All stories by Lalit K Jha
US plans on business visa will hit hundreds of Indians
Rediff.com22 Oct 2020The State Department has proposed not to issue temporary business visas for H-1B speciality occupations which allowed several companies to send their technology professionals for a short stay to complete jobs on site in the US, a move which could affect hundreds of Indians. The proposal, if finalised, will eliminate any misconception that the "B-1 in lieu of H policy" provides an alternative avenue for foreign professionals to enter the US to perform skilled labour that allows, and potentially even encourages them and their employers to circumvent the restrictions and requirements relating to the H non-immigrant classification established by Congress to protect the US workers, the State Department said.
India to be most consequential partner in Indo-Pacific: US ahead of 2+2 meet
Rediff.com21 Oct 2020India will be the most consequential partner for the US in the Indo-Pacific this century, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday ahead of the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between the two countries next week. Esper on Tuesday told a Washington audience that he and the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would be travelling to New Delhi next week for the 2+2 ministerial with their respective Indian counterparts Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Kamala Harris turns 56; next birthday at White House, says Biden
Rediff.com21 Oct 2020Biden took to Twitter to post a photograph showing their hands clasped together. 'Happy Birthday, Kamala Harris. Next year, let's celebrate with some ice cream at the White House,' tweeted Biden, who had in August picked her as his running mate.
Lawsuit filed against Trump's new H-1B visa rules
Rediff.com20 Oct 2020Several individuals and organisations, including the US Chambers of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's recent rules related to the H-1B visa, terming them "arbitrary" and "haphazard" regulations that will undermine high skilled immigration into America. Early this month, the Trump administration announced new restrictions on H-1B non-immigrant visa programme which it said is aimed at protecting American workers, restoring integrity and to better guarantee that H-1B petitions are approved only for qualified beneficiaries and petitioners, a move which is likely to affect thousands of Indian IT professionals.
Kamala Harris' niece's tweet irks Hindus
Rediff.com20 Oct 2020Hindu groups in the United States have sought an apology from Senator Kamala Harris's niece for tweeting an 'offensive' image, which depicted the Democratic vice presidential nominee as goddess Durga.
Trump-Biden debate to feature 'mute' button
Rediff.com20 Oct 2020Under the new rules, Trump and Biden will each have two minutes of uninterrupted time to speak at the beginning of every 15-minute segment of the debate.
Biden not good for India, we've to understand China's threat: Trump's son
Rediff.com19 Oct 2020"When you look at our opponents in this race, you think the Chinese gave Hunter Biden $1.5 billion -- because he was a great businessman, or because they knew the Bidens could be bought, and therefore soft on China," he said.
Outrage as Republican senator mocks Kamala Harris' name
Rediff.com18 Oct 2020The mispronunciation outraged a large number of Harris' supporters and her spokesperson Sabrina Singh said, "I'll keep it simple: If you can pronounce 'former' Senator David Perdue, you can pronounce 'future' Vice President Kamala Harris."
'Samosa Caucus': New Congress may have more Indian-Americans
Rediff.com18 Oct 2020The "Samosa caucus" comprises of five Indian-American lawmakers, including four members of the House of Representatives and Senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
China, Russia and India spewing stuff into air: Trump
Rediff.com16 Oct 2020'I love clean air but Russia and China, you look at a map you have all these spots and India and many others are spewing it in. What do you suggest?'
IMF warns about the 2 big challenges - Covid and growth
Rediff.com15 Oct 2020Facing the twin task of fighting the coronavirus pandemic today and building a better tomorrow, the world is experiencing a new Bretton Woods moment, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said
Melania Trump says son Barron had Covid but is negative now
Rediff.com15 Oct 2020Sharing her experience, Melania said that she was very fortunate as her diagnosis came with minimal symptoms, though they hit her all at once and it seemed to be a roller coaster of symptoms in the days after.
72% Indian Americans plan to vote for Biden: Survey
Rediff.com14 Oct 2020"Contradicting the emerging narrative, Indian-Americans remain committed to the Democratic Party. Nearly three-quarters of registered Indian-American voters intend to support Joe Biden this Fall, compared to just 22 per cent for Donald Trump," it said.
COVID-19: India's public debt ratio to jump to 90%
Rediff.com14 Oct 2020India's public debt ratio, which remarkably remained stable at around 70 per cent of the GDP since 1991, is projected to jump by 17 percentage points to nearly 90 per cent because of increase in public spending due to COVID-19, the IMF said.
'China wants unipolar world with every country as its tributary'
Rediff.com14 Oct 2020'I think we're standing up to the Chinese. Our allies following us, whether it's Huawei and the UN Germany now coming up'
Indian economy to grow by 8.8% in FY21, ahead of China: IMF
Rediff.com13 Oct 2020The Indian economy, severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic, is projected to contract by a massive 10.3 per cent this year, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday. However, India is likely to bounce back with an impressive 8.8 per cent growth rate in 2021, thus regaining the position of the fastest growing emerging economy, surpassing China's projected growth rate of 8.2 per cent, the IMF said in its latest 'World Economic Outlook' report.
Imran Khan is a Pak 'military puppet': Dissidents
Rediff.com13 Oct 2020'The narrative of patriotism has been framed around the army and competing worldviews about Pakistan and those who do not fit the army's parameters are ostracised as rebellious, treasonous, and even blasphemous'
I'm feeling great: Trump in 1st public event after COVID
Rediff.com11 Oct 2020Hundreds of Republican supporters sporting light blue T-shirts and the familiar red MAGA (Make America Great Again) caps gathered at the South Lawns of the White House as the US president addressed them from his balcony in a campaign-style event.
Talks won't make China change aggressive stance: US NSA
Rediff.com10 Oct 2020"CCP's (Chinese Communist Party) territorial aggression is also apparent on its Indian border where China has attempted to seize control of the Line of Actual Control by force," US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said in a remark on China early this week in Utah.
China has deployed 60K soldiers on India's northern border: Pompeo
Rediff.com10 Oct 2020In an interview with Larry O'Connor, Pompeo said in his meetings with his counterparts from Japan, India and Australia, they began to develop a set of understandings and policies that can jointly take these countries to work to present a true resistance to the threats that the Chinese Communist Party poses to each of these nations.