In a "major breakthrough", two influential American Senators today reached an agreement on the contentious H-1B visa expansion plan, which Congressional aides said is a compromise between the demand of the tech-industry and the concerns of the labour unions.
The deal reached between Democratic Senator Charles Schumer and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, covers eight amendments sponsored by the latter to make the process for granting H-1B visas more palatable to high-tech companies.
As a res
A massive tornado, which was estimated to be at least 2 miles wide, has ripped through the US city of Oklahoma, killing at least 51, including seven children.
The Oklahoma City Medical Examiner said at least 51 people died, including children, when a powerful, 320 Kms tornado ripped through the area yesterday, and that they expect the death toll to climb.
Two hospitals confirmed they were treating a total of 120 injured, including about 70 children.
The Moore City Police Department s
Amidst allegations that Apple is evading US taxes through overseas shell companies, the White House said this raises the broader question of American companies that ship profits and jobs overseas, a issues often raised by US President Barack Obama in the last few years.
“The broader issue is one that is of concern to the President and one that he’s focused on, because in terms of the policy matters that it raises, the report by Senators (Carl) Levin and (John) McCain raises a set of broader i
A US consumer body today launched a Facebook campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of textile workers in Bangladesh after last month's deadly factory collapse that killed over 1,100 people.
National Consumers League (NCL), a consumer and worker advocacy group, said that it is launching the social media campaign that enables consumers to inform retailers that they would be willing to pay 10 cents more for every garment purchased which will go towards improving worker safety in Bangladesh.
Two Pakistani nationals have been extradited to the US to face charges that they operated internet sites that illegally shipped pharmaceuticals from Pakistan to the United States and Britain.
Sheikh Waseem Ul Haq, 40, and Tahir Saeed, 51, were arrested in London last year.
While Ul Haq was arraigned last fall, Saeed was produced before a US court in District of Columbia yesterday.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has alleged that since late 2005, the internet site operated
The military in Myanmar, which ruled the country with an iron hand for decades, is now being reformed for its role in the democratisation and peace building process, President Thein Sein has said as he pushed the US leadership to lift remaining sanctions on his country.
On the first bilateral visit to the US by a President of Myanmar in 50 years, Thein Shein called for support and patience from the US.
"We are trying hard to end Myanmar's isolation, see the removal of all sanctions, and
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has visited America’s top counter-terrorism centre, to have the first-hand experience of its functioning.
Shinde, who arrived here on Sunday, visited the centre yesterday.
He is leading a high-powered India delegation for the second India-US Homeland Security Dialogue with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
He also visited the Fairfax County Adult Detention Centre where he was given a tour and presentation on the functioning and mana
US President Barack Obama praised the leadership of his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein for successfully leading his country towards democracy and economic reform, but expressed concern over continuing communal violence in parts of South East Asian nation.
On becoming the first leader of his country in almost 50 years to visit the White House, Obama said the President of Myanmar has made "genuine efforts" to resolve longstanding ethnic conflicts within the country and has recognised the need
US President Barack Obama has announced to award the nation's highest civilian honor posthumously to the first American female astronaut Dr Sally Ride for her contributions to the US space program and education system.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honour presented to individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the US, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.
"We remember
US President Barack Obama will deliver a major policy speech on counter-terrorism, including the controversial drone strikes and the terrorism detention policy centre in Guantanamo, the White House has said.
In his speech at the National Defence University on May 23, Obama will discuss US’s broad counter-terrorism policy, including its military, diplomatic, intelligence and legal efforts.
“He will review the state of the threats we face, particularly as al-Qaeda core has weakened but new d
As part of his administration’s effort to build a special relationship with African countries, US President Barack Obama will travel to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania next month.
The week-long trip from June 26 to July 3, will underscore Obama’s commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the US and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity, a presidential spokesman said yesterday.
“The President will reinforce the importance th
US President Barack Obama will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in two-day summit in California next month to discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues, a presidential spokesman said.
Obama-Xi summit meeting would be held on June 7-8 in California at Sunnylands, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Estate.
This will be Obama's first meeting with Xi since he became China's President.
"Obama and Xi will hold in depth discussions on a wide range of bila
Ahead of the India-US Strategic Dialogue, a bi-partisan group of over a dozen influential lawmakers from the powerful Congressional India Caucus today called for better American co-operation and support to New Delhi on homeland security and counter-terrorism issues.
Appreciating the co-operation between India and the US after the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, the group of lawmakers, led by the Congressional India Caucus Co-Chairs Joseph Crowley and Peter J Roskam, have called for expanding th
Describing India and China as strong, prosperous and influential nations, the US today said contributions from the two Asian countries were vital for addressing global and regional challenges.
"As strong, prosperous and influential nations, both China and India's contributions are vital to addressing a broad range of regional and global challenges," State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell told reporters.
However, he did not respond to questions on the latest visit of the Chinese Pre
With an impending comprehensive immigration reform, two leading US business groups have called on lawmakers to support an increase in H-1B visas and providing green cards to entrepreneurs who create jobs so as to keep attracting the "best and brightest".
In a joint letter to US lawmakers, Long Island Association (LIA) and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG), two leading business organisations in New York and California respectively, urged them to ensure that highly skilled immigrants a
Citing discrimination and violence against Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Muslims, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said serious challenges to religious freedom remain globally, including the increasing use of laws governing blasphemy and apostasy in some nations.
Kerry said that religious freedom is an integral part of the global diplomatic effort of the Obama Administration. Describing freedom of religion as a core American value, Kerry said attacks on religious freedom are both a moral a
Asserting that America will continue to build people-to-people relationships that help foster trust between cultures, Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday said the US will not pull back from the world.
"I've got news for you today, and I have news to share with America. We will not pull back," Kerry said in his address to Foreign Service Institute during a seminar on Security Overseas.
"We're going to keep practicing what my father called foreign policy outdoors, working directly with
Indian democratic system, independent judiciary, civil society and a free press together provide the necessary mechanism to address reported violations of religious freedom in the country, the US said on Monday.
According to a report by the US State Department, 89 people died and another 1,846 were injured in 560 cases of communal violence in India in 2012.
"The country's democratic system, independent legal institutions, vibrant civil society, and free press provided mechanisms that hel
Teenager Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot at last year by the Taliban for advocating education of girls, has been selected for the prestigious Global Leadership Award this year.
15-year-old Malala will receive the award for her role as a global activist in advocating for educating and empowering girls worldwide, a media announcement said today.
She was targeted for her outspoken views and advocacy on behalf of girls' education.
Last year, the UN Secretary-General Ba
A top American diplomat would be travelling to India this week ahead of the next month's Delhi" target="_blank">New Delhi trip of Secretary of State John Kerry for the India-US Strategic Dialogue, an official statement has said.
In New Delhi on May 24-25, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman will meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and other Indian officials to discuss a full range of bilateral and regional issues and prepar
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