News Analysis India

Tag: USA

  • USA Beat Bangladesh In 1st T20I To Take 1-0 Lead In Series | cricket news

    Riding high on Corey Anderson and Harmeet Singh’s valiant effort, cricketing upstarts US pulled off a major upset, defeating Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series here at the Prairie View Cricket Complex. At a time the giants and recognised cricketing nations are gearing up for the highly-anticipated T20 World Cup, which is less than ten days away, the co-hosts of the marquee event pulled off an unprecedented victory over a decidedly stronger and much-fancied Bangladesh side.

    After managing to keep Bangladesh to 153/6 in the first innings, the USA gave themselves a platform to bolster their chances of pulling off an upset. The opening pair of Steven Taylor and captain Monank Patel raced to 27 runs in the first three overs.

    But Monank (12) got run out at the non-striker’s end. Andries Gous (23) arrived at the crease and scored runs at a brisk pace before losing his wicket to Rishad Hossain. Taylor (28) looked well set for an extended stay on the crease but Mustafizur Rahman got better of the batter.

    As the promising-looking chase started to go astray in the middle overs, Anderson and Harmeet raised hopes of a win. Harmeet changed the complexion of the game with back-to-back sixes off Mustafizur in the 17th over.

    In the 18th over, Shoriful Islam fell at the receiving end as Harmeet put on a boundary fest. A towering six on the second ball was followed by a boundary on the final delivery. With 14 runs in the over, the equation came down to 24 runs in the final two. Anderson took the mantle of finishing off the game with two sixes and a boundary in the next nine balls. His finishing touches sealed a 5-wicket win for the USA over Bangladesh.

    Earlier in the innings, after winning the toss and putting Bangladesh to bat, it was a moderate performance from the visitors. A conservative approach in the powerplay, saw Bangladesh put 37/2 on board. Shakib Al Hasan struggled before getting run out.

    Towhid Hridoy (58) starred with the bat on the back of his performance in the recently concluded Zimbabwe series. Mahmudullah led the attack in the death overs. But USA bowlers kept their line and length tight to restrict Bangladesh to 153/6.

  • Who Is Ashwin Ramaswami? The First Gen Z Indian-American In US Senate Race | world news

    New Delhi: The most recent Indian American to enter US politics is a 24-year-old software engineer, who is the first Gen Z candidate of Indian descent to run for state senate in the nation.

    Ashwin Ramaswami is a second-generation immigrant who has the distinction of being the first Indian American senator from Georgia and the only one with a law degree in addition to a computer science degree. If elected.

    He is a Democratic candidate facing off against Republican Shawn Still, who was charged with the same crimes as former US President Donald Trump for the US Capitol uprising on January 6.

    Ashwin Ramaswami: Who Is He?

    Ramaswami is a tech startup entrepreneur who has worked in cybersecurity for the US government and currently runs a technology law and policy consulting firm.

    His parents, both IT professionals, immigrated from Tamil Nadu to US in 1990 and Ramaswami graduated from Stanford University in 2021. “I was born and grew up in Georgia. I’m a second-generation immigrant, an Indian American, a twin brother , and an engineer,” his campaign website reads.

    “I’m running for (Georgia) State Senate in order to give back to my community. I want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunities that I had growing up,” the 24-year-old told news agency PTI.

    Ramaswami says he is keen to make sure the young people who come from “unconventional backgrounds in politics” have “a new voice”.

    “I’m a Hindu”

    Even as a young techie, Ramaswami says he is grounded in Indian culture. “I’m a Hindu. I’ve been very interested in Indian cultural philosophy my whole life,” he said.

    The 24-year-old, who was raised on epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita, also taught Hindu philosophy and culture to schoolchildren at the Hindu spiritual movement’s Chinmaya Mission Balavihar.

    “When I was in college, I learned Sanskrit and ended up reading a lot of ancient texts and got very interested in reading Upanishads, ..and my whole life I’ve been very involved in yoga and meditation and now also teaching Baal Vihara to younger students,” he told news agency PTI.

    Apart from this, he founded the Dharmic Law Student Organization, a group that conducts programs for Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain students.

    Gen Z And Political Goals

    As a civil servant involved in election security, Ramaswami claimed to have contributed to the security of the 2020 and 2022 elections. In response to skepticism regarding his youth in his State Senate campaign, the twenty-four-year-old claimed that his generation is “very aware politically.”

    “We very much see the news, we see all these things happening, and we want to ensure a good future for ourselves. But I think one problem we face is we don’t have the resources or ability to go and make a difference in the sense that it’s really hard for people my age to get elected because the election process skews towards people who are wealthier and older, ” he said.

    With his eyes set on the state senate, Ramaswami says he aims to increase wages for state employees and introduce better technology to secure elections. He also plans to introduce “common-sense gun laws” and antitrust laws to hold big tech companies accountable for online harms.

    The young techie wants to create a sustainable tech hub in the south of US and make Georgia a leader in green energy investments.

  • EAM Jaishankar to meet US Secretary Blinken amid India-Canada diplomatic row

    By PTI

    WASHINGTON: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here on Thursday, amid the diplomatic rumpus between India and Canada stirred over the killing of a Khalistani separatist.

    Although officials from both sides are tightlipped about the agenda of the meeting, the latest diplomatic crisis between two of America’s friends, its traditional ally Canada and India, is expected to come up prominently during the talks.

    “I don’t want to preview the conversations he (Blinken) will have in that meeting (with Jaishankar), but as we’ve made clear, we’ve raised this; we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on this and encouraged them to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, and we continue to encourage them to cooperate,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

    Miller was responding to questions about the meeting between Jaishankar and Blinken at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department here on Thursday afternoon (which is about mid-night local India time). The two leaders are expected to pose for pictures ahead of the meeting and are not expected to take any questions from the media.

    ALSO READ | US ‘deeply concerned’ by Trudeau’s allegations against India: Blinken

    While the meeting between the two top diplomats was scheduled much before the Canadian crisis broke out, the US has been urging India to cooperate in the Canadian investigation into the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia early this year.

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has alleged that the Indian government was behind the killing of Nijjar, 45, outside a gurdwara in Surrey in British Columbia on June 18.

    India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

    India has rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official.

    India has also asked Canada to crack down on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians.

    OPINION | The Canadistan conundrum: Whose hand is it anyway?

    Miller said that the issue did not come up for discussion in New York during the Quad ministerial that involved foreign ministers of the US, India, Japan and Australia.

    “It was a meeting of a number of countries and it did not come up in that meeting. But we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on this issue and urged them to fully cooperate with the Canadian investigation,” the State Department spokesperson said.

    Jaishankar arrived in the American capital from New York after attending the annual General Assembly meetings of the United Nations on Tuesday.

    In addition to his meeting with Blinken, the external affairs minister is expected to have a series of meetings with senior officials of the Biden administration, review the progress made between the two countries after the historic State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June and talk about other regional and global issues.

    The minister is also expected to engage with the diaspora and think-tank community and interact with leaders from the corporate sector.

    WASHINGTON: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here on Thursday, amid the diplomatic rumpus between India and Canada stirred over the killing of a Khalistani separatist.

    Although officials from both sides are tightlipped about the agenda of the meeting, the latest diplomatic crisis between two of America’s friends, its traditional ally Canada and India, is expected to come up prominently during the talks.

    “I don’t want to preview the conversations he (Blinken) will have in that meeting (with Jaishankar), but as we’ve made clear, we’ve raised this; we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on this and encouraged them to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, and we continue to encourage them to cooperate,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Miller was responding to questions about the meeting between Jaishankar and Blinken at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department here on Thursday afternoon (which is about mid-night local India time). The two leaders are expected to pose for pictures ahead of the meeting and are not expected to take any questions from the media.

    ALSO READ | US ‘deeply concerned’ by Trudeau’s allegations against India: Blinken

    While the meeting between the two top diplomats was scheduled much before the Canadian crisis broke out, the US has been urging India to cooperate in the Canadian investigation into the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia early this year.

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has alleged that the Indian government was behind the killing of Nijjar, 45, outside a gurdwara in Surrey in British Columbia on June 18.

    India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

    India has rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official.

    India has also asked Canada to crack down on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians.

    OPINION | The Canadistan conundrum: Whose hand is it anyway?

    Miller said that the issue did not come up for discussion in New York during the Quad ministerial that involved foreign ministers of the US, India, Japan and Australia.

    “It was a meeting of a number of countries and it did not come up in that meeting. But we have engaged with our Indian counterparts on this issue and urged them to fully cooperate with the Canadian investigation,” the State Department spokesperson said.

    Jaishankar arrived in the American capital from New York after attending the annual General Assembly meetings of the United Nations on Tuesday.

    In addition to his meeting with Blinken, the external affairs minister is expected to have a series of meetings with senior officials of the Biden administration, review the progress made between the two countries after the historic State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June and talk about other regional and global issues.

    The minister is also expected to engage with the diaspora and think-tank community and interact with leaders from the corporate sector.

  • Centre rejects US report criticising India on religious freedom

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday trashed as “motivated” and “biased” a report by the US State Department on religious freedom that criticised the country for alleged attacks on minorities.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said such reports continue to be based on “misinformation and flawed understanding.”

    The annual report listed alleged attacks on religious minorities in India and expressed concerns over such incidents.

    “We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding,” Bagchi said.

    “Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports,” he said.

    Bagchi was responding to media queries on the report.

    “We value our partnership with the US and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us,” he said.

    The report that documents the status of religious freedom in countries across the world was released on Monday.

    A senior US official said far too many governments, including Russia, India, China and Saudi Arabia, continue to freely target faith community members.

    “Far too many governments continue to freely target faith community members within their borders,” Rashad Hussain, Ambassador at Large, Office of International Religious Freedom, told reporters at a news conference in Washington soon after the report was released by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

    The report provides a fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, Blinken said.

    NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday trashed as “motivated” and “biased” a report by the US State Department on religious freedom that criticised the country for alleged attacks on minorities.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said such reports continue to be based on “misinformation and flawed understanding.”

    The annual report listed alleged attacks on religious minorities in India and expressed concerns over such incidents.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding,” Bagchi said.

    “Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports,” he said.

    Bagchi was responding to media queries on the report.

    “We value our partnership with the US and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us,” he said.

    The report that documents the status of religious freedom in countries across the world was released on Monday.

    A senior US official said far too many governments, including Russia, India, China and Saudi Arabia, continue to freely target faith community members.

    “Far too many governments continue to freely target faith community members within their borders,” Rashad Hussain, Ambassador at Large, Office of International Religious Freedom, told reporters at a news conference in Washington soon after the report was released by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

    The report provides a fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, Blinken said.

  • India, US to launch strategic trade dialogue

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In a significant move, India and the US on Thursday decided to launch a strategic trade dialogue to address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high-technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfers.

    The decision to launch the new framework of dialogue was taken at a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and visiting US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

    “The external affairs minister and secretary Raimondo agreed to launch a India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue, led by Foreign Secretary from Ministry of External Affairs of India and Under Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security in US Department of Commerce,” the MEA said.

    “The Strategic Trade Dialogue will address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfer between the two countries,” it said.

    ALSO READ | India, US to sign MoU on semiconductor sector

    The MEA said Jaishankar and Raimondo had a productive discussion about the India-US strategic partnership and ongoing efforts to deepen the economic and commercial engagement between the two countries, including through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

    “They also concurred on the need for increased bilateral strategic and high technology trade given the shared priorities of both countries in building resilient and trusted global supply chains,” the MEA said in a statement.

    US President Joe Biden in May last year launched the IPEF, which is an initiative aimed at deeper cooperation among like-minded countries in areas such as clean energy, supply-chain resilience and digital trade.

    “Great pleasure to meet US Secretary of Commerce @SecRaimondo this evening. Conversation covered strategic trade, resilient and reliable supply chains and trust and transparency in the digital domain,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    NEW DELHI: In a significant move, India and the US on Thursday decided to launch a strategic trade dialogue to address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high-technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfers.

    The decision to launch the new framework of dialogue was taken at a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and visiting US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

    “The external affairs minister and secretary Raimondo agreed to launch a India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue, led by Foreign Secretary from Ministry of External Affairs of India and Under Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security in US Department of Commerce,” the MEA said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The Strategic Trade Dialogue will address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfer between the two countries,” it said.

    ALSO READ | India, US to sign MoU on semiconductor sector

    The MEA said Jaishankar and Raimondo had a productive discussion about the India-US strategic partnership and ongoing efforts to deepen the economic and commercial engagement between the two countries, including through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

    “They also concurred on the need for increased bilateral strategic and high technology trade given the shared priorities of both countries in building resilient and trusted global supply chains,” the MEA said in a statement.

    US President Joe Biden in May last year launched the IPEF, which is an initiative aimed at deeper cooperation among like-minded countries in areas such as clean energy, supply-chain resilience and digital trade.

    “Great pleasure to meet US Secretary of Commerce @SecRaimondo this evening. Conversation covered strategic trade, resilient and reliable supply chains and trust and transparency in the digital domain,” Jaishankar tweeted.

  • US woos rich Indians with EB-5 investor programme

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: The Invest In the USA (IIUSA) on Friday made a pitch to wealthier Indians to make use of the EB-5 investor program to invest in commercial enterprise in the USA, which also offers a quicker way to get citizenship in that country. Addressing the media ongoing series of EB-5 programme roadshows across India, Aaron Grau, Executive Director, IIUSA, said, “EB-5 programme affords foreign nationals and their spouses and unmarried children under age 21 the ability to obtain a US visa based upon a minimum investment in an economic development enterprise that creates or retains a specified number of jobs.

    The US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme requires that a foreign individual invests in a new commercial enterprise that is associated with government-approved regional centres based on proposals for promoting economic growth.”

    The EB-5 program requires $1 million for a standard — which is a non-Targeted Employment Area (TEA) investment — and $500,000 for a TEA investment by those seeking Green Card, or permanent residency status in the USA. According to the latest findings by IIUSA, the demand for EB-5 programme in India increased by 400 per cent between 2016 and 2019. Additionally, Indian nationals held the most number of EB-5 immigrant investor applications in the October-December and April-June quarters for the fiscal year 2019. 

    “The E-B5 programme is truly an economic development which will help in creating jobs for Indian workers,” Grau said. In March 2022, US President Joe Biden signed a law that includes EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Centre Programme and various imple­­­me­ntation effective dates for it, which will be in effect till September 30, 2027. 

    The programme is reviewed by the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). IIUSA in partnership with PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry is holding a series of EB-5 passport visa educational events in India for cohesive knowledge-building sessions about the US investment/EB-5 immigration process, project due diligence, and financial & tax planning in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru over May and June.

  • Restrictions lifted, fully vaccinated passengers from India to travel USA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  Aditya Garg headed to San Francisco in the early hours of Monday, relieved that he could finally get back to work with the US government lifting restrictions for international travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid.

    The young man from Jaipur, who works for a California-based electric vehicle company, was among the several people at the Delhi airport on Monday morning anxious to get to the US and boarding the first flight out they could.

    The coronavirus pandemic had prompted the US to close its borders to international travellers from many countries, including India, last year.

    Later, only passengers holding visas belonging to certain categories were permitted to travel.

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

    Garg, who took a United Airlines flight scheduled to depart at 4:30 am, said he had last travelled to the US before the pandemic induced lockdown in March last year.

    “I work and stay in Bay Area. It’s a relief that after such a long time I am able to fly to the US as American authorities have eased restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers. Of course, we still have to take all precautions,” he told PTI before entering the international departure lounge.

    Pritam Deshwal is also a US-based professional but was unable to travel from India due to restrictions.

    The airport designer, who took an Air India flight to the US, said, “I am based in New York, and the further lifting of restrictions on travellers will certainly help in getting reconnected to our offices and places, literally.”

    Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, most companies and institutions had allowed employees to work from home with digital technology playing a big role in helping colleagues stay connected in a ‘new normal’ scenario.

    Many US-bound passengers, including women, said their vaccination status had boosted their confidence.

    “I am taking my first international flight after the outbreak of the pandemic. I am feeling fine,” said a woman passenger who did not wish to be named. Among those who took flights out to the US were the Vij brothers, who are based in Miami.

    “I am a US citizen, so, there was no restriction for me as such, but I am glad more people can fly now to the US,” said Siddhant Vij, who took a Qatar Airways flight with his brother Shivek.

    American business executive Brad Nuss, who lives in Minnesota, flew to his home country on Monday and hoped that a sense of normalcy in international travel will return soon.

    “The pandemic has changed our world and the way we see it and interact with others. And, with vaccination picking up in India and elsewhere, and US further lifting travel restrictions, I feel it’s a sign of things slowly getting back to normal in a way,” Nuss told PTI before boarding a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight.

    At the airport, as family members bid goodbye to each other, many were overcome by emotion as they hugged, some taking the mandatory selfie to mark the occasion.

    The White House late last month said the US will lift all travel restrictions for incoming non-citizens and non-immigrant travellers from November 8, with only limited exceptions.

    They will be required to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a flight to the country.

    Passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and the airlines will need to match the name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination, according to an official statement issued earlier.

    Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    But special international flights have been operating under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with approximately 28 countries since July 2020.

    Under an air bubble pact between two countries, limited special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories with certain restrictions.

  • Restrictions lifted, fully vaccinated passengers from India can travel to US

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  Aditya Garg headed to San Francisco in the early hours of Monday, relieved that he could finally get back to work with the US government lifting restrictions for international travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid.

    The young man from Jaipur, who works for a California-based electric vehicle company, was among the several people at the Delhi airport on Monday morning anxious to get to the US and boarding the first flight out they could.

    The coronavirus pandemic had prompted the US to close its borders to international travellers from many countries, including India, last year.

    Later, only passengers holding visas belonging to certain categories were permitted to travel.

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

    Garg, who took a United Airlines flight scheduled to depart at 4:30 am, said he had last travelled to the US before the pandemic induced lockdown in March last year.

    “I work and stay in Bay Area. It’s a relief that after such a long time I am able to fly to the US as American authorities have eased restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers. Of course, we still have to take all precautions,” he told PTI before entering the international departure lounge.

    Pritam Deshwal is also a US-based professional but was unable to travel from India due to restrictions.

    The airport designer, who took an Air India flight to the US, said, “I am based in New York, and the further lifting of restrictions on travellers will certainly help in getting reconnected to our offices and places, literally.”

    Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, most companies and institutions had allowed employees to work from home with digital technology playing a big role in helping colleagues stay connected in a ‘new normal’ scenario.

    Many US-bound passengers, including women, said their vaccination status had boosted their confidence.

    “I am taking my first international flight after the outbreak of the pandemic. I am feeling fine,” said a woman passenger who did not wish to be named. Among those who took flights out to the US were the Vij brothers, who are based in Miami.

    “I am a US citizen, so, there was no restriction for me as such, but I am glad more people can fly now to the US,” said Siddhant Vij, who took a Qatar Airways flight with his brother Shivek.

    American business executive Brad Nuss, who lives in Minnesota, flew to his home country on Monday and hoped that a sense of normalcy in international travel will return soon.

    “The pandemic has changed our world and the way we see it and interact with others. And, with vaccination picking up in India and elsewhere, and US further lifting travel restrictions, I feel it’s a sign of things slowly getting back to normal in a way,” Nuss told PTI before boarding a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight.

    At the airport, as family members bid goodbye to each other, many were overcome by emotion as they hugged, some taking the mandatory selfie to mark the occasion.

    The White House late last month said the US will lift all travel restrictions for incoming non-citizens and non-immigrant travellers from November 8, with only limited exceptions.

    They will be required to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a flight to the country.

    Passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and the airlines will need to match the name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination, according to an official statement issued earlier.

    Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    But special international flights have been operating under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with approximately 28 countries since July 2020.

    Under an air bubble pact between two countries, limited special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories with certain restrictions.

  • US greets India on Independence Day, says ties ‘more important than ever’

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: Extending wishes on the occasion of India’s Independence Day, US President Joe Biden said that New Delhi and Washington must show the world that the “two great and diverse democracies” can deliver for people everywhere.

    In a statement, Biden said: “I wish all those celebrating today, in India, in the United States, and throughout the world, a safe and happy Indian Independence Day”.

    “On Aug 15, 1947, India achieved its long journey towards independence, guided by Mahatma Gandhi’s message of truth & non-violence. Over decades, ties b/w our people, including a vibrant community of over 4 million Indian-Americans, have strengthened our partnership,” he added. US Pres Joe Biden.

    In this moment of ‘great challenges and opportunities’, President Biden said that the partnership between India and the United States is more important than ever.

    “This past year, our nations have come together in new ways as we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, including working in partnership with Japan and Australia–through the Quad–to expand global manufacturing of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and to strengthen our ‘last-mile’ coordination to reach people throughout the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

    “In this moment of great challenges and opportunities, the partnership between India and the United States is more important than ever. And as we do, the friendship between our nations will continue to flourish and grow. I wish all those celebrating today, in India, in the United States, and throughout the world, a safe and happy Indian Independence Day,” he added.

    India is celebrating ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, marking the 75th year of Independence. A series of events are being organised across the country to mark the occasion.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the Independence Day celebrations from Red Fort in New Delhi on Sunday.

  • Month on, India yet to get doses from US under its donation plan

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Even a month after the Joe Biden administration announced that it was donating 80 million doses to various countries, India is yet to receive Covid-19 vaccines from the US. However, countries such as Taiwan, Pakistan and Bangladesh have got their shipment of vaccines.

    Officials said conversations are on at many levels regarding the shipment but failed to provide a clear timeline and the number of vaccines that will be given to India. The 80 million doses that the US had decided to donate include vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca.

    India has cleared Covaxin, Covishield, Sputnik and Moderna vaccines for emergency use, while Pfizer is yet to get approval from the Indian authorities. PM Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with US Vice-President Kamala Harris last month where the latter elaborated the Biden administration’s plans to donate the first tranche of 25 million of the 80 million doses.

    “Just like we have in our domestic response, we will move as expeditiously as possible, while abiding by the US and host country regulatory and legal requirements, to facilitate the safe and secure transport of vaccines across international borders. This will take time, but the president has directed the administration to use all the levers of the US to protect individuals from this virus as quickly as possible,” a White House statement, detailing plans of the vaccine donations, had said. 

    Officials believe that while the Centre is keen on the doses from the US, New Delhi’s domestic requirements would be met only if the vaccine manufacturing capacity is scaled up.