Lalit K Jha

All stories by Lalit K Jha

US approves Johnson & Johnson's Covid vaccine

US approves Johnson & Johnson's Covid vaccine

Rediff.com28 Feb 2021

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which works with one dose instead of two, got approval on Saturday, the third vaccine cleared in the country after emergency use authorisation (EUA) was given to two-dose shots from Pfizer and Moderna in December last year.

Saudi prince approved killing of Khashoggi: US report

Saudi prince approved killing of Khashoggi: US report

Rediff.com27 Feb 2021

Fifty-nine-year-old Khashoggi, a dissident Saudi journalist who lived in the US as a legal permanent resident and wrote for the Washington Post, was critical of the prince's policies and was killed in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in the Turkish city on October 2, 2018.

US, UN, EU welcome India-Pak ceasefire agreement

US, UN, EU welcome India-Pak ceasefire agreement

Rediff.com27 Feb 2021

The United States, the United Nations and the European Union have welcomed the announcement by the militaries of India and Pakistan to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors, and hoped that it would lead to greater peace and stability in South Asia.

Biden revokes Trump-era ban on Green Card

Biden revokes Trump-era ban on Green Card

Rediff.com25 Feb 2021

Reopening the country to people seeking green cards, or legal permanent residence, Biden in his proclamation on Wednesday said that the policy of former US President Donald Trump does not advance the interests of the United States.

Countering Chinese Propaganda Act introduced in US Congress

Countering Chinese Propaganda Act introduced in US Congress

Rediff.com25 Feb 2021

A legislation has been introduced in the United States Congress for countering the Chinese propaganda by creating a new sanctions authority against state-backed disinformation networks.

US names Anjali Bharadwaj among 12 anti-corruption champions

US names Anjali Bharadwaj among 12 anti-corruption champions

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

Anjali Bharadwaj, an Indian social activist working on issues of transparency and accountability, is one of the 12 anti-corruption champions announced by the Biden administration.

Biden nominates Desi lawyer to head office of personnel management

Biden nominates Desi lawyer to head office of personnel management

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

United States President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American lawyer and rights activist Kiran Ahuja to head the Office of Personnel Management, a federal agency that manages America's more than two million civil servants.

White House backs Neera Tanden as Republicans oppose her nomination

White House backs Neera Tanden as Republicans oppose her nomination

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

The White House and the Indian-American community are solidly backing the nomination of Neera Tanden as the director of Office of Management and Budget, describing her as the most appropriate candidate to hold the position.

Covid: Biden calls 500,000 toll in US 'heartbreaking milestone'

Covid: Biden calls 500,000 toll in US 'heartbreaking milestone'

Rediff.com23 Feb 2021

Citing the figure of 500,071 dead in the US, Biden said, "that's more Americans who've died in one year -- this pandemic -- than in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War combined.

Closely following India, China troop disengagement: US

Closely following India, China troop disengagement: US

Rediff.com23 Feb 2021

Both countries have reached a mutual agreement for disengagement of troops from the most contentious area of North and South Pangong Lake.

US reaches H-1B visa cap for 2021

US reaches H-1B visa cap for 2021

Rediff.com18 Feb 2021

The US has received enough petitions needed to reach the Congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa cap for the fiscal year 2021 and successful candidates for the most sought-after work visa among foreign professionals, including Indians, would be decided by a computerised draw of lots. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality 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.

Desis in US launch rose campaign in support of protesting farmers

Desis in US launch rose campaign in support of protesting farmers

Rediff.com14 Feb 2021

A group of Indian diaspora organisations launched a rose campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day on Sunday in support of the farmers protesting against the new farm laws in India.

Democracy is fragile: Biden after Trump's acquittal

Democracy is fragile: Biden after Trump's acquittal

Rediff.com14 Feb 2021

United States President Joe Biden has said that the Senate's acquittal of his predecessor Donald Trump for inciting a mob to storm the Capitol on January 6 was a reminder that democracy was 'fragile' and every American had a duty to defend the truth.

Trump 'ready for yet another phase of active public life'

Trump 'ready for yet another phase of active public life'

Rediff.com14 Feb 2021

Donald Trump has told millions of his supporters that he is ready for yet another phase of active public life after the United States Senate acquitted him in his second impeachment trial.

Trump acquitted by US Senate in 2nd impeachment trial

Trump acquitted by US Senate in 2nd impeachment trial

Rediff.com14 Feb 2021

Following four days of the impeachment trial, the 100-member Senate voted to impeach Trump by 57-43 votes, 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction.

Democrats urge Republicans not to acquit Trump again

Democrats urge Republicans not to acquit Trump again

Rediff.com12 Feb 2021

United States House Democrats leading the prosecution of former president Donald Trump at his Senate impeachment trial have concluded their arguments, urging Republican Senators to not to acquit him for the second time if they don't want to set a "new, terrible standard" for presidential misconduct.

No change in US' policy on J-K: Biden administration

No change in US' policy on J-K: Biden administration

Rediff.com12 Feb 2021

According to a 2019 Congressional Research Service report of August 2019, a longstanding goal of US policy in South Asia has been to prevent the India-Pakistan conflict from escalating to interstate war.

New twist to H-1B visas for Indians

New twist to H-1B visas for Indians

Rediff.com11 Feb 2021

An influential immigration advocacy group representing Indian-Americans on Thursday urged the Biden administration not to issue the most sought-after H-1B work visa to any individual born in India, till the time the discriminatory country-cap on green cards or permanent legal residency is removed. The current per-country cap on issuing of green cards in the US has resulted in Indian professionals, mostly from the IT sector, having to wait for decades for their legal permanent residency. Issuing new H-1B visas to more Indians would add to this agonising painful wait for green cards, Immigration Voice said in a statement.

In first call with Xi, Biden conveys concerns over China's unfair trade practices

In first call with Xi, Biden conveys concerns over China's unfair trade practices

Rediff.com11 Feb 2021

This was the first phone call between the two leaders after Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20.

US Senate begins impeachment trial against Trump

US Senate begins impeachment trial against Trump

Rediff.com11 Feb 2021

Led by Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin, a battery of his party colleagues from the House of Representatives alleged that Trump incited his supporters for violence on January 6 as they stormed the Capitol Hill wherein Congressmen and Senators were performing their constitutional duty of counting and certification of the November 3rd presidential election results.

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