NRI ( Page 43 of 83 )

NRI and Team Creates Guinness World Record February 07, 2017 10:17

Suneet Jain a 24-year-old mechanical engineer, joined Chrysalis Entrepreneur from India in Koh Tao, Thailand to break the ‘Guinness world record for the longest human chain underwater with an amazing 182 scuba divers. Previously the record was held by 173 divers from Italy. The attempt to create a record was planned with Absolute Scuba in India and took place at Coral Grand Resort, Sairee Beach, Koh Tao. 140 meters were the total length of the human chain. From an age group of 8-year-old to 58-year-old participated in the chain, more than 30 people were non-swimmers and several in the team were first-time scuba divers. The team overcame several challenges, which included recruiting and training more than 200 people, scouting a perfect location and organizing a large scuba diving in a foreign country. However, after six months of planning the team failed in their practice attempt Because of many divers were not familiar with salt water. Overnight the team replaced several divers created a winning dive plan to set this spectacular record, demonstrating their belief and proved to the world that ‘nothing is impossible’. The goal of this world record attempt was to inspire ordinary people to extraordinary accomplishments Suneet now plans to use his engineering skills for his next Guinness world record. He has a few ideas and is already working out their feasibility. Indian-American boy may change the world with his new invention AMandeep

Indian-American boy may change the world with his new invention February 06, 2017 09:53

Chaitanya Karamchedu an Indian-American boy from Portland, Oregon found a cheap and easy way to convert clean water from salt water. Karamchedu is studying in Jesuit High School/Portland State University, he used a desalination technique based on hydrogel and used saponified starch grafted polyacrylamide’s hydrophilic properties to harvest fresh water. The following process does not require thermal or electrical energy filtered water has comparable conductivity of 306.32 µS/cm which is comparable to the conductivity of distilled water at 200 µS/cm. The revolutionary process has negligible pre-treatment and post-treatment cost makes it available on a small scale, especially for the area which is prone to a lack of fresh water. While testing it was found that the water had a total dissolved solids concentration of 513 mg/L which is within the standards of World Health Organisation (WHO) at less than 600 mg/L, compared to 35,000 mg/L for sea water. According to the details obtained from analysis the water contained 25.8 mg/L of sodium and 36 mg/L of chloride. The relevant EPA secondary concentration levels (aesthetic standards) for sodium is 20 mg/L and for chloride is 250 mg/L. The process yielded over 70% of fresh water and also produced a commercially useful fertilizer, CaSO4, as a byproduct. The sea water contains 19,000 mg/L chloride and 10,500 mg/L sodium Karamchedu stated that one in every eight people does not have access to clean water, it is an issue which is very important to be addressed. He said the best access to water was from the sea, the planet is covered with 70 percent of the ocean, scientist have looked at desalination, but it is too much costly to be implemented on a large scale and was also not accessible to all the places. Karamchedu’s biology teacher Dr. Lara Shamieh said People are concentrated on that 10 percent of water, which is bonded with salt and no one looks at the 90 percent that is free. Karamchedu just looked at the problem and said why to focus on the 10 percent if only 10 percent is bonded and 90 percent is free, let's ignore it and focus on 90. Karamchedu work does not end with cleaning salt water, he also has interests in other fields too such as in curing cancer. Karamchedu is currently working with his teachers on the same subject. Suppermassive black hole 660 million times larger than Sun AMandeep

Indian-origin pleaded guilty to money laundering February 03, 2017 09:55

An Indian-origin businessman in the United States was sentenced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money for a marijuana dealer. 39 years old Krishen Sauble Iyer is the owner of the insurance company “Health Shield”, knew the dealer identified only as SV, a marijuana trafficker when he decided to work with him, US Attorney Phillip A Talbert said. According to the court documents, they both made a deal that SV would transfer the drug proceeds to his insurance company, and those funds would then be paid back to SV to make the drug proceeds appear to be legitimate salary payments. Talbert was quoted as saying by the Fresno Bee that Iyer issued two Form 1099s to SV, which claimed that the business paid him $111,952 in 2013 and $164,000 in 2014. This deal gave the illusion of legitimate salary payments, for which Iyer received commission for transferring the money Krishen Sauble Iyer is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24 this year, in which he can face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Indian National Charged with smuggling drugs into US AMandeep

Indian national charged with smuggling drugs into US February 02, 2017 10:35

An Indian national, who was extradited to the United States from Kenya, has been charged for his participation in a major narcotics importation scheme from suppliers in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said Vijaygiri Anandgiri Goswami 55-year-old along with Baktash Akasha 40-year-old, Ibrahim Akasha 28-year-old and a Pakistani citizen Gulam Hussein 61-year-old, were charged for their participation in a narcotics importation conspiracy and were brought to the United States from Kenya. Following a request from the United States they four were charged with four counts of conspiring to import drugs and methamphetamine into the US. Each count carries a minimum prison sentence for 10 year and a maximum sentence of life in prison. They four were arrested in Mombasa, Kenya on 2014 November. They were charged in a superseding indictment with narcotics importation offenses based on their delivery of 99kg of heroin and two kilograms of methamphetamine in Kenya, which they intended would be imported into the US. Bharara said the four ran a drug trafficking organization in Kenya with their global ambitions to distribute tons of narcotics - heroin and methamphetamine - around the globe, including to the United States. From March 2014 through the date of their arrested, it is conspired that the four men have imported a large quantities of drugs into the United States. Baktash Akasha is the leader of an organized crime in Kenya, which responsible for the production and distribution of large quantities of drugs within Kenya and throughout the African continent. It is alleged that Goswami managed the whole drug business of Akasha along with the production and distribution of methamphetamine and the procurement and distribution of heroin. Hussein was a long-time associate of Goswami, who headed a transportation network that distributes massive quantities of drugs throughout the Middle East and Africa, and also has acknowledged the responsibility for transporting tons of kilograms of drugs by sea. For several months the defendants supplied multi-kilograms of drugs to individuals they thought were the representatives of a South American drug-trafficking organization, but in fact they were working confidentially under the supervision of the Drug enforcement Administration. They negotiated on behalf of the Akasha Organization and agreed to procure and distribute hundreds of kilos of drugs from their suppliers in Afghanistan and Pakistan and also to produce and distribute hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, which they thought would be imported into the United States Indian-origin woman humiliated at Frankfurt AMandeep

Indian-origin charged for impersonating US tax official February 02, 2017 09:44

An Indian-origin and another person were charged for allegedly impersonating US tax officials and falsely representing victims from the department to send payments to their bank accounts and debit cards. Abhijeetsinh Jadeja 29 years of Miami, Florida and Rachel Jean Roragen a 41 years old of Miami Beach were charged for 12 count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity on 27th January, Wifredo A Ferrer a Southern Florida federal prosecutor said on Tuesday (31st Jan). To allegations contained in the indictment, between the year January 2014 and March 2016, Jadeja and Roragen's co-conspirators impersonated officials from the IRS in the United States and other agencies. During the telephone calls Jadeja and Roragen falsely represented to individual victims that they owed money to the IRS or fees on loans or grants. To satisfy their alleged debts, victims were fraudulently induced to send payments to bank accounts and debit cards that were under the control of Jadeja, Roragen and their conspirators. Assistant US Attorney Daya Nathan is prosecuting the case. Indian-origin woman 6th victim to die in Australia car rampage AMandeep

Indian-origin woman 6th victim to die in Australia car rampage February 01, 2017 18:08

An Indian-origin woman in Australia has become the 6th victim of an intentional Australia road rampage. Bhavita Patel a 33 year old died in hospital on Monday night (Jan 30) after she was critically injured in an accident on a busy street in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city. Bhavita Patel worked as a director at a global accounting firm in Melbourne. Media reports said doctors tried to save Patel, but as her condition did not improve, she lay unresponsive in hospital. Patel was walking to her office, when she was hit by a car, which rammed into several people on the Bourke Street, killing 5 people, including 2 children on the spot and injuring 31 others. Graham Ashton, chief commissioner of Victoria confirmed that vehicle driver was on a bail and had a drug related history, he intentionally plowed into pedestrians. Patel’s brother said that he and his parents were left broken, but they appreciate the love receiving from people. Patel attended the Australian National University in Canberra and worked as an accountant and adviser for the federal government before she moved to Melbourne to work with Deloitte. Deloitte Australia chief executive Cindy Hook paid his tributes to Patel as an "outstanding" member of the company's national advisory teams Hook said that they were deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague, Bhavita Patel. The police said, nine patients still remain in hospital and one is still in critical condition. 26 years old Dimitrious Gargasoulas the accused driver was charged with five counts of murder. Gargasoulas is being remanded in custody and ordered to face court via video link in August. Indian-origin Kal Penn raised funds after mocked on Social media AMandeep

Indian-origin woman humiliated at Frankfurt airport February 01, 2017 10:30

An Indian-origin woman from Singapore was asked detained in ‘Frankfurt airport’ and was humiliated by the German police, when she was asked to squeeze her breast to prove that she was lactating. Gayathiri Bose a 33 year old is a manager at a transport company, she is the mother of two children, the eldest being 3 years old and the younger one a 7 months old infant, Gayathiri has filed a complaint alleging that she was asked to squeeze her breast to prove that she was lactating. She told to press that she was “humiliated” and "very traumatised" by the experience and she would take legal action. She said that police officers at the airport felt suspicious because she was carrying a breast pump but travelling without her baby. German police declined to comment on the allegations, but they said that such measures were clearly not part of the routine procedure. Gayathri was travelling alone and she was on her way to board a flight to Paris, when she was stopped at the security screening station. Her carry-on bag contained her breast pump, which went through the X-ray machine and she was taken aside for questioning. Gayathiri said the officers had an incredulous tone 'You are breastfeeding? Then where is your baby? Your baby is in Singapore?'," she said about the 45-minute episode. They kept her passport aside and was taken to a room by a female police officer for further questioning. Inside the room Gayathiri was asked to open her blouse and show her breast. Bose said she complied and squeezed her breast. "I was just in shock; I was going through the motions. I was all by myself as well, and wasn't sure what would happen to me if they decided to make trouble for me." Later, when she came out, Gayathiri felt terribly upset and started to cry after slowly understanding, what just happened. She said officials then tested and cleared the pump before returning her passport, and she was allowed to board her plane to Paris. Spokesperson for the German federal police at Frankfurt airport Christian Altenhofen said that they could not comment on the incident for reasons of data protection He also added “if a suspected explosive is detected the baggage and the person must be searched. The measures described for a breastfeeding mother are clearly not included. Aviation expert Ellis Taylor from aviation publication Flightglobal said, asking a mother to show she was lactating was "pretty ridiculous". Kal Penn raised funds after mocked on social media AMandeep

Indian-origin teacher suspended for shooting water at Trump’s Image January 31, 2017 13:06

An Indian-origin, school teacher has been suspended after a controversial classroom stunt video which went viral on social media, that shows her shooting water from a squirt gun at an image of President Donald Trump and yelling "die". Payal Modi is an art teacher at Adamson High School in Dallas, Texas; she was caught shooting a squirt gun as a video of President Trump at his Inauguration ceremony projected onto a whiteboard. In an eight second video which was posted on an Instagram account on 20th January, the day of Donald Trump’s Presidential Inauguration, showed Payal holding a squirt gun. Pointing it at an image of Trump projected onto a whiteboard, and yelling "Die!" as she shoots the gun. The video has been watched by thousands of people since it was posted online, that prompted an investigation from the officials at the Dallas Independent School District. The Spokesperson of Dallas Independent School District Robyn Harris was quoted by the Dallas Morning news as saying that Modi was placed on leave. However, Harris said DISD would not comment as the investigation was still going on. The statement said “DISD was made aware of a social media posting being circulated involving a teacher at W H Adamson High School, the teacher has been placed on administrative leave and the district has opened an investigation. This is a personnel matter and, as such, we cannot comment." However, that has not stopped parents from voicing their concerns. A Facebook user said “Five of her grandchildren go to Dallas ISD schools, do they have a venue where the concerned voices are heard.” Few students admitted that the teacher’s actions were inappropriate, but the majority believes that she was just making a joke. Leslie Jaimes a junior of Adamson High School said she was in Payal’s second period class, when she pulled out a squirt gun. “When Trump came out she shot at him, but like it was just a water gun,” Jaimes said. “It is not a big deal.” Trump fires Sally Yates for defying him on travel ban AMandeep

Indian-origin faces fraud charges in Singapore January 28, 2017 17:24

A Singapore based Indian-origin has been charged with multiple counts for helping others to fraudulently obtain cash payouts and bonuses amounting to $760,000. S Chandran a 35 year old was charged yesterday (27th January) with 58 counts of helping 49 claimants to fraudulently get state-funded Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) cash payouts and bonuses amounting to 1.1 million Singapore dollars ($760,000). A new agency reported the case as one of the biggest case of its kinds involving an alleged PIC promoter in the country. Chandran is the owner of firm Paradize Consultancy and was offered bail for 200,000 Singaporean dollars. Chandran will return to court on February 3rd. Chandran was the winner of “International Magicians Society’s Merlin Award” in the year 2014; he acted as a PIC broker and received about 400,000 dollars from the payout. He also holds a doctorate in the magic studies from the United States, the report said. The alleged offenses occurred between June 2013 and November 2014. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has conducted extensive investigations into a number of suspicious PIC claims. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore investigated the case and found many of the suspicious claims were linked somehow to Chandran. Around 200 people were called up to help in the investigations. The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore scheme offers tax deductions or cash payouts to all the companies that invest in fields such as staff training, information technology or automation equipment to boost their productivity. If convicted, Chandran will face a mandatory penalty of four times the amount of cash payout or PIC bonus. He could also face a fine of up to 50,000 dollars or a jail term of up to five years per charge. Singapore man fined for abusing pet dog AMandeep

Indian-origin and Kristen Stewart creates new AI system January 27, 2017 12:24

An Indian origin has authored a new ‘Artificial Intelligence’ system, with a co-author none other than Hollywood actress Kristen Stewart, who is known for her roles in ‘Twilight’. The new AI system can make movie shots just look alike as if they were painted. Bhautik Joshi an Indian origin engineer has completed his studies from New South Wales and currently is working as a research engineer in Adobe “San Franciso Bay Area”. The process relies on machine learning, which is a type of artificial intelligence. It gives a look of an impressionistic painting to certain shots in the film short, which uses allusive images to follow a man through his day. The technique is being described as a neural style transfer, which differs from filters of Snapchat and Instagram. Bhautik Joshi said that current filters work with the information in the image and on Instagram filters is just a color lookup. To create effects, Snapchat and Instagram uses filters that are based on rules created by humans "If you come across this condition, do that to the image." The Snapchat’s software is designed to recognize eyes in a photo, so if a person wants to make an eye look like a cartoon character’s, it cannot do that. In contrast, style transfer, in this context, works by taking an image and breaking it down into blocks to identify its components and then comparing it to a reference image. If a person wants to make an image look as if it were painted in the style of Van Gogh's "Starry Night", the AI software would look for these corresponding features in the image that you want to alter, using a technique based on so-called neural networks. Joshi also said that sometimes, the results cannot be predictable, because unlike with the Snapchat filters, the computer is learning as it goes through the images. More than Two Million galaxies in Universe AMandeep

Indian-origin Lawmakers slammed Trump’s immigration policy January 27, 2017 10:26

Indian-origin lawmakers have slammed President Trump for signing executive orders to reshape the country’s immigration policies and described the move as “anti-immigration” that will “tear apart” families. Senator Kamala Harris, the first Indian-origin to be elected to the upper chamber of the United States congress said, President Trump has escalated his anti-immigrants stand with a series of executive orders that will “tear families apart,” and the policy will also weaken the public safety and national security. "Creating a deportation force to target immigrant families who are contributing to our society is not a show of strength. Asking taxpayers to pay for an unrealistic border wall is not a solution. And telling cities to deny public safety, education, and health services to kids and families is irresponsible and cruel," said Harris. She also said that the United States was “less safe” now because of the anti-immigration policies followed by the president. Immigrant people will report few crimes, families will be in fear and our communities and local economies will suffer. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal who is also the representative of Indian-American Seattle has slammed President Trump for moving forward with his "divisive agenda" that will do nothing to solve the real immigration issues. Donald Trump’s Immigration policies Jayapal said “President Trump has doubled down his agenda that pits mother against mother, neighbor against neighbor, tearing apart the fabric of our communities”. "We must take on enacting comprehensive and humane reform of our broken immigration system - to support the country’s economy, communities and families - but President Trump offers zero leadership in this area," she said. Jayapal said that "Instead of building a wall, they should address the underlying systemic issues that drive immigration and fix the country’s outdated immigration system. Instead of banning refugees and people based on their religion, they should welcome them with open arms." Senator Chuck Schumer and Democratic Whip Congressman Steny H Hoyer joined the lawmakers in opposing Trump's immigration policies. Senator Chuck Schumer said that “Donald Trump’s plans are totally based on alternative facts and will do nothing to keep people safe or fix the immigration system in a humane, pragmatic and effective way.” India true friend, Donald Trump AMandeep

Tamil-Americans protest against ban on Jallikattu January 24, 2017 11:30

Hundreds of Tamil-Americans had held a rally at the Gandhi statue in Washington D.C in the support of their cultural festival, demanding to lift the ban on the bull taming sport. Where as in Norfolk, Virginia outside the headquarters of PETA dozens of people held protest. In the rally a large number of children and women holding posters raised their slogans in support of Jallikattu and vented out their anger again the animal rights group “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which is leading the support to ban the popular culture by stating it is a torture to the animal. Babu Vinayagam one of the anti-PETA protestors at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue outside the Indian Embassy in Washington said, that they love their animals and knows how to treat them. He also said the rally was to show their solidarity with their people how are back home fighting against ban on Jalikattu. Most of the slogans were written in Tamil, but at times the crowd shouted “Down, Down PETA,” venting their anger towards the animal rights group. The crowd also shouted “We want Jallikatu.” Vinod Kumar, an IT professional from Tamil Nadu, said, adding, expatriate Tamilians want a permanent solution and an ordinance route to lift the ban on Jallikattu. He also said that they want a legislative measure, so that this old tradition could be continued forever. The rally was one of the largest protest and demonstration in front of the Indian Embassy in recent years. Nalini Britto spoke on behalf of the Greater Washington Tamil Diaspora, which had organized the anti-PETA, pro-Jallikattu rally in Washington, she said that they may be away from home, but their home is always with them, she said they are Tamil people and are proud of their heritage; it was their pride which was being taken away from them. Jallikettu Tamilians pride activists envy Meanwhile a local news channel in Virginia reported a protest outside the PETA headquarters in Norfolk. The news channel reported that dozens of people travelled to Hampton Roads from all across the world to protest outside the PETA headquarters. Protesters stood outside of the headquarters in Norfolk and told to local news that they were protesting the organizations influence on the court decisions. Karthik Rangarajan one of the protest organizers said "What PETA has done is that there is a prevention of cruelty act in India, which was backdoor amended, through the lobbying that PETA did." In a recently released statement, PETA alleged that these protesters are anxious to overturn the court decision and they want to preserve a culture as heinous “as fox hunting was in the UK” and “Bull fighting is in Spain” Trump Administration pace to restrict H-1B Visa AMandeep