All stories by Lalit K Jha
Republican Kevin McCarthy elected as House Speaker
Rediff.com7 Jan 2023Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected as the new speaker of the United States House of Representatives in a dramatic post-midnight ballot on Saturday, after days of intense negotiations and a series of humiliating defeats to finally capture the gavel on a historic 15th attempt.
H-1B, L-1 visa fees to be hiked massively
Rediff.com5 Jan 2023The Biden administration has proposed a massive hike in immigration fees, including the much sought-after H-1B visas for high-skilled foreign workers, which is very popular among Indian tech professionals. Under the proposed rule, published by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Wednesday, the application for the H-1B visa increases from $460 to $780, and L-1 from $460 to $1,385. The application fee for O-1 visas has been proposed to increase from $460 to $1,055.
Biden concerned about China's handling of COVID-19
Rediff.com5 Jan 2023'I think we just got to make the protocol we set out: that if you're flying from China, you got to be tested, and so on'
3 Indian Americans die after falling in frozen US lake
Rediff.com28 Dec 2022Three Indian nationals, including a woman, have drowned after they fell through the ice while walking on a frozen lake in the US state of Arizona.
Biden nominates Indian-American lawyer Rich Verma to top diplomatic post
Rediff.com24 Dec 2022Verma, 54, who served as a former US ambassador to India from January 16, 2015, to January 20, 2017 is currently the chief legal officer and head of global public policy at Mastercard.
China our only competitor with intent to reshape international order: Blinken
Rediff.com23 Dec 2022Blinken also underlined that diplomacy is the only way to definitively end the Russian conflict in Ukraine.
US warns Taliban over decision to ban women from universities
Rediff.com21 Dec 2022The Taliban rulers on Tuesday banned university education for women nationwide, as they took decisive steps to crush their right to education and freedom.
India in danger of becoming Hindu nationalist State: US Congressman
Rediff.com16 Dec 2022'I am a lover of Hinduism, a lover of Jainism, Buddhism and other religions that were born in India, but we need to protect the rights of all people there. Whether they're Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Jains'
Ro Khanna questioned Twitter's censoring of story on Biden's son
Rediff.com3 Dec 2022Two Indian Americans -- Congressman Ro Khanna and Vijaya Gadde -- prominently figure in United States President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden's laptop story whose full disclosure Twitter CEO Elon Musk has announced would be released on the microblogging site.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai receives Padma Bhushan in US
Rediff.com3 Dec 2022Indian-American Pichai was awarded the Padma Bhushan for 2022 in the Trade and Industry category.
Looking forward to support my friend Modi during India's G20 presidency: Biden
Rediff.com2 Dec 2022The US President also underlined that both countries "will advance sustainable and inclusive growth while tackling shared challenges like the climate, energy, and food crises."
China will have 1500 nuclear warheads by 2035, says Pentagon report
Rediff.com30 Nov 2022China is expanding its nuclear force and is likely to have a stockpile of about 1,500 warheads by 2035, up from the current estimated number of 400, the Pentagon has said in a report that notes that Beijing aims to expand its national power through both domestic and foreign policy initiatives.
Amid LAC row, China warns US against interfering in ties with India
Rediff.com30 Nov 2022Throughout its standoff with India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese officials sought to downplay the severity of the crisis, emphasising Beijing's intent to preserve border stability and prevent the standoff from harming other areas of its bilateral relationship with India, the Pentagon said in a report on Tuesday.
US lauds India's role in G20 declaration of 'today's era isn't of war'
Rediff.com19 Nov 2022The members of the grouping made it clear that they were against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and sought "peaceful resolution of conflicts."
Republicans gain control of US House of Representatives
Rediff.com17 Nov 2022Donald Trump's Republican Party has wrested control of the 435-member United States House of Representatives from the ruling Democratic Party with a razor-thin majority, setting the stage for a showdown with Joe Biden in the next two years of his presidency.
Trump announces 2024 presidential run, files papers
Rediff.com16 Nov 2022Former United States president Donald Trump has announced that he will run for the president in 2024 to make America 'great and glorious' again, vowing to fight like no one to defeat the 'radical left Democrats' that are trying to destroy the country from within.
US directs Air India to pay $121.5 mn to passengers; slaps $1.4 mn fine
Rediff.com15 Nov 2022The US has ordered Tata-group owned Air India to pay a whopping $121.5 million as refunds and $1.4 million as penalties for extreme delays in providing refunds to passengers due to the cancellation or change in flights, mostly during the pandemic, officials said. Air India is among the six airlines that have agreed to cough up a total of over $600 million as refunds, the US Department of Transportation said on Monday. Air India's policy of "refund on request" is contrary to the Department of Transportation policy, which mandates air carriers to legally refund tickets in the case of cancellation or change in flight, officials said.
Democrats keep control of US Senate after crucial midterm polls
Rediff.com13 Nov 2022The ruling Democratic Party will retain majority control of the United States Senate as two of its candidates are projected to win their pivotal races against Republican rivals, in a major boost to President Joe Biden in the second half of his term, both for his legislative agenda and his ability to appoint judges and other key officials.
Biden, Modi have productive, very practical relationship: US NSA
Rediff.com11 Nov 2022"President Biden is looking forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi at the G20 this year, as we look ahead to the next year," he said.
Veteran Ami Bera makes it as 5th Indian American elected to US Congress
Rediff.com10 Nov 2022A record five Indian-American lawmakers from the ruling Democrat Party, including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Ami Bera have been elected to the US House of Representatives, while several others were elected in state legislatures, in one of the most polarised midterm elections in the country.