Lalit K Jha And K J M Varma

Stories by Lalit K Jha And K J M Varma

Vivek Ramaswamy quits US presidential race, endorses Trump

Vivek Ramaswamy quits US presidential race, endorses Trump

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2024

Ramaswamy was a distant fourth with 7.7 per cent of the votes polled in the Iowa Caucus

India now a 'major power': Chinese scholar

India now a 'major power': Chinese scholar

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2024

India has emerged as a 'major power' by achieving outstanding results in economic development and social governance and its transformation as a stronger, assertive country has made it a 'new geopolitical factor', according to a commentary by a Chinese scholar in a state-run newspaper in Beijing.

9 top PLA generals dismissed from China's Parliament

9 top PLA generals dismissed from China's Parliament

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2023

Over a million officials are said to have been punished in Xi's anti-corruption campaign according to the official media accounts. The intensity of the campaign also attracted criticism that Xi made effective use of it to silence his critics and rivals within the party.

No thaw in sight in India-China ties for 4th year

No thaw in sight in India-China ties for 4th year

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2023

With Beijing remaining intransigent on the withdrawal of additional troops deployed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) since the deadly border clash in 2020 in eastern Ladakh, India's bilateral ties with China remained frozen in 2023 with no forward movement on the horizon despite several rounds of diplomatic and military talks.

6.2-magnitude earthquake kills 127 in China

6.2-magnitude earthquake kills 127 in China

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2023

The earthquake damaged houses, roads, as well as other infrastructures, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted eyewitnesses from the area as saying.

IMF says India is likely to contribute more than 16% of global growth

IMF says India is likely to contribute more than 16% of global growth

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2023

Growing at a robust rate due to economic reforms in key sectors like digitisation and infrastructure, India has emerged as a star performer and is projected to contribute more than 16 per cent of the global growth, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday. "What we have been observing for quite some time now is that India has been growing at a very robust rate. "It's one of the star performers when it comes to real growth when you look at peer countries.

Pannun plot: Biden admin briefs 5 Indian-American lawmakers on Gupta's case

Pannun plot: Biden admin briefs 5 Indian-American lawmakers on Gupta's case

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2023

Congress members Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Shri Thanedar released a joint statement after receiving a classified briefing from the Biden Administration on Gupta's indictment.

US reaches H-1B cap for fiscal year 2024

US reaches H-1B cap for fiscal year 2024

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2023

The US has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach a cap for the much-sought-after H-1B foreign work visas for the fiscal year 2024, a federal agency has announced. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

On SC upholding Article 370 abrogation in J-K, China says...

On SC upholding Article 370 abrogation in J-K, China says...

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2023

The Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultation between India and Pakistan, China said on Tuesday while reacting to the Supreme Court judgment on Article 370 upholding the central government's decision on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

'Historically, 2023 is the best year for India-US ties'

'Historically, 2023 is the best year for India-US ties'

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2023

The relationship between the US and India has been very productive, in particular on the trade and technology front, and 2023 can be considered the best year historically for bilateral ties, according to a former top American trade official. Arun Kumar, an Indian-American, who served as the assistant secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and director general of the US and Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) during the Obama administration, said this during an interview with PTI in Washington. "Looking back on 2023, it was a very productive year for the US-India relationship, by many accounts the best year historically," he said.

Want it fully investigated: US on Pannun murder plot

Want it fully investigated: US on Pannun murder plot

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2023

'We've said that we're glad that our Indian counterparts are taking it seriously and doing that. We want those responsible for these attacks to be held fully accountable, but I won't get ahead of an investigation that isn't complete'

'NIKKI=CORRUPT': Ramaswamy steps up attack against Haley

'NIKKI=CORRUPT': Ramaswamy steps up attack against Haley

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2023

Ramaswamy launched the volley of charges against the former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN in Arizona during the Republican Party's fourth presidential debate, which was attended by just four candidates, the other two being former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

US to wait for India's probe into plot to kill Pannun

US to wait for India's probe into plot to kill Pannun

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2023

"We have noted at the most senior levels of this government the secretary of state has raised this directly with his foreign counterpart that we take this issue very seriously. They told us they would conduct an investigation," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference on Tuesday.

'We take it very seriously': US on plot to kill Pannun

'We take it very seriously': US on plot to kill Pannun

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2023

India on Thursday described as a "matter of concern" the US charging the Indian national with conspiring to kill the Sikh separatist, and asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case.

Kissinger used racist, misogynist language for then PM Indira Gandhi

Kissinger used racist, misogynist language for then PM Indira Gandhi

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2023

Speaking about the issue in India in March 2012 at a media conclave, Kissinger defended his use of unparliamentary language while referring to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

H-1B visa renewal programme to start in Dec, Indians to benefit most

H-1B visa renewal programme to start in Dec, Indians to benefit most

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2023

In a move that will benefit a significantly large number of Indian technology professionals, the US is set to begin a pilot programme for domestic renewal of certain categories of H-1B visas in December. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

No novel pathogen behind recent outbreak: China to WHO

No novel pathogen behind recent outbreak: China to WHO

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2023

Even when China's widely-publicised exchange with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the queries over the reports of surging cases of mycoplasma pneumonia and influenza flu triggered the worldwide alert, including in India, China said the spike in respiratory diseases was due to an 'immunity gap'.

Taiwan remains a flashpoint as Biden, Xi agree to mend ties

Taiwan remains a flashpoint as Biden, Xi agree to mend ties

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2023

The United States-China Summit meeting concluded at a sprawling mansion in Woodside, California with Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping agreeing to work towards ensuring that the differences between the two countries remain manageable and the relations do not derail.

Still believe he's a dictator: Biden after meeting Xi

Still believe he's a dictator: Biden after meeting Xi

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2023

United States President Joe Biden has once again called his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a 'dictator', just hours after they met for the first time in more than a year and held candid and productive discussions to revive bilateral ties.

10 Indian-Americans win state, local polls in US

10 Indian-Americans win state, local polls in US

Rediff.com   9 Nov 2023

At least 10 Indian-Americans, almost all of them Democrats, have won local and state level elections held in several parts of the country, reflecting the growing political empowerment of the ethnic community that constitutes a little over one percent of the United States' population.