ministerial committee recommended to the Indian Government that, any kind of act to grant OCI cards to such people will be against the interests of the country. The high-level committee's recommendation came after carefully examining the all aspects of granting OCI cards to people of Indian origin who had served the militaries of any foreign country. A senior government official privy to the development said that, "The committee felt that any person with military background should not have uninterrupted access to Indian territories. If such a person is granted OCI card, he or she could enter India without visa and the facility is offered for life." The decision came after the government received several applications of persons of Indian origin who had served in the armed forces of foreign countries. In January 2015, the government had declared that all Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders are deemed to be Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders. An OCI card holder gets benefits like life-long visa and exemption from appearing before the local police station on every visit. Also Read: NRIs in UK will get help to deposit banned notes: Indian envoy Nandini
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NRIs in UK will get help to deposit banned notes: Indian envoy November 12, 2016 10:42
India's envoy to the United Kingdom said, Indian government is looking forward to help Non-Resident Indian (NRIs), who may own some banned currency notes so that they can deposit it at a branch of an Indian bank overseas. Dinesh Patnaik said that, "Our endeavour is to help everybody. We have asked Delhi about it (any banned notes with NRIs). I have a feeling we will work out something so that people who have carried certain amount of cash in their pocket, should be able to deposit it in any Indian bank overseas." Earlier this week, as a part of an anti-corruption drive, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced to ban on Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, giving Indians the option to exchange the banned currency at banks all over the country until December 30. India's acting high commissioner to the UK said that, "Basically, it means people abroad should not have more than that. Also, not everybody will have an account with an Indian bank either they will have to open one or find an alternative. So, it is something we will have to look at very closely.” "There is a lot of time, until December 30," he said. "This is not an amnesty scheme or any scheme to garner black money. This is a method to achieve cashless transactions, which in itself will stop corruption, and to make sure that the money which is lying within the non-legal system, gets into the legal system,” Patnaik, the deputy high commissioner said. "And, of course, the threat of fake Indian currency will be eliminated, because that threat was mostly with Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 will have greater security features and it will make it more difficult for counterfeiters to try and copy it," he said. Also Read: Brave and bold Surgical strike on black money and funding of terrorism Nandini
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Over 600 Indian-Americans celebrate Chhath Puja in US! November 08, 2016 10:43
The festival of worshiping the Sun God was celebrated in the United States by the several Indian-American people. More than 600 from the community were gathered on the banks of the historic Potomac River to celebrate the three-day long festival of Chhath. Kripa Singh, who has been organizing the event for the past nine years said that, "This was the largest gathering for Chhath Puja." He is an eminent Indian American community leader in Virginia. Women were attired in colorful traditional saree to worship the rising sun. Several women were came from as far as Ohio, Chicago, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to attend the festival of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. In 2007, he approached the Recreation Department and the Loudon County Parks with the details and sought permission to do the ceremony which was granted. Chhath Puja entails worship of Sun God, embodied in cosmic energy. The festival is mainly observed by people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh states of India. Also Read: Australian of the Year award goes to Indian-origin cabbie! Nandini
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Modi takes up killing of Indian-origin bus driver with Australian PM! October 31, 2016 16:25
PM Narendra Modi raised India's concern over the brutal killing of an Indian-origin bus driver with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. The 29-year-old Manmeet Alisher, was burned to death in front of several passengers in Brisbane when a man poured some flammable liquid on him. A Prime Minister’s Office statement said that, PM Modi telephoned Turnbull to wish him on Indian festival Diwali and also conveyed a “sense of concern being felt in India over the recent brutal killing of Mr. Manmeet Alisher, a person of Indian origin, in Australia.” A well-known singer in the Punjabi community, Alisher was targeted by a man who poured an “incendiary device” at him which sparked a fire, when he was driving a Brisbane City Council bus. The driver died on the spot while, many passengers managed to escape through the rear door. Australian PM Turnbull expressed shock at the killing of Indian-origin driver and also conveyed to Modi that the matter is being probed. The statement added, Prime Minister Modi reiterated his invitation to Premier Turnbull for a visit to India in 2017. Also Read: Indian-origin bus driver burnt alive in Australia! - Nandini
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Indian-origin bus driver burnt alive in Australia! October 29, 2016 10:23
An Indian-origin bus driver and a well known singer of the Punjabi community was burned to death in the Brisbane city of Australia. A man poured some flammable liquid on him in front of several passengers, police said. 29 year old Manmeet Alisher was attacked by a man who threw an "incendiary device" at him, when he was driving a Brisbane City Council bus. According to the police, a 48-year-old man was arrested over the incident. There was "no apparent motive" including terror or race related. Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said, the incident is investigating by the detectives from South Brisbane district and the state crime command's homicide group. Stewart said that, "There is no evidence at this time of any linkage to terrorist-type activities and certainly that has not become evident through the ongoing investigations that have occurred. We do not believe there is any evidence at this stage linking this to a racial complaint or concern by either of the people involved." "While we do not know the actual motive at this stage, I want to reassure the community that we take these incidents very seriously and that is why as a precaution, officers from the state security and counter terrorism group have also been involved," he said. Queensland Police Superintendent Jim Keogh said that, "Words escape me, it is a horrific incident here in the quiet suburb of Moorooka." "A bus driver, going about doing his business, supporting the community, has had his life taken from him in what is a senseless and needless act. The fire was substantial, he would have stood little chance," he said. Also Read: Sikh-American techie brutally assaulted in alleged hate crime in US! Nandini
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Short-term UK visas for students October 22, 2016 16:12
During Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit, India hopes to reach a deal with Britain for facilitating short-term visas for Indian students, academicians and businessmen. Acting High Commissioner to the UK Dinesh Patnaik has said, “I am hopeful, certain things will happen”. “I hope we will have a deal on Britain facilitating short-term visas for students, academicians and businessmen from India and these categories should not be in the migration list,” Patnaik said. He said, “This is her first bilateral visit and India is her first trip outside the continent. UK-India, we have a very very long umbilical relationship.” “It is an official visit and she will be heading a high-level 160-strong delegation. The trade delegation also assumes importance because of the Brexit scenario,” he added. “Post-Brexit, they will need it and they want to increase trade outside EU. The discussion will focus on framework of post-Brexit trade deal.” On the Indian side, he said “what we want is ease of doing business – access to the UK, both for students, academicians and businessmen.” India wants Britain to extend visa concessions to Indians – 6 months to 2 years visa for 87 pound. He said many companies here are shifting their jobs to India. In the next 3 to 4 months, about 2,000 jobs are expected to go to India. By Premji
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Indian-American seeks Obama team's help on fundamentalism charges October 18, 2016 15:33
Sonal Shah, the first Indian-American appointed to the presidential transition team of Barack Obama had written that the "frenzy" ethnic Indian press accused her of Hindu fundamentalism in 2008 to discredit him and having her quit. According to data released by WikiLeaks yesterday, Shah, one of the top economists who had been appointed to then president-elect Obama's transition team in 2008, wrote to the team's top leadership that the accusations of her being a right-wing Hindu fundamentalist and that she supported the communal violence in Gujarat, was mainly aimed at discrediting Obama, the emails released by . Shah wrote on November 10, nearly a week after Obama became the first non-White male to win the US presidential elections, "I am writing to get some guidance from you in managing the India press frenzy about my alleged right-wing politics and terrorist tendencies" She was accused of siding with Hindu fundamentalist and had been of being supportive of their cause. As her opponents launched a media campaign against her, Shah sought guidance from her party leadership fearing that this might tarnish the image of Obama. She wrote, "There are hundreds of blog posts and articles on this and without any responses, the rumours are feeding on each other. More interestingly, they were planning a public campaign to embarrass the president-elect and have me resign. I had several calls from prominent folks in India saying the best way to counter the lies and rumors was to put something out there denying the allegations. Others suggested doing a controlled interview.” Also Read: Brics Summit: A huge success for India By Prakriti Neogi
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Indian-origin scientist honors young scientist award in US! October 13, 2016 10:42
An Indian scientist with the Department of Packaging has been awarded the prestigious International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) Young scientist scholarship award in the United States. Kirtiraj Kundlik Gaikwad has been awarded for his research work on "development of novel oxygen absorbing package in the field of active packaging for oxygen sensitive food products". This award worth $2000 and award plaque was presented in the annual meeting of IAFP held in St Louise, USA by the IAFP Foundation, USA. Its purpose was to encourage young outstanding food safety scientist from all over the world. Kirtiraj developed novel oxygen scavenging package from the natural source. The feature of this package is it can extend the shelf life of food also it is suitable for microwave, liquid food packaging like juices, and metal detector friendly at processing line. The International Association for Food Protection recognizes young researchers from around the world that are the future leaders in the field of food safety. The IAFP Foundation has been dedicated to enhancing the career potential of exceptional researchers through the annual IAFP Scholarship Program, which provides full funding for attendance at the Association's renowned annual meeting. Kirtiraj received his BTech (Food Science) from Dr PD Agriculture University, India in 2009, MTech (Food safety & standards) from Allahabad Agriculture University, India in 2011 and MS (Packaging) from Michigan State University, USA in 2013. He has authored and co-authored 15 research papers in reputed international journals. Also Read: Indian-origin lawyer appointed Shadow Attorney General in UK! Nandini
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