Anna campaign gets US prominence, excites Indian Americans

Washington: Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption has caught the imagination of Indian Americans and the US media alike though official Washington was apparently caught on the wrong foot initially.

To be fair, the State Department spokesperson in response to a question merely stated Washington’s position in support of people’s right of peaceful protest around the world and that it could count on a vibrant democratic India to exercise appropriate restraint.

When…

Delhi’s homeless prefer sheltering sky to night shelters

New Delhi: It’s the monsoon when intermittent rains are the order of the day – or night – and roads are often waterlogged and damp. Yet, the capital’s many homeless and even beggars say they can be choosers and opt to stay away from the government’s night shelters because they are in a state of complete disrepair.

Delhi has about 60 night shelters, of which about 17 are permanent structures…

Muslim woman may be asked to uncover face for identification

Burqa clad Muslim women in the Australian state of New South Wales would have to remove their veils and show their faces if asked by the police or risk a jail term. The new step is being introduced in the country’s most populous state next week under which the police would be given sweeping powers to demand removal of any face covering, including helmets, masks and religious veils, for making…

Australia law proposal: Muslims must remove veils

Sydney: Muslim women would have to remove their veils and show their faces to police on request or risk going to prison under proposed new laws in Australia’s most populous state to be introduced to parliament. The New South Wales state government said today that under the law, police would be able to require anyone to remove a face covering for identification purposes including a burqa, niqab, helmet or mask. Penalties…

Mumbai dabbawalas join Anna, office-goers go without tiffin

Striking work for the first time in their 120-year-old history, Mumbai’s famed dabbawalas stepped forth to support Anna Hazare in his fight for a stronger Lokpal bill.

Nearly two lakh Mumbaikars depend on the dabbawalas for lunch. But Friday was a day for them either to eat at their office canteen, or…

We will not move till Lokpal bill is passed

Civil society activist Anna Hazare said Friday that he would not leave the Ramlila ground till the demand for a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal bill was met.

“We will not leave this place till the (stronger) Lokpal bill is passed,” Hazare told crowds soon after reaching Ramlila ground in central Delhi where he will continue his fast.

Calling upon the youth…

US to let illegal students stay and work

Washington: In a move to reform the US immigration system, Washington will stop deporting many students and other illegal immigrants who are not a public safety threat and permit them to work legally.

A new federal group will review the 300,000 backlogged deportation cases with an eye toward prosecuting criminals and other high-priority cases under the new immigration policy announced by the Obama administration.

However, the cases of many upstanding high…

Top 20 Indian outsourcing firms grew 13 percent in 2010-11

New Delhi: Top  20 outsourcing companies in India grew by 13 percent in 2010-11 and posted revenues worth Rs.32,246 crore, said a report by Dataquest magazine.

“The Top BPO companies posted revenues of Rs.32,246 crore in 2010-11 maintaining a growth rate of 13 percent — same as previous year,” the Dataquest BPO industry survey said.

According to the report, the industry is going through a transformational phase, as it leverages new…

No role in Indian protests, says US

Washington: Faced with repeated questions about Washington’s stand on protests in India in support of social activist Anna Hazare, the United States has made clear that it considers it India’s internal affair.

“The ongoing situation in India is an internal matter for Indians. The US does not play a role in this,” State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters when asked if the US concerned about mounting protests in India.

But…

Couple calls ambulance to save cat

London: A couple in Britain called for emergency medical help to save their “five-year-old” and did not reveal to paramedics that it was actually a cat, a media report said.

Fearing the worst, the paramedics rushed to the house where a five-year-old had gone into cardiac arrest, until they discovered the youngster was actually a cat.

A fast-response car and an ambulance were scrambled at 6.45 a.m. after a desperate couple…