Lalit K Jha

Stories by Lalit K Jha

US rules out adding India to AUKUS security alliance

US rules out adding India to AUKUS security alliance

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

"AUKUS? What would it become? JAUKUS? JAIAUKUS?" Psaki said in lighter moments before giving answer to the question.

Modi to meet Kamala Harris; Japanese, Australian PMs today

Modi to meet Kamala Harris; Japanese, Australian PMs today

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday is scheduled to have as many as eight meetings, including with Vice President Kamala Harris, on the first working day of his current US trip.

Modi to meet top 5 US CEOs, 2 of them Indian Americans

Modi to meet top 5 US CEOs, 2 of them Indian Americans

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

On Thursday, the prime minister is scheduled to hold one-on-one meetings with top five American CEOs. Two of them are Indian Americans -- Shantanu Narayen from Adobe and Vivek Lall from General Atomics. The three others are Cristiano E Amon from Qualcomm, Mark Widmar from First Solar, and Stephen A Schwarzman from Blackstone.

Indian diaspora turns up in numbers to greet Modi in US

Indian diaspora turns up in numbers to greet Modi in US

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commended the Indian diaspora for distinguishing itself across the world, as he received an enthusiastic welcome from the community on his arrival in Washington, DC, on a major visit to further enhance Indo-US relations.

Modi arrives in US to attend Quad, address UNGA

Modi arrives in US to attend Quad, address UNGA

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington, DC, on Wednesday on an official visit to the United States during which he will hold the first face-to-face meeting with President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, attend the maiden in-person Quad summit and address the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Production of 1 bn vax doses in India on track: Biden

Production of 1 bn vax doses in India on track: Biden

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

The Quad partnership is on track to produce at least a billion vaccine doses in India by 2022, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday, asserting that nothing is more urgent than working together to defeat COVID-19 so the world is much better prepared for future pandemics.

Mutual vaccine recognition eases international travel: Modi

Mutual vaccine recognition eases international travel: Modi

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that international travel should be made easier through mutual recognition of vaccine certificates, amid several countries adopting different sets of rules to allow foreigners to enter their territory in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ajay Banga to hang up his boots at Mastercard on December 31

Ajay Banga to hang up his boots at Mastercard on December 31

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2021

Ajay Banga, one of the topmost Indian-American corporate leaders, and a strong advocate of India-US relationship, would retire from Mastercard at the end of the year, the global credit card company has said.

Modi-Biden maiden meet to focus on boosting India-US ties: White House

Modi-Biden maiden meet to focus on boosting India-US ties: White House

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2021

The maiden bilateral meeting between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday will further strengthen the US-India strategic ties and allow the leaders to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and how the two countries can work together to fight terrorism, a senior White House official has said.

Fully vaccinated Indians can travel to US from Nov

Fully vaccinated Indians can travel to US from Nov

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2021

The US on Monday announced a new international travel system under which fully vaccinated individuals would be allowed to enter the country beginning in November.

FDI key to India's dream to be a $5 trn economy: Deloitte CEO

FDI key to India's dream to be a $5 trn economy: Deloitte CEO

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2021

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is critically important for India to become a $5 trillion economy, Deloitte CEO Punit Renjen said while noting that over two-fifths of the 1,200 business leaders surveyed in the US, UK, Japan and Singapore are planning additional or first-time investments in India. Referring to the survey, he said India continues to be "one of the most attractive" FDI destinations. "Despite the COVID-19 destruction, inflows hit a record high last year. "Business leaders, whom Deloitte surveyed, are preparing to make additional and first-time investments in India," Renjen said.

US apologises for Kabul drone strike that killed 7 kids

US apologises for Kabul drone strike that killed 7 kids

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2021

The strike by a Hellfire missile in Kabul on August 29, which was launched in an effort to kill ISIS-K planners, instead killed 10 civilians, he said.

Pak was considering Taliban govt as a partner to counter India: US Senator

Pak was considering Taliban govt as a partner to counter India: US Senator

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2021

Pak's role in Kabul is not sending a good message to India, a top American lawmaker has said

How Modi, Rahul used Twitter during 2019 poll campaign

How Modi, Rahul used Twitter during 2019 poll campaign

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2021

While both politicians tweeted about a slew of issues, they focused less on developmental issues related to the rural poor -- with Modi devoting a mere three per cent and Gandhi five per cent of his tweets to development, Abhijit Mazumdar, an assistant professor at Park University in Missouri said.

Taliban have been 'businesslike and professional': White House

Taliban have been 'businesslike and professional': White House

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2021

"The Taliban have been cooperative in facilitating the departure of American citizens and lawful permanent residents on charter flights from HKIA. They have shown flexibility, and they have been businesslike and professional in our dealings with them in this effort. This is a positive first step," Emily Horne, Spokesperson of the National Security Council, the White House said.

Govt of terrorists: US lawmakers on new Taliban govt

Govt of terrorists: US lawmakers on new Taliban govt

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2021

'Don't be fooled. There is nothing more moderate about the revived Taliban government'

Expect to have real, inclusive govt in Afghanistan: US

Expect to have real, inclusive govt in Afghanistan: US

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2021

The United States, Blinken said, is committed to looking at everything done from day one through the present and draw lessons from it.

Indo-US 2+2 dialogue to be held in November: FS

Indo-US 2+2 dialogue to be held in November: FS

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2021

The last meeting of the 2+2 was held in New Delhi and the next meeting is to be hosted by the US in Washington, DC.

In first outreach after Taliban takeover, Shringla meets Blinken

In first outreach after Taliban takeover, Shringla meets Blinken

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2021

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has met top Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, and held substantive discussions with them on the strategic bilateral ties and regional and global issues like the current situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized Kabul.

No evidence of Pak bringing in fighters to support Taliban: Pentagon

No evidence of Pak bringing in fighters to support Taliban: Pentagon

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2021

"I have not seen anything to corroborate that report," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a news conference on Thursday when asked about the reported allegations by former Afghanistan president Ashraf Ghani that Pakistan had sent between 10,000 to 15,000 of its men along with the Taliban to capture Kabul and Afghanistan.