Work Permit to Spouses of US H-1B Visa Holders February 25, 2015 11:10
A good news from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), that they will begin accepting applications from the spouses of H-1B visa holders from May 26th. The decision will benefit thousands of qualified and talented professional Indian spouses who were denied to work earlier. Due to the restrictions prescribed under existing laws, they were unable to work for any organization in US. Once the spouse got approval for his or her 'Form I-765' by the USCIS, H-4 dependent spouse will receive an Employment Authorization Card. The Employment Authorization Card holder can start working in US thereafter. According to the USCIS estimates, the eligible spouses will be around 179,600 in the first year and 55,000 annually in subsequent years. H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, can feel better with permitted work and earnings. The USCIS, in a statement, said the Department of Homeland Security is extending the eligibility for employment authorization (EAD) to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrants who are seeking employment based Permanent Residency. The individuals can avail the facility if they can satisfy at least one of the stipulated three conditions. The conditions include that the principal H1B worker has an approved 'I-140' or is currently on an extended H1B status beyond the 6-year limitation based upon an I-140 petition application pending for at least 365 days (one calendar year). The decision by the authorities is being welcome by the associations of India in US, and South Asian communities for providing the work permit facility. -Kannamsai
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Obama Appoints PIO DJ Patil first US Chief Data Scientist February 19, 2015 14:49
The White House has named Indian origin DJ Patil for the post of Chief Data Scientist and Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Data Policy, the post created for the first time. “Patil joins the White House following an incredible career as a data scientist - a term he helped coin - in the public and private sectors, and in academia,” The White House said in a statement. He had vast experience in several IT giants including LinkedIn, Greylock Partners, Skype, PayPal, eBay and RelateIQ. Patil’s role includes maintaining supremacy of US’ technology and innovation, on the Administration’s Precision Medicine Initiative for providing clinicians new tools, knowledge, and therapies with the help of advanced data and health care services. He will have to work along with various departments including Chief Information Officer and U.S. Digital Service. His work will include data science leadership on the Administration’s momentum on open data and data science. “President Obama has prioritized bringing top technical talent like DJ into the federal government to harness the power of technology and innovation to help government better serve the American people,” Megan Smith said. Patil will work in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, reporting to US Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith. -Kannamsai
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NRI appreciates courtesy of Bengalore February 04, 2015 18:23
Indian-American Ashok K.Mago appreciated people of Bengalore as he got back his Mac Book Air, which he left (lost) at the security screening in Bengaluru airport. "Once I realized that I had left my Mac Book Air at Bengaluru airport, it was a foregone conclusion that I will never get it back. Surprisingly, I got it," Mago said on his return from India. "People at Bengaluru airport were not only polite, but also ensured that the lost laptop (worth $4,000) indeed went to its real owner," said Mago. He came to India for receiving the Padma Shri from the President in recognition of his contribution towards trade and industry last year. He is founder-chairman of the Greater Dallas Indo American Chamber, which renamed to US-INDIA Chamber of Commerce. While lauding the persons who returned his laptop, Mago said that he left his laptop on December 16 after passing through the security checkpoint at the airport. "I was directed to the lost and found department of the airport," he said, adding that a few days later, he received his lost laptop. He was one among a few Indian-Americans invited for the dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee in honour of US President Barack Obama in New Delhi. After his appreciation, Bengalore people are expecting good work in return of their humbleness. India is expecting huge and better from NRI in empowering the Nation. -Kannamsai
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NRI died of Cardiac Arrest January 02, 2015 12:32
Hasan Abdul Kabir Bagef Chaush (54), an NRI from U.A.E died of Cardiac Arrest on Tuesday night, who is in India for attending his nephew’s marriage scheduled on Wednesday at Gangapur, Aurangabad. He suffered the fatal Cardiac arrest while performing the Sharaa, a traditional dance. After his death his relatives postponed the marriage. According to relatives of Hasan Abdul Kabir Bagef Chaush, he was an official with the oil and petroleum ministry in UAE, after autopsy his body was carried to Mumbai and it shall be flown back to UAE. AW: Kannamsai
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Richard Verma sworn in as US ambassador to India December 20, 2014 10:30
Indian-American Richard Verma sworn in as US diplomat to NEW DELHI, by Secretary of State John Kerry. He is the first Indian-American to be appointed for this High post. Richard Verma was confirmed by the United States Senate a week ago by voice vote. He will replace Nancy Powell, who resigned for this post over Indian officer in US Devyani Khobragade's issue. Verma was chosen for strong Indo-American ties and he’ll be arrived in India before Kerry’s visit in early January and Obama for R-Day ceremony to India. Verma parents migrated to US in early 1960s. Many affirmed his choice as the right step for better relations with India and He will deserve the position. AW: Kannamsai
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Indian American jailed in fraud case December 17, 2014 16:17
Sachin Uppal, 37, An Indian American in Brighton, Michigan sentenced to 64 months imprisonment by a federal court for $3.8-million in a fraudulent investment scheme. U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds sentenced Uppal, following his August guilty plea to wire fraud charges. Court documents shows that, Uppal maintained the Jefferson Smith Trading Company LLC (“JSTCO”) from July 2007through September 2013. Though Uppal was not a licensed investment advisor, he marketed JSTCO to potential investors and accumulated investor funds, describing it as a “hedge fund.” Uppal introduced himself to the investors as a “day trader,” who commonly use investor funds to buy and sell financial instruments within the same trading day, which can reduce risk to investors.Among the victims of Uppal his family friends were also there. In this type of affinity fraud cheaters oftenly targets members from identifiable groups, such as a religious or ethnic communities or clubs. Uppal was ordered to compensate his victims in the amount of $3,867,187. Uppal simply filled his stomach with the money without conducting any trades at all. When investors asked to close their accounts and withdraw their investment funds, Uppal smoothly suggested them not loose profitable duck. Uppal promised a return of 18 to 20 percent of the total amount per year, with a minimum investment commitment of only 12 months. After accumulating initial investment, Uppal emailed his victims fake “year-to-date investment summaries” to pretend that their accounts were performing continuously and to convey them to invest additional funds. Investors are suggested to approach the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) website (http://www.finra.org) and its Broker Check resource before investing in any firm or to any person. Uppal really betrayed everyone who believed in him including family members and well wishers also. AW: Kannamsai
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Vijay Jolly made GOPIO's Political Advisor December 10, 2014 17:23
Vijay Jolly, Member of the National Executive Committee of the BJP, has been appointed Global Political Affairs advisor of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, International. GOPIO established in the year 1989 and has been working for 28million NRI and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), in more than 25 nations across the globe. Ashook Ramsaran, president GOPIO International with headquarters in New York, US, wrote to Jolly and confirmed his appointment, said a release from Jolly's office. Vijay Jolly was in news with strong comments on than Delhi Cheif Minister Sheila Dixit and Suresh Kalmadi over alleged financial irregularities in the 3–14 October 2010, XIX Common Wealth Games in Delhi.He was member of Delhi's Legislative assembly from saket constituency. He was attacked by a mob in Nepal on july 3rd of 2014, while returning after addressing a meeting of Nepal's ruling coalition partner CPN-UML. This former BJP MLA was active in Delhi politics and is now associated with All India Incharge & Prabhari of Tripura State, BJP and All India Incharge & Convenor of Foreign Cell, BJP. Aw: Kannamsai
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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)
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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)
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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
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Overpoweringly rejoiced! September 26, 2013 16:01
Prominently overwhelming joy was brought in when Nina Davuluri was befit in appearance as the first contestant of Indian heritage as well as the second consecutive contestant from New York to experience victory with the Miss America pageant during Sunday night. Miss New York Nina Davuluri walks down the runway in succession to winning the Miss America 2014 pageant during Sunday that's Sept 15, 2013. Davuluri who's 24 years age, gained victory accompanied by the title as the nationally televised pageant returned home to Atlantic City. Moreover, she turned out successfully another Miss New York, Mallory Hagan, whose holding was cut short when the pageant moved back to Atlantic City subsequent to a six-year stint in Las Vegas, where winners were picked by preference during January. Interestingly, Davuluri performed a classical Bollywood fusion dance for her talent competition. Congratulations Nina! (AW:SB)
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A lawyer of India origin appointed as US state judge September 11, 2013 17:07
Sunil R Kulkarni, a Indian-American lawyer of great eminence has been appointed as a state judge in Northern California. He is the first South Asian to take up the esteemed role. Kulkarni, 41, has previously worked as a senior counsel in the litigation group at the University of California. He was appointed to Santa Clara County Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown last month. Although of an Indian origin, Kulkarni was born in Los Angeles and is currently residing in Palo Alto in California. On the esteemed offer, Kulkarni said, he was "thrilled to get the call" from the governor's office about the appointment. Asked about the fact that more South Asian Americans are advancing in the legal and judicial fields, Kulkarni said he believes "it is because South Asians in my generation" are "more open about law as a career." “Kulkarni has a BS from UC-Berkeley and a law degree from the University of California's Hastings College of the Law. He has also served as a law clerk for Judge Oliver W Wanger in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California from 1996-97,” revealed the Economic Times. AW: Suchorita Dutta
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