Priyanka Tikoo And Dharam Shourie

Stories by Priyanka Tikoo And Dharam Shourie

UN for cuts in fossil fuel subsidies

UN for cuts in fossil fuel subsidies

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2008

Challenging the widely-held view that fossil fuel subsidies benefit the poor, the UN has asked for cutting back on such mechanisms to curb greenhouse gas emissions and propel economic growth.

UNSC remains deadlocked over Georgia

UNSC remains deadlocked over Georgia

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2008

Diplomats said that France, whose original draft is being opposed by Moscow, is working on fresh resolution that would try to harmonize the two opposing drafts even as most members stressed the need to have resolution, which could be adopted unanimously.

Pak woman held for attempted murder of US soldiers

Pak woman held for attempted murder of US soldiers

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2008

Thirty-six year old Aafia Saddiqui, a neuroscientist trained in US, who was arrested in New York after being brought from Afghanistan on Monday evening, will be produced before a court on Wednesday, South District of New York Attorney Michael J Garcia said.

16 mn people may slip into poverty: UN

16 mn people may slip into poverty: UN

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2008

Top United Nations experts on Latin America and the Caribbean have warned that global economic shocks could throw some 16 million people of the Americas into extreme poverty, threatening important gains toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the region.

Indian-origin judge new UN human rights chief

Indian-origin judge new UN human rights chief

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2008

Indian-origin International Criminal Court judge Navanethem Pillay has been named the United Nations' new human rights chief, despite some initial opposition from the United States. Pillay, 67, who is from South Africa, will succeed Louise Arbour of Canada who completed her term on June 30.

Gates launches anti-smoking war; India on focus

Gates launches anti-smoking war; India on focus

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2008

A world without tobacco 'is a world in which people live longer and have happier lives,' Bloomberg, New York Mayor who has a fortune of $16 billion, said at a joint press conference with the Microsoft founder Gates. They said the money would go to anti-smoking groups working with governments to curb the consumption of tobacco and related products, including World Health Organisation and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ronen Sen slams 'those who oppose tech'

Ronen Sen slams 'those who oppose tech'

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

In a veiled attack on people who are against the Indo-US nuclear deal, Indian ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen has said those who opposed the use of technology have proved wrong time and again.

US divided on racial lines ahead of Prez poll

US divided on racial lines ahead of Prez poll

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2008

Barack Obama, who is attempting to script history by being the first black President of the United States, leads his Republican rival John McCain among all registered voters by 45 per cent to 39 per cent. However, in a sign of how racially polarised US voters are, Obama draws support from 89 per cent of blacks, compared with two per cent for McCain, the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Indian Americans divided over invitation to Modi

Indian Americans divided over invitation to Modi

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2008

The Indian American community across the United States is sharply divided over an invitation sent to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to attend the second World Gujarati Conference to be held in New Jersey.While some organisations are mounting pressure on the US government to grant him a visa to attend the meet, the Coalition Against Genocide, an umbrella organisation of some 25 bodies, has written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, asking her to deny visa.

US: Sikh truck driver arrested for wearing kirpan

US: Sikh truck driver arrested for wearing kirpan

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2008

A Sikh truck driver was arrested for wearing a kirpan and his turban "forcibly" removed while he was entering a Connecticut court to contest a traffic violation charge, a community advocacy group said on Tuesday.

Climate change: Pachauri says all eyes on G-8 meet

Climate change: Pachauri says all eyes on G-8 meet

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2008

R K Pachauri, chief of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said in the effort to structure a new climate change regime by 2009, there had been no major breakthroughs since the creation of the Bali action plan, but 'all eyes are focused on the G-8 summit' of industrialised countries. The Bali action plan was adopted as a two-year process to finalise a building agreement on Climate change at a UN conference in Indonesia last year December.

Slavery case: Indian-American jailed

Slavery case: Indian-American jailed

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2008

Mahender Sabhnani, 51, was sentenced by a federal court on Friday, a day after his wife, Varsha, 46, was jailed for 11 years and fined USD 25,000 for torturing the housemaids in a well-reported case, which brought out the hidden danger that aliens not conversant with English face.

Slavery case: Indian American gets 11-yr jail term

Slavery case: Indian American gets 11-yr jail term

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2008

India-born US millionaire Varsha Sabhnani, who along with her husband, was convicted of enslaving and torturing two Indonesian women, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined $25,000. The couple, who had a flourishing perfume business, was convicted in December last year on 12 counts including modern day slavery, forced labour, involuntary servitude and harbouring illegal aliens.

Indian American turns mobiles into virtual lens

Indian American turns mobiles into virtual lens

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2008

A new software system, which enables mobile phone users to obtain location-specific, real-time information, either actively or passively, from other users across the world has been developed by a team led by an Indian-American professor at Duke University.

Bush, Musharraf least trusted leaders: Poll

Bush, Musharraf least trusted leaders: Poll

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2008

Embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and his United States counterpart George W Bush are among the world's least trusted leaders along with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a new survey in 20 countries, including India, shows.Musharraf has the poorest ratings around the world. Only in China, 37 per cent of the people feel that he inspires confidence as a leader, outweighing negative views (30 per cent), the poll conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org Just two countrie

India launches mango drive in the US

India launches mango drive in the US

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2008

Though the Indian mangoes are among the costliest in the US, the biggest importer of the fruit with the annual consumption 250,000 tons, officials have suggested several measure to the US regulators to cut down its price. After lifting of the 18-year ban on the import of the fruit from India, mangoes worth $1 million were exported to the US last year and the figure is likely to go up to around $7 million this year.

Obama in no hurry to choose veep

Obama in no hurry to choose veep

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2008

Barack Obama indicated on Thursday that he was in no hurry to choose his deputy, a ticket coveted by vanquished rival Hillary Clinton, saying he would look at a whole range of options.

Clinton to endorse Obama on Saturday

Clinton to endorse Obama on Saturday

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2008

"Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington, DC, to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity. The event will be held on Saturday," Clinton campaign official Howard Wolfson told reporters.

India, China on US trafficking watchlist

India, China on US trafficking watchlist

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2008

The Indian government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking, it said but conceded that New Delhi is making "significant efforts" to fight bonded labour.

Human trafficking: US puts watch on India, China

Human trafficking: US puts watch on India, China

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2008

The Indian government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking, it said but conceded that New Delhi is making 'significant efforts' to fight bonded labour. Equally dismal was the record of Sudan, Syria, Myanmar, Cuba, Fiji, Moldova and Papua New Guinea, according to grading done by the annual report.