New Ambassador Jaishankar Wants Withdrawal of Charges
New Indian Ambassador to the U.S. S. Jaishankar Dec. 27 met top officials of the State Department to convey India’s strong protest over the arrest of its senior diplomat in New York over visa fraud charges, even though she had diplomatic immunity. Immediately after presenting copies of his credentials to the Office of Chief of […]
Indian American Teen in Solitary Cell for 2 Years Waiting for Trial
By Indiawest Following his arrest in connection with a series of bombings at four New Jersey synagogues, Rutgers Indian American freshman Akaash Dalal has spent the past two years in solitary confinement, holed up in a tiny, windowless cell waiting for trial, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 23, 2014. “I talk to him every […]
Sikh Soldiers Want More Indian Americans in U.S. Army
By Indiawest The United States should change its policy to allow more Indian Americans to join the military without compromising on their religious beliefs and practices, the only three Sikh soldiers in the U.S. Army say. Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan and Corporal Simran Preet Singh Lamba are the only three Sikhs […]
Pakistani Composer Usman Riaz Named TED Senior Fellow
By Indiawest UNITED STATES: Composer and guitarist Usman Riaz of Pakistan is one of 12 individuals in the new class of 2014 TED Senior Fellows, who will join the TED community for two years beginning in 2014. In his TED profile, Riaz said, “I began playing classical piano at the age of six and taught […]
Indian American Gifts $500K to CSUSB Nursing Department
By Indiawest SAN BERNADINO, United States: Physician and philanthropist Dr. Prem Reddy, of Victorville, has donated $500,000 to Cal State San Bernardino and its department of nursing. To recognize his gift, the university’s nursing lab will be renamed the Dr. Prem Reddy Nursing Laboratory. Reddy has been a long-time supporter of CSUSB. In 2006, the Dr. […]
Seattle Cabbie Attacker Gets 40 Months for Hate Crime
By Indiawest Calling a repeat felon’s outbursts during an attack on a cab driver “the most disgusting, ugly and racist language that I have heard in 30 years on the bench,” U.S. district Court Judge John Coughenour in Seattle, Wash., sentenced a homeless man Dec. 10 to 40 months in prison for brutally beating a […]
Indian Americans, Indians Named 2014 IEEE Fellows
By Indiawest Nearly 30 researchers of Indian origin from the United States and India were recently named newly elevated fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for 2014. The IEEE grade of Fellow is conferred by the IEEE Board of Directors upon a person with an outstanding record of accomplishments in any of […]
Guilty Plea in U.S. Ancient-Statue Smuggling Case
By indiawest A former manager of a now-closed New York art gallery has pleaded guilty for his role in an international scheme to smuggle ancient Buddhist and Hindu sculptures. Federal officials say Aaron Freedman pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court in Manhattan Dec. 6 to conspiracy and criminal possession of stolen property worth $35 million. […]
Couple Accused of Hiring, Abusing Illegal Indian Workers
By Indiawest An Indian American couple who operate four Subway restaurants in Lexington, Kentucky, allegedly employed undocumented Indian nationals who worked long hours under duress for little pay, according to sworn statements by a manager at one of the restaurants and some of the illegal workers. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Homeland Security investigator David […]
ICA Honors Activists Nileema Mishra, Melinda Kramer
By Indiawest The Indians for Collective Action marked its 45th year with its Annual Award Dinner and Benefit Gala Nov. 17, honoring Padmashree and Magsaysay Award winner Nileema Misra from Maharashtra, founder of Bhagini Nivedita Gramin Vigyan Niketan, and Melinda Kramer of Berkeley, founder of Women’s Earth Alliance, at the TiE Silicon Valley office here. […]
Indian American Entrepreneur Introduces Obama in SF
By Indiawest SAN FRANCISCO, Calif, United States Immigration reform is widely popular among Democrats, as well as some of President Barack Obama’s Silicon Valley donors, who have long lamented federal rules that bar them from hiring top talent trained in the United States but without the ability to work here. To underscore that point, the […]
U. of Iowa Official Ordered to Pay Indian American for Error
By Indiawest A senior University of Iowa medical official has been ordered to pay $183,000 for unfairly revoking the clinical privileges of Ravi Sood, a subordinate doctor, and taxpayers will have to foot the bill. A jury ruled in May that director of nuclear medicine Michael Graham violated Sood’s constitutional right to due process when […]
Four South Asians Advance to Siemens National Finals
Four South Asian high school students — from Texas, Massachusetts and New York — have advanced to the national finals of the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation’s leading science, engineering and math contest for high school students. All four were team competition winners and will vie for $500,000 in scholarships at […]
Indian Film Distributor Eros Plans $200 Million IPO
By Indiawest United States: Eros International, which produces and distributes Indian films in more than 50 countries, announced terms for an initial public offering Oct. 29. The Secaucus, N.J.-based firm plans to raise $200 million by offering 12.5 million shares at a price range of $15-$17 a share. Its proposed symbol is “EROS” and it will […]
Thousands Throng ‘Little India’ to Celebrate Diwali
By Indiawest ARTESIA, Calif., United States: A major thoroughfare normally filled with thousands of vehicles every day was replaced by thousands of pedestrians for the whole of Nov. 10 as the Little India Chamber of Commerce and the City of Artesia brought a Diwali Mela to Little India’s Pioneer Blvd. The celebratory day and evening featured […]
Businessman Runs in GOP Primary for Congress in Illinois
By Indiawest United States: India-born Krishna Bansal, a businessman in Naperville, Ill., is the first Republican to enter the spring primary in 2014 for the 84th District seat in the U.S. Congress in Illinois. The seat is currently held by Democrat Stephanie Kifowit of Arora, Ill., and includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Montgomery, Oswego and Boulder […]
Maryland Assemblyman Sam Arora Will Not Run for Reelection
Sam Arora, a Democratic representative in the Maryland House of Delegates, has decided not to not run for reelection in 2014. His term ends January 2015. “I have heard from so many supporters in recent months, and I am grateful for their overwhelming encouragement urging me to continue serving District 19,” Arora said in an […]
Suspected Baby/Grandma Killer Says He Was a Victim
By Indiawest An Andhra Pradesh software engineer who last October allegedly killed a 10-month baby girl and her grandmother in their King of Prussia, Pa., home, has fired his attorney and now says he was the victim of two assailants who actually committed the murders. Telugu native Raghunandan Yandamuri has been held without bail since […]
Undocumented SoCal Cabbie Released from ICE Custody
An undocumented Southern California taxi driver who was taken into ICE custody last April when he and his family went in for an interview so that he could receive a family-based visa, was released Oct. 9, but still faces imminent deportation. “I did not know I was going to be released. Satguru (God) did this […]
Canadian Teen Receives International Diana Award
GEORGETOWN, Ontario: Teen Harnoor Gill was recently honored with an International Diana Award for a charity set up in memory of Princess Diana. The Diana Appreciation Society was formed in 2011 in memory of Princess Diana and supports many foundations around the world. It was established as a legacy for the princess, who believed that young […]
