All stories by AZIZ HANIFFA
'Just because you're an immigrant doesn't mean you should live in fear'
Rediff.com26 Mar 2015Three years after the horrific massacre of Sikh worshippers at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, gurdwara by a gunman with ties to supremacist organisations, a federal system to help track hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindu, Arab American communities has been formalised.
India-US ties: What if Modi were to suddenly disappear from the scene?
Rediff.com3 Mar 2015Was the Modi-Obama summit the panacea for all that troubles the India-US relationship?
'It's for India to determine if it wants to join coalition to combat ISIL'
Rediff.com27 Feb 2015It is for the companies and the industry to ascertain where they want to run with the US-India civilian nuclear agreements reached by Washington and New Delhi, says United States Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal. Aziz Haniffa reports for Rediff.com from Washington, DC
'I believe in Republican Party's principles of free enterprise and smaller government'
Rediff.com25 Feb 2015Indian American Raj Shah tells Aziz Haniffa about his plans as the GOP's research director.
Employment bonanza announced for H-1B spouses
Rediff.com25 Feb 2015From May 26 onwards, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications for work visas from H-IB spouses, reports Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com.
Meet Rashad Hussain, Obama's point man for anti-terror outreach
Rediff.com19 Feb 2015The 36-year-old desi speaks impeccable Arabic and quotes freely from the Quran during his speeches, reports Aziz Haniffa.
A beginning of a new chapter... or is it?
Rediff.com3 Feb 2015'I could see it not having any impact whatsoever,' says Stephen P Cohen on Obama's India visit.
Two Indian American attorneys top off a landmark week for community
Rediff.com19 Dec 2014As Preet Bharara told Rediff India Abroad, "When is the last time you had two Indian Americans doing a law enforcement press conference" dealing with violations of civil rights and taking the city of New York to court?
As 'America's Doctor,' Vivek Murthy will hit the ground running
Rediff.com16 Dec 2014More than a year after he was nominated by President Barack Obama, the US Senate, defying the powerful pro-gun lobby National Rifle Association, voted to confirm Dr Vivek Hellegere Murthy as the first Indian American US Surgeon General and the youngest ever at age 37, in a cliff-hanger of a 51-43 vote.
PM Modi should be granted immunity from lawsuits in US: Preet Bharara
Rediff.com11 Dec 2014US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, has once again gone to bat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the immunity the Indian leader enjoys from lawsuits brought against him in the United States.
Icing on the cake of a remarkable career: Thomas Kailath
Rediff.com10 Dec 2014Professor Thomas Kailath was tickled that a phrase he had used -- that scientists are 'intrinsically hopeful' -- and which President Barack Obama had used thrice, had captured the people's imagination.
Obama felicitates Indian American for scientific achievement
Rediff.com10 Dec 2014Not only did Barack Obama mention and quote Thomas Kailath in his remarks before presenting the Stanford University professor emeritus of engineering with the National Medal of Science, the President also cited Kailath as a shining example of the brilliant talent of immigrants who make invaluable contributions to the United States and the world.
US lawmakers celebrate Diwali at Capitol Hill
Rediff.com20 Nov 2014The spell that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast over US lawmakers nearly two months during his visit to the United States has still not worn off, as was manifest by the gushing nostalgia of the Modi magic by both Democratic and Republican party representatives at the Congressional Diwali celebration on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Indian American Congressman Ami Bera will fight till last vote is counted
Rediff.com7 Nov 2014Indian American Congressman Amerish 'Ami' Bera has no plans to throw in the towel just yet in his re-election election bid from California's 7th Congressional District where he narrowly trails his Republican opponent Doug Ose.
US midterm polls: The desis who disappointed
Rediff.com6 Nov 2014Iraq war veteran and Democrat Manan Trivedi tried his luck for the third time, but was trounced by Republican Ryan Costello, the Chester county commissioner for Pennsylvania's open seat in District 6
Arvind Subramanian: 'India doesn't have this ability to project power like China'
Rediff.com18 Oct 2014Arvind Subramanian talks about US and China's power play and where India figures in these dynamics.
Exclusive:'This is a visit the President has been anticipating'
Rediff.com26 Sep 2014'The threat that India faces and the threat the United States faces is not just to the homeland, but to our people and to our institutions wherever they may be.' In an exclusive conversation with Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com, US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal outlines the importance of Prime Minister Modi's visit for America.
How Lashkar, ISI tried to target Modi's swearing-in
Rediff.com26 Sep 2014'Who in Pakistan was intending to carry out one of the most grievous acts of international terrorism just a few months ago?' Former CIA official Bruce Riedel reveals how the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the ISI planned the attack on the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Herat in May to take Indian diplomats hostage and disrupt Narendra Modi's swearing-in.
'India woke up to this threat long before the US did'
Rediff.com25 Sep 2014'It is vital we should form an international coalition against ISIS, because their brutality and the use of the Internet for jihadist activities is a reminder that the entire world community has to be in this together,' US Congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tells Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com in an exclusive interview ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit.
Obama names Richard Verma as new US envoy to India
Rediff.com19 Sep 2014United States President Barack Obama has nominated Indian-American, Richard Rahul Verma, as the next US Ambassador to India, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington later this month.