The US mission in India is undergoing transition at all levels. As the tale goes, new Ambassador Timothy Roemer is highly regarded by US President Barack Obama for his political judgment. In fact, Obama apparently turned to him routinely during electioneering because Roemer’s forecast was always the closest to reality. Joining him in Delhi is a new political counsellor,

Uzra Zeya, who worked closely with former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a key member of her secretariat. It’s learnt that at least one more officer from Rice’s team is in team Delhi. On the other hand, the Embassy’s long-serving Public Affairs Counsellor Larry Schwartz was recently suddenly posted out to Islamabad, leaving another vacancy. What it means is that gradually, a whole new team is falling in place at the US Embassy. Their first big test — the Prime Minister’s visit to the US in November.

A special Bond

WHAT is the similarity between Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh T Subbarami Reddy and James Bond? Flamboyance is perhaps one. But the former Union minister, whose major contribution to the Congress is organising lavish dinners during party functions, strives harder to be Bond in real life. He has got the number 007 for his car. But Reddy is not the only one in the grand old party to have a fancy for special numbers. AICC Secretary and MLA Jai Kishan owns a fleet of cars with fancy numbers and is often seen riding an SUV bearing 001 on the numberplate.

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