Obama names Indian American on arts body

President Barack Obama has picked up an Indian American to serve on the US President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts for the prestigious John F. Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts.Announcing the appointment of eminent Indian American attorney, Amy K. Singh, based in Obama’s home town of Chicago, the White House Monday noted she works to support the arts and youth, which develops civic leadership in the city’s high school youth.Singh practises in areas of entertainment, advertising and marketing, and provides counsel to clients on event production and promotion, television production, talent and other matters.Before starting her own practice, she held several positions, including as general counsel/senior vice president of DDB Chicago Inc, and as an associate in the Chicago office of the firm now known as Sidley Austin LLP.Singh was a member of the Junior Board of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently on the Board of the Mikva Challenge, an organisation that prioritises the development of civic leadership in underserved Chicago high school youth.     (thanks to way2online)========================================================================

Pakistan must act against terrorism, says PM

 Pakistan needs to “act decisively against terrorism” if it seeks to benefit from trade and commerce with India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday.“If there is cooperation between India and Pakistan, vast opportunities will open up for trade, travel and development that will create prosperity in both countries and in South Asia,” he told the Majlis-ash-Shura, the Saudi parliament.But for this, he said, Pakistan needs to “act decisively against terrorism”. He added that India’s desire for cooperative relations with Pakistan was aimed at seeking permanent peace in South Asia.Manmohan Singh said the challenge of terrorism was immense in Afghanistan, where a Taliban suicide attack Friday in Kabul left 17 people dead, including nine Indians.“The people of Afghanistan have suffered for far too long. They deserve an atmosphere of peace and the opportunity to pursue a life of dignity and hope,” he said.Manmohan Singh said the international community should support all sections of Afghan society and work towards the emergence of Afghanistan as a modern, stable and sovereign nation.  (thanks to way2online)

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