LONDON: An American Shakespeare scholar was put in an immigration cell facing deportation from Britain, despite having an open ticket to return to the United States. Paul Hamilton has been in detention for 10 days after being arrested at his home in Stratford-upon-Avon as an illegal immigrant. The Home Office officials have given him a five-day deadline to leave Britain voluntarily, even when he remains locked up. Upset over the treatment, he said, “Emotionally and psychologically I'm devastated. Six months ago I was receiving my doctorate at the great hall at Birmingham University, now I'm in the 'big house'.” Dr Hamilton’s student visa expired in July this year and he immediately applied for further permission to stay in Britain and continue his research.
Sweden to deport up to 80,000 asylum-seekers
STOCKHOLM: Sweden will in all probability deport half of last years' record 163,000 asylum seekers, either voluntarily or forcibly, after bearing the brunt of the migrant crisis. Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said that around 60,000 to 80,000 are likely to have to leave, which is about 45 per cent of the total number of applicants. With a population of around 10 million, the country saw increased strain on immigration and police authorities last year. “We have a big challenge ahead of us. We will need to use more resources for this and we must have better cooperation between authorities,” Ygeman said. Officials now fear that many of the people whose applications for asylum are rejected, will go into hiding.
Pak shuts 230 institutes due to inadequate security
ISLAMABAD: Over 230 educational institutes, most of them government-run, have been shut down due to Taliban threats. Authorities have asked them to step up security or face action. The institutions, in Punjab's Rawalpindi province have been asked by authorities to boost their security. Around 53 organisations in the region, including the Rawalpindi Medical College are served final notices asking to improve security, or the head of the institution would be booked. Fifteen educational institutions in Jhelum, including 10 government and 5 private schools were sealed. Police carried out a survey of security at educational institutions and found 205 schools and colleges, including 127 government and 78 private institutions, lacked adequate security measures.
3 Indian-Americans sentenced for student visa fraud
NEW YORK: Three Indian-Americans involved in a $ 7 million student visa fraud scheme have been sentenced to terms ranging from six months of home confinement to an year in jail, by a US court. Manhattan court has sentenced Suresh Hiranandaney, Lalit Chabaria and Anita Chabria in the over $ 7.4 million fraud. The three were also found guilty of participating in a student financial-aid fraud scheme in which they defrauded the Department of Education of $1 million in grant funds. The three are also ordered to forfeit $7,440,000 to the US from the proceeds of their student visa fraud and pay $1 million in restitution to Department of Education for losses from their student financial aid fraud.
3 Indian-origin persons get Australia’s top civilian award
MELBOURNE: Three people of Indian-origin have been awarded Australia's highest civilian honour for their contribution in the fields of physics, engineering and medicine. Chennupati Jagadish, a professor at Australian National University in Canberra, Jay Chandra, an eye doctor in New South Wales and Sajeev Koshy, a dentist in Meblbourne have received the Order of Australia medal for the year 2016, announced on the Australia Day. “This is a wonderful recognition for 25 plus years of work with my research group at the ANU,” said Jagdish. This year’s Australia Day honours list included over 600 people whose remarkable achievements range from high-profile humanitarian missions to humble work at the grassroots level of society’s most needy. Governor-General Peter Cosgrove said, “They are a source of courage, support and inspiration, and we are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them.”
Indian wins Amnesty award
LONDON: The Amnesty International Human Rights Award, 2016, has gone to Indian activist Henri Tighagne. A lawyer and human rights defender, Tiphagne will be awarded the 8th Human Rights Award by Amnesty International Germany, and will be presented on April 25 at the Maxim Gorki Theatre in Berlin. In a statement, Amnesty said, “For many decades now, Tiphagne has been tirelessly and bravely standing up for human rights. His organisation's invaluable work includes campaigning against discrimination and the use of torture in India.” Henri is the founder of People's Watch, a human rights group in India which has been researching and documenting human rights violations for over 20 years.
