Aziz Haniffa

Stories by Aziz Haniffa

India's rivers, agriculture under threat: Al Gore

India's rivers, agriculture under threat: Al Gore

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2009

Al Gore warns that black carbon from India's use of biomass fuels that contribute to global warming can adversely impact India's great rivers, the life-blood of the country's agriculture.

'Without Gandhi, there would be no Obama'

'Without Gandhi, there would be no Obama'

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2009

'The teachings of Gandhi, the philosophy of passive resistance and nonviolence, and also taught by Martin Luther King Jr, inspired hundreds and thousands and millions of citizens in America, and helped to free and liberate not just a people, but a nation,' says US Congressman John Lewis, a close friend of Dr King.

Swati Dandekar is elected NWFL president

Swati Dandekar is elected NWFL president

Rediff.com   7 Oct 2009

In yet another trailblazing first, Iowa State Senator Swati Dandekar has been elected to serve in leadership for the nation's oldest organization addressing the needs of elected women at all levels of government. Dandekar, a Democrat, is the new president-elect of the National Order of Women Legislatorsthe membership arm of the National Foundation for Women Legislatorsand she will be formally installed at NFWL's next annual meeting.

'India can emerge as supplier of green technology'

'India can emerge as supplier of green technology'

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2009

Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has predicted that the issue of climate change is likely to figure on the agenda when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Washington, DC on November 24, on a State Visit. "The whole area of green technologies is an area in which Indian business, instead of being passive recipients of technology from the world, can in fact emerge as active suppliers of technology to the rest of the world," he said.

Ruchira Gupta gets Global Citizen Award

Ruchira Gupta gets Global Citizen Award

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2009

In a glittering ceremony, former president Bill Clinton Thursday evening presented six individuals, including New Delhi-based Ruchira Gupta -- journalist, activist and policymaker, who for the past 25 years has worked relentlessly for women's and girl's rights, especially the ending of their sex trafficking -- with the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Awards.

Indian among 6 honoured with global citizen award

Indian among 6 honoured with global citizen award

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

Ruchira Gupta, journalist, activist and policymaker, has for the past 25 years worked relentlessly for women's and girl's rights -- especially the ending of their sex trafficking

US Senate passes massive Pakistan aid bill

US Senate passes massive Pakistan aid bill

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

Shrugging aside the recent reports of Pakistan illegally modifying the United States-supplied harpoon missiles to target India and former President Pervez Musharraf's revelations that he diverted the massive American military aid provided to Pakistan to fight the war on terror to the eastern border to bolster his country's defenses for a potential convention conflict with India, the US Senate passed a massive $7.5 billion economic and military largesse to Pakistan.

Siddiqui is Obama's chief agricultural negotiator

Siddiqui is Obama's chief agricultural negotiator

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2009

Dr Siddiqui is currently the vice president, Science and Regulatory Affairs at the Washington, DC-based CropLife America, where he is responsible for regulatory and international trade issues related to crop protection chemicals.

'Pakistan army is in no mood to dismantle Lashkar'

'Pakistan army is in no mood to dismantle Lashkar'

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2009

"If 5,000 of these folk (some have estimated the strength of the LeT upwards of 150,000) decide to come out tomorrow in defense, there would be no police -- nowhere in sight. They could take over the city."

'Another 26/11? There's nothing India can do!'

'Another 26/11? There's nothing India can do!'

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2009

He asserted, "If America wants Pakistan to cooperate and find solutions within Pakistan on terrorism, on domestic violence, on the economy, then we need peace on our borders. We can't have peace on our borders if the first thought that comes to India is, if there is another Mumbai."

India, US diplomats meet; terror, ties on agenda

India, US diplomats meet; terror, ties on agenda

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2009

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao met her US counterpart William Burns and discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including counter-terrorism and the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to America in November.

Pandith sworn in Obama's envoy to Muslim community

Pandith sworn in Obama's envoy to Muslim community

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2009

The senior administration officials present at the swearing in included US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick F Kennedy, Director of the State Department's Policy Planning Council, Dr Anne-Marie Slaughter, and Pradeep Ramamurthy, Senior Director for Global Engagement at the National Security Council.

Unable to alter Pak aid terms: US lawmaker

Unable to alter Pak aid terms: US lawmaker

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2009

Though the Indian caucus in the Obama administration is concerned over the recent reports concerning Pakistan's funds being used against India, it may be unable to bring any changes in the Kerry-Lugar bill that has assured Pakistan of USD 1.5 billion on an annual basis for five years.

Shankar rules out total carbon emission-cut by Ind

Shankar rules out total carbon emission-cut by Ind

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2009

Amidst growing concern that India and the United States are on a collision course over reduction of carbon emissions in the run-up to the climate change conference in Copenhagen later this year, India's Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar said that for a country like India with a severe energy shortage, absolute reductions of emissions is extremely challenging and well nigh impossible.

'US, not India, should respond to Musharraf'

'US, not India, should respond to Musharraf'

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2009

Indian Ambassador to the United States Meera Shankar has said it is not India but the US that has to respond to the recent revelations by former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf that American military aid provided to Pakistan for its war against terror during his tenure, had been diverted to strengthen its defenses against India.

In US, Chidambaram draws a blank on Pakistan

In US, Chidambaram draws a blank on Pakistan

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2009

There is no denying that Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram's three-day trip to the United States will advance the further institutionalisation of India-US counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing cooperation.

In NYC, Chidambaram learns to avoid another 26/11

In NYC, Chidambaram learns to avoid another 26/11

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2009

Chidambaram, who spent the first day of his four-day visit to the US in New York, being briefed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Police Department's intelligence and security units, said at a press briefing at the Indian embassy that New York was a priority 'in my list because I was keen to know how the NYPD worked in securing a mega city'.

Gujarat's affidavit ploy pathetic: Chidambaram

Gujarat's affidavit ploy pathetic: Chidambaram

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2009

For Home Minister Chidambaram, it was an opportunity to set the record straight and disabuse any misperception that the Home Ministry affidavit on Ishrat Jahan and three others could be used by the Gujarat government to vindicate itself from culpability in the alleged fake encounter case.

Congressman Joe Wilson calls Obama a liar

Congressman Joe Wilson calls Obama a liar

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2009

Congressman Joe Wilson, a conservative Republican from South Carolina, the erstwhile GOP co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, angrily shouted "You lie," stunning his fellow lawmakers, including his own Republican colleagues, and interrupting President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on his proposed health care reform.

Slow progress in resettling Lankan Tamils: US

Slow progress in resettling Lankan Tamils: US

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2009

The US government has expressed its dissatisfaction over the progress made by Sri Lanka in rehabilitating the war-hit Tamils living in detainee camps and in reconciliating with political parties of Tamils and Muslims in the country.