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

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

George Abraham appointed new president of INOC

George Abraham appointed new president of INOC

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2012

Abraham succeeds Dr Surinder Malhotra who served as president of the Indian National Overseas Congress for the last 12 years. George Joseph reports from New York

Tibetans on hunger strike demand UN action against China

Tibetans on hunger strike demand UN action against China

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2012

The condition of two Tibetans on a hunger strike for almost a month in front of the United Nations has deteriorated. George Joseph reports.

India's closest friend in US not to seek re-election

India's closest friend in US not to seek re-election

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2012

New York Democrat Gary Ackerman was arguably considered one of the most cerebral and strategic thinkers on foreign policy. He has been a regular visitor to India and a conspicuous presence at Indian American events and has a daughter-in-law who's Indian American too.

'Bid to end birthright citizenship can trouble Romney'

'Bid to end birthright citizenship can trouble Romney'

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2012

Margaret Stock, the author of the report 'The Cost to America and Americans of Ending Birthright Citizenship,' in slamming this effort by conservative Republicans, has said that if such a proposal is enacted, "it would call into question whether (former Massachusetts Governor and GOP presidential front-runner) himself is eligible for the presidency," since his father George Romney was born in Mexico while his parents were living in a Mormon commune in that country.

US lawmakers give thumbs up to USAID chief Rajiv Shah

US lawmakers give thumbs up to USAID chief Rajiv Shah

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2012

US Agency for International Development Administrator Dr Rajiv Shah has been praised by US lawmakers for shepherding America's development efforts with the scarce resources available and alleviating poverty-stricken populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South Asia, and Haiti, which was devastated by a killer earthquake over two years ago.

Goa-born grandmother elected as judge in Louisiana

Goa-born grandmother elected as judge in Louisiana

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2012

In yet another manifestation of an Indian American creating history in recent months, Goa-born, Mumbai-raised Bernadette D'Souza has been elected a judge in the US state of Louisiana and will head up the first family court in the history of the city of New Orleans.

'Had Gandhi been alive today, he would have been ashamed'

'Had Gandhi been alive today, he would have been ashamed'

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2012

Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and president of the New York-based Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute, has said that the Gujarat riots of 2002 were the worst in living memory and that the savagery displayed was something he had not expected from fellow Gujaratis.

US congressman's resolution on Gujarat riots hailed

US congressman's resolution on Gujarat riots hailed

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2012

Muslim and secular organisations in the United States have hailed a congressional resolution by Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison (Democrat) 'recognising the tenth anniversary of the tragic communal violence in Gujarat'.

South Carolina's Governor keen on tie-up with India

South Carolina's Governor keen on tie-up with India

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2012

If she can help it, South Carolina's Indian American Governor, Nimrata 'Nikki' Randhawa Haley, would like nothing better than have India and China competing for the investment opportunities in her non-unionised state and creating more jobs.

Diversion of aid in Pak serious concern: Clinton

Diversion of aid in Pak serious concern: Clinton

Rediff.com   29 Feb 2012

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has acknowledged that even with a firewall that has been constructed against the diversion of massive American military aid to Pakistan to the nuclear weapons programme, there are no ironclad guarantees that aid cannot be diverted and hence it remains a major concern to the US. Clinton was appearing before the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee to defend the Obama administration's foreign aid budget for the fiscal year

Dominant stand in US: 'Pak behaving like rogue state'

Dominant stand in US: 'Pak behaving like rogue state'

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2012

There are two perspectives in the United States government vis-a-vis the imbroglio in South Asia, one of which holds that the problem really is about India-Pakistan relations, and the other is that it's all due to Pakistan's behaviour akin to that of a rogue state.

'India remains vulnerable to spectacular attacks'

'India remains vulnerable to spectacular attacks'

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2012

Michael Krepon, the co-founder of Washington, DC-based think tank Stimson Centre, believes that the horrific 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai set the bar very high for the next India-Pakistan crisis.

'Powell tasked with one of US's important postings'

'Powell tasked with one of US's important postings'

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2012

United States Senator John F Kerry, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in convening the nomination hearing of Nancy J Powell to be the next US ambassador to India, said, America's partnership with India "is without doubt one of the most significant partnerships in US foreign policy."

US-India N-deal in limbo even after 3 years: US Senator

US-India N-deal in limbo even after 3 years: US Senator

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2012

The ranking Republican on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Richard Lugar, has bemoaned the fact that more than three years after the historic US-India civilian nuclear deal was signed, it still remains in limbo sans any implementation.

US ambassador-nominee put on mat over India-Iran ties

US ambassador-nominee put on mat over India-Iran ties

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2012

Nancy Powell, being the quintessential diplomat, and attempting to be as circumspect as possible, replied, "Iran and India have a long tradition of trade across energy and other fields. It is one that is clearly a part of our sanctions regime, that we are hoping to see it significantly reduced."

Ex-CTO of US may run for governorship

Ex-CTO of US may run for governorship

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

Even as he flirts with the idea of running for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Chopra has indicated that he will now campaign feverishly for the election of his former boss Kaine.

Another Indian quits Obama administration

Another Indian quits Obama administration

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

Before he came to the US, he also held senior positions internationally for Levi-Strauss & Co, Unilever and the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Longest serving India American quits Team Obama

Longest serving India American quits Team Obama

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

Kumar was Deputy Assistant to the Vice President and Senior Advisor to the chief of Staff, at the time of his resignation last week

Death in the US: Unopened mail, unexplained circumstances

Death in the US: Unopened mail, unexplained circumstances

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

The jury summons that changed her life forever was in the mail too. She might not have opened it and did not reply to it; she was not eligible for jury duty, being a non-citizen. It resulted in an arrest warrant and a sequence of events ultimately resulting in her death.

'Nobody deserves this fate'

'Nobody deserves this fate'

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2012

Lyvita Gomes, the Mumbai native who died on hunger strike in an Illinois jail, is laid to rest, but questions remain. George Joseph reports.