Social Security Fairness Act: What it means for Indian-origin seniors in the U.S.
By Dr. Avi Verma As the Senate moves toward a final vote on the Social Security Fairness Act, the potential impact on seniors of Indian origin working or retired in public sector jobs has drawn significant attention. The proposed legislation seeks to repeal
US Supreme Court to hear Chinese-owned TikTok’s appeal against ban
The US Supreme Court extended TikTok a thin, temporary lifeline on Wednesday, agreeing to hear its appeal against the law banning it unless it gives up its Chinese ownership. The court fast-tracked the appeal, setting a hearing for January 9, just 10 days
US Senate passes annual defence policy bill, sending it to Biden for signing
The US Senate has passed the 895-billion-USD defence policy bill for fiscal year 2025, which has already cleared the House and now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law. The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was approved in an 85-14 vote,
Indian share market opens in red as US Fed warns of fewer rate cuts in 2025
The Indian stock market opened in the red on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points but warned that rate cuts in 2025 may not be as frequent as previously anticipated. With the Fed’s focus shifting towards
US San Diego politicians want to block Trump deportations, but sheriff refuses
A new immigration policy adopted by the US San Diego County Board of Supervisors was designed to stop jails from collaborating with federal immigration officials, potentially hindering President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations. However, the county is now in a standoff, offering
California Declares State of Emergency Over Bird Flu
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak of Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, which has infected 34 people in the state. The governor’s office announced the declaration on Wednesday, noting that cases
US-India exchanging briefings on alleged plot against Khalistani: State Dept
The panel set up by India to investigate allegations regarding a murder-for-hire plot against a US-based Khalistani and US government agencies have been exchanging briefings, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. “We have been regularly briefing them on the results of our
US surgeons complete fifth gene-edited pig organ transplant
US surgeons have completed the fifth gene-edited pig organ transplant for an Alabama woman who is now free from dialysis and in better health, New York University (NYU) Langone Health has revealed. The surgery marks the latest promising breakthrough in an emerging surgical
South Korea to brace for possible resumption of US-North Korea dialogue under Trump: FM Cho
South Korea will ensure it has plans in place to engage with the incoming US administration under President-elect Donald Trump, should stalled nuclear talks with North Korea resume, said Seoul’s top diplomat on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul made these remarks in a
US: Texas authorities reveal severe groundwater contamination
Texas reported 252 new groundwater contamination cases in 2023, accounting for nearly nine percent of all open cases in the second-largest U.S. state, according to an official report. The latest Texas Groundwater Protection Committee annual report compiles 2,870 open cases of groundwater contamination.
Mexican consulates to strengthen support for nationals in face of US deportation
Mexican consulates in the United States will strengthen legal support for Mexican nationals to ensure they are informed about their rights and the deportation procedures, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said. The measure, announced on Friday, comes in response to repeated threats of mass
‘Maverick diplomacy’: Trump invites Xi to inauguration for ‘open dialogue’
Continuing with his maverick diplomacy, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has invited China’s President Xi Jinping to his inauguration next month for “open dialogue” with adversaries, his spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday. The invitation to the leader of China, who had been a
Facing uncertainty after overthrow of al-Assad, Biden orders airstrikes on Islamic State in Syria
Facing uncertainty in Syria after the rapid overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Washington bombed sites controlled by the Islamic State, a group on the terrorist list, as President Joe Biden’s administration tried to recalibrate its policy for that country. The US faces a quandary
South Korean FM discusses alliance with top US envoy in second meeting since martial law
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with US Ambassador Philip Goldberg late Sunday to discuss efforts to strengthen and maintain the bilateral alliance in the aftermath of last week’s martial law debacle, Cho’s office said. “Minister Cho emphasised the government’s firm commitment
Subsidiary of US consulting firm pays $122 million to resolve South Africa bribery case involving Indian ex-executive
A subsidiary of global consulting company McKinsey has agreed to a $122.85 million settlement with US prosecutors in a South African bribery case involving a former Indian executive, officials said. “McKinsey Africa has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of more than $122
Netanyahu thanks Trump for ‘strong’ statement warning Hamas to release hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked US President-elect Donald Trump after the latter called for the hostages held in Gaza to be released by Hamas the day he takes charge as president. In a post on X, Netanyahu on Tuesday expressed his
S. Korea, US postpone key nuclear deterrence talks: Pentagon spokesperson
South Korea and the US have put off key nuclear deterrence talks and a related exercise originally set to take place in Washington this week, a Pentagon spokesperson said, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived declaration of emergency martial law. Seoul
I haven’t seen George Soros in 50 years, don’t talk to him: Jim Rogers
Ace American investor and financial commentator Jim Rogers has revealed that he has not seen US billionaire George Soros — with whom he founded Quantum Fund long ago — in about 50 years and does not talk to him anymore. In 1970, Rogers
India to explore closer collaboration with US in Trump 2.0 govt: S. Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday said that India would be exploring more “collaborative possibilities” with the US once the Donald Trump-led administration takes over. Addressing the CII Partnership Summit 2024 on the theme of ‘India and the World,’ S. Jaishankar said:
‘Not fair to comment on policies of new US administration under President-elect Trump’: State Department spokesperson Miller
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has said that it will not be appropriate for him to comment on President-elect Donald Trump’s policies, as he has not yet assumed office, adding that he is proud of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy. The spokesperson