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South African gunman guilty of NRI Anni Dewani murder
Report dated 20/11/2012 @ 10:47 PM

A High Court judge has found Xolile Mngeni, 25, a suspected small-time drug dealer, guilty of killing newly-wed Anni Dewani while she was on honeymoon in Capetown two years ago. Annie had been married for just two weeks when she was shot in what prosecutors say was a faked hijacking. Mngeni and two accessories plotted to carry out the premeditated murder for 15,000 Rand. Dewani's UK NRI husband Shrien Dewani is accused of orchestrating the hit, but has protested his innocence and is fighting extradition to South Africa. He is being treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder at a mental hospital in Bristol, England, ahead of a court decision on his extradition. In his judgement the Judge did not rule on Shrien's culpability, saying no direct evidence had been presented about his involvement at the proceedings, but focused on Mngeni's role in Dewani's death in the back seat of a car after her husband had been let go. Mngeni's accessories, already jailed over the killing said Shrien Dewani was their paymaster. Mngeni has been convicted for robbery with aggravating circumstances and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. His sentencing is to begin shortly.
Kerala MPs to protest the 'neglect' of NRIs by Air India
Report dated 19/11/2012 @ 10:03 PM

A meeting of Kerala MPs in Thiruvananthapuram decided to raise in Parliament their disappointment in the 'neglect' by Air India particularly its failure to properly serve NRI travellers. The MPs also showed concern over the failure of public sector banks in providing education loans saying they were ignoring the guidelines of the Centre and the RBI in this regard. A number of other issues are to be put forward to Parliament that include the Kochi metro rail project, and Indian Oil Corporation's reluctance to provide compensation to those killed and injured in the LPG leak near Kannur a few months ago.
NRIs want President Obama to cut wait for Green Cards
Report dated 19/11/2012 @ 10:02 PM

Given President Obama's focus on immigration reforms, Sanjay Puri chairman of the US India Political Action Committee believes the debates will mean that H-1B and skill based visas, the main concern of Indian immigrants, will also be part of the discussion, along with the need to retain Indian students with degrees in sciences from US universities and giving them green cards. One professor of public policy at Rochester Institute of Technology believes an immigration deal could be a double-edged sword and that there may be some increase in H-1B quotas but that is likely to be coupled with more stringent rules. Over the past year the refusal rates for work permit visas have gone up sharply, which hit Indian IT companies hard.
NRI's energy drink linked to 13 deaths in US
Report dated 18/11/2012 @ 10:01 PM

Manoj Bhargava's famous '5-Hour Energy' drink is now under the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) scanner after reports of 13 deaths possibly linked to the energy shots. The energy drink has been mentioned in some 90 complaints filed with the FDA, including over 30 that involved serious or life-threatening injuries like heart attacks, convulsions and one spontaneous abortion. The FDA also said complaints by consumers and doctors do not necessarily mean the drink is responsible but the agency will investigate and evaluate all possible causes before deciding whether the product actually caused medical problems. Lucknow born CEO Bhargava, 59, dismissed the allegations against his firm saying the caffeine in his energy shot cannot be linked to serious health problems as certain popular coffee brands nave a higher caffeine content than his drink has. Bhargava has been ranked among the 400 richest people in America by Forbes magazine.
Another US Sikh gurdwara target of hate crime
Report dated 18/11/2012 @ 9:57 PM

Just three months after the attack on a Wisconsin gurdwara that left six dead, a gurdwara at Norcross in Georgia was targeted when a white male reportedly entered the parking lot and scratched cars with a sharp object and threw rocks at young children when they tried to stop him. Staff Attorney, International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy, United Sikhs, Manmeet Singh, said a complaint has been filed with the county police. The estimated damage to the cars was around $10,000. The Sikh community has demanded justice and that law enforcement acknowledge this as a hate crime against Sikhs possibly due to their identity. The community has been advised to be vigilant and gurdwara managements have been encouraged to ensure that functional security cameras are installed on their premises.

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