Obama names Bombay IIT graduate to key post

President Barack Obama has appointed Romesh Wadhwani, an Indian American founder of several software and IT companies, on board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.

Announcing his intent to appoint Wadhwani and nine other general trustees of the centre, Obama said, “These dedicated men and women bring a wealth of experience and talent to their new roles and I am proud to have them serve in this Administration.”

Indian-American’s anti-Obama film making waves in US

An anti-Obama film by an Indian-American conservative author that has rocked the box office is set to make further inroads across the nation, thanks to the buzz created by Republican National convention.

Mumbai-born Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary “2016: Obama’s America,” that purports to show what the nation will be like should President Obama be re-elected, will expand to about 1,800 theatres Friday, entertainment trade site TheWrap reported citing Rocky Mountain Pictures.

Indian diaspora basks in U-19 win glory

Indians in Australia are ecstatic over India being crowned the world champions in under-19 cricket, a win that reassured them that Indian cricket has “a great future”.

India defeated defending champions Australia by six wickets to win their third Under-19 Cricket World Cup title Sunday. Captain Unmukt Chand scored an unbeaten 111. Chasing Australia’s 225, India got home in 47.4 overs.

The Indian community’s celebrations have added vigour as the Indian boys have given them a reason to smile after drubbing of the Test team in Australia earlier this year.

Indian students stranded as U.K. cancels university

London Metropolitan University’s licence to admit Indian and other non-EU students has been revoked by Britain’s immigration authorities citing “serious and systemic failings” on the part of the varsity, stranding hundreds of students.

With the next academic year starting shortly (September), plans of many Indian students preparing to travel to study at the university were thrown into jeopardy, while current students will need to quickly make alternative plans.

NRI appeals for LPG connection in India

Unable to procure a cooking gas connection for his home in Punjab has forced a British citizen of Indian origin to approach the Punjab Non-Resident Indians (NRI) commission.

The commission has, in turn, issued notice to the union ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

The notice has been issued on a complaint filed by Baldev Singh, who is from Punjab’s Moga district, but is now a British citizen and holds a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card, a spokesman of the commission said here Wednesday.

Burma Task Force USA announces nationwide rallies on September 22

Burma Task Force USA held a press conference in front of the UN. Prominent Muslim leaders from various Muslim organizations including Burmese Muslim groups, human rights activists and inter-faith clergy spoke demanding an end to decades long ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims of Burma also known as Myanmar. They demanded that the 1982 law that deprived the Rohingyas of Burmese citizenship be repealed. They also demanded that the perpetrators of massacres and mass rapes be brought to justice.

Global business meet for Indian diaspora

A global business meet to provide a platform to the Indian diaspora will be held in New York next month by New Global Indian Foundation (NGIF), a representative said here Tuesday.

“For the first time, global Indian leaders will be coming together from sectors as varied as business, spiritual, politics, think-tanks, among others, to discuss global business,” said Kanchan Banerjee, chairman of NGIF and convener of Global Indian Business Meet (GIBM) 2012.

NRI consortium to invest over Rs 2,000 crore in Kerala

A Dubai-based consortium of NRIs from various countries around the world propose to invest over Rs 2,000 crore in Kerala to set up IT/ITES enabled Business Parks and Life Spaces projects.

The investments would primarily be through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Sebastian Joseph, Chairman of the Consortium, told reporters here.

The proposed ‘Emerging Kerala’ initiative of the state government here next month and its investment friendly policies have given the NRIs confidence to start their project in Kochi, he said.

Inter-Faith Press Conference on Burma and New York City Shooting

Burma Task Force-New York is hosting an inter-faith press conference to speak out against and spread awareness about the pogrom currently taking place against Rohingya Muslims in Burma / Myanmar.  The clergy will also address the spate of shootings in the US, the most recent being the New York City shooting.  Muslim Peace Coalition USA, a national alliance of Muslim organizations has welcome Mayor Blomberg’s prompt announcement that the New York shooter was a disgruntled employee and not a religious bigot.

Indian-American neurosurgeon convicted of tax evasion

An Indian-American neurosurgeon has been convicted by a federal jury on tax charges for his alleged failure to disclose $8 million in income held in a bank account in India in 2009.

Arvind Ahuja, 50, of Greendale in Milwaukee County, is scheduled to be sentenced in January by Chief US District Judge Charles Clevert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday. He remains free on bond.

The jury convicted Ahuja of filing a false tax return and of failing to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, while acquitting him on five other counts.

Indian-origin doctor not fit to practice: British tribunal

An Indian-origin pathologist, who conducted the first post-mortem examinations on a man who died in the 2009 G20 protests in London, is not fit to practice, a British tribunal has ruled.

Freddy Patel wrongly said Ian Tomlinson died from heart problems, BBC reported.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said his work was “deficient” and the service will now decide upon sanctions.

Policeman Simon Harwood, who had pushed Tomlinson to the ground but was cleared of manslaughter, now faces police disciplinary proceedings.

Telangana NRIs Cultural Parade in Newyork

Telangana NRI Association (TeNA), a US based non-profit working towards the cultural and developmental issues of Telangana Community held a cultural march as a part of Federation of Indian Associations’ India day parade in New York City to show case the Telangana culture and identity.  

American Muslims launch Burma Task Force USA

. Demand an end to ethnic cleansing and for the perpetrators to be charged with war crimes. Burma Task Force USA has thanked and congratulated the Turkish Foreign minister and Turkish Prime minister’s wife and daughter for traveling to visit the refugee camps of Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar (Burma) and bringing their plight to the world’s attention. The Task Force also welcomed the announcement that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will make the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas as the top item on the agenda of the Islamic summit conference this week.

Court judgement for Hussain Shah Wali Wakf land applauded by MPC USA

Indian-American Muslims Hail the Historic Decision that Could Free Billions of Dollars of Muslim Endowment Properties from the Illegal and Unethical Occupation by the Governmental Agencies, Multinational Corporations. Microsoft Campus in Hyderabad Among Institutions Built on Illegally Occupied Endowment Land. Leaders Hope Microsoft Will Set a Good Example by Paying the Market Price for its Land to the Muslims.

MUSLIM PEACE COALITION-USA fight against Modi Entry

Dr. Shaik Ubaid, the New York State Co-Chair of Muslim Peace Coalition USA and a founding member of the Coalition Against Genocide that was instrumental in getting Modi’s American visa revoked, has denounced the Time magazine’s glorification of Modi as bad journalism and an obscenly insensitive act as it was perpetrated during the 10th anniversary commomoration of Gujarat pogrom. He appealed to all people of conscience to act on the Muslim Peace Coalition USA action alert to put pressure on Time and Brooking Institute.
The action alert is given below:

ACTION ALERT

A decade of Gujarat carnage: NY Candlelit Vigil, Rally a Huge Success

Rally and Candle Light Vigil in New York on the 10th Anniversary of Anti-Muslim Gujarat Pogrom. Jewish Leader Criticizes AJC for Giving Award to Advani. Rallies held in 9 other cities by CAG affiliated organizations

Coalition Against Genocide keeps the heat on Modi, demands his arrest and compensation to the victims; vows to fight Hindutva ideology in the US.

Candlelit Massive Rally in NY to mark the decade of Gujarat Carnage

Members of Coalition Against Genocide, a broad-based coalition formed to obtain justice for the victims of 2002 pogroms in India, welcomed the introduction of a resolution in the United states House of Representatives by Congressman Keith Ellison, marking the 10th anniversary of Gujarat pogroms.