All stories by Lalit K Jha
Biden names Indian-American as assistant WH press secy
Rediff.com19 Dec 2020Patel is currently the senior spokesperson of the Biden Inaugural and has been a part of the Biden Campaign as well where he served as Regional Communications Director.
US VP Mike Pence receives COVID-19 vaccine on camera
Rediff.com18 Dec 2020"Confidence in the vaccine is what brings us here this morning," the US vice-president said in remarks following his vaccination. "I didn't feel a thing. Well done."
Biden's close adviser tests positive for COVID-19
Rediff.com18 Dec 2020Richmond, 47, has been named as the White House Senior Adviser and Director of the Office of Public Engagement in the incoming Biden administration.
Biden names key members of his climate team
Rediff.com18 Dec 2020The nominees are Congresswoman Deb Haaland as Secretary of Interior, Jennifer Granholm as Energy Secretary, Michael Regan as administrator for Environmental Protection Agency and Brenda Mallory as Chair of the Council of the Council on Environmental Quality.
US stood with India as it faced Chinese aggression: WH official
Rediff.com17 Dec 2020Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official asserted that US President Donald Trump, during his presidency, has really strengthened all aspects of the US-India security and defence cooperation to build a comprehensive, enduring and mutually beneficial defence partnership.
Desecration of Gandhi's statue appalling: White House press secy
Rediff.com16 Dec 2020A violent group of Khalistani separatists on Saturday desecrated Mahatma Gandhi's statue outside the Indian embassy in Washington during a demonstration by Sikh-American youths in support of farmers protesting against the recently enacted agriculture laws in India.
US Congress passes bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India
Rediff.com16 Dec 2020The US House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included key components of Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's resolution language urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression against India along the LAC.
Biden picks Pete Buttigieg to be secretary of transportation
Rediff.com16 Dec 2020The first openly gay major presidential candidate in American history, and one of the youngest-ever to win a state primary or caucus, Buttigieg, 38, is a barrier-breaking public servant from the industrial Midwest with a track record of trailblasing, forward-thinking executive leadership.
US court terminates $100m lawsuit against Modi, Shah
Rediff.com15 Dec 2020It challenged the Indian Parliament's decision on Jammu and Kashmir that abrogated the special privileges of the state and carved out two union territories and sought a compensation of USD 100 million from Modi, Shah and Lt. Gen. Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon.
Electoral College votes Joe Biden as next US President
Rediff.com15 Dec 2020The development brings to an end the legal battle unleashed by President Donald Trump against the elections, which he lost both in terms of the popular vote as well as the majority in the 538-member electoral college.
US: First batch of COVID-19 vaccine roll out of Pfizer plant
Rediff.com14 Dec 2020The vaccine arrives at a critical moment for the US. Hospitalisations due to COVID-19 hit record highs for the seventh day in a row on Saturday.
Next 4-6 months could be worst of COVID-19: Bill Gates
Rediff.com14 Dec 2020Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, whose foundation has been part of the effort to develop and deliver COVID-19 vaccines, has warned that the next four to six months could be the worst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Khalistan supporters vandalise Mahatma's statue in US
Rediff.com13 Dec 2020The Indian embassy condemned the "mischievous act" by hooligans masquerading as protesters.
US SC rejects Trump's lawsuit to overturn election results
Rediff.com12 Dec 2020Trump and his campaign team have been making unsubstantiated allegations of massive voter fraud and electoral malpractice. State election officials and mainstream media say they have not found any such evidence.
Indian-American astronaut in NASA's manned Moon mission
Rediff.com11 Dec 2020Raja Jon Vurputoor Chari, 43, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, MIT and US Naval Test Pilot School, is the only Indian-American in the list.
Pfizer Covid vaccine gets US experts' nod
Rediff.com11 Dec 2020The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved for the public in the United Kingdom and, Canada.
US sues Facebook over acquiring WhatsApp, Instagram
Rediff.com10 Dec 2020Social media giant accused of anti-competitive conduct by abusing its market power to create a monopoly and crushing smaller competitors.
US sets new record with over 3,000 COVID deaths in 1 day
Rediff.com10 Dec 2020The previous single-day record was on May 7 at 2,769 deaths.
India's weapons procurement from US jumps to $3.4 bn in 2020
Rediff.com9 Dec 2020The jump in the sale of American weapons to India comes at a time when sale of weapons from the US to other countries has dipped to USD 50.8 billion in 2020 from USD 55.7 billion in 2019.
Trump says he is hopeful of continuing as US president
Rediff.com9 Dec 2020Trump said because of the "great work" he did, he was "rewarded" with a victory.