Recently crowned Miss America Nina Davuluri, the first Indian-American to have won the coveted beauty pageant, met United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday when she visited the White House.

A study on global social attitudes claims that India and Jordan are the least tolerant populations in the world. On the other hand, the survey found the United States, Britain, Canada and South America among the least racist.

United States Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter, who played a critical role in boosting Indo-US defence ties, on Friday said that he will step down in December.

Unlike her earlier books, which dealt with immigrant angst, Jhumpa Lahiri's latest novel grew out of stories she heard about the Maoist movement in India, during her childhood. Arthur J Pais finds more.

Rediff.com picks 20 top photos from the month of September.

United States President Barack Obama on Friday made a reference to the new Miss America's Indian heritage as he acknowledged the role of the community in pushing for stronger relationship between the world's two largest democracies.

Amid the racist tweets and essays on how Miss America Nina Davuluri might ironically never have won a beauty pageant in India because of her colour, Sepia Mutiny blog co-founder Anna John points out the other angle that matters.

From pageants where contestants flaunt cosmetic enhancements to contests for plus-sized models and Barbie dolls, these pageants are pushing the envelope of what is acceptable.

The global stigma of discrimination will go only when Asians and Africans have the self-confidence to be themselves, says Sunanda K Datta-Ray

We have let a woman of Italian origin rule us through a clever divide of administrative power centres, but far too many of us have not accepted her Indianness. We have every right to reject her politics and her corrupt government, but shouldn't her living most of her life here make her Indian enough?

A victim of racial slurs and messages after being crowned Miss America over the weekend, Nina Davuluri has announced that she will use her position to celebrate diversity through cultural competency.

Nina Davuluri's choice as Miss America shows how hollow Indians' concept of beauty is and how our beauty pageants don't reflect the country's diversity, says Amberish K Diwanji

Rediff.com brings you some candid pictures of Miss America Nina Davuluri.

The first Miss America of Indian descent, has revealed the secrets behind her gorgeous looks.

Nina Davuluri became the first contestant of Indian heritage to win the Miss America pageant. We bring you the sexiest beauty queens of Indian origin to have won beauty pageants around the world.

City-based relatives of Nina Davuluri, who on Monday became the first Indian-origin contestant to win the Miss America pageant, said the newly-crowned beauty queen had not forgotten her roots and still liked Indian films.

The new Miss America is somebody many "relate to", as she herself said after being crowned. Here's why. And a few other interesting facts you did not know about the Indian-American beauty queen.

Racist remarks have flooded Twitter after a contestant of Indian descent was crowned Miss America 2014.

Eighty-nine-year old Koteshwaramma Choudhary broke down as news reached her that her granddaughter, 24-year-old Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America 2014.

Indian American Nina Davuluri has been crowned Miss America.

Reuters recently uncovered the disturbing process of 're-homing' of adopted children rampant in the United States of America, putting to immense risk the lives and future of countless children brought to the US from several countries around the globe. Rediff.com brings forth defining photographs of these defenseless children.

The Central Investigation Agency has begun delivering weapons to Syrian rebels as part of the United States plan to strengthen the opposition armed groups against the Bashar al-Assad regime, even as the Obama administration began talks with Russia to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis, a media report said on Thursday.

The Pentagon is gearing up for a three-day attack on Syria, with a heavy barrage of missile strikes followed by more attacks on targets that were missed to destroy in the opening salvos, a leading United States newspaper reported on Sunday.

Pakistan-based Al Qaeda engineers are making several efforts including developing a laser warning system and shoulder-fired missiles to counter American drones, according to a report.

Want to know what's happening in the world of glitz and glamour? In our weekly fashion round-up, we bring you the latest on supermodels, style, designers and everything in-between!

Two Indian teenage brothers on a school trip disappeared from the group as they wanted to stay in the US.

US-based travel dating website MissTravel.com recently held a poll that rates nations according to the sex appeal of their citizens. Here are the results when it comes to the ladies!

We already brought you US-based website MissTravel.com's list of the top 10 sexiest nations when it comes to women -- now, here are the countries that rate highest according to the hotness of their hunks!

Don't Miss: The interesting videos this week!

About the size of a coin, the Stick-N-Find stickers can attach via adhesive to valued possessions and send a low-energy Bluetooth signal with a range of about 100 foot, the Daily Mail reported.

Bringing Indian festivals home for the second generation

What came through from both candidates instead, was America's exaggerated sense in seeing itself as arbiter of justice, democracy and safety in the world. And a worrisome dismissal of one major truth -- anti-Americanism as a result of its sometimes ill strategised interventions in the affairs of another country which is perhaps as grave a threat to America today as international terrorism, says Maya Mirchandani.

Sharmila Nicollet's valiant effort in the closing stages went in vain as she missed the cut by one shot after the second round of the Tenerife Open de Espana Femenino at Golf Las Americas in Tenerife.

The anti-Obama docudrama opened in the US three weeks ago.

The film also stars Anushka Shetty and Vikram.