NRI News ( Page 12 of 22 )

NRI executive at Uber asked to quit March 01, 2017 04:50

An Indian born high executive at the ride hailing company ‘Uber’ was asked to leave after the company found that he did not disclose that he had left his former job at Google after a sexual harassment complaint. Amit Singhal joined Uber in January this year as a senior vice president of engineering after working for 15 years at Google, where he overlooked the company’s search efforts. According to a report Uber CEO Travis Kalanick asked Singhal to resign on Monday (27th Feb) after it was found that Singhal did not disclose that he had left the Internet search giants a year earlier after an allegation against him of sexual harassment. Google had deemed the employee's claim of sexual harassment against Singhal "credible" in an investigation. The report said that Singhal, "a highly regarded engineer in Silicon Valley", had disputed the allegation to Google executives at the time and denied the allegations again. According to the report Google was ready to fire Singhal over the sexual allegations after the probe, but it did not have to do so, as he resigned. The employee who filed the complaint did not work for Singhal directly, but she worked closely with the search team. Singhal said that “Harassment is unacceptable in any setting. I certainly want everyone to know that I do not condone and have not committed such behavior”. He also said that in his 20-year-career, he has never been accused of anything like that before and the decision to leave Google was his own.Singhal’s departure comes at a time, when Uber is facing scrutiny following allegations of sexual harassment by a previous employee against her manager. The former employee said in a blog last week that her manager sent inappropriate messages to her and the company’s HR department were not supportive. Kansas City held a peace march for deceased Indian techie AMandeep

Indian-origin authors joins anti-travel ban February 23, 2017 05:05

Indian-origin authors Jhumpa Lahiri and Anish Kapoor joined scores of other writers to oppose the executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, asking him to “rescind” his last month’s travel ban. "In barring people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US for 90 days, barring all refugees from entering the country for 120 days, and blocking migration from Syria indefinitely, your January Executive Order caused the chaos and hardship of families divided, lives disrupted, and law-abiding faced with handcuffs, detention, and deportation," about 70 eminent American writers and artists wrote to Trump. The artists and writers said in a letter, the executive order hindered the free flow of artists and at the time when vibrant, open intercultural dialogue is indispensable in the fight against terror and oppression. The top US artists and the authors under the banner of PEN America said that the travel ban is inconsistent with the cause of the US and the freedoms for which it stands. Chimamanda Adichiem, Margaret Atwood, Rita Dove, Jonathan Frazen, Khaled Hosseini, Azar Nafisi and George Packer, were among the notable signatories to the letter. The negative impact of the original immigration ban was felt immediately creating stress and uncertainty for artists and writers of global renown and disrupting major American cultural events. "Oscar-nominated director Asghar Farhadi, who is from Iran, expecting to be unable to travel to the Academy Awards ceremony in late February, announced that he will not attend," it said. According to the letter preventing international artists from contributing to the American culture will not make America safe. But, it will damage its international prestige and influence. They warned such policy will not only prevent great artists from performing, but it will also constrict the interchange of important ideas. The policy will isolate US politically and culturally. Reciprocal actions taken against US citizens, such as those that have already taken by the governments of Iraq and Iran, will limit the ability of US artists to move freely. In their letter, the writers and artists said that they strongly believe that the immediate and long-term consequences of his original Executive Order are entirely at odds with the national interests of the US. The letter also said “As you contemplate any potential fresh measures we respectfully urge you to tailor them narrowly to address only legitimate and substantiated threats and to avoid imposing broad bans that affect millions of people, including the writers, artists and thinkers whose voices and presence help foster international understanding.” Microsoft launches new products made in India for India AMandeep

Indian-origin Surgeon suspended after writing love letter to patient February 16, 2017 04:59

The United Kingdom tribunal has banned an Indian-origin surgeon from practicing medicine, after he was found guilty of abusing his professional position by writing a love letter to a female patient. 59-year-old Dr Sachiendra Amaragiri was removed from the UK’s medical practitioners’ register, after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing was reported that the Dr Amaragiri was infatuated with a lady he treated for a stomach complaint, the identity of the woman has not been disclosed. Dr Amaragiri wrote in the letter “You twanged some distant cord which had laid dormant in me for so many years. When you stepped into my clinic for the first time, I was suddenly stunned and taken aback by your presence.” According to a report, after receiving the letter the woman called the police and complained that she was very distressed. Dr. Amaragiri, who was not present at the MPTS hearing, has insisted he had not taken advantage of Patient A and described that his letter to her, which also invited her out for a coffee, as a “moment of madness”. Since then the doctor has apologized to the woman and his colleagues at the Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley in the West Midlands region of England, where he worked as a consultant. Dr. Amaragiri said that he intends to appeal the tribunal’s decision to suspend his medical registration. Indian-origin NASA employee detained at Airport AMandeep

INOC wants to ban funds to Hindu groups February 16, 2017 04:52

The Indian National Overseas Congrees (INOC) in the United States is seeking an action against Hindutva groups that raise funds in the Country, after an independent bipartisian American group asked President Trump’s administration to ban such groups in the United States. The Chairman of the Indian National Overseas Congress George Abraham said in a statement that it was unfortunate that last two years have witnessed a steady deterioration of religious freedom and current rights in India, especially that of the minorities and the current administration cannot shirk their responsibility in that regard. US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in their latest report by a Pakistan-origin author mentioned that the religious minority groups and low caste people face discrimination and persecution in India, where hate crimes, social boycotts and forced conversion have escalated dramatically since last two years. The report urged India to immediately lift sanctions against NGOs that are working for the welfare of the minorities in India. The report also pointed out that FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) is an escalating tool used to shut down foreign-funded minority NGOs., according to INOC. "INOC, the United States had urged the growing Indian community in the country to refrain from funding these organizations that promote hatred and bigotry against the minorities in India," it said. More than ever, as minorities in the United States, it is incumbent upon us to uphold the democratic and pluralistic values that are a hallmark of this country and it is in our own 'vested interests' to see that those values preserved and protected," it said. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) slammed the report and said it was outsourced exclusively to activist Iqtidar Karamat Cheema, who is a Pakistan-origin author, HAF raised serious questions about the Commission's credibility and transparency. The senior director of HAF Samir Kalra said "USCIRF has failed to justify its intentions of this report on the India prima face based on the sources cited and findings presented." "Though the previous reports that were published by USCIRF on religious extremism within Pakistan's textbooks have been deemed insightful by the leaders of HAF, this recent report does not meet the standard of those reports and in the context of India's pluralistic democracy, the report's author simply cites what have become known as 'alternative facts'," he said. HAF criticized USCIRF over anti-India report AMandeep

NRI couple charged in murder conspiracy of adopted son February 15, 2017 04:42

In a devastating incident an NRI couple have hired engaged killers to finish of their adopted son. An Nri couple has been charged for allegedly being part of the murder of their adopted son so the couple could pocket the insurance amount of 1.2crore rupees, which they had taken as a cover for the latter’s life, police said. Police lodged an FIR against the couple, Kanwaljitsinh Raijada and his wife Arti Loknath for allegedly being part of the conspiracy to murder 13-year-old Gopal, said Keshod police inspector Ashok Tilva. Arti and Kanwaljitsinh conspired with Nitish Mund to adopt Gopal and get him insured and then murder him, so they could cover the insurance money. Nitish also lived in London before shifting back to India after his visa got expired. He planned along with the couple to kill Gopal since 2015, Mr. Tilva said. After police officers arrested Nitish on Monday in connection with the murder, the involvement of the couple was revealed. The boy was stabbed by unknown accused riding tow motorbikes on the night of 8th February in Keshod, Junagadh district, the body stopped breathing on Monday at a Rajkot hospital on Monday. Gopal was returning back to his home town Maliya from Rajkot, he was accompanied with Nitish, Haruskh Patel and Mahadev, Mr. Tilva said. Gopal was living with Nitish who planned the crime by hiring two local goons for 500,000 rupees each, Mr. Tilva said. Indian-origin charged for helping gangsters AMandeep

Indian-origin woman killed by Tree Fall February 13, 2017 09:47

An Indian-origin woman died after being hit by a falling tembusu tree at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Saturday 11th February. Her husband a French nationalist Jerome Rouch-Sirech, 39-year-old and their two children were also injured in the incident. 39-year-old Radhika Angara was the chief marketing and strategy officer at ‘Fastcash’ a global social and mobile payment platform. She moved to Singapore with her family in January 2013. She was previously the vice-president of marketing at Myntra Designs an online fashion online in Bangalore, India. Ms Angara, studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Ithaca College in the United States, she had also held positions at France-based electronic payment company Ingenico and international food company General Mills. Last year she left her job at Fastcash and joined as digital marketing regional head of Asia Pacific for Mastercard. CEO of Fastcash Mark Carter said in a message that Radhika was a pivotal member of the company’s management team and an inspirational leader, who garnered huge respect from all the persons who knew her. He said Radhika was always available to support her colleagues through the journey in Fastcash and she will be deeply missed. Condolences and deepest sympathies go to her family at this sad time, he said. Mr Rocuh was discharged from the National University Hospital on Saturday night. According to his Linkedin profile he heads retails at Puma South East Asia. In the incident a 26-year-old Singaporean woman was also injured, the incident took place at least 50m away from the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. Ms Tay Pei Lei and that she too have been discharged from NUH. National Parks Board, which manages the Gardens, said it is investigating why the tree fell. Telangana student shot dead in California AMandeep

NRI visits India for pet surgery February 11, 2017 05:16

Sanjeev Jangwal a Punjabi NRI, who has settled in Paris have come to Ludhiana, India for the surgery of his pet dog Eva, three-year-old Bull Terrier. Eva was treated in ‘THE VETERINARY surgery department of state-owned Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’ The surgery for cruciate ligament of the leg that left her lame and limping would have cost around 4,500 Euros (Rs 3.2 lakh) in Paris. Surgery was conducted on January 31st after that Eva is perfectly back on her feet; it costs only Rs 800 for surgery about 11 Euros. Even after including the cost of tests and medicines, the total expenses were Rs 800. A specialized fish line thread that was used in surgery cost 92 pounds approximately (Rs 7,740) was delivered from London. Jangwal said that even if he included the cost of Eva’s flight ticket, the price he would have spent was less than Rs 1 lakh on her treatment. He said the cost of surgery alone is Paris was Rs. 3.5 lakh. So Jangwal headed to India for Eva’s surgery and he ordered threads from London as GADVASU doctors said its result would be better. According to vets like Jangwal many other NRIs get their pets treated in India. The trend is giving rise to vet medical tourism in India, which is a growing field. “It was an extremely critical condition that Eva was in. It is not a rare surgery, but a specialized one in which the knee joint is opened and in European countries if the condition worsens, vets even suggest euthanasia. Dr Arun Anand, associate professor, veterinary surgery at GADVASU, said surgery being too costly in Europe, many opt for euthanasia, but with growing vet medical tourism, NRIs were landing in India to get their pets treated.” He added, a hole was drilled and the thread was installed to stabilize the knee joint. Eva is back to playing and eating. Harmeet Grewal is an NRI from Canada who is going to get her Pomeranian Cultural dog treated at Vets for Pets in Ludhiana, said, “Cost effectiveness is a major factor. Treatment, medicines and even pet food, everything are just too expensive abroad. My dog Murphy had a severe stomach infection and eczema on the legs.” Vipan Puri, whose daughter before shifting to the US from Singapore left their Australian Silky Terrier dog Mocha with him said that treatment for pets in India were way cheaper with almost the same facilities available abroad. But, few cases, ticket are too costly,” Dr Jaspreet Singh from Vets for Pets said “Maybe NRIs are saving their money, but it is a win-win situation for India as vet tourism holds major potential,” said Shawna Pandya clarifies not listed for NASA AMandeep

NRI visits India for pet surgery February 11, 2017 05:16

Indian-Origin Doctor Performs Operation to Save Woman’s Life February 10, 2017 05:05

An Indian-origin saved the life of a young mother with what is believed to be the world’s first radical procedure. Mellissa Benoit a 32-year-old was born with cystic fibrosis and had developed a rampaging lung infection that spread throughout her body. Dr. Shafique Kehavje is an Indian-origin athoracic surgeon; he has years of experience at the forefront of innovative research into lung transplantation. Dr. Kehavjee said, operation was the only option, he explained that for the first time ever they had a patient in their intensive care with no lungs. In fact, she was technically on an artificial lung, an artificial heart and an artificial kidney for six days. Dr. Keshavjee and his 13 member surgeons and specialist team kept Benoit alive by the state of the art technology that oxygenated and circulated her blood, until organs from donors became available. Benoit said “You really come from the brink of death to living at home." But she was just so grateful and happy to be home. In the latest issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery issued the medical team’s report. She also said "I never thought I would be able to walk. And here, I am walking." Indian-origin led Star-up launched overseas transaction AMandeep

Indian-origin awarded with UK’s top honour in Mathematics February 08, 2017 06:29

An Indian-origin has been elected ‘Fellows of the of Mathematics and its Applications in the United Kingdom on January 26th. The honour recognizes outstanding contribution to the advancement of mathematics. Bishnujee Singh is the CEO of Cayley Aerospace Inc, he is also a chartered mathematician of the same institute and also the first ever aeronautical engineer to be conferred as a chartered scientist with the United Kingdom’s Science Council. He was also awarded EUR ING Award from FEANI Brussels in 2011, Bishnujee became the first ever engineer from India to receive this award. NRI and team creates Guinness world record AMandeep

Indian-origin pleaded guilty to money laundering February 03, 2017 04:25

An Indian-origin businessman in the United States was sentenced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money for a marijuana dealer. 39 years old Krishen Sauble Iyer is the owner of the insurance company “Health Shield”, knew the dealer identified only as SV, a marijuana trafficker when he decided to work with him, US Attorney Phillip A Talbert said. According to the court documents, they both made a deal that SV would transfer the drug proceeds to his insurance company, and those funds would then be paid back to SV to make the drug proceeds appear to be legitimate salary payments. Talbert was quoted as saying by the Fresno Bee that Iyer issued two Form 1099s to SV, which claimed that the business paid him $111,952 in 2013 and $164,000 in 2014. This deal gave the illusion of legitimate salary payments, for which Iyer received commission for transferring the money Krishen Sauble Iyer is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24 this year, in which he can face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Indian National Charged with smuggling drugs into US AMandeep

Indian national charged with smuggling drugs into US February 02, 2017 05:05

An Indian national, who was extradited to the United States from Kenya, has been charged for his participation in a major narcotics importation scheme from suppliers in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said Vijaygiri Anandgiri Goswami 55-year-old along with Baktash Akasha 40-year-old, Ibrahim Akasha 28-year-old and a Pakistani citizen Gulam Hussein 61-year-old, were charged for their participation in a narcotics importation conspiracy and were brought to the United States from Kenya. Following a request from the United States they four were charged with four counts of conspiring to import drugs and methamphetamine into the US. Each count carries a minimum prison sentence for 10 year and a maximum sentence of life in prison. They four were arrested in Mombasa, Kenya on 2014 November. They were charged in a superseding indictment with narcotics importation offenses based on their delivery of 99kg of heroin and two kilograms of methamphetamine in Kenya, which they intended would be imported into the US. Bharara said the four ran a drug trafficking organization in Kenya with their global ambitions to distribute tons of narcotics - heroin and methamphetamine - around the globe, including to the United States. From March 2014 through the date of their arrested, it is conspired that the four men have imported a large quantities of drugs into the United States. Baktash Akasha is the leader of an organized crime in Kenya, which responsible for the production and distribution of large quantities of drugs within Kenya and throughout the African continent. It is alleged that Goswami managed the whole drug business of Akasha along with the production and distribution of methamphetamine and the procurement and distribution of heroin. Hussein was a long-time associate of Goswami, who headed a transportation network that distributes massive quantities of drugs throughout the Middle East and Africa, and also has acknowledged the responsibility for transporting tons of kilograms of drugs by sea. For several months the defendants supplied multi-kilograms of drugs to individuals they thought were the representatives of a South American drug-trafficking organization, but in fact they were working confidentially under the supervision of the Drug enforcement Administration. They negotiated on behalf of the Akasha Organization and agreed to procure and distribute hundreds of kilos of drugs from their suppliers in Afghanistan and Pakistan and also to produce and distribute hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, which they thought would be imported into the United States Indian-origin woman humiliated at Frankfurt AMandeep