Aziz Haniffa In Washington, DC &Amp; George Joseph In New York

Stories by Aziz Haniffa In Washington, DC &Amp; George Joseph In New York

Religious groups in US look at new pope with expectation

Religious groups in US look at new pope with expectation

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2013

Welcoming the election of Pope Francis I, religious organisations hope for interfaith dialogue and harmony among the world's diverse religions. George Joseph reports

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.

US: Indian pushed into train's path; hunt on for killer

US: Indian pushed into train's path; hunt on for killer

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2012

An Indian youth was killed in New York when a deranged woman pushed him from the railway platform in front of an incoming train

Kerry's impending nomination hailed by S-Asia experts

Kerry's impending nomination hailed by S-Asia experts

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2012

Leading South Asia experts, who have interacted closely with Senator John F Kerry, the chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- whose nomination as the new secretary of state to succeed Hillary Clinton is expected to be announced shortly by President Barack Obama -- have hailed the pending appointment and predicted that he would be catalytic toward further advancing US-India relations.

US school shootout: Gunman kills mother, 25 others

US school shootout: Gunman kills mother, 25 others

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2012

A young gunman killed his mother and 25 other people, including 18 children, when he went on a shooting rampage inside a US school, before turning the gun on himself, in one of the deadliest such incidents witnessed in the country.

US school shooting: 'Shocked and saddened by the tragedy'

US school shooting: 'Shocked and saddened by the tragedy'

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2012

Newtown resident Bindu Balasubramanian described the state of shock at the school massacre.

Ami Bera appoints Mini Timmaraju as chief of staff

Ami Bera appoints Mini Timmaraju as chief of staff

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2012

Soon-to-be Indian American United States Congressman Dr Amerish 'Ami' Bera has appointed long-time Democratic and community activist and erstwhile Congressional staffer Mini Timmaraju as his chief of staff.Hyderabad-born and Texas-raised Timmaraju, 39, is currently the director of the Office of the President at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and a former district director for US Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas.