Suman Guha Mozumder In Washington, DC

Stories by Suman Guha Mozumder In Washington, DC

Obama congratulates Zardari on Pak's progress

Obama congratulates Zardari on Pak's progress

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

United States President Barack Obama on Thursday reiterated that the US will remain a steadfast partner for Pakistan as Islamabad moves towards peace and prosperity.The President told the Friends of Democratic Pakistan in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, that he would like to congratulate President Asif Ali Zardari and the member states and organisations constituting the body, for the important work that has been done over the last 12 months.

'India deal-maker, not deal-breaker'

'India deal-maker, not deal-breaker'

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2009

'A lack of agreement at Copenhagen may not be suicidal for the US,' he said, 'but for a country like India, it is absolutely critical to have an agreement at Copenhagen,' says Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

'We must act immediately to curb climate change'

'We must act immediately to curb climate change'

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2009

Nobel laureate Rajendra Pachauri, who is head of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, on Tuesday made an impassioned appeal to over 100 heads of states and governments to act urgently to mitigate green house gas emission in order to save the planet.

UN worried about lack of freedom for Tamils

UN worried about lack of freedom for Tamils

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2009

Internally Displaced Persons, who live in government-run camps in Sri Lanka, lack the basic right of freedom of movement, according to a top United Nations official who visited the country recently.

13-yr-old Lucknow girl to address UN climate meet

13-yr-old Lucknow girl to address UN climate meet

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2009

If given a chance, Yugaratna wants to tell US President Obama, who is also her role model, how much children and youth all over the world are gearing for a better environment and how energetic they are.

UN concerned over recent developments in Sri Lanka

UN concerned over recent developments in Sri Lanka

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2009

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday expressed concern over the recent developments in Sri Lanka, including the detention of two UN staff members without charges.

Shilpa's Bloomberg endorsement most-watched clip

Shilpa's Bloomberg endorsement most-watched clip

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2009

Believe it or not, Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty's endorsement of Michael Bloomberg last month during India Day Parade has become the most-watched video clip of the 2009 mayoral election.

Gujarat's affidavit ploy pathetic: Chidambaram

Gujarat's affidavit ploy pathetic: Chidambaram

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2009

For Home Minister Chidambaram, it was an opportunity to set the record straight and disabuse any misperception that the Home Ministry affidavit on Ishrat Jahan and three others could be used by the Gujarat government to vindicate itself from culpability in the alleged fake encounter case.

He dreams of socially relevant videogames

He dreams of socially relevant videogames

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2009

Suman Guha Mozumder speaks to John Kolencheryl, a computer engineering student from Carnegie Mellon who wants to make a difference.

Ban regrets Lanka's expulsion of UNICEF official

Ban regrets Lanka's expulsion of UNICEF official

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2009

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has regretted Colombo's the decision to expel James Elder, a spokesman for United Nation's Children Fund in Sri Lanka for allegedly making adverse remarks against the government over rights violations and war causalities.

'We need to revise the definition of education'

'We need to revise the definition of education'

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2009

"Nations need to recognise higher education as the engine of economic growth and prosperity," says Dr Susan Aldridge, president, University of Maryland University College, US, Aziz Haniffa reports

US nonproliferation lobby relishes Pokhran-II row

US nonproliferation lobby relishes Pokhran-II row

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2009

The United States' nonproliferation lobby is apparently relishing the controversy ignited by erstwhile Defense and Research Development Organization scientist K Santhanam that the May 1998 Pokhran thermonuclear tests were not a full success implying that India needs to test again.

Harpoon charges on Pak not a rider on US aid

Harpoon charges on Pak not a rider on US aid

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2009

The New York Times report that Pakistan illegally modified the Harpoon anti-ship missile provided by the United States apparently to bolster its conventional weaponry against India, has embarrassed the Obama administration and Senators John F Kerry and Richard Lugarjust as Washington is poised to provide Islamabad with a massive economic and military largesse of $ 7.5 billion over five years

Deepti Gupta wins prestigious US fellowship

Deepti Gupta wins prestigious US fellowship

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2009

She's one of 35 would-be teachers selected for the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation fellowship, and the only Indian in the list.

Doha talks: US hopeful of Indian help

Doha talks: US hopeful of Indian help

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2009

The Obama administration has not received any specific assurances from India that it will help carry the developing countries with it to help successfully complete the stalled Doha Development Agenda, but the fact that New Delhi is hosting the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting exudes optimism in this regard, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk has acknowledged

Harpoon issue: Pak for mutual inspections, says US

Harpoon issue: Pak for mutual inspections, says US

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2009

Responding to "serious" American concerns about illegal modifications made by Pakistan to the US-made harpoon anti-ship missiles that could target India, Islamabad has agreed for "mutual inspections" of the weapon system.

How Sam Pitroda analyses Indian higher education

How Sam Pitroda analyses Indian higher education

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2009

Telecommunications icon and entrepreneur Sam Pitroda, who is the chairman of National Knowledge Commission, tasked with building excellence in India's education system to meet the challenges of the 21st century, has said India faces serious problems in its higher education system and that unless it is alleviated expeditiously, the Indian march to become a major global player could be adversely impacted.

India needs leaders at many levels: Sam Pitroda

India needs leaders at many levels: Sam Pitroda

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2009

Sam Pitroda, chairman of India's National Knowledge Commission, believes the United States' model of a liberal arts education is applicable in the revamping of higher education in India and that such a model is very much in the works.He noted during a conference on Higher Education Policies in India, China and the United States, "Too much focus on engineering and medical education has created a situation where liberal arts really did not get due recognition," he said.

'Cooperative education must for India, China, US'

'Cooperative education must for India, China, US'

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2009

If India, China and the United States are to prosper in a globalised economy, a joint, cooperative transformation of their higher education systems was imperative, believes B M Naik, former principal of the engineering school at the Guru Gobind Singh College in Nanded, Maharashtra."To bring about this transformation from one level to the high level and to the global level and quality standard education, what is most important is that these ideas must move fast," he said.

9/11 plotters still alive and planning: US general

9/11 plotters still alive and planning: US general

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2009

Those who plotted the deadly attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, are still alive and planning to carry out more terror strikes, a top United States military general has said.