The Indian-origin Bombshell Bandit gets 66 months jail term April 10, 2015 13:18
"The Bombshell Bandit" was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment and fined tens of thousands of dollars for robbing the banks in state of Arizona. The 24 year old Indian-origin nurse, Sandeep Kaur was convicted in the robbery cases, where she robbed four banks by threatening the staff. On June 6 last year, she had robbed USD 21,200 at a Bank of the West branch in Valencia, California. That was her first time robbery. And in her second robbery at a bank Lake Havasu City in Arizona she grabbed USD 1,978. And in her third the nurse robbedUSD 8,000 at bank San Diego, before her strike on a St George bank which led to her capture in July, eight weeks after her crime spree began. Kaur was actually given up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the four charges against her, as well as fines of USD 250,000, and three years supervised post release on each charge. Defense attorney Jay Winward pleaded for lighter sentence of four years in prison, citing the challenges of Kaur's upbringing. "She is educated, she has great worth to society ... and she does want to make amends," Winward said. District Judge Ted Stewart shed some light on the closed discussions when he noted that Kaur had gone into debt with "a loan shark" and robbed banks to repay him. "She amassed a large gambling debt and, in order to repay a loan shark, she robbed the banks," Stewart said. FBI dubbed the California nurse "The Bombshell Bandit" after robberies last year she did in which a well-dressed woman approached and threatened the bank tellers and threatened to detonate a bomb. -Kannamsai
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Indian Man shot dead in US by Two Masked Men April 08, 2015 11:07
A 39 year old Indian man, Sanjay Patel, was shot dead at his working place as two masked men fatally fired him on his chest and hand. The incident took place around 7:30 pm (local time) on Tuesday in the US state of Connecticut. Raj Ali, the owner of the Gas-station (where Patel works as a clerk) told the NBC that the robbers took Patel's life just for couple of hundred dollars. And the NBC reported that the wounded man was taken to the Yale-New Haven Hospital where he died an hour later. According to the media reports the slain man’s wife was pregnant with their first child. Gas-station owner had said that Patel was a nice person and was friendly with everyone. It's not worth it. It's bad." Witnesses said they saw two masked men running from the scene after the incident. "We are looking for two people that may be involved," said New Haven police spokesman Officer David Hartman. Police said they were searching for the two men as the investigation continued. -Kannamsai
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Indian Born Lord Swaraj Paul Donated 1mn Pounds to a University April 08, 2015 09:56
Indian born industrialist Lord Swaraj Paul, the founder- chairman of Caparo Group, which employs an estimated 2,500 people in the West Midlands region, has made a big donation of one million pounds (Rs 10 crores) to the University of Wolverhampton through the Ambika Paul Foundation. The Ambika Paul Foundation was set up by Paul in memory of his daughter. The fund would be used towards general upgrade of facilities at the campus in the West Midlands region of England. Interestingly, he has been associated with the university since 1999 as Chancellor. He said, "It is part of my continued connection with the university, which is based in Britain's industrial heartland. It is a university which takes pride in training students from ordinary backgrounds to create the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs for the country and beyond" "The Ambika Paul Foundation has one very specific mission: to enhance the lives of the next generation through education, culture and health. What the University of Wolverhampton stands for and its quest to provide opportunities for young people resonates with me and where I have come from, to where I am today," he said The philanthropist will also be leading a delegation from the university to India next week to take initiative in strengthening education and business ties between the two countries. "The BBC has described this university as among the friendliest in the UK and it is also among the most multi-ethnic. This expansion plan will help enhance its role as an innovation hub where new ideas and products can incubate. It has a more hands-on approach, which appeals to me. I hope the large Indian-origin population in the region can feel proud of my association with it," said Paul, who had made a similar donation to the London Zoo in 1994, a place his daughter Ambika loved to visit. "Remembering our daughter has always been at the heart of the work funded by the Ambika Paul Foundation. This gift is dedicated to her memory; but it is also a way of giving something back to the community, and specifically young people," he said. The university has described his donation as the "single biggest gift" it has ever received. He has been associated with the Labour party and was a member of the House of Lords, and held many offices in UK parliament and government. -Kannamsai
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India's rescue operations in Yemen April 07, 2015 11:48
India's rescue operations in Yemen have been widely appreciated and 23 countries seeking help in evacuating their nationals is testimony of this fact. The rescue operations in Yemen were probably one of the toughest for India since the battle is not just fierce, but there are several stake holders in this war. The Shia Houthi rebels, Al-Qaeda, the Yemen government and also Saudi Arabia are all locked in war and this scenario could be extremely confusing for any rescue team since none know who the enemy really is. Yemen rescue op: Why India did better There are various factors that have ensured that India carried out a better rescue operation when compared to the rest of the nations. The diplomacy with Saudi Arabia directly overseen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vast experience gained in the Iraq rescue operation and more importantly not taking sides in the Yemen conflict has led to Operation Raahat being such a huge success. No room for red tape: Normally evacuation operations are hit by red tape. However, India has ensured that the top brass would be part of the rescue team and this would ensure reduction in any sort of delay. It was a combined effort of both military and civilian assets directly monitored by the Prime Minister's office and the Ministry for External Affairs. In a rescue operation there are several stumbling blocks that arise when it comes to taking decisions. Normally the chief of operations needs to take orders from the ministry at all times if there are diplomatic issues that crop up. However the presence of General V K Singh at the scene of operations has done India a world of good since direct and quick decisions were taken. Operational heads normally enter into a spot of bother when it comes to taking diplomatic decisions. In the case of Yemen there was no room for any delay. In fact a delay would have been fatal and there were split second decisions to be taken. The Indian contingent literally pulled out its citizens amidst gun fire and bombs and for this there was a need to have a top man from the ministry at the scene to take immediate decisions. Diplomacy with Saudi Arabia: Dealing with Saudi Arabia was extremely crucial in such an operation. After all it is a major player in the Yemen conflict and has taken upon itself to beat down the Shia Houthi rebels. While it could be argued that the entry of Saudi has led to the situation turning sectarian in nature (Sunni vs Shia), India did understand that taking the Saudis along was extremely crucial to these rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in constant touch with the Saudi King Salman. The direct contact between the two leaders was extremely crucial for this operation. Saudi has placed its troops in strategic pockets in Yemen and it was extremely important for India to negotiate with them. The entire process was done while the Prime Minister was in touch constantly with King Salman. There were decisions that were needed to be taken and all through India stayed in touch with Saudi to negotiate a safe access for its aircrafts which was to ferry Indians out of Yemen. Staying neutral: India has taken a deliberate stand not to interfere in the Yemen conflict. India normally does not interfere in conflicts and has always played a role when it comes to humanitarian aid. India feels that this is an issue which concerns the locals and other players in Yemen and hence any interference would not be appreciated by any. This practically would mean that in Yemen, India does not have any enemy and this has in fact also helped in the evacuation mission. Indians are not the target in Yemen and any group fighting in there would not deliberately look out for Indians to target. India has taken a similar approach in Iraq as well from where it had rescued several stranded Indians. Experts tell Oneindia that this is a stand which has always taken and in times of conflict it has helped India especially when it came to rescue operations. India is also aware a neutral position is always the best bet since taking any stand would not only endanger its citizens but also cause problems back home. Experience and intelligence: India has a vast experience in rescue operations. We witnessed it recently in Iraq when several Indians were rescued from the blood stained streets of Iraq. It is always difficult to rescue citizens out of a country where the battle is extremely unorganized. India has also carried out similar rescue operations in Libya in 2011 and Lebanon in the year 2006. In such operations Intelligence too plays a very key role. The Research and Analysis Wing has worked overtime coordinating with agencies in the United States of America and also in Saudi Arabia picking up minute to minute details of the happenings in Yemen. The rescue team in Yemen was provided real time updates regarding the conflict and as a result of this they were able to make quick decisions on their movement. There were several times during the rescue operation that routes had to be changed as forces fighting in Yemen began to approach the streets unannounced. These movements were picked up by the intelligence agencies and in turn passed on to the rescue team which strategized accordingly. - Manohar. M
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2 Indian-Origin Entrepreneurs Charged With Insider Trading in US April 04, 2015 04:59
Two Indian-origin entrepreneurs have been charged with unlawful insider trading in the US in connection with the 2013 proposed acquisition of American company Cooper Tire and Rubber by Apollo Tyres. Amit Kanodia of Massachusetts, a 47-year-old private equity investor, and a general partner at a venture capital firm - Iftikar Ahmed of Connecticut, have been charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a complaint filed in US district court in Connecticut. According to the reports, SEC has mentioned that Kanodia tipped Ahmed and another friend after learning of the deal from his wife, who was Apollo’s general counsel at the time, more than two months before the merger was announced. Hence Ahmed bought (significant amounts) stock and options of Cooper Tire. Soon after the deal has become public, Ahmed liquidated his Cooper Tire holdings, reaping $1.1 million of ill-gotten profits. And Ahmed transferred $220,000 to Lincoln Charitable Foundation, a supposed charity that Kanodia controlled. The Cooper Tire and Rubber has lost heavily due their (Amit Kanodia and Iftikar Ahmed) planned execution. -Kannamsai
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Indian-American Mother Approaches US Lawmakers for Her Children March 30, 2015 11:53
Indian-American mother has approached US lawmakers along with 60 Indian-Americans to help to get her sons (twins) back who were apparently abducted by her ex-husband six years ago. Bindu Philips, 44, testified before a sub-committee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee with several other parents of abducted children, requesting their help to reunite with her children, Albert Philip Jacob and Alfred William Jacob who are at 14 years of age now. “I respectfully request that you, the members of the Congress, help me to make my voice heard in a way that shall be meaningful and allow me to be reunited with my children who need the love and nurturing of their mother,” she said. Philips, from Plainsboro in New Jersey, accused her ex-husband Sunil Jacob of abducting her sons in the name of vacation to after getting separated each other in 2008. “Please help me to end this nightmare that Sunil Jacob has created for my family,” she said. Both Sunil and Philips are from Kerala. She informed the sub-committee that, she returned to the US four months later on April 9, 2009 with empty hands (without children) as Sunil was reluctant to return her sons. The parents of abducted children held a candle vigil at the White House and also went to the Indian Embassy to submit a memorandum to the Indian Government. In all the cases, they mentioned their ex-spouses abducted their children after marital disputes and court orders favorable to them. Image credits: file photo from America bazaar online -Kannamsai
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Ugadi Celebrations in Britain Parliament March 17, 2015 11:29
The British Parliament will host a celebration for the first festival in a year to the Telugus called Ugadi or Yugadi for the second time. Last year also the Telugu NRI Forum (UK) celebrated the New Year festival of Telugu speaking people. For the traditional festival the Committee Room 10, House of Commons is getting ready. And the event is going to be hosted by MPs Gareth Thomas, Jon Ashworth, and Virendra Sharma. The forum is well known for spreading the Telugu culture. Awards and certificates will be presented to the noted personalities. Panchanga sravanam, Telugu food varities will be special attraction to the event. The forum is inviting Tamil, Kannada, and Marathi NRIs to the celebrations. On 25th of March 05:30 pm to 08:00 pm the Committee Room 10 in Britain Parliament will become a Telugu festival point. -Kannamsai
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Woman Student from India Shot in California March 16, 2015 11:12
A dental student from India was shot to death at her San Francisco Bay Area apartment after returning from a Gurudwara. The news came into light days after her death; her body was discovered on March 8th by her cousin after UCSF officials asked about her well-being. The 37 year old Randhir Kaur’s belongings found inside a trash can about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from her apartment. This has become important to investigate the death. Investigators seeking tips from the public said on Sunday that she was accosted and shot sometime after arriving home. -Kannamsai
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US to Accept H-1B Visa Petitions From April 1 March 13, 2015 09:04
The government of United Stated will start accepting the petitions for the H-1B visas from April 1, which is most sought by Indian and Chinese IT Professionals. The mandated cap approved by the Congress on H-1B visas is 65,000 for the fiscal year 2016, which will commence on October 1, 2015. However first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed for individuals with a US master's degree or higher are exempted from the 65,000 cap. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expecting more petitions than the H-1B cap during the first five business days of this year's programme itself. The USCIS will announce the public when it receives more than the H-1B cap. If the USCIS receives an excess of petitions during the first five business days, it will use the lottery system to select the prescribed number of the applicants as they have followed last year for determining the status. -Kannamsai
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Emotional Appeal by Husband of Murdered Prabha in Australia March 12, 2015 08:28
Five days after the inhumane murder of Indian woman in Parramatta park in a suburb of Sydney, her husband spoke to media for conveying his emotional voice to the killer and to all. During the press meet her brother first spoke to the media, he said, “I have lost my much loved sister, the pain that I felt since my sister’s death has been unimaginable… my sister was a loving wife, mother, daughter and a sibling. She was loved by many, and we do not want any other family to go through the pain we are going through..i appeal to anyone who has any information to contact police please detectives catch who have killed my sister..Finally say this to the person who did this, you have taken my sister’s life please step forward get help and get your life back” Her Husband Arun Kumar said, “I’m husband just lost his wife, and a father of young girl who has lost her mother.. I cannot describe to you the pain I feel..My wife was a most caring and dutiful soul ... I know that we can't bring her back but I want whoever killed my gorgeous wife to be brought to justice…if you have any information that can help police, please, please contact Crime Stoppers." You can see the video here from ABC Channel. Detective Superintendent Michael Willing, the NSW Homicide Squad Commander, who was present at the press conference, said race was not considered a motive in the attack and that there was no evidence that Prabha was either sexually assaulted or robbed. Prabha’s murder in Australia, is raising new doubts on the safety for women, racism, and protection for foreigners in the country. However, the investigation has to find out the reasons for the Indian national Murder during her return to home from office. -Kannamsai
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Parliament Passes Bill to Merge PIO and OCI March 05, 2015 10:41
The Parliament of India on Wednesday passed a bill to merge the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) criteria. The amendment to the Citizenship Act, brought as an ordinance in January, the same becomes a law after both the houses passes and President approves. On Monday the Lok Sabha passed the bill and on Wednesday Rajya Sabha passed the same by a voice vote. According to Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, the ordinance was necessitated to honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi's committment in the US and Australia to merge PIO and OCI cards before January 9, the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa. Merging of the PIO and OCI will benefit the persons of Indian Origin for coming and staying in India for longer period and it will also facilitate the PIOs to pursue their education, business and unrestricted stay. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2015 was one of the six bills on which ordinances had been promulgated by the ruling NDA government. -Kannamsai
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NRI from Canada threatens Anna Hazare March 04, 2015 10:51
A Canada based Indian Gagan Vidhu, threatened social activist Anna Hazare. Hazare’s office has lodged a complaint with Thane Police and also informed Maharashtra DGP the facebook posts on February 24 and 25. According to media reports, the Canada-based NRI Gagan Vidhu made a post on Februray 24 afternoon: "Time has come to kill Anna Hazare. I will be next Nathuram Godse soon." On the next day he continued his averse feeling on Anna, he posted "... I am not kidding. I am coming to India soon. I will arrange for gun and shoot this modern ghandi (Gandhi). I hate (Arvind) Kejriwal so much I can do anything to spoil him." He continued with his plan of action, "I have collected all the documents - My friend Neil in New Delhi is working on it. We will expose Kejriwal soon, then I have to play role of Nathuram Godse. I am not joking. I am very serious. I can do anything for my Bharat Mata.", which said his anger on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. The 77 year old Anna Hazare planning to have 1,100-km-long three-month march (padyatra) from Gandhi Ashram in Wardha to Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi to protest the Land Acquisition Act. The schedule is expected to be prepared in a week time, considering the threat posts, police department is finding the clues to study the nature and severity of the posts by Canada based Indian. -Kannamsai
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