Over 100 Indian nationals, mainly students, are trapped in two cities in Kyrgyzstan, which has been hit by ethnic violence for the last five days.
The external affairs ministry said here Monday that at least 116 Indian nationals are stranded in southern Kyrgyzstan, including 15 students in the city of Jalalabad and 99 students, a professor and a businessman in the city of Osh.
One ICCR professor and 77 Indian students were evacuated late Monday night to Bishkek and Indian efforts are on to evacuate the others.
An MEA statement said the Indian embassy in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, is in close and regular touch with several Indian in the affected region as well as with Kyrgyz government departments and security agencies.
At least 117 people have been killed and over 1,485 wounded in spiralling ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan since June 10.
Indian diplomatic sources in Bishkek said the embassy is trying to organise a special aircraft to fly the stranded Indians out from Osh.
“As soon the situation permits, the Indians will be flown,” sources quoted by PTI said.
Showing posts with label Indians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indians. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ambani, Mittal in world's richest list
Indians Mukesh Ambani and Lakshmi Mittal figured among world's top ten billionaires as Mexican tycoon Carlo Slim Helu beat Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the wealthiest person on earth.
Besides fourth ranked Reliance Industries chairman Ambani and fifth placed steel czar Mittal, four other Indians were among top 50 in 2010 Forbes list of the World's Billionaires released on Wednesday with as many 49 Indians joining company with the planet's 1,011 richest people.
With his fortune swelling to an estimated $53.5 billion, up $18.5 billion in 12 months, Slim surged ahead of Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, who had held the title of world's richest for 14 of the past 15 years, the US business magazine noted.
Gates, now worth $53 billion, is ranked second in the world. He is up $13 billion from a year ago as shares of Microsoft rose 50 percent in 12 months. Buffett's fortune jumped $10 billion to $47 billion on rising shares of Berkshire Hathaway. He ranks third.
Eleven countries have at least double the number of billionaires they had a year ago, including China, India, Turkey and South Korea.
Fourth placed Mukesh Ambani with a fortune of $29 billion has global ambitions, Forbes said. So has his younger brother Anil Ambani ranked 36 with a $13.7 billion fortune.
Fifth ranked Lakshmi Mittal with a fortune of $28.7 billion is "looking to expand in his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government approval," Forbes noted describing him as "London's richest resident" who oversees ArcelorMittal, world's largest steel maker
Azim Premji with a fortune of $17.0 billion was ranked 28. "Software czar chairs $5.5 billion (revenues) Wipro, country's third-largest software exporter. Reported jump in net profits in last 2 quarters, signaling a rebound for US-dependent outsourcing giant."
Shashi & Ravi Ruia brothers took the 40th spot with a fortune of $13.0 billion. Their "$15 billion (revenues) Essar Group has weathered downturn and embarked on an expansion drive in all its businesses, including steel, oil and power."
Last among the Indians in top 50 was Savitri Jindal, ranked 44th, with a fortune of $12.2 billion. She took over as head of O.P. Jindal Group after her husband died in a helicopter crash in 2005.
Among other Indians on the billionaires list were Kushal Pal Singh (74), Kumar Birla (86), Sunil Mittal (87), Anil Agarwal (113), Adi Godrej & family (148), Shiv Nadar (201), N.R. Narayana Murthy & family (616), Rahul Bajaj (880) and Vijay Mallya (937).
Besides fourth ranked Reliance Industries chairman Ambani and fifth placed steel czar Mittal, four other Indians were among top 50 in 2010 Forbes list of the World's Billionaires released on Wednesday with as many 49 Indians joining company with the planet's 1,011 richest people.
With his fortune swelling to an estimated $53.5 billion, up $18.5 billion in 12 months, Slim surged ahead of Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, who had held the title of world's richest for 14 of the past 15 years, the US business magazine noted.
Gates, now worth $53 billion, is ranked second in the world. He is up $13 billion from a year ago as shares of Microsoft rose 50 percent in 12 months. Buffett's fortune jumped $10 billion to $47 billion on rising shares of Berkshire Hathaway. He ranks third.
Eleven countries have at least double the number of billionaires they had a year ago, including China, India, Turkey and South Korea.
Fourth placed Mukesh Ambani with a fortune of $29 billion has global ambitions, Forbes said. So has his younger brother Anil Ambani ranked 36 with a $13.7 billion fortune.
Fifth ranked Lakshmi Mittal with a fortune of $28.7 billion is "looking to expand in his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government approval," Forbes noted describing him as "London's richest resident" who oversees ArcelorMittal, world's largest steel maker
Azim Premji with a fortune of $17.0 billion was ranked 28. "Software czar chairs $5.5 billion (revenues) Wipro, country's third-largest software exporter. Reported jump in net profits in last 2 quarters, signaling a rebound for US-dependent outsourcing giant."
Shashi & Ravi Ruia brothers took the 40th spot with a fortune of $13.0 billion. Their "$15 billion (revenues) Essar Group has weathered downturn and embarked on an expansion drive in all its businesses, including steel, oil and power."
Last among the Indians in top 50 was Savitri Jindal, ranked 44th, with a fortune of $12.2 billion. She took over as head of O.P. Jindal Group after her husband died in a helicopter crash in 2005.
Among other Indians on the billionaires list were Kushal Pal Singh (74), Kumar Birla (86), Sunil Mittal (87), Anil Agarwal (113), Adi Godrej & family (148), Shiv Nadar (201), N.R. Narayana Murthy & family (616), Rahul Bajaj (880) and Vijay Mallya (937).
Friday, February 12, 2010
Zuma acknowledges role of Indians in consolidating democracy
South African President Jacob Zuma, has acknowledged the key role the Indian community has played in the country’s progress and in consolidating its democracy.
In his State of the Nation address at the opening of Parliament in Cape Town yesterday, Mr. Zuma also praised anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, on the 20th anniversary of his historic release from jail.
Addressing the nation live on television and radio, he also applauded the role of the Indian community in South Africa.
“In November this year, we will mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa,” Mr. Zuma said.
“It provides an opportunity to recognise the important contribution of the Indian community in the fields of labour, business, science, sport, religion, arts and culture in the achievement and consolidation of our democracy,” he said.
Mr. Zuma also addressed issues that have stymied the government’s progress on promises to improve education, health, crime and housing.
He extended condolences to the people of quake-stricken Haiti and praised South African-Indian doctor Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of ‘Gift of the Givers’ which was the first rescue team to reach the Caribbean nation.
“I would like to especially recognise (Sooliman) one South African who never fails to assist in times of disaster and helps us to promote a vision of a caring society,” Mr. Zuma said.
In his State of the Nation address at the opening of Parliament in Cape Town yesterday, Mr. Zuma also praised anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, on the 20th anniversary of his historic release from jail.
Addressing the nation live on television and radio, he also applauded the role of the Indian community in South Africa.
“In November this year, we will mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa,” Mr. Zuma said.
“It provides an opportunity to recognise the important contribution of the Indian community in the fields of labour, business, science, sport, religion, arts and culture in the achievement and consolidation of our democracy,” he said.
Mr. Zuma also addressed issues that have stymied the government’s progress on promises to improve education, health, crime and housing.
He extended condolences to the people of quake-stricken Haiti and praised South African-Indian doctor Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of ‘Gift of the Givers’ which was the first rescue team to reach the Caribbean nation.
“I would like to especially recognise (Sooliman) one South African who never fails to assist in times of disaster and helps us to promote a vision of a caring society,” Mr. Zuma said.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Brand Australia suffering from attacks on Indian students: Minister
Brand Australia has suffered following attacks on Indian students in the past nine months and this will cause long-term damage if not attended to, says a visiting Australian minister.
“The attacks (on Indian students) have hurt us in terms of perception about Australia and that’s why our law enforcement agencies have been so committed to pursuing arrests and prosecution and have been successful in some instances for long-term imprisonment. There have been 67 prosecutions in recent times,” Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson told IANS in an interview here.
Mr. Ferguson said that the Australian government was not taking these attacks lightly and will do everything possible to curb the criminal acts.
“Of course if you don’t attend to these difficulties then they will do us long-term damage. Historically one of the attractions of Australia is that it’s a safe welcoming society...it’s very much such a society,” said the minister who has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Batman, a constituency in Melbourne, which has been the epicentre of recent attacks.
“My constituency is close to central Melbourne and there are people from 150 different countries. It a harmonious local community and there are very few places in the world where you get people from so many different countries living together and working together,” said the 57-year-old Australian Labour Party member.
“My constituency is a prime example of society in Australia. But I also have a significant number of young university students living in my electorate, in universities of Melbourne and Trobe who are very much devoting their energy and applying their minds to educational opportunities,” he said.
The spate of attacks on Indians in Australia has caused an outcry in India. One of the vicious attacks proved fatal.
The minister said steps needed to be taken to ensure quality education to Indian students at affordable cost.
“I think it is fair to say that in terms of vocational education and some English language courses, we have to attend to some issues to make sure that young Indian students get a quality education opportunity and are capable of paying for it without spending too much time working rather than applying their minds to educational requirements,” he said.
According to the minister, one of the major causes of attacks on Indian students is that they live in crime-prone suburbs and work in late shifts to survive in the country.
“There has been a 27 percent increase in the number of students in 2008-09 from the previous year. There has been tension in Victoria (the province of which Melbourne is the capital). More than 50 percent Indian students actually go there. The real problem we had is with respect to some of the students living in some of the suburbs which historically had high instances of criminality,” Mr. Ferguson said.
“They work in service stations, fast food outlets, take shift jobs at all hours of night, which is when criminality occurs. In some ways their lifestyle has put them in the frontline of attacks. We tried some laws in Victoria, we have put more police and we have got them to do random checks on people,” he added.
“The attacks (on Indian students) have hurt us in terms of perception about Australia and that’s why our law enforcement agencies have been so committed to pursuing arrests and prosecution and have been successful in some instances for long-term imprisonment. There have been 67 prosecutions in recent times,” Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson told IANS in an interview here.
Mr. Ferguson said that the Australian government was not taking these attacks lightly and will do everything possible to curb the criminal acts.
“Of course if you don’t attend to these difficulties then they will do us long-term damage. Historically one of the attractions of Australia is that it’s a safe welcoming society...it’s very much such a society,” said the minister who has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Batman, a constituency in Melbourne, which has been the epicentre of recent attacks.
“My constituency is close to central Melbourne and there are people from 150 different countries. It a harmonious local community and there are very few places in the world where you get people from so many different countries living together and working together,” said the 57-year-old Australian Labour Party member.
“My constituency is a prime example of society in Australia. But I also have a significant number of young university students living in my electorate, in universities of Melbourne and Trobe who are very much devoting their energy and applying their minds to educational opportunities,” he said.
The spate of attacks on Indians in Australia has caused an outcry in India. One of the vicious attacks proved fatal.
The minister said steps needed to be taken to ensure quality education to Indian students at affordable cost.
“I think it is fair to say that in terms of vocational education and some English language courses, we have to attend to some issues to make sure that young Indian students get a quality education opportunity and are capable of paying for it without spending too much time working rather than applying their minds to educational requirements,” he said.
According to the minister, one of the major causes of attacks on Indian students is that they live in crime-prone suburbs and work in late shifts to survive in the country.
“There has been a 27 percent increase in the number of students in 2008-09 from the previous year. There has been tension in Victoria (the province of which Melbourne is the capital). More than 50 percent Indian students actually go there. The real problem we had is with respect to some of the students living in some of the suburbs which historically had high instances of criminality,” Mr. Ferguson said.
“They work in service stations, fast food outlets, take shift jobs at all hours of night, which is when criminality occurs. In some ways their lifestyle has put them in the frontline of attacks. We tried some laws in Victoria, we have put more police and we have got them to do random checks on people,” he added.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Brett Lee condemns attacks on Indians in Australia
In the wake of continuing attacks on Indian students in Australia, pace bowler Brett Lee has come out strongly in condemning the violent acts and reiterated that his country was a very safe and wonderful place.
“We Australians are a multi-culture society with people from different races. I know there are some issues and I am very sad. I am working very closely with the authorities in Australia in this regard.”
Second home
He did not think the attacks on Indian students were racist in nature. “That is not the case. Whether it is Sydney, Perth or Melbourne, Australia is a place where everyone feels comfortable. We, Australians, welcome Indians with open arms much the same way I am welcomed here. I’ve said it in the past that, in many ways, India is a second home for me,” he said.
Lee dismissed the security concerns expressed by some sections of the media in Australia and said, “We are guided on security everyday by experts. It’s for the authorities to ensure that everything is fine.” He also added that he was not afraid of playing in Mumbai in the background of the threat issued by the Shiv Sena.
In the capital as brand ambassador for the Pearls group of companies, the Australian speedster said, “The way I am treated by the people of this country, it is always a very humbling experience.”
Recovering from an elbow surgery, Lee sounded confident of playing the third edition of IPL. “I feel great and so far my recovery is on schedule,” said the Kings XI Punjab speedster who was required to use a brace for eight weeks following the surgery.
On some of the Australians and Pakistani cricketers being ignored in the recent IPL auction, Lee said, “There will be cricket happening around that time (Australia is scheduled to tour New Zealand till end of March) so some of the Australians would not have been able to make it.
“If IPL is about the best players playing against those from different cultures, it would have been great to have players from Pakistan.”
When asked what he thought about a section of the media questioning India’s worthiness of being the number one Test team, he said, “It is very harsh (not to acknowledge India as the top-ranked team).”
“We Australians are a multi-culture society with people from different races. I know there are some issues and I am very sad. I am working very closely with the authorities in Australia in this regard.”
Second home
He did not think the attacks on Indian students were racist in nature. “That is not the case. Whether it is Sydney, Perth or Melbourne, Australia is a place where everyone feels comfortable. We, Australians, welcome Indians with open arms much the same way I am welcomed here. I’ve said it in the past that, in many ways, India is a second home for me,” he said.
Lee dismissed the security concerns expressed by some sections of the media in Australia and said, “We are guided on security everyday by experts. It’s for the authorities to ensure that everything is fine.” He also added that he was not afraid of playing in Mumbai in the background of the threat issued by the Shiv Sena.
In the capital as brand ambassador for the Pearls group of companies, the Australian speedster said, “The way I am treated by the people of this country, it is always a very humbling experience.”
Recovering from an elbow surgery, Lee sounded confident of playing the third edition of IPL. “I feel great and so far my recovery is on schedule,” said the Kings XI Punjab speedster who was required to use a brace for eight weeks following the surgery.
On some of the Australians and Pakistani cricketers being ignored in the recent IPL auction, Lee said, “There will be cricket happening around that time (Australia is scheduled to tour New Zealand till end of March) so some of the Australians would not have been able to make it.
“If IPL is about the best players playing against those from different cultures, it would have been great to have players from Pakistan.”
When asked what he thought about a section of the media questioning India’s worthiness of being the number one Test team, he said, “It is very harsh (not to acknowledge India as the top-ranked team).”
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Police replicate Nitin Garg's final moments to nab his killers
The Australian police have retraced slain Indian student Nitin Garg’s final moments in a bid to nab his killers who stabbed him to death at West Foorscray, Melbourne, on January 2, while he was on his way to work.
Victorian homicide squad detectives returned to Yarraville to retrace the 21-year-old’s last steps. Garg, a permanent Australian resident, staggered into the outlet with stab wounds before collapsing.
On Saturday, a man wearing similar jacket as Garg retraced his movements walking from the Yarraville Railway Station and cut across CJ Cruickshank Park along a metre-wide dirt path on the eastern side of the park to the Hungry Jack’s restaurant to replicate Garg’s last known movements over a 24-minute period.
"It might just jog the memory of anyone (there) that evening over anything that may be significant,” the Herald Sun quoted Detective Senior Sergeant David Snare, as saying.
Snare described progress in the investigation as steady.
He appealed to anyone in the area of the park on January 2 between 9.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. to contact police.
However, Mr. Snare said it was inappropriate and premature to suggest the attack may have been racially motivated.
He said operational matters were behind the decision to wait three weeks before re-enacting Garg’s final moments.
Garg’s murder follows recent attacks on Indians in Melbourne that have put Australia’s multi-billion-dollar international student sector at risk.
Indian student enrolments have fallen 46 per cent across the country in recent months, while international student enrolments are down by 20 per cent overall.
