Indian-origin shopkeeper destroys 9/11-themed dress in UK! October 07, 2016 09:50
A dress featuring the 9/11 attacks as its design theme was destroyed by an Indian-origin shopkeeper in London after passers-by posted pictures of its offensive pattern on social media. Jaspir Bhatti said said that, "There is no way I would sell that, I'm so horrified. I couldn't even give this to charity. I'm absolutely shocked, it's just the wrong thing to do it's terrifying." He handed over the dress to 'The Sun' newspaper to be destroyed. Bhatti, a stall holder at Chrisp Street market in Poplar area of east London, was alerted to the offensive design of the Twin Towers on fire on the 5-pound dress after passers-by posted pictures of it on Facebook. The newspaper contacted the wholesaler that Bhatti believed he had bought the dress from but was told it was not their product. According to the he newspaper, a clothing label on the dress indicated it had been made in India and is likely to have been imported into the UK from the country. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 2001 when planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Centre (WTC) in New York. Also Read: India urges IITian diaspora to make Startup India a success! Nandini
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UK announces crackdown on immigration, move to hit Indians! October 05, 2016 15:31
The United Kingdom disclosed plans to further its crackdown on immigration through “work and study routes” from non-EU nations. The move is expected to make it difficult for British firms to hire professionals from countries…
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India urges IITian diaspora to make Startup India a success! October 05, 2016 10:11
The IITian diaspora has been urged by the country to invest in the Startup India campaign of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote a culture of innovation in its ancestral land. The 2016 International Conference of the IIT Alumni Canada has brought more than 400 IITians from the Canada, US and Australia to Toronto. Speaking at the event, Indian Consul General Dinesh Bhatia urged the IITian diaspora to make the Startup India campaign a success. The techie conference was focused on 'Towards a Sustainable and Prosperous Future: Focus on Technology, Health and Environment'. Conference co-chair Raghu Nayak said that, "IITians stand for innovation and these bright brains at the conference have highlight how we can integrate innovation to solve global problems of poverty, diseases and pollution. Since technology caused most of the current problems facing mankind, we think it is the technology that will solve these problems." According to the Bhatia, India is now an over $2 trillion economy and there are huge offers and opportunities for IITians to become a part of its success story. The conference was attended by the Canadian Science Minister Kirsty Duncan, MPs, and mayors along with the IITian gathering which also included the director of IIT-Hyderabad and the deans of IITs in Mandi and Chennai. Duncan lauded the role of the IITians in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Canada. She said the theme of the conference is in tune with agenda of the Canadian government, which wants to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The mayor of the Indian-dominated city of Brampton on the outskirts of Toronto, Linda Jaffrey, invited the IITians to become partners in the progress of her city which is one of the fastest growing in Canada. Canada is home to more than 1,000 hugely successful IITians, including billionaire Prem Watsa who is called the Warren Buffett of Canada. Also Read: Indian-origin teen wins Google Science Fair prize! Nandini
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Indian-origin teen wins Google Science Fair prize! October 03, 2016 15:39
An Indian-origin South African teenager bagged the grand prize worth $50,000 scholarship, at the annual Google Science Fair for her work using orange peel to develop a cheaper “super-absorbent material” that helps soil retain water. 16-year-old Kiara Nirghin, a Grade 11 student at private school St Martin’s, submitted her project titled ‘No More Thirsty Crops’ which was aimed at tackling the severe drought plaguing South Africa. Her solution to the problem of drought uses orange and avocado fruit peel that is normally discarded. Ms. Nirghin said in her submission, said that, “I have always had a great love for chemistry since I was young. I vividly remember at the age of seven experimenting with vinegar and baking soda solutions in plastic cups.” “M.S. Swaminathan has always been an inspiration of mine as he truly believed in the necessary movement of not only India but the whole world towards sustainable agricultural development,” she said. “I hope to one day become a scientist specializing in agricultural science and also become a molecular gastronomist,” she added. Ms. Nirghin explained how she had found an alternative in the fruit peel to super-absorbent polymers (SAPs), which absorb and carry about 300 times their weight in liquid relative to their own mass. “These SAPs are not biodegradable, are costly and full of acrylic acid, sodium hydroxide and other chemicals. During more research on the topic, I found that natural occurring polymers exist in most citrus fruits,” Ms. Nirghin said. The Google Science Fair is a programme for budding scientists between the ages of 13 to 18, who are invited to solve the world’s biggest challenges using science and technology. Also Read: Indian-American professor named 'Future Leader of Audiology' Nandini
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Indian investment veteran named endowment chief at Harvard! October 03, 2016 12:26
The Harvard appointed an Indian-origin investment veteran as the CEO of the management company that oversees the university's $36 billion endowment, the largest college endowment in the world. The Harvard Management Company (HMC) said in a statement, that, 54 years old NP Narvekar has been appointed as the president and chief executive officer of the HMC, which manages Harvard University's endowment and related financial assets. Harvard's total endowment is values at $35.7 billion. Narvekar will be HMC's fourth CEO in 10 years. Narvekar said that, he is honored to join the investment organization and "help support the mission of Harvard University. HMC has an unparalleled investment platform among endowments and I look forward to working with the HMC Board and team and using my investment experience to serve Harvard in the most effective way possible". Harvard University president Drew Faust said that, Narvekar's "leadership skills" and deep experience at the highest levels of investment management will position HMC for long-term success. According to the HMC Board of Directors chairman Paul Finnegan, Narvekar is a highly successful endowment manager with a 14-year track record heading a large endowment, "providing steady leadership and delivering strong returns". Narvekar holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA in Economics from Haverford College. HMC was founded in 1974. It manages Harvard University's endowment and related financial assets, seeking strong investment returns to advance the University's academic mission. Also Read: Indian-American bar owner helped catch New York bombing suspect! Nandini
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Indian-American professor named 'Future Leader of Audiology' October 03, 2016 12:19
The American Academy of Audiology named an Indian-American associate professor at Lamar University in Texas as the 2016 class of the 'Jerger Future Leaders of Audiology'. Audiology is a branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorder. Vinaya Manchaiah is one of only a dozen individuals selected nationwide for the honor. Indian-origin Manchaiah holds a PhD in disability research from Linkoping University, Sweden. He also holds a number of degrees including an MBA from Swansea University, United Kingdom, MS in Audiology from the University of Southampton, Doctor of Audiology from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing from the University of Mysore, India. Manchaiah is also the co-founder and director for strategic planning for the non-profit non-governmental organization Audiology India, for which he served as president from 2011 to 2015. The organization seeks to foster ear and hearing health care in India. The American Academy of Audiology is the world's largest professional organisation of audiologists. The members look to provide hearing care services through education, research, and increased public awareness of hearing and balance disorders. Also Read: Indian-origin scientist's team create genetic tool to predict heart disease! Nandini
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Some NRI men abandon wives in India: UK University September 29, 2016 10:49
A new report by the UK University has found that, some British Indian in the UK who are guilty of mistreating and abandoning their wives in their countries of origin. The report 'Disposable Women: Abuse, Violence and Abandonment in Transnational Marriages' by the Lincoln University described that, the practice as an emerging form of violence against women, "especially in the context spanning the UK and the Indian sub-continent". The report said that, “Abandonment of wives by non-resident Indian (NRI) men in transnational marriages has become a widespread phenomenon. Although the focus of this report is on the specific experience of abandoned women in India, experience shows that their appalling accounts of abuse and abandonment are also echoed by women from Pakistan, Bangladesh and elsewhere." "Ongoing demands for dowry and escalating violence where such demands could not be met were significant contexts for abuse for the majority of the women. Inability to meet dowry demands eventually triggered abandonment for most of the women left with their in-laws," it added. The report concluded, "Women who once resided in the UK (no matter how briefly) should be treated in all respects as domestic violence victims. Transnationally abandoned women should be issued with temporary visas to avail the UK's Domestic Violence Rule.” "At the point of their visa application, British embassies abroad should give women a leaflet setting out their rights and entitlements under the UK immigration and family law." Sundari Anitha, from the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Lincoln, spoke to women personally affected on a number of trips to Punjab, Delhi and Gujarat. "The stigma is massive and it even has an impact on other people in the family. So a woman's sister will find it harder to get married. She will find it harder to get a job, she faces financial insecurity and she's seen as damaged goods - primarily because the assumption that she had sex," she said. "This government will not tolerate abuse through marriage or other relationships. We will look carefully at any evidence of where further action might help to prevent abuse or support victims," a UK Home Office spokesperson said. Also Read: Trump praises Hindu community’s ‘fantastic’ contributions to US! Nandini
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Indian-Americans in Trump's advisory committee! September 27, 2016 10:29
The Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee consists Indian-Americans. He appointed Indian-Americans with little over a month to go before the general elections. The committee includes more than 30 members. The Trump Campaign announced, the committee consists Indian-Americans K V Kumar from California, Puneet Ahluwalia from Virginia, Shalabh Kkumar from Illinois. Shalabh Kumar, founder of the Republican Hindu Coalition said that, "We are on the cusp of history. It is a movement that I am witnessing this presidential election. I am confident that Trump would be the next president of the United States." "Under Trump administration, India-US relationship would reach a new height," he said. Puneet Ahluwalia is a member of Virginia's Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Advisory Council, while K V Kumar has earlier worked with the World Bank. "It is my great honor and a privilege to be part of Trump AAPI Advisory Committee. This is a pivotal election which impacts the future of our nation and its people," Ahluwalia said. Governors Eddie Calvo and Ralph Torres of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) respectively, will serve as the Council's Co-Chairs, it said. The committee members will support and strengthen ties to each community and provide recommendations on to ensure AAPI voices are heard and included in the Campaign. The Campaign said that, "Furthermore, the committee's formation represents Trump and Governor Pence's commitment to AAPI communities." "Trump understands the critical role Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders play in the growing and providing for an energetic economic base which has been lacking over the past eight years of Obama/Clinton policies," the campaign said. "Trump's Asian American and Pacific Islander Advisory Committee is a great addition to the vibrancy of his campaign," Ron Falconi, Mayor of Brunswick, Ohio said. "His ability to connect with everyday Americans is a testament of his character, and what he wants to do to bring America forward from the past 8 years," he said. Also Read: Trump praises Hindu community’s ‘fantastic’ contributions to US! Nandini
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Trump praises Hindu community’s ‘fantastic’ contributions to US! September 26, 2016 13:00
The Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has lauded Hindu community’s contributions, what he described “fantastic” to world civilization and American culture. The New York billionaire also confirmed that, he would be addressing an Indian-American event in New Jersey next month. Mr. Trump said in a statement, that, “The Hindu community has made fantastic contributions to world civilization and to American culture and we look forward to celebrating our shared values of free enterprise, hard work, family values, and a strong American foreign policy.” He issued a short 24-second video message inviting Indian-Americans to attend the “incredible” event on October 15. Mr. Trump said in his video message, that, “Hello everyone, it is my pleasure to invite you to a Republican Hindu Coalition rally at the PNC Arts Center in New Jersey. I am very much looking forward to speaking to thousands of Indian-Americans and others about making America great again. I look forward to seeing everybody there. It would be an incredible evening.” The Trump Campaign said that, the all-day event brings together top actors, singers and dancers from Bollywood, Hindu spiritual and civic leaders for a celebration of Hindu culture and heritage. “The proceeds of the event will benefit global victims of Islamic terror,” the campaign said. “I am looking forward to joining my good friend Shalli Kumar, founder and chairman of the Republican Hindu Coalition for this terrific event,” Mr. Trump said in an accompanying statement issued by his campaign. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has held and attended a series of fund raisers organized by Indian Americans across the country including at their homes. But those are all closed door events away from public glare. Ms. Clinton (68), often called as Senator from Punjab and has a large following among the Indian-Americans is yet to make any public appearance before the community. Also Read: Obama awarded Indian-origin physician with National Humanities Medal! - Nandini
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Indian-origin scientist's team create genetic tool to predict heart disease! September 26, 2016 12:09
A new tool to calculate the generic risk score of people likely to develop coronary heart disease in advance has been created by an Indian-origin scientist and his team of researchers. The invention may pave way for early and personalized preventive interventions. Genetic factors have long been known to make a significant contribution to CHD risk. Recent advances in genetics have led to the identification of many Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) very small differences in our DNA that vary from person to person. According to the researchers, they created a score by looking at over 49,000 SNPs, known as a genomic risk score (GRS) and showed that the higher the GRS the higher the future risk of CHD. The study was conducted by the University of Leicester in the UK. It is the first to look at a much larger number of SNPs to give a fuller picture of an individual's genetic risk of developing CHD. Nilesh Samani from the University of Leicester, said that, "This is the first really large study showing the potential benefits of using a genetic risk score over and above current methods to identify people at increased risk of coronary heart disease," "We already know that CHD starts at an early age, several decades before symptoms develop, and preventative measures should ideally be applied much earlier, especially to those who are at increased risk," he said. "Current clinical risk scores are not good at evaluating risk until middle-age. On the other hand the GRS, which is based on your DNA, can be applied at any age," Samani said. "Earlier identification of people who would most benefit from lifestyle changes and medication to reduce their risk of a heart attack could save countless lives," he added. Also Read: One Indian-American, Two Indians among 17 UN Young Leaders! - Nandini
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Obama awarded Indian-origin physician with National Humanities Medal! September 24, 2016 10:15
The United States President Barack Obama awarded an Indian-American physician and author with the America's highest humanities award, the National Humanities Medal, for his contribution in the field of medicine. Indian-origin Abraham Varghese, professor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine has authored several acclaimed books including 'My Own Country' and 'Cutting for Stone'. He was one among the several other recipients of the medal at a ceremony took place at the White House. The citation of the medal read, that, "The 2015 National Humanities Medal to Abraham Varghese for reminding us that the patient is the center of the medical enterprise." "His range of proficiency embodies the diversity of the humanities, from his efforts to emphasize empathy in medicine, to his imaginative renderings of the human drama," a military aide to the President read from the citation. President Obama said on the occasion, that, "All of today's honorees work in an age where the stories we tell and the technologies that we use to tell them are more diverse than ever before, and as diverse as the country that we love." The National Humanities Medal was started in 1997. It "honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation's understanding of the human experience, broadened citizens' engagement with history, languages, literature, philosophy, and other humanities subjects.” Mr. Verghese said that, "I felt strongly then and now that what I was writing about, and my interest in the human experience of being ill or caring for the ill, was as much a part of medicine as knowledge of the function of the pancreas, for example." He is also a vice chair of Stanford's Department of Medicine. Also Read: Indian-American physician to receive National Humanities Medal in US! Nandini
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Indian-Americans to US: Designate Pak as terror sponsor state September 22, 2016 11:07
Following the Uri terror attack that killed 18 soldiers, the Indian-American community has asked the United States government to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism and impose sanctions on it. Jagdish Sewhani, the president of American India Public Affairs Committee, said that, "Enough is enough. It is time that Pakistan be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism." "Leaders of Pakistan need to understand the price they might have to pay for their continuing support to terrorist activities in India," Sewhani said. Samir Kalra, senior director and Human Rights Fellow at the Hindu American Foundation, said that, "The ability of groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad to operate freely and with impunity in Pakistan are a direct indication of state sponsored terrorism by the country's intelligence services and military apparatus." "Since 1989, a militant insurgency supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency has left thousands of Hindus dead, and has driven out more than 350,000 people from the Kashmiri Pandit community from the Kashmir Valley," it alleged. Indian National Overseas Congress, USA said in a statement, that, "It is time for the US to take a serious look at the foreign military assistance to Pakistan and how those resources are being diverted to cross-border terrorism and other nefarious activities." "We join the civilized people everywhere in condemning this dastardly attack across the border from Pakistan and offer our condolences and prayers to families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives," said George Abraham, chairman, INOC, USA. "We also call upon Pakistan to stop exporting terrorism and return the region to relative peace and tranquility," Abraham said. Also Read: Indian-American bar owner helped catch New York bombing suspect! Nandini
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