Brit-Indian honeymooner Dewani may kill himself if extradited to South Africa December 15, 2011 09:58
Brit-Indian businessman Shrien Dewani, who has been charged with masterminding his wife’s murder during their honeymoon in Cape Town last year, may kill himself if he is extradited to South Africa, a London court has been told. Dewani’s barrister Clare Montgomery asked two judges to block the extradition order on mental health grounds. Montgomery said that Dewani’s mental health has deteriorated to the point where he was ‘too ill to be extradited’ and was a suicide risk. She also argued that he was at serious risk of violence - including sexual violence - at the hands of other prisoners if kept in custody in South Africa. “It will not be consistent with humanitarian principle to send some for extradition who is not fit to stand trial. Were Mr. Dewani to be extradited today, according to English standards, he would not be fit to stand his trial,” the Daily Mail quoted Montgomery, as saying. “We do submit it will always be unjust to extradite somebody who is unfit - no matter how serious the charge,” she added. Thirty-one-year-old Dewani has been denying any involvement in the death of Anni Dewani, who was shot dead in a taxi in Cape Town last November in an apparent car-jacking. He faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and obstructing the administration of justice. Taxi driver Zola Tongo, who has admitted his part in the crime, has been jailed for 18 years for murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and perverting the course of justice after agreeing a plea bargain.
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'Multicultural' Rahman gets lifetime achievement award at DIFF December 12, 2011 15:49
Indian music maestro A R Rahman has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) here. The Oscar-winner is the youngest and the first musician to get the…
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Obama appoints Indian-American Preeta Bansal to key administration post December 09, 2011 09:37
President Barack Obama has named Indian-American, Preeta D. Bansal, as a member of an independent agency promoting improvements in the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of government procedures. “I am proud to appoint such impressive individuals…
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Miss USA 2010 winner Rima Fakih arrested on DUI charges December 06, 2011 12:46
Rima Fakih, the 2010 Miss USA, was arrested by police early Saturday morning in Michigan on suspicion of driving under influence. Fakih, who won the pagent in May 2010, was arrested this weekend, her attorney…
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Doctors' financial ties may lead to needless MRIs December 06, 2011 12:18
Researchers including one of Indian–origin have found that patients whose doctors own MRI machines are more likely to get scans they might not need as compared to those who have no financial interests. Researchers analysed…
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Indian Overseas Congress supports FDI in India December 05, 2011 10:23
CA-USA President Vikram Bajwa - Indian Overseas Congress, has condemned Anna Hazare’s assumptions on Lokpal Bill. US and Canada, twelve million non-resident Indians share similar thoughts with Anna, his utterances show frustration, within his own…
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UAE commutes death sentence of 2 after blood money deal December 05, 2011 09:44
Two Indians, who are facing death sentence in (United Arab Emirates) UAE for killing a compatriot are set to be released this month as their death penalty was commuted by a Sharjah Sharia court after…
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US House approves faster green cards for IT Indian workers December 01, 2011 17:33
In a move that may allow more highly skilled immigrants from India and China to obtain the so-called green cards faster, the US House of Representatives has passed a bill modifying the visa system. The…
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India world’s 2nd most confident about economy after Saudi November 30, 2011 19:03
"The Indian economy has been well insulated from global economic conditions as it has been fueled by domestic consumption and the increased FDI into the country. Our economy has remained steady at a robust 8.1 per cent and this positive consumer sentiment is seen reflected in our survey," Ipsos India Managing Director Mick Gordon said. Indians have emerged as the second most confident people about their economy, across the world, on account of higher consumption and increased foreign investment, according to a report by research firm Ipsos. The report said that India's economic confidence grew by 6 points to 75 per cent in the month of October compared to the previous month, becoming the second most economically confident country after Saudi Arabia. The report, which examined citizens' assessment of the current state of their country's economy, said that the overall global average economic confidence was down by one point to 38 per cent last month. In terms of gains, two countries-- India and South Africa-- gained maximum economic confidence by five points and six points, respectively. Individually, Saudi Arabia experienced a six-point drop to 83 per cent but continued to hold its pole position, followed by India (75 per cent), Sweden (69 per cent), Canada (66 per cent ) and China (65 per cent). The countries at the bottom of the heap were -- Hungary which lost two points and was at 2 per cent, Spain gained 2 points but was low at 5 per cent, Japan further lost two points to stood at 6 per cent, France lost 1point and was at 6 per cent and Italy was unchanged at 8 per cent. The global aggregate national assessment was dragged by Europe, which was down 2 points to 24 per cent), North America (40 per cent). In fact, all the regions have reported declining national economic assessments – the Middle East and Africa was down 2 points to 60 per cent, Asia Pacific dropped by 1 points to 41 per cent. However, Latin America experienced no change in October and stood at 46 per cent. Looking ahead, 24 per cent global citizens surveyed said their local economy would be stronger six months from now, which was unchanged since August 2011. The natives of Brazil are the quite optimistic about about the state of their economy in the next six months, followed by India and Saudi Arabia. The survey was conducted in October among 18,682 people in 24 countries such as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the US.
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NRI body opposes move to tax long stay in India November 30, 2011 18:40
The largest umbrella organization of overseas Indians has urged the Indian government to withdraw a proposal to impose tax on non-resident Indians staying over 60 days during a visit to the homeland. It will be…
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IIT Graduate, Arun Majumdar get top key post in US Energy November 30, 2011 18:12
Naming yet another Indian American to a key administration post, President Barack Obama has appointed Arun Majumdar, an Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, alumnus as the top bureaucrat in the Department of Energy. Announcing the…
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Govt tightens immigration rules for women job seekers in Gulf region November 29, 2011 13:56
Government has tightened immigration rules for women seeking employment in labour- intensive Gulf region to protect them from harrasment and exploitation. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said in Rajya Sabha that government has taken a series of measures to protect interest of women including imposing age restriction of 30 years for allowing them to go to the Gulf region and some other countries for employment under ECR (Emigration Check Required) category. "Indian missions (in the region) receive complaints from women workers, particularly housemaids, on account of non-payment of salaries, long working hours, inadequate living condition, physical harassment and refusal of leave," he said, replying to a question. Ravi said his ministry has also made it mandatory for attestation of employment contract of women under ECR category by Indian missions. The missions will also have to identify the foreign employer before allowing any woman to go the region for work. As per the guidelines of the ministry, a pre-paid mobile phone will have to be given to every household worker by the employer. "If the foreign employer recruits the worker directly, he is required to deposit a security of USD 2,500 (Rs 1.3 lakh) with the Indian Mission," said Ravi. As per the rules, ECR clearance is mandatory for undergraduates seeking overseas employment in 17 countries. The countries where ECR is mandatory include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Brunei, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon and Thailand.
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