Opinion

By Mishita Jethi Special to India-West NEW YORK, NY - Every month, the Department of State (DOS) comes out with a visa bulletin. The dates in the visa bulletin show which green card applications can move to the final stage. The August 2023

By Neera Kuckreja Sohoni India’s Independence Day has come and gone and therefore it may seem of no news value to address its significance. However, an irritating sanctimonious opinion  (https://indiawest.com/i-cannot-celebrate-indias-independence-day-again/) is a compelling reason to pen the following rejoinder In the current age when

By SHAKEEL SYED Last year, I wrote an op-ed in this very newspaper titled, “I refuse to celebrate India’s Independence Day.” I had hoped I would celebrate this year. I was wrong. Here are a few reasons why I will not celebrate

By D.C. PATHAK NEW DELHI (IANS) - Slowly but steadily the Pak-supported Khalistan movement is raising its head among the Sikh diaspora in the four countries -- Canada, Australia, the US, and the UK -- where it is significant number-wise. There is

By D.C. PATHAK NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Of all the matters validating strategic cooperation between India and the US from a long-term perspective, perhaps the most important was the pledge of common resolve of President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra

By ASAD MIRZA WASHINGTON, DC (IANS) - A recent UN report has identified India as one of the peripheral countries where terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda, Islamic State (IS) and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) are planning to increase their presence. The

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - The US expectations of the relations with India - that it would become a bulwark against China and Russia - have come a full circle from 1947 to 2023 with Washington and New Delhi finally

The words of Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective come to mind - “Elementary My Dear Watson” - when one reviews the Jonny Bairstow stumping incident. In a tight situation, especially during a critical Ashes Test match, every cricketer on the ground

By NAVNEET S. CHUGH The Supreme Court's recent ruling on college admissions and affirmative action has made African Americans and Hispanics unhappy, some whites happy and most Indians happy.  The lawsuits leading up to the ruling were largely filed by Asian-American students

By R.C. GANJOO It was a bold and clear message from the US and India statement that has thrown an open challenge to counter global terrorism and unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations. The statement

By JAY J. CHAUDHURI, North Carolina Senate Minority Whip This week, President Joseph Biden hosts Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Republic of India for an official visit to the United States, only the third world leader invited by President Biden.

By VINOD MIRANI In the Hindi film industry original ideas are scarce, and filmmakers often rely on foreign films, novels, or South Indian movies for inspiration. The film industry operates with a desire to play it safe due to the high risk

By D.C. PATHAK In recent years the international scene has been conditioned by new geopolitical trends that were affecting all regions, particularly West Asia, Indo-Pacific and Eurasia. India now a major power influencing global events, had stakes in these parts of

By SUBHASH GARG Build-up to SB-403 Hindus were taken aback when giants like Apple Inc. and the California State University system adopted policies about caste-based discrimination (CBD). They did not think or hear of CBD or practice or experience it. But a

By YAJURVINDRA SINGH The recent launch of Aunshuman Gaekwad's book made one truly understand how cricket has mellowed over the years. The biography is titled "Guts amidst Bloodbath", referring to an occurrence that many cricketers had to face to play the game

By ATUL ANEJA The May 9 pinpointed attacks in Pakistan on key military installations by angry mobs, piqued by the unceremonious arrest of Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court, has been a pivotal moment that may have sealed the fate of

By SUBHASH GARG Section 703 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act bans discrimination based on “race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” Why not include “caste” in this list? The question has been asked for several years. Recently, some organizations have acted

By ASAD MIRZA NEW DELHI - Recently, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Defense Ministers' meeting, India adopted a very tough stand to deal with its immediate neighbor China, which has been the founding father of the bloc. Relations between the two

By Hamza Ameer ISLAMABAD, (IANS) - The increasing influence of China in the South Asian region is certainly raising eyebrows as Beijing capitalizes on the economic vulnerability of important regional countries to strengthen its position. China's hawkish relationship with India can be

With a billion users worldwide and 150 million in the U.S., Chinese owned social media giant TikTok is facing a possible ban here amid growing concerns around data privacy and rising geopolitical tensions with Beijing.  Opponents of the ban say it

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - China's influence at the United Nations  -- a barometer of its global clout -- measured by a recent secret electoral vote has shown a downward drift even as it maintains an iron grip on power

NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Finland formally became a member of NATO on April 4 during a scheduled summit, finalizing the fastest accession process in the treaty's history. Last week, the blue-and-white flag of Finland was raised alongside those of its Western

By PETER WHITE LOS ANGELES, CA - Seventy-five percent of voters say women and their doctors should decide; just nine percent say judges and politicians should decide. Polls were clear before and after the 2022 midterm election. A large majority of Americans

NEW DELHI, (ANI) - Myanmar's Coco Islands in the Bay of Bengal have long been the subject of geopolitical intrigue. The most common allegation is that since the early 1990s, Myanmar has allowed a Chinese signals intelligence facility on the

By Nikunj Trivedi In June 2020, news broke that the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) had sued technology giant Cisco Systems for alleged caste discrimination by two managers against a Dalit employee. Effectively, an American state body tried to define religious

BY GANESH IYER NEW DELHI, (IANS) - Scarcity alone doesn't seem to be the reason. Poverty, inequalities in income and power contribute primarily for this fear. But the moot point is what is the context and perspective to this looming likely

By D.C. PATHAK It is not surprising at all that militancy in the name of Khalistan is being revived in the border state of Punjab, by some groups based abroad and working under the operational guidance of Pakistan's ISI. India's intelligence set-up

By SHAKEEL SYED------------------------------------Two decades old US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 proved to be one of the most profoundly wrong foreign policy decisions in modern times, and the subsequent war was marked by a high level of violence, instability, and

By Navneet S. Chugh The Economist refers to the United States as "an NGO with nuclear bombs". The US and state governments spend mind-boggling amounts on helping people, with one out of every two people in the United States receiving some

By Neera Kuckreja Sohoni On March 8, we, the Women of the World, are invited to join the UN to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Year (IWY). Note, it is We Women, and not the transgenders, cross genders or men who have biologically,

The youth have rallied against drugs but the scourge encouraged over the years by cross-border traffickers and easy cash runs deep in Punjab. The youth of today need role models and could turn their thoughts to the wisdom of Guru

By D.C. PATHAK National security is about the protection of the nation's physical boundaries, its citizens, and its information assets. Our defense forces deal with any open attack or aggression of an enemy, the police machinery takes care of the safety

BY DEEPIKA BHAN NEW DELHI - The year 2023 is going to be a period of extremely intense political activity across the country. It is the springboard year for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that will witness the BJP fighting to retain

Photo: wikipedia By NEERA KUCKREJA SOHONI In an article published in 2009, Daniel Naujoks wrote, “India has one of the world's most diverse and complex migration histories. Since the 19th century, ethnic Indians have established communities on every continent as well as on

By NAVIN DOSHI A few words on giving from the ‘Gitanjali’ by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore:O LORD KRISHNA, YOU EMPTY THIS VESSEL AND FILL IT WITH FRESH LIFE IN PERPETUITY, YOU CARRY THIS FLUTE OVER HILLS AND DALES, AND BREATHE THROUGH IT MELODIES ETERNALLY. YOUR

By DEEPAK JOLLY Sustainable, cruelty-free, antibiotic-free, ethically produced, plant-based veganism which was a niche sector till recently is now gaining worldwide popularity. As distinct from vegetarianism, veganism seeks to avoid the unnecessary disturbing or suffering of all living beings and is

By ADITI BHADURI The re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's recent elections has gladdened many Indians. Ignoring Israel's domestic policies, there have been breathless discussions on mostly external factors that may have given Bibi this spectacular comeback despite the many charges

By KANWAL SIBAL NEW DELHI, (IANS) - The 14th anniversary of the gruesome Mumbai terror attacks has gone by without its perpetrators being brought to justice. Those massacred belonged to many nationalities, including 6 Americans, yet Pakistan has escaped international pressure

NEW DELHI (IANS) - India will assume the Presidency of the powerful grouping from the current chair Indonesia on December 1. The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico,

By SANDEEP BAMZAI Protected by British power, the rulers of princely states neglected their subjects; they not only collected rent, but also various illegal levies and subjected people to forced labor while squandering away a major part of their states' revenues

By Neera Kuckreja Sohoni On October 31, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases challenging the race-conscious admissions programs of Harvard and North Carolina universities. The court was requested to consider: (i) Whether it should overrule its Grutter v. Bollinger ruling and

By INGRID NEWKIRK (Founder-President PETA) In the 1960s, there was a TV show called A Man Called Shenandoah. A man with amnesia would ride into a town in the Old West, take on a problem, solve it and then leave. The townspeople

By SHAKEEL SYED Every two years our nation goes through the ritual of elections. People are reminded that voting is almost a matter of near religiosity.  Every aspirant for political office would want us to know them, but after the election,

By PETER WHITE, Ethnic Media Services On October 31, the Supreme Court will hear two cases that will determine the future of affirmative action. Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) is suing Harvard and University of North Carolina (UNC) for considering race

By JONATHAN MEHTA STEIN, Ethnic Media Services LOS ANGELES, CA - Californians cannot wait any longer for fair representation. The horrific scandal currently unfolding in Los Angeles has unearthed the inner workings of morally bankrupt politicians who abuse our systems of

By NEERA KUCKREJA SOHONI In the spate of violence that followed the unforgivably savage death of Floyd George from being suffocated by a cop, not just the police but the entire American system came under fire. In addition to rioting and

By DEEPIKA BHAN It may be too early to predict whether a phoenix emerges, or the churn ends in scattering stars. The question is who will challenge Narendra Modi and does any opposition leader have an alternative to 'sabka vishwas'

By YASHWANT RAJ WASHINGTON, DC - India and the United States need to settle on a name for their relationship. Are they partners, strategic partners? Allies -- critical allies, natural allies? Good friends, best friends? Or, yes, brothers? Over the years, leaders

By Shakeel Syed Protesting is innately human. We are blessed with the gift of discerning and the ability to protest the wrong to right it. Human history invites us to celebrate their protests and learn from them. Here are some inspiring

By EDWARD KISSAM, Ethnic Media Services Recent comments by White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha point to a major shift in the administration’s approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Described by Jha as “commercialization,” the shift in strategy portends