US: Manisha Singh, Indian American lawyer as assistant secretary

Manisha Singh, an Indian American lawyer, was sworn in as assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs on Friday, returning to head a department where she had once served in a junior position.

Singh was administered the oath by secretary of state Rex Tillerson. The department pursues economic diplomacy and her responsibilities will include overseeing international trade and investment policy, international finance, development and debt policy, economic sanctions, and combating terror financing.

She earlier served as the deputy to then department head Dan Sullivan, now Republican senator from Alaska. She continued to work for him since his election in 2015, as chief counsel and senior policy advisor.