Lalit K Jha

All stories by Lalit K Jha

US report calls out India over its 'several' human rights issues

US report calls out India over its 'several' human rights issues

Rediff.com31 Mar 2021

The State Department in its report listed more than a dozen significant human rights issues for India. Prominent among them are unlawful and arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings perpetrated by police; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by some police and prison officials; arbitrary arrest and detention by government authorities; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; political and prisoners or detainees in certain states.

US to hold China accountable to follow rules: Biden

US to hold China accountable to follow rules: Biden

Rediff.com26 Mar 2021

The United States working with its partners and allies is going to hold China accountable to follow the rules, US President Joe Biden has said, as he referred to his recent meeting with leaders from Quad countries involving Australia, India and Japan.

Senate confirms Dr Vivek Murthy as US Surgeon General

Senate confirms Dr Vivek Murthy as US Surgeon General

Rediff.com24 Mar 2021

Dr Murthy, 43, would occupy the position of America's Surgeon General for the second time. In 2011, president Barack Obama tapped him to serve on the advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and integrative and public health.

2 top US senators ask Blinken to raise farmers' issue with India

2 top US senators ask Blinken to raise farmers' issue with India

Rediff.com19 Mar 2021

Schumer and Menendez said the months-long demonstrations have been met with orders from the central government and local authorities to shut off internet access in protest areas, cut off water and electricity supplies for the tens of thousands living in protest camps, and impede the work of journalists reporting on the protests.

US court sentences Indian to 3 years in jail for call centre fraud

US court sentences Indian to 3 years in jail for call centre fraud

Rediff.com18 Mar 2021

An Indian national from Gurgaon has been sentenced to three years in federal imprisonment on charges of call centre fraud that intended to cheat Americans of millions of dollars, a US attorney said.

Quad summit went very well, says US President Biden

Quad summit went very well, says US President Biden

Rediff.com15 Mar 2021

Biden on Friday opened the first Quad Leaders' Summit held virtually and attended by Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

Quad leaders discuss 'challenge' posed by China: US NSA

Quad leaders discuss 'challenge' posed by China: US NSA

Rediff.com13 Mar 2021

Leaders of the United States, India, Australia and Japan did discuss the 'challenge' posed by China during the first meeting of the Quad, and they made clear that none of them have any 'illusions' about Beijing, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said.

Hate crimes against Asian Americans must stop: Biden

Hate crimes against Asian Americans must stop: Biden

Rediff.com12 Mar 2021

Biden's reference to the hate crime against Asian Americans was welcomed by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna.

Mandatory minimum pay hike for H-1B workers to be delayed

Mandatory minimum pay hike for H-1B workers to be delayed

Rediff.com12 Mar 2021

The Biden administration on Friday issued a formal notification to delay the implementation of the previous Trump regime's controversial rule to raise mandatory minimum pay for foreign workers on H-1B visa, the most sought after among Indian IT professionals. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The Department of Labour in its federal notification published on Friday said that it is considering whether to propose a further delay of the final rule's effective date and accompanying implementation periods that are currently scheduled to take effect on May 14, 2021, and July 1, 2021, respectively.

All adult Americans to get COVID-19 vaccine by May 1: Biden

All adult Americans to get COVID-19 vaccine by May 1: Biden

Rediff.com12 Mar 2021

As of Thursday, he said total deaths in America due to COVID-19 is over 527,000. That's more deaths than in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and 9/11 combined, he said.

US provided info, equipment to India during China standoff

US provided info, equipment to India during China standoff

Rediff.com10 Mar 2021

Admiral Philips Davidson, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, also told the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that China's recent activities along the Line of Actual Control have opened India's eyes to what cooperative effort with others might mean for their own defensive needs as he observed that New Delhi, in the very near term, will deepen its engagement with the Quad.

Indian-Americans taking over US, says Biden

Indian-Americans taking over US, says Biden

Rediff.com5 Mar 2021

Indian-Americans are taking over the country, United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday, referring to the high number of people from the community getting a place in his administration.

Biden to engage with Quad allies 'as soon as possible'

Biden to engage with Quad allies 'as soon as possible'

Rediff.com5 Mar 2021

"President Biden has had warm and productive early conversations with his counterparts in Australia, India, and Japan, and looks forward to engaging even more directly with our partners in the Indo-Pacific as soon as possible," a senior administration official told PTI.

US condemns terrorists who seek to infiltrate across LoC

US condemns terrorists who seek to infiltrate across LoC

Rediff.com5 Mar 2021

Condemning the terrorists who seek to infiltrate across the Line of Control, the United States on Thursday called on all parties to reduce tensions along the LoC by returning to the 2003 ceasefire commitments.

White House budget chief nominee Neera Tanden withdraws nomination

White House budget chief nominee Neera Tanden withdraws nomination

Rediff.com3 Mar 2021

Tanden, president of the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress, would have led a key economic post that oversees the production of the President's proposed budget for his agenda if she had been confirmed.

Biden admin 'undecided' on ending Trump-era H-1B visa ban

Biden admin 'undecided' on ending Trump-era H-1B visa ban

Rediff.com2 Mar 2021

The Biden administration has indicated that it is still undecided on ending the Trump-era ban on issuing new H-1B visas, with the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas asserting that the US government's top priority is the acute needs of individuals fleeing persecution. The H-1B visa, the most sought after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Bill introduced in US Congress to scrap 'one-China' policy

Bill introduced in US Congress to scrap 'one-China' policy

Rediff.com2 Mar 2021

The US maintained normal diplomatic relations with the government in Taiwan until 1979, when then-President Jimmy Carter abruptly cut off formal ties with Taipei and recognised the Communist regime in Beijing.

Can't allow China to dominate: US lawmaker on India cyberattack report

Can't allow China to dominate: US lawmaker on India cyberattack report

Rediff.com2 Mar 2021

The United States State Department said it is aware of these reports.

Mumbai power outage may have been handiwork of China: Report

Mumbai power outage may have been handiwork of China: Report

Rediff.com1 Mar 2021

A report details the campaign conducted by a China-linked threat activity group RedEcho targeting the Indian power sector.

We will prevail: Trump hints at 2024 presidential bid

We will prevail: Trump hints at 2024 presidential bid

Rediff.com1 Mar 2021

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Committee in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, the 74-year-old leader, who left the White House on January 20, stopped short of announcing to run for the president in 2024, although he gave enough indications that he is moving in that direction.

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