Month: April 2025

[ad_1] The TOI Correspondent from Washington: Indians are visiting America in greater numbers than ever before, even as travellers from other countries are shying away from the US, which is infused with MAGA fervour, according to recent surveys and travel industry data.Nearly 1.9 million Indian visitors travelled to the US from January to October 2024, marking a 48% increase compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to the US National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), which now says India as the 6th largest market for US inbound arrivals.While the numbers are from just before the Trump victory in the 2024 Presidential elections, the NTTO says India has emerged as the largest source market for outbound travelers in Asia, surpassing China, South Korea, and Japan in recent times. Tourism receipts from Indian visitors reached $13.3 billion in 2022, and with the 2024 […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Following the extradition of Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana from the US, govt reminded Pakistan on Thursday of its responsibility to bring to justice, and not shield, the perpetrators of 26/11. The trial in Pakistan has been unable to deliver justice even as India maintains that it remains committed to providing all cooperation to Pakistan for an expeditious and successful conclusion of the process.The Indian govt also said that Pakistan may try very hard, but its reputation as the epicenter of global terrorism will not diminish. After Rana was extradited to India, Pakistan, where he was born, sought to distance himself from the accused saying he was only a Canadian national as he had not applied for a renewal of his Pakistani-origin documents for the past two decades."The extradition of Rana is a reminder yet again to […]

[ad_1] JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said that the U.S. and China should keep communications open as trade tensions continue. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Dimon said regular and respectful dialogue between the two nations is important to manage disagreements. Noting that China has seen strong economic growth, he highlighted that the country’s trade practices and influence in the region have raised concerns. “They are scaring Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, India,” he stated, urging Chinese authorities to be receptive to addressing these concerns. Dimon's comments come as the Trump administration announced a sweeping new tariff of up to 245% on Chinese imports. China, on the other hand, said if the U.S. continues to play the "tariff numbers game", it will pay no attention to it.In the interview, Dimon further highlighted that the U.S. should not try to […]

[ad_1] Scottish Parliament (Image Credit: Scottish Parliament website) LONDON: An Alba party member of the Scottish Parliament has tabled Scotland’s first-ever parliamentary motion tackling Hinduphobia.Ash Regan tabled the motion, which highlights rising levels of prejudice, discrimination and marginalisation experienced by the 16,000-strong Scottish Hindu community. It also acknowledges the importance of their research, advocacy and public engagement in raising awareness and advancing interfaith dialogue, social cohesion and mutual respect across Scotland’s diverse communities.The motion commends the work of the Gandhian Peace Society, a UK registered charity, for its report “Hinduphobia in Scotland”, which was presented on Jan 23 to the Scottish parliamentary cross-party group on challenging racial and religious prejudice. Motions are short statements written by MSPs to raise awareness of an issue.The report combines data with first-hand accounts of Hinduphobia. It highlights the vandalising of a Dundee temple with […]

[ad_1] LONDON: The UK’s press regulator has rejected a complaint by the Hindu Community Organisations Group (HCOG) Leicester about a “Daily Mail” article that claimed British Hindu extremists were forming alliances with far-right groups in Europe over their “common hatred of Muslims”, sparking fears of religious brawls.The IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation) wrote to HCOG convenor Vinod Popat on April 16 saying the article did not “raise a possible breach of the Editors’ Code”. TOI has seen the response, which rejects his complaint about the phrase “Hindu extremism — which is known as Hindutva” being used. IPSO said: “Hindutva carries multiple meanings, omitting to mention other definitions did not make the article inaccurate.”Popat also complained the article made claims about ties between British Hindus and far-right groups, and it suggested UK election interference by British Hindus “without credible or verifiable […]