Indian-origin scientist honors young scientist award in US! October 13, 2016 10:42
An Indian scientist with the Department of Packaging has been awarded the prestigious International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) Young scientist scholarship award in the United States. Kirtiraj Kundlik Gaikwad has been awarded for his research work on "development of novel oxygen absorbing package in the field of active packaging for oxygen sensitive food products". This award worth $2000 and award plaque was presented in the annual meeting of IAFP held in St Louise, USA by the IAFP Foundation, USA. Its purpose was to encourage young outstanding food safety scientist from all over the world. Kirtiraj developed novel oxygen scavenging package from the natural source. The feature of this package is it can extend the shelf life of food also it is suitable for microwave, liquid food packaging like juices, and metal detector friendly at processing line. The International Association for Food Protection recognizes young researchers from around the world that are the future leaders in the field of food safety. The IAFP Foundation has been dedicated to enhancing the career potential of exceptional researchers through the annual IAFP Scholarship Program, which provides full funding for attendance at the Association's renowned annual meeting. Kirtiraj received his BTech (Food Science) from Dr PD Agriculture University, India in 2009, MTech (Food safety & standards) from Allahabad Agriculture University, India in 2011 and MS (Packaging) from Michigan State University, USA in 2013. He has authored and co-authored 15 research papers in reputed international journals. Also Read: Indian-origin lawyer appointed Shadow Attorney General in UK! Nandini
Read More
Indian-origin lawyer appointed Shadow Attorney General in UK! October 08, 2016 10:52
The UK's Opposition Labour party appointed a 47-year-old Indian-origin human rights lawyer, Shami Chakrabarti, as the Shadow Attorney General. She will hold the government's chief legal advisor to account for their actions. She recently became a Labour member of the House of Lords and also chaired the party's anti-Semitism inquiry. She was confirmed in the new role in a reshuffle of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's top team. The Attorney General is the UK government's chief legal advisor and is drawn from the legislature; their shadow holds them to account and develops alternative policies. The Baroness said that, "It is an enormous privilege to take up the post of Shadow Attorney General in Jeremy Corbyn's new team. I hope to follow in a great tradition of law officers on both sides of the aisle who have defended rights, freedoms and the Rule of Law." Corbyn, re-elected as Labour party leader after overcoming an attempted coup by some members of his party, also promoted long-time ally Dianne Abbot to the post of shadow home secretary. "I am delighted to confirm the appointments of extremely talented women to our shadow cabinet. These appointments mean, for the first time ever, two out of the three traditional 'great offices of state' will be shadowed by women," Corbyn said. "We are disappointed, but sadly unsurprised, that once again Shami Chakrabarti and Jeremy Corbyn have spectacularly undermined her so-called 'independent' report. We hoped her report would be a potent weapon in the fight against anti-semitism. It now looks increasingly like the whitewash was a job application. She has sold out the Jewish community," the board's vice-president, Marie van der Zyl, said. Also Read: Indian-origin teen wins Google Science Fair prize! Nandini
Read More
Sikh-American techie brutally assaulted in alleged hate crime in US! October 08, 2016 10:46
In a recent hate crime incident, a 41-year old Sikh-American IT specialist was brutally attacked by some men, who knocked off his turban and allegedly cut his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife. A father and IT specialist in California, Maan Singh Khalsa, was driving home on the night of September 25 when a group of men in car threw a beer can at his vehicle. According to a statement by The Sikh Coalition, "Khalsa drove away from the scene but the men followed him and assaulted him through his open car window, knocking off his Sikh turban and hitting his face repeatedly." It is nation's largest Sikh civil rights organization. Khalsa said there were "five to six white males in their late 20s to early 30s" who abused him and three of them then attacked him physically. The complaint alleged, Shouting that Khalsa's hair should be cut off, the men pulled his head out of the window, and cut a fistful of his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife. Khalsa sustained injuries to his fingers, hands, eye and teeth. The Sikh Coalition has written to the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on behalf of Khalsa, urging authorities to conduct a hate crime investigation and prosecution in the case. Khalsa said in a press statement released by the Sikh Coalition, "The attackers caused physical injuries and deep harm when they targeted my Sikh faith." "I urge a thorough investigation so we can address the tide of violence and bigotry in this country." Sikh Coalition Legal Director, Harsimran Kaur urged authorities to fully investigate "this hateful attack" on Khalsa and his Sikh identity. "The purpose of a hate crime investigation and prosecution is to ensure that our government and communities accurately account for the problem of bias in our society," Kaur said. "We need to acknowledge hatred so that we commit the resources necessary to stem bias-based violence," Kaur added. Also Read: White House refuses to back petition on Khalistan! Nandini
Read More
White House refuses to back petition on Khalistan! October 07, 2016 15:27
A petition seeking support for Khalistan has been refused to be endorsed by the White House. The United States president Barack Obama invoked comments during his last year's trip to New Delhi that India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along religious lines. The White House said responding to a separatist Sikh petition which had garnered more than 100,000 signatures, that, "While we appreciate your participation on this platform, we cannot comment here on the specific policy issue raised in your petition." The petition was created by an individual on July 10, identified with the initials of GP, within the stipulated 60 days, the White House said the US President Obama has made it a priority to promote and protect religious freedom for all people, both at home and abroad. "The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts. And it finds its glorious expression when we look beyond any differences in religion or tribe, and rejoice in the beauty of every soul. And nowhere is that more important than India," Obama had said. "Nowhere is it going to be more necessary for that foundational value to be upheld. India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith so long as it's not splintered along any lines and is unified as one nation," Obama said in his address in January, 2015.” The White House said the US has monitored and publicly reported on human rights issues, including the atrocities committed against members of the Sikh community during the 1984 violence in India. "For example, the State Department's Official Country Reports on Human Rights Practices covered the violence and its aftermath in considerable detail.” "We will continue to report on important human rights concerns, and State Department reports are available to the public," it said. Also Read: Indian-origin shopkeeper destroys 9/11-themed dress in UK! Nandini
Read More
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
Read More
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…
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
