US announces 1.5-year extension for some expiring immigrant work permits
By Lalit K Jha WASHINGTON: The Biden administration has announced that certain categories of immigrants, including those seeking green cards and spouses of H-1B visa holders, would be permitted to use their expired work permits for an additional 18 months, offering a reprieve to thousands of Indians working in this country and prevent further disruption […]
India, US discuss Indo-Pacific, regional issues ahead of 2+2 dialogue
NEW DELHI: India and the US have discussed their flourishing defence partnership and opportunities for enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific as officials from the two countries held a meeting to lay the groundwork for the key 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year, the Pentagon has said. The meeting […]
In boost for Indian IT, US to conduct rare 2nd lottery for H-1B applicants
NEW DELHI: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said 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 number of Congressional mandated H-1B visas. The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows […]
“Americans first”: US defends export ban on Covid-19 vaccine raw materials to India
WASHINGTON: Defending US’s restrictions on the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine that threatens to slow India’s vaccination drive, a senior State Department official has said the Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people. When asked when the Biden administration would decide […]
SII CEO urges US to lift raw material export ban to up Covid-19 vaccine production
NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla on Friday said the US needs to lift its embargo on raw material exports to help ramp up vaccine production. SII is currently manufacturing anti-coronavirus vaccine Covishield, developed by Astrazeneca and Oxford University. The vaccine is not only being used in India, but exported to […]
Cairn wants India to honour its word and pay $1.4 billion, shareholders to seek enforcement
NEW DELHI: British oil firm Cairn Energy plc on Sunday said its shareholders, including top financial institutions of the world, expect the use of the company’s “strong powers of enforcement” to recover USD 1.4 billion from the Indian government should it not keep its word of honouring international arbitration tribunal awards on retrospective taxes. Cairn […]
Chinese leader Xi Jinping takes jabs at US in Korean War commemoration
BEIJING: Chinese leader Xi Jinping condemned unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism in a jab at the United States made during a rally Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of China’s entry into the 1950-53 Korean War. China refers to the conflict, in which it sent troops to aid North Korean forces against a United Nations […]
North Korea denounces US two years after Singapore summit
North Korea criticised Donald Trump in a stinging denunciation of the United States on Friday, the second anniversary of a landmark summit in Singapore where the US president shook hands with leader Kim Jong Un. It was the latest in a series of vitriolic statements from Pyongyang aimed at both Washington and Seoul, and came […]
Virus-hit Hertz declares bankruptcy in US and Canada
Global car rental company Hertz became the latest economic casualty of the coronavirus pandemic Friday, filing for bankruptcy in the US and Canada after more than a century in business. “The impact of COVID-19 on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the Company’s revenue and future bookings,” Hertz said in […]
India, US sign Rs 1200 crore deal for missile protection suites for new VVIP planes
NEW DELHI: India has signed a Rs 1,200 crore deal with the United States for buying protection suites to protect the two new Boeing VVIP planes from missile attacks that will be used to ferry the President and the Prime Minister. “The missile protection suites on the two Boeing-777 extended range planes to be codenamed […]
India, US ink $3 billion defence deals
NEW DELHI: India and the US on Tuesday signed defence deals worth $3 billion, President Donald Trump announced as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the two countries have decided to take the ties to comprehensive global partnership level. On Day 2 of his visit to India, US President Donald Trump, in a joint statement with […]
Bharti Airtel raises $750 million from investors based in Asia, Europe and US
NEW DELHI: Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said it has raised $ 750 million (about Rs 5,330 crore) from investors based in Asia, Europe and the US through a hybrid financial instrument. Bharti Airtel said in a statement that “its wholly-owned subsidiary Network i2i Limited, has priced … offering of $ 750 million 5.650 […]
US to propose hike in H-1B application fee: Labour Secretary
By Lalit K Jha WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is proposing a hike in the H-1B visa application fee to increase funding for the expansion of an apprentice programme, which trains American youths in technology related activities, Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta told US lawmakers. Testifying before a Congressional committee on annual budget of the Department of […]
‘Good to see you’: US, Chinese negotiators resume trade talks
BEIJING: Top US and Chinese trade negotiators resumed talks on Wednesday as they an eye an endgame to a months-long dispute that has hit businesses with bruising tariffs. Vice Premier Liu He, a close aide to President Xi Jinping on economic matters, greeted US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to begin […]
US approves sale of 24 MH 60 Romeo Seahawk helicopters to India
NEW DELHI: The US has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters to India at an estimated cost of USD 2.6 billion, the State Department has said India has been in need of these formidable anti-submarine hunter helicopters for more than a decade now. Designed for hunting submarines as well as knocking […]