Aziz Haniffa In Houston, Texas

Stories by Aziz Haniffa In Houston, Texas

America Inc all set to torpedo H-1B visa programme

America Inc all set to torpedo H-1B visa programme

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2013

USIBC is pulling together a similar advocacy team like what they did during the US-India civil nuclear initiative.

Nirupama Rao's historic first, addresses oldest US House

Nirupama Rao's historic first, addresses oldest US House

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2013

Indian envoy to the United States Nirupama Rao scripts history by becoming the first ambasador to address a US state legislature. The Maryland house of delegates, which she addressed on Wednesday, was the first to be set up in the US, and predates even the Capitol in Washington, DC. Aziz Haniffa reports

 America Inc worried over India's PMA policy

America Inc worried over India's PMA policy

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2013

There is deep angst and growing concern by America Inc, over India's Preferential Market Access policy and fears that as a quid pro quo, lawmakers in the US Congress may limit or even prohibit the free movement of Indian technical professionals, including quashing efforts to expand the H-1 B visa program.

US disappointed with no headway in US-India nuke deal

US disappointed with no headway in US-India nuke deal

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2013

A frustrated and angry America Inc believes it has been let down by Delhi after all of its lobbying to push through the deal in the US Congress, reports Aziz Haniffa in Washington, DC.

'Preserve family reunification immigration provisions'

'Preserve family reunification immigration provisions'

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2013

Perturbed by inside information that the United States senate's bipartisan 'Gang of Eight' who have introduced comprehensive immigration reform --that is strongly backed by President Obama -- have decided to drop the family reunification provisions of current immigration law, the House Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus have written to each one of the these senators and the senate leadership expressing deep concern over this proposed action.

India more focused about healthcare reforms: USAID chief

India more focused about healthcare reforms: USAID chief

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2013

United States Agency for International Development's Administrator Dr Raj Shah has said the public-private partnerships the USAID has been pushing for in India has overcome much of the notorious entrenched bureaucratic hurdles and red tape that has hitherto been a bane to development, particularly in alleviating acute health care deficiencies in the system.

Indian American kids create history at Intel competition

Indian American kids create history at Intel competition

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2013

The Indian American high school children who were among the 40 finalists in the Intel Science Search competition -- often dubbed the Junior Nobel Prize convention -- may have failed to win any of the top five awards, but they created history and did the community proud.

Indian American Fulbright scholar to research ayurveda

Indian American Fulbright scholar to research ayurveda

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2013

Kolkata-born Indian American physician Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya, who practices holistic medicine in New York, has created history by being selected the first US scholar by the Fulbright Program to exclusively research medical ayurveda throughout India and teach at BanarasHinduUniversity in Varanasi as a Fulbright Scholar.

Meet the rising star of the Obama administration

Meet the rising star of the Obama administration

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2013

While the likes of senior Indian American officials in the Barack Obama administration -- namely Administrator of United States Agency for International Development Dr Rajiv Shah and Chief US Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the US Trade Representative Islam 'Isi' Siddiqui -- enjoy a major public profile, there are others who have been flying under the radar but are rising stars nonetheless.

Indian-American files for bankruptcy

Indian-American files for bankruptcy

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2013

Akshay K Desai's Universal Health Care Group, a major Medicare provider - has gone belly-up.

'Indian bureaucracy runs slowly, often unnecessarily'

'Indian bureaucracy runs slowly, often unnecessarily'

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2013

Retired Indian diplomat Neelam Deo believes that India, in terms of bureaucratic capacity, 'does not match the capacity of the United States'.

Ami Bera, Robert Blake discuss India ties, Afghan crisis

Ami Bera, Robert Blake discuss India ties, Afghan crisis

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2013

The only Indian American lawmaker in the United States Congress, Dr Amerish 'Ami' Bera, on Tuesday made his debut as a member of a Congressional Committee that has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to South Asia.

US-India nuke deal impasse a challenge, says Blake

US-India nuke deal impasse a challenge, says Blake

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2013

In perhaps what could be his swansong appearance as the Obama administration's point man for South Asia, Robert Blake has acknowledged that the impasse over the implementation of the US-India civilian nuclear deal poses many challenges to Washington and New Delhi.

It's time for us to begin dialogue with Modi: US house rep

It's time for us to begin dialogue with Modi: US house rep

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2013

The latest fan of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi seems to be the American Samoan delegate, Eni Faleomavaega, the ranking Democrat on the house foreign affairs subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, which has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to South Asia. Aziz Haniffa reports.

Hyderabad blasts cast shadow on Mathai-Kerry meeting

Hyderabad blasts cast shadow on Mathai-Kerry meeting

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2013

Although much of the brief meeting was permeated with the news of the twin blasts in Hyderabad and the need for both countries to jointly combat the scourge of terrorism, according to sources, John Kerry emphasised and reiterated to Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai the importance of India and expressed his desire to engage and start discussions with India

Indian envoy hosts newly elected US lawmakers

Indian envoy hosts newly elected US lawmakers

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2013

At an elegant reception hosted at her residence on February 14, to felicitate the newly minted United States lawmakers -- Dr Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao predicted that 'the presence of Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard in the US Congress, brings great meaning to our mission and our task of taking US-India relations further forward to greater and greater heights'.

John Kerry defends Pakistan, opposes slashing US aid

John Kerry defends Pakistan, opposes slashing US aid

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2013

United States Senator John F Kerry -- President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next Secretary of State -- has asserted that he would be strongly opposed to any cuts in America's considerable aid to Islamabad.

'India solely responsible for Pak going nuclear'

'India solely responsible for Pak going nuclear'

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2013

India is solely responsible for prompting Pakistan to pursue a nuclear weapons capability, says Retired Pakistani Brigadier General Feroz Khan, erstwhile insider in Islamabad's nuclear weapons establishment. Aziz Haniffa reports.

'N-weapons could soon become a liability for Pakistan'

'N-weapons could soon become a liability for Pakistan'

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2013

If the political system and the economy of Pakistan continue to go down the tubes, nuclear weapons will not be able to save it, says Retired Brigadier General Feroz Khan. Aziz Haniffa reports

Haley, Barve gaining clout in US politics

Haley, Barve gaining clout in US politics

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2013

The significant clout of Indian American politicians in affecting mainstream political developments were further manifested through separate actions last month by South Carolina Republican Governor Nimrata 'Nikki' Randhawa Haley and Maryland House Majority Leader, Democrat Kumar Barve, who created history in the Indian-American immigrant experience in the process.