The Indian American community and US business that had lobbied feverishly for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, are euphoric over the recent developments where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to go ahead with the accord come what may and even in the wake of the Left coalition partners withdrawing their support and leaving the country in a state of political uncertainty.
Sant Chatwal, millionaire hotelier and close friend and fund-raiser for the Clintons for several years, has assured Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama that the Indian American community will raise over $10 million for his campaign to win back the White House.Chatwal was introduced to Obama by Senator Hillary Clinton at a private meeting between them and Clinton's top donors at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC on June 26.
Singh called it unacceptable to label Clinton negatively due to a good humored comment she made in reference to her connection with Punjab.
Dr Kishore Kuncham has taken over as superintendent of the Freeport schools in Long Island, New York.
The transient nature of life is reflected in ancient Indian designs, says Sarita Sarvate.
Passed by the House by 352 to 65 votes, the bill now heads to the US Senate for it to be sent to the White House for the President to sign it into law.
The spat began when Shree Chauhan, living in Washington, DC, asked US Press Secretary Sean Spicer if he had committed treason at an Apple store.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was proud that the State Assembly and the State Senate have passed the bill making Diwali a New York City Public School holiday.
On Monday, Barack Obama appointed Bansal as General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of Management and Budget, which one Obama transition team source told rediff.com would "be the heart of the new administration's agenda for change."
"The world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy are natural partners, sharing important interests and fundamental democratic values," Obama said.
Seattle is not only the first American city to ban caste discrimination but is the first jurisdiction at any level globally outside South Asia to do so.
Seattle has become the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination after its local council passed a resolution, moved by an Indian-American politician and economist, to add caste to its non-discrimination policy.
The festivities took place in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House, and was attended by the Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns among others.
'The role played by the Indian expatriate community in the US acted as the lever for the change of perception about India,' says Foreign Secretary Shashank.
A group of pro-Khalistan protesters on Sunday made an attempt to set on fire India's consulate in San Francisco, with senior Indian diplomats informing their American counterparts that they anticipate more such protests by anti-national elements in the coming weeks.
In a bid to woo Indian-Americans, Donald Trump has borrowed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's winning slogan of the 2014 general elections as the Republican presidential nominee is seen in a TV ad saying "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar".
A sudden spurt in hate crimes against Hindus, which includes a series of vandalism incidents and hate graffiti, in a suburb of Washington, has led US authorities to announce a reward of $21,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
'Musharraf presented me with a plan about how mujahideen would infiltrate an area like Kargil.' Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto tells Shyam Bhatia.
However, members of this powerful lobby that has sought to torpedo this deal as much as the Indian-American community and the pro-India lobby -- comprising groups like the US-India Business Council -- have worked assiduously to consummate the accord, were confident that when this 'cover-up' by the State Department ultimately becomes public, it would kill the agreement.
Professors Padma Desai and Jagdish Bhagwati were conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr Renu Khator, President and Chancellor of the University of Houston, was given the Publisher's Special Award for Excellence. The Youth Achiever 2007 Award was given to 24-year-old Somdev Dev Burman, the first Indian to win the US collegiate tennis title. The Community Service Award went to Dr Navin Shah, while Dr Joy Cherian received the Lifetime Award for Service to the Community
'The support Pakistan has given to terrorist actions in Kashmir -- official or unofficial -- must cease.' John \n\nKerry, in an exclusive interview to rediff.com
'I will make sure criticism of business practices which harm American workers doesn't generate a backlash against Indian Americans, the same way trade disputes with Japan in the 1980s led to incidents of anti-Asian bigotry,' says John Kerry.
'I will work closely with New Delhi to strengthen a relationship built on shared values and interests.' John Kerry, in an exclusive interview with rediff.com
In her article titled US-Indian Relations: A New Era, Clinton said that one of the most difficult tasks for the new president would be "taking our foreign policy in a new direction and restoring America's leadership in the world." "As president," she declared, "I'll reach out to our allies again and work with them to tackle global problems. America's partnership with India will be among the most important."
Over 90 Indian-American community leaders and political activists, who were catalytic in pushing through the passage of the legislation, took part in the ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
President George W Bush signs the first part of the enabling legislation into law today.
'This is such a dynamic time for our entire community.' Ami Bera tells Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com what his selection means for desis in America.
Burns was speaking at a White House Diwali function.
The message is said to have been conveyed to a small group of top Indian-American community leaders on Monday by senior White House officials, a source privy to the goings on told PTI. "We are confident that just like last time, the bill will be passed by a substantial majority. With that a new era will begin for India's nuclear programme," the officials were quoted by the source as saying.
As with the last 37 years, this year too the India Day Parade in New York saw thousands of Indian Americans throng Manhattan's Madison Avenue to celebrate India's Independence Day. For the thousands of Indians who turned up, it was a once in a year chance to showcase their country's rich cultural diversity.
This is the first time the US Congress has honoured a foreign university in this manner.
Stating that the deal had good bipartisan support, Rice said: "I do not believe this initiative is Republican or Democratic."
The background of the sheet features the United Nations Headquarters building illuminated with the message of "Happy Diwali" to celebrate the spirit of the festival.
"He is the best person for India. He is doing everything to uplift the country," Dr Bhola Nath Rama said, with a tricolour fluttering in his and his wife Sunita Rama's hands.
>The formal signing ceremony, originally expected to take place on Monday December 11 in the Rose Garden at the White House, has been postponed to later in the week.
The United States India League has told Bush that his presence would send the right signals.
It is one of the three top priorities -- the other two being the Vietnam Trade Bill and Domestic Surveillance legislation.
