M Zulqernain And Lalit K Jha

Stories by M Zulqernain And Lalit K Jha

Sri Lankan national lynched in Pak's Punjab province over 'blasphemy'

Sri Lankan national lynched in Pak's Punjab province over 'blasphemy'

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2021

Priyantha Kumara, who was in his 40s, was working as the general manager of a factory in Sialkot district, some 100 km from Lahore, a Punjab police official said.

Gita Gopinath to take No 2 role at IMF as First Deputy Managing Director

Gita Gopinath to take No 2 role at IMF as First Deputy Managing Director

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2021

Gita Gopinath, the IMF's Indian-American chief economist has been promoted as its First Deputy Managing Director recognising her exceptional intellectual leadership in helping the global economy and the Fund to navigate the "twists and turns" of the "worst economic crisis of our lives". Gopinath would replace Geoffrey Okamoto who plans to leave the International Monetary Fund early next year, Kristalina Georgieva, IMF's managing director announced on Thursday. Gopinath, who was scheduled to return to her academic position at Harvard University in January 2022, has decided to stay, she said. Gopinath, 49, has served as the first female chief economist of the Washington-based global lender for three years.

Harvard University adds caste as protected category for student workers

Harvard University adds caste as protected category for student workers

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2021

The historic addition marks Harvard as the first Ivy League school to have caste equity protection in its non-discrimination clause for unionised student workers.

Blinken calls for speedy trial of perpetrators 26/11 attacks

Blinken calls for speedy trial of perpetrators 26/11 attacks

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2021

'Thirteen years have passed since the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai. On today's anniversary, we remember the victims, including six Americans, and the resiliency of Mumbaikars. It is long overdue for the perpetrators to face justice,' Blinken said in a tweet on Friday.

Suspense remains over CAATSA waiver to India on S400 purchase

Suspense remains over CAATSA waiver to India on S400 purchase

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2021

The United States has not made a determination yet on any potential Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) waiver to India with regard to its purchase of S-400 missile defence system from Russia, the Biden Administration said Tuesday.

Pak frees radical Islamist following pact with Imran Khan govt

Pak frees radical Islamist following pact with Imran Khan govt

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2021

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was on Thursday released from the jail, weeks after Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government entered into a 'secret agreement' with the radical Islamist party which was involved in recent deadly clashes with the police.

Kartarpur Corridor reopens after 20 months, 28 pilgrims reach Pak

Kartarpur Corridor reopens after 20 months, 28 pilgrims reach Pak

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2021

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, along with his ministers, will be part of the first 'jatha' (group), which will visit the Kartarpur Sahib on Thursday, officials said.

US makes it easier for H-1B spouses to take up employment

US makes it easier for H-1B spouses to take up employment

Rediff.com   12 Nov 2021

In yet another immigration-friendly move that would benefit thousands of Indian-American women, the Biden administration has agreed to provide automatic work authorisation permits to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals.

Pentagon reveals China's border tactics with India

Pentagon reveals China's border tactics with India

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2021

China has been taking "incremental and tactical actions" to press its claims at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India and has unsuccessfully sought to prevent New Delhi from deepening its relationship with the US during and subsequent to the standoff, the Pentagon has said in a major report on China's military modernisation.

Bill in US Cong to declare Diwali a national holiday

Bill in US Cong to declare Diwali a national holiday

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2021

Led by Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney from New York, lawmakers on Wednesday announced that a bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives to declare Diwali, festival of lights, a federal holiday.

India Caucus chiefs ask Biden to not penalise India for buying S-400

India Caucus chiefs ask Biden to not penalise India for buying S-400

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2021

Two powerful US Senators have urged President Joe Biden not to impose provisions of the punitive Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act against India for buying the S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia.

Indian army can't operate effectively sans Russian arms, says US report

Indian army can't operate effectively sans Russian arms, says US report

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2021

There has been a considerable drop in India's dependence on arms and equipment from Russia but the Indian military cannot operate effectively without Russian-supplied equipment and will continue to rely on its weapons systems in the near and middle terms, a Congressional Research Service report has said.

US lifts Covid curbs on fully-vaccinated travellers from Nov 8

US lifts Covid curbs on fully-vaccinated travellers from Nov 8

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2021

The US will lift all restrictions for fully vaccinated international travellers, including from India, from November 8 but they will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding a flight to the country, the White House has announced.

Americans celebrate October as Hindu Heritage month

Americans celebrate October as Hindu Heritage month

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2021

Hindus worldwide celebrate Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Diwali around October. Hence, this month was considered by several US-based Hindu organisations to celebrate as the Hindu Heritage Month

Chinese toys popular in India seized in US for having dangerous chemicals

Chinese toys popular in India seized in US for having dangerous chemicals

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2021

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ahead of the holiday shopping season, warned consumers to be extra diligent while shopping online for children's toys after the recent seizure of toys that were coated in unsafe levels of lead, cadmium and barium.

China aggressor against India, says next US envoy to Beijing

China aggressor against India, says next US envoy to Beijing

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2021

China has been an aggressor against India along the Himalayan border, a top American diplomat nominated by President Joe Biden as his next envoy to Beijing has told lawmakers, stating that the US must hold the Chinese government accountable for failing to play by the rules.

Gita Gopinath to quit as IMF chief economist, return to Harvard

Gita Gopinath to quit as IMF chief economist, return to Harvard

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2021

IMF's Chief Economist Gita Gopinath will leave her job in January next year and return to the prestigious Harvard University, according to the global financial institution.

US court rejects Nirav Modi's plea against fraud charges

US court rejects Nirav Modi's plea against fraud charges

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2021

In a major blow to Nirav Modi, a bankruptcy court in the US has rejected a petition of the fugitive diamond merchant and two of his associates, seeking dismissal of fraud allegations against them by the trustee of three companies they previously owned indirectly.

US condemns attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

US condemns attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2021

The State Department condemns the recent reports of attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh, a spokesman said.

Indian economy to grow at 9.5% this year and 8.5% in 2022: IMF

Indian economy to grow at 9.5% this year and 8.5% in 2022: IMF

Rediff.com   12 Oct 2021

India's growth projection released by the latest World Economic Outlook remains unchanged from its previous WEO (World Economic Outlook) update of July this summer but is a three-percentage point in 2021 and 1.6 percentage point drop from its April projections. According to the latest WEO update, released ahead of the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, the world is expected to grow at 5.9 per cent in 2021 and 4.9 per cent in 2022.