News for 'Congressional'

'Samosa Brigade' adds spice to US midterm elections

'Samosa Brigade' adds spice to US midterm elections

Rediff.com5 Nov 2018

Nearly 100 Indian-Americans are on the ballot for the midterm elections and have emerged as strong contenders.

US reaches 2022 cap for H-1B visa

US reaches 2022 cap for H-1B visa

Rediff.com31 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.

'China acting in contradiction to its agreements with India'

'China acting in contradiction to its agreements with India'

Rediff.com17 Jul 2020

Over the last few weeks, bipartisan support for India against China has been increasing.

China conducts precision strikes over Taiwan Strait

China conducts precision strikes over Taiwan Strait

Rediff.com5 Aug 2022

The Chinese military on Thursday said it has conducted precision strikes over the Taiwan Strait and 'expected results' were achieved, in apparent retaliation to the United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei disregarding Beijing's vociferous warnings.

Harris' election transformative moment: Indian-American lawmakers

Harris' election transformative moment: Indian-American lawmakers

Rediff.com8 Nov 2020

"I am deeply proud and excited to call Kamala Harris our next Vice President, the first woman, first South Asian American and first Black woman to ever be elected to the position," Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said.

All unselected H-1B petitions returned: US

All unselected H-1B petitions returned: US

Rediff.com31 Jul 2018

The Congressional-mandated cap of 65,000 H-1B visas and another 20,000 in the advanced degree categories were reached within the first five days after USCIS started accepted H-1B applications in April.

14-yr-olds being recruited by armed groups in J-K: US report

14-yr-olds being recruited by armed groups in J-K: US report

Rediff.com26 Jun 2020

The Congressional-mandated 2020 Trafficking in Persons report of the State Department, released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday, noted that Maoist groups, particularly in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, forcibly recruited children as young as 12 to handle weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and in some cases be human shields.

Biden, Harris will heal US: Indian-American lawmakers

Biden, Harris will heal US: Indian-American lawmakers

Rediff.com21 Jan 2021

'Today we prove that our democracy still works and that the power always belongs to the people through the power of our vote'

Getting sanctions waiver on S-400 deal won't be easy, say experts

Getting sanctions waiver on S-400 deal won't be easy, say experts

Rediff.com7 Oct 2018

Friends of India in the US hope that New Delhi will receive a presidential waiver, given that Trump Administration has recognised India as a major defence partner and is in advance stage of selling billions of dollars' worth of equipment to India in the next few years.

Biden picks retired Army general Lloyd Austin to run Pentagon

Biden picks retired Army general Lloyd Austin to run Pentagon

Rediff.com8 Dec 2020

If confirmed by the Senate, the 67-year-old career military officer would be the first African-American to lead the Department of Defence.

US to hold rare 2nd lottery for H-1B visa applicants

US to hold rare 2nd lottery for H-1B visa applicants

Rediff.com30 Jul 2021

In what can be good news for hundreds of Indian IT professionals seeking the H-1B work visa, the US' immigration agency has decided to conduct a rare second lottery for the most sought-after visas to decide on the successful applicants who could not make it in the first random selection. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Thursday that a decision was taken after determining that the computerised draw of lots for H-1B visas conducted early this year did not give them enough numbers of the Congressional mandated H-1B visas. The H-1B visa, the most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Pak-sponsored terrorism ignored by world press: Indian scribe to US committee

Pak-sponsored terrorism ignored by world press: Indian scribe to US committee

Rediff.com23 Oct 2019

An Indian journalist, who testified before a United States committee discussing human rights situation in Kashmir, said Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has been completely overlooked by the world press for the past 30 years, evoking a sharp reaction from a US Congresswoman who questioned her objectivity while reporting.

Everything great in India: PM when asked Howdy Modi

Everything great in India: PM when asked Howdy Modi

Rediff.com23 Sep 2019

Reassuring the community, Modi said that "everything is fine" in nearly eight languages, with US President Donald Trump present in the audience.

Unlike Trump, Pence to attend Biden's inauguration: Reports

Unlike Trump, Pence to attend Biden's inauguration: Reports

Rediff.com11 Jan 2021

Biden said that he was glad Trump decided not to attend and that Pence is "welcome to come.'

174 Indians file lawsuit against Trump's proclamation on H-1B

174 Indians file lawsuit against Trump's proclamation on H-1B

Rediff.com16 Jul 2020

The lawsuit seeks an order declaring the presidential proclamation restriction on issuing new H-1B or H4 visas or admitting new H-1B or H-4 visa holders as unlawful.

Modi Has No Idea How To Deal With The World

Modi Has No Idea How To Deal With The World

Rediff.com27 Feb 2022

What is being exposed is we have no real doctrine and no idea how to deal with the world, asserts Aakar Patel.

Australia joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Games

Australia joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Games

Rediff.com8 Dec 2021

Australia will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday, as other allies weighed similar moves to protest China's human rights record.

Republicans to field 10 Indian-Americans in 2014 elections

Republicans to field 10 Indian-Americans in 2014 elections

Rediff.com30 Jul 2013

As part of its effort to change the face of the party, diversify its base and gain the support of this cash rich community, the Republican Party is working to field 10 Indian-Americans in the 2014 Congressional elections.

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.com27 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.

Facebook, WhatsApp back online; Zuckerberg apologises over outage

Facebook, WhatsApp back online; Zuckerberg apologises over outage

Rediff.com5 Oct 2021

While the users of the three social media platforms remained clueless as they repeatedly received error messages for most part of the day, the stocks of Silicon Valley firm Facebook dropped by nearly five per cent as a result.

Torres makes history as first black gay man elected to US Congress

Torres makes history as first black gay man elected to US Congress

Rediff.com4 Nov 2020

"Tonight, a new era begins for the South Bronx," Torres said in a statement. "It is the honour of a lifetime to represent a borough filled with essential workers who have risked their lives so that New York City could live.

Pakistan recognition for Israel in exchange for F-35 jets?

Pakistan recognition for Israel in exchange for F-35 jets?

Rediff.com1 Sep 2020

It is well known that Israel would welcome a diplomatic relationship with Pakistan and feelings of a section of the Pakistani military were likewise.

Delhi-born Raja Krishnamorthi elected to US Congress

Delhi-born Raja Krishnamorthi elected to US Congress

Rediff.com9 Nov 2016

Krishnamoorthi, 43, won the Chicago-area US House of Representatives seat, the 8th Congressional District, vacated by Tammy Duckworth who won Illinois's US Senate seat.

US officials gave Taliban 'kill list' of Afghan aides: Report

US officials gave Taliban 'kill list' of Afghan aides: Report

Rediff.com27 Aug 2021

The United States officials in Afghanistan naively handed the Taliban a 'kill list' to target Afghans who aided American forces in the country, according to a media report.

Resolution slamming China over Ladakh introduced in US Senate

Resolution slamming China over Ladakh introduced in US Senate

Rediff.com14 Aug 2020

The resolution was introduced by Senator John Cornyn, Republican Senate Majority Whip, and Senator Mark Warner, ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

No change in US' policy on J-K: Biden administration

No change in US' policy on J-K: Biden administration

Rediff.com12 Feb 2021

According to a 2019 Congressional Research Service report of August 2019, a longstanding goal of US policy in South Asia has been to prevent the India-Pakistan conflict from escalating to interstate war.

American Democracy in Shambles

American Democracy in Shambles

Rediff.com9 Jan 2021

Biden is best qualified to address the root cause of the polarisation in American politics before it turns into terminal malignancy, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

US election: 'Ro' Khanna hopes he is second-time lucky

US election: 'Ro' Khanna hopes he is second-time lucky

Rediff.com6 Nov 2016

Backed by top IT companies of the Silicon Valley, Indian-American Rohit "Ro" Khanna hopes to get second-time lucky in his effort to enter the US House of Representatives against Democratic Party's sitting lawmaker.

Several US lawmakers back agitating farmers in India

Several US lawmakers back agitating farmers in India

Rediff.com8 Dec 2020

India has called the remarks by foreign leaders on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted" as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic country.

Shrina Kurani Is Running For Congress

Shrina Kurani Is Running For Congress

Rediff.com18 Mar 2022

Indian-American engineer-entrepreneur Shrina Kurani challenges a 30-year Republican veteran in a US Congressional race in a district that is predominantly white.

Sensex ends 280 points higher on bank stocks' rally

Sensex ends 280 points higher on bank stocks' rally

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

UltraTech Cement was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising 3.06 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Titan, Axis Bank, SBI and Reliance Industries. NSE Nifty advanced 78.35 pointsto close at 14,814.75.

US Congressman mistakes Obama officials for Indians

US Congressman mistakes Obama officials for Indians

Rediff.com26 Jul 2014

A freshman United States lawmaker committed an embarrassing faux pas when during a Congressional hearing he mistook two top Indian-origin American officials as representing the Indian government, quizzing them about "your country" and "your government".

Yoga fever reaches Capitol Hill in US

Yoga fever reaches Capitol Hill in US

Rediff.com3 May 2015

Yoga has conquered the last bastion in the US -- the Congress

US lawmakers to organise first-ever Diwali reception

US lawmakers to organise first-ever Diwali reception

Rediff.com26 Oct 2013

The first-ever Diwali celebrations will be held at the United States Capitol this year, with the US lawmakers announcing to hold a Congressional reception for the festival of lights.

Fully uphold rights of minorities, vulnerable people: US to India

Fully uphold rights of minorities, vulnerable people: US to India

Rediff.com22 Oct 2019

India is the birthplace of four major world religions -- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is home to the world's third largest Muslim population, a diverse community of sects that includes Sufis, Shia, and Bohra. Roughly three per cent of India's citizens are Christian, and notably, Christians are the religious majority in three of India's 29 states, she said.

US polls: Which states are still counting votes?

US polls: Which states are still counting votes?

Rediff.com5 Nov 2020

The outcome of the US presidential election hangs in the balance as several states continued to count their ballots, including some of the most competitive battlegrounds where the tally could take days to complete.

US Congress panel urges India to lift Kashmir curbs

US Congress panel urges India to lift Kashmir curbs

Rediff.com8 Oct 2019

"Its time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris the same rights and privileges as any other Indian citizen," it said.

Chinese warships go ballistic with new mystery missile

Chinese warships go ballistic with new mystery missile

Rediff.com26 Apr 2022

If the initial analysis of this YJ-21 is correct, then China becomes the first country in the world to operationally field such a missile from a naval vessel.

Why is BJP silent on Kamala Harris?

Why is BJP silent on Kamala Harris?

Rediff.com17 Aug 2020

The selection of a woman Senator with an Indian background as the Democratic party's vice-presidential nominee should normally be a matter of elation in India, especially for those who boast of their nationalistic credentials such as the BJP followers, notes Amulya Ganguli.

What Will 2022 Bring The World?

What Will 2022 Bring The World?

Rediff.com1 Jan 2022

From Covid to climate change, Shankar Acharya's look at some of the trends and events that might shape 2022.