All stories by Lalit K Jha
5 prominent Indian-Americans to contest Nov 8 US Congress midterm polls
Rediff.com5 Nov 2022The four incumbents -- Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal -- are likely to be re-elected. All four are from the Democratic party.
Biden, Harris lead US in mourning Morbi deaths
Rediff.com1 Nov 2022'Today, our hearts are with India. Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones during the bridge collapse and join the people of Gujarat in mourning the loss of too many lives cut short,' Biden said.
Tying with India to help it play broader stabilising role in Indo-Pacific: US
Rediff.com30 Oct 2022The senior defence official, however, refrained from describing the kind of responses that the two countries would respond to their common challenges.
Will take US-India ties to next level again: Trump
Rediff.com27 Oct 2022Former United States President Donald Trump has promised that he will take America's relationship with India to the next level again if he wins the presidential election in 2024.
US ex-defence secy, architect of modern Indo-US security ties, Carter dies
Rediff.com26 Oct 2022In a tribute, President Joe Biden called him a "born patriot", while Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hailed him as a thought-provoking global strategist.
Bidens host largest-ever Diwali reception at White House
Rediff.com25 Oct 2022United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden on Monday hosted a Diwali reception at the White House in what they called the largest since the People's House started celebrating the festival during the George Bush administration.
US: We know Kashmiri scribe was stopped from travelling, but...
Rediff.com20 Oct 2022Mattoo had on Tuesday said she was stopped at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi from flying to the US to receive the prestigious award.
Amid India's concerns, US to provide F-16 package to Pak
Rediff.com19 Oct 2022External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who was on a visit to the US last month, said that America's relationship with Pakistan has "not served" either of the two countries and raised questions on the Biden administration's approval of a USD 450-million sustenance package for the F-16 fleet.
There is a lot to learn from India: IMF
Rediff.com13 Oct 2022India's deployment of a direct cash transfer scheme and other similar social welfare programmes is a "logistical marvel", the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday. "From India, there is a lot to learn. There is a lot to learn from some other examples around the world. "We have examples from pretty much every continent and every level of income. "If I look at the case of India, it is actually quite impressive," Paolo Mauro, deputy director of the Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF, told reporters at a news conference in Washington.
A peek into Sitharaman's next Budget
Rediff.com12 Oct 2022The next annual budget of India will have to be very carefully structured to sustain the country's growth momentum, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday, noting that it will also address inflation concerns. Visiting Washington DC to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the finance minister was responding to a question on the next year's Budget at a fire-side chat with eminent economist Eshwar Prasad at the prestigious Brookings Institute. "Specifics (of the next Budget) may be difficult at this stage because it's a bit too early. "But broadly, the growth priorities will be kept absolutely on the top. "Even as I speak about the concerns that inflation brings before me. So, inflation concerns will have to be addressed. "But then how would you manage growth would be the natural question," Sitharaman said.
Tulsi Gabbard quits Democratic Party, calls it 'elitist cabal of war-mongers'
Rediff.com11 Oct 2022Gabbard, 41, who retired from the House of Representatives last year, made the announcement on Twitter.
Why India is mum on OPEC's decision to cut oil production
Rediff.com8 Oct 2022It's the sovereign right of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to decide on the oil production capacities, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said Friday. Refraining from commenting on the controversial decision of OPEC on cutting oil production by two million barrels a day, which has taken the world by surprise, Puri said it is likely to be scrutinized very carefully. During an interaction with a group of Indian reporters, he said that India as one of the major consumers of oil and gas also has a major say in the global oil market.
US cautions its citizens travelling to India due to crime, terrorism
Rediff.com7 Oct 2022The advisory said that "terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities."
We are both daughters of India, Priyanka Chopra tells Kamala Harris
Rediff.com4 Oct 2022Chopra, who is now settled in Los Angeles, was invited by the Democratic National Committee's Women's Leadership Forum to interview the Vice President for a fireside chat.
US to impose costs on Iran for crackdown against protesters: Biden
Rediff.com4 Oct 2022The US is alarmed and appalled by reports of security authorities responding to university students' peaceful protests with violence and mass arrests.
1984 anti-Sikh riots mark one of the darkest yrs in modern India: US senator
Rediff.com2 Oct 2022Toomey said he has personally witnessed the spirit of Sikhs and has come to better understand the Sikh tradition that is founded on equality, respect, and peace.
Biden imposes new sanctions on Russia for annexing Ukrainian regions
Rediff.com1 Oct 2022Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden condemned Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory on Friday.
Need for UNSC reform can't be denied forever: Jaishankar
Rediff.com29 Sep 2022India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the security council, saying it rightly deserved a place as a permanent member.
India strives for relationship with China, but...: Jaishankar
Rediff.com29 Sep 2022China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. Beijing is also involved in a maritime dispute with Japan over the East China Sea.
Jaishankar raises US visa delay, Blinken says sensitive to it
Rediff.com28 Sep 2022Blinken blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for a backlog of visa applications from Indian nationals.