Lalit K Jha And Yoshita Singh

Stories by Lalit K Jha And Yoshita Singh

Separatist loyalists disrupt panel discussion on Kashmir in US

Separatist loyalists disrupt panel discussion on Kashmir in US

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2023

The panel discussion titled 'Kashmir: From Turmoil to Transformation' was held on Thursday. It was moderated by columnist Se Hoon Kim and addressed by president of the Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party Mir Junaid, and Touseef Raina, president of the Municipal Council of Baramulla.

Bill in California Senate against caste-based discrimination

Bill in California Senate against caste-based discrimination

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2023

A bill seeking to explicitly ban caste discrimination has been introduced in the California Senate by a Democratic lawmaker, which, if passed, could make America's most populous state also the country's first to outlaw caste-based bias.

Good news for those in US on business or tourist visa

Good news for those in US on business or tourist visa

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2023

The US has announced that individuals travelling to the country on a business or tourist visa - B-1 and B-2 - can apply for new jobs and even appear in interviews, but the prospective employees must ensure that they have changed their visa status before starting a new role. B-1 and B-2 visas are generally referred to as "B visas", and they are the most common types of visa issued for a wide range of uses in the United States. The B-1 visa is issued mainly for short-term business trips, while the B-2 visa is issued mainly travelling for tourism purposes.

In Putin and Russia, Xi sees counterweight to US, Nato influence: White House

In Putin and Russia, Xi sees counterweight to US, Nato influence: White House

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2023

The statement by John Kirby, national security council coordinator for strategic communications at the White House, came as Putin hosted the Chinese leader.

Did US provide real-time intel to India on Chinese 'incursion'?

Did US provide real-time intel to India on Chinese 'incursion'?

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2023

The US provided crucial intelligence to the Indian military last year that helped it successfully tackle the Chinese "incursions".

Khalistani protestors first tried to set fire to Indian consulate in San Francisco

Khalistani protestors first tried to set fire to Indian consulate in San Francisco

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2023

A group of pro-Khalistan protesters on Sunday made an attempt to set on fire India's consulate in San Francisco, with senior Indian diplomats informing their American counterparts that they anticipate more such protests by anti-national elements in the coming weeks.

India experienced major human rights issues in 2022: US report

India experienced major human rights issues in 2022: US report

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2023

Released by secretary of state Antony Blinken, the annual human rights reports of the state department is a mandatory requirement of the US Congress giving details of human rights status in countries across the world.

Did poverty and inequality spike during Covid?

Did poverty and inequality spike during Covid?

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2023

Claims of a spike in poverty and inequality in India during the Covid-19 pandemic are patently false as such claims are based on uncomparable different surveys, according to a paper co-authored by eminent economist Arvind Panagariya. The paper also noted that inequality fell in the country during Covid years, both in rural and urban areas as well as nationally. Panagariya, Columbia University Professor and former vice chairman of NITI Aayog and Vishal More of Intelink Advisors, New Delhi have co-authored a detailed paper 'Poverty and Inequality in India: Before and After Covid-19'.

WHO criticises China for withholding Covid origin data

WHO criticises China for withholding Covid origin data

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2023

"We continue to call on China to be transparent in sharing data and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results. Understanding how the pandemic began remains both a moral and scientific imperative," Ghebreyesus said.

Nithyananda's Kailasa cons 30 US cities with 'sister city' pact

Nithyananda's Kailasa cons 30 US cities with 'sister city' pact

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2023

Self-proclaimed godman and fugitive Nithyananda's 'United States of Kailasa' has signed a 'cultural partnership' with over 30 American cities, a media report has said, days after the city of Newark in the United States state of New Jersey said it rescinded a 'sister-city' agreement with the fictional country.

Covid-19 in Wuhan's raccoon dogs strengthens virus's natural origin theory

Covid-19 in Wuhan's raccoon dogs strengthens virus's natural origin theory

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2023

A new analysis of genetic samples collected from a seafood market in central China's Wuhan city shows the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in raccoon dogs sold at the venue, strengthening the case for the natural origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a team of international experts.

US Senate confirms Biden's aide Eric Garcetti as envoy to India

US Senate confirms Biden's aide Eric Garcetti as envoy to India

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2023

The former Los Angeles mayor's nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated for the prestigious diplomatic posting by Biden.

Eric Garcetti another step closer to becoming envoy to India

Eric Garcetti another step closer to becoming envoy to India

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2023

President Joe Biden's close aide Eric Garcetti is set to be confirmed as US ambassador to India after the Senate on Wednesday voted on the cloture motion limiting debate on his nomination, reflecting that the ruling Democratic Party has enough votes for his selection for the top post.

Grace period for retrenched H1-B workers to be extended to 180 days

Grace period for retrenched H1-B workers to be extended to 180 days

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2023

A presidential advisory sub-committee has recommended the federal government to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs, from the existing 60 days to 180 days so that the workers have enough opportunities to find a new job or other alternatives. "The immigration subcommittee recommends the Department of Homeland Security and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs, from 60 days to 180 days," Ajay Jain Bhutoria, member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, said on Tuesday. In his presentation, Bhutoria highlighted the significant challenges faced by H1-B workers laid off from their jobs.

Arunachal integral part of India, not China's: US

Arunachal integral part of India, not China's: US

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2023

The resolution also pushes back against People's Republic of China (PRC) claims that Arunachal Pradesh is PRC territory, which is a part of the PRC's increasingly aggressive and expansionist policies.

Facebook's parent Meta to fire another 10,000 people

Facebook's parent Meta to fire another 10,000 people

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2023

Facebook's parent company Meta announced on Tuesday it will fire another 10,000 people, implementing a second round of jobs cuts after it slashed 11,000 positions in November last year, to improve its financial performance in a "difficult environment". Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg said in a post that overall "we expect to reduce our team size by around 10,000 people and to close around 5,000 additional open roles that we haven't yet hired." The company has said that in its "Year of Efficiency", the company aims to make itself "a better technology company and to improve our financial performance in a difficult environment so we can execute our long-term vision."

Biden appoints 2 Indian-Americans to advisory panel for trade policy

Biden appoints 2 Indian-Americans to advisory panel for trade policy

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2023

On Friday, Biden announced his intent to appoint 14 people to the advisory committee, which provides overall policy advice to the United States trade representative on matters of development, implementation, and administration of the US trade policy.

Eric Garcetti moves a step closer to becoming US ambassador to India

Eric Garcetti moves a step closer to becoming US ambassador to India

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2023

Garcetti's nomination is pending before the US Congress since July 2021, when he was nominated for the prestigious diplomatic posting by President Joe Biden.

We support dialogue, but...: US on India-Pak relations

We support dialogue, but...: US on India-Pak relations

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2023

The United States supports a constructive dialogue and meaningful conversation between India and Pakistan, the Biden administration said Thursday reiterating that it's for New Delhi and Islamabad to decide on the nature of that dialogue.

Biden proposes over $25 bn spend in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

Biden proposes over $25 bn spend in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2023

This includes over $15 billion of proposed investment in the infrastructure sector in the Indo-Pacific and $9 billion for shoring up American defence in the region.