Harinder Mishra And Lalit K Jha

Stories by Harinder Mishra And Lalit K Jha

Biden administration comes under pressure to ship Covid vaccine to India

Biden administration comes under pressure to ship Covid vaccine to India

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2021

The Joe Biden administration has come under intense pressure from various quarters, including the powerful US Chambers of Commerce, lawmakers and eminent Indian-Americans, to ship AstraZeneca and other Covid-19 vaccines along with several life-saving medical supplies to India, which is witnessing a deadly surge in coronavirus cases.

Vanita Gupta becomes 1st Indian-American to be US associate attorney general

Vanita Gupta becomes 1st Indian-American to be US associate attorney general

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2021

From 2014 to 2017, Gupta served as the assistant attorney general for civil rights under President Barack Obama, where she advanced criminal justice reform, prosecuted hate crimes, protected voting rights and fought against discrimination.

US body wants India named for violating religious rights, chief dissents

US body wants India named for violating religious rights, chief dissents

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2021

A US Congress-constituted quasi-judicial body on Wednesday asked the Joe Biden Administration to designate four nations, including India, as "countries of particular concern", alleging that religious freedom conditions there in 2020 continued their negative trajectory.

US ex-cop found guilty on all 3 charges of killing George Floyd

US ex-cop found guilty on all 3 charges of killing George Floyd

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2021

A jury deliberated less than 11 hours before finding Derek Chauvin guilty of all three charges against him -- second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.

4 Sikhs among 8 killed in FedEx facility mass shooting in US

4 Sikhs among 8 killed in FedEx facility mass shooting in US

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2021

About 90 per cent of the workers at this delivery service facility are said to be Indian-Americans, mostly from the Sikh community.

US to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by 9/11

US to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by 9/11

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2021

The US president is deeply grateful for the honour, courage and determination of the US' men and women who served in Afghanistan for almost two decades, as well as the sacrifices made not just by those troops, but also by their families, a senior Biden administration official told reporters during a conference call.

Pentagon defends US ship asserting navigational rights in Indian EEZ

Pentagon defends US ship asserting navigational rights in Indian EEZ

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2021

The Pentagon has said that its Navy ship conducting navigational rights within India's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without the permission of New Delhi was consistent with international law.

Global recovery expected to be asynchronous: IMF

Global recovery expected to be asynchronous: IMF

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2021

The global recovery is expected to be asynchronous and divergent between advanced and emerging market economies, the IMF said on Tuesday, noting that policymakers should take early action and tighten selected macroprudential policy tools while avoiding a broad tightening of financial conditions. "Extraordinary policy measures have eased financial conditions and supported the economy, helping to contain financial stability risks," the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its Global Financial Stability report released ahead of the Spring meeting of the global lender and the World Bank. However, actions taken during the pandemic may have unintended consequences such as stretched valuations and rising financial vulnerabilities, it said.

IMF ups India's growth forecast to impressive 12.5% in 2021

IMF ups India's growth forecast to impressive 12.5% in 2021

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2021

The IMF on Tuesday projected an impressive 12.5 per cent growth rate for India in 2021, stronger than that of China, the only major economy to have a positive growth rate last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Washington-based global financial institution, in its annual World Economic Outlook ahead of the annual Spring meeting with the World Bank, said the Indian economy is expected to grow by 6.9 per cent in 2022. Notably in 2020, India's economy contracted by a record eight per cent, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said as it projected an impressive 12.5 per cent growth rate for the country in 2021.

India has bounced back, real GDP growth to be 7.5%-12.5%: WB

India has bounced back, real GDP growth to be 7.5%-12.5%: WB

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2021

India's economy has bounced back amazingly from the Covid-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown over the last one year, but it is not out of the woods yet, according to the World Bank, which in its latest report has predicted that the country's real GDP growth for fiscal year 21/22 could range from 7.5 to 12.5 per cent.

US reaches 2022 cap for H-1B visa

US reaches 2022 cap for H-1B visa

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2021

The US has received enough electronic applications during the initial registration period to reach the 2022 fiscal year cap for the H-1B foreign workers visa, the most sought-after work visa among Indian professionals. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency which screens and allocates H-1B applications, said it was randomly selected from among the registrations properly submitted to reach the cap. 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.

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

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

Rediff.com   31 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.com   26 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.com   24 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.com   19 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.com   18 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.com   15 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.com   13 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.com   12 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.com   12 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.