AMERICAN SOIL

US soil being used for terrorist activities against India: Community leaders tell DOJ and FBI

Eminent Indian Americans in Silicon Valley met with US officials to discuss terrorist activities against India and hate crimes targeting Hindus. Dissatisfaction was expressed with law enforcement's inaction against threats posed by the Khalistan movement.

Major changes to US immigration policy are under discussion. What are they and what could they mean?

Many immigration advocates, including some Democrats, say some of the changes being proposed would gut protections for people who desperately need help and would not really ease the chaos at the border. Much of the negotiating is taking place in private, but some of the issues under discussion are known: asylum standards, humanitarian parole and fast-track deportation authority, among others.

We have mature ties, work through differences: Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer

US deputy national security advisor Jonathan Finer, who was in India on Monday, met external affairs minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval and deputy NSA Vikram Misri, among other officials. He "acknowledged India's establishment of a Committee of Enquiry to investigate lethal plotting in the United States and the importance of holding accountable anyone found responsible", the White House said in a statement.

Alleged plot to murder Khalistani Pannun thickens; India-US diplomatic ties at play

Prosecutors did not name the Indian official or the target, although they did describe the latter as a U.S. citizen of Indian origin and U.S. officials have named him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition. He could not be reached for comment.

Indian firm, another lead by Indian-American among 5 winners of prestigious Earthshot Prize

An Indian solar-powered tech venture that is combating food waste in the country and a global soil carbon marketplace founded by an Indian-American are among this year's five winners of the prestigious Earthshot Prize. S4S Technologies combats food waste, rural poverty, and gender inequality by helping smallholder female farmers preserve and market surplus produce, the organisers said.

How 19th-century British botanist Albert Howard changed the world with an Indian secret in soil health

Albert Howard observed how Indian farmers preserve soil health by mixing natural wastes with the soil. This led to his seminal work 'An Agricultural Testament'.

16 Indian American students named among 30 junior innovators challenge

Sixteen Indian American students have been selected as finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, a prestigious middle school STEM competition. The finalists were chosen from a pool of 300 Junior Innovators and will compete for over $100,000 in awards, including the top prize of $25,000.

Indian consulate attack: US lawmakers, Indian-American bodies condemn incident, seek thorough probe

A video by Khalistan supporters, dated July 2 and posted on Twitter, showed the act of arson at the Indian consulate in San Francisco. The video, with the words "violence begets violence" emblazoned over it, also showed news articles related to the death of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada last month.

Joe Biden's border plans face legal challenge as Title 42 curbs end

Advocates argue the new regulation, put in place by Democratic President Joe Biden to curb illegal crossings, resembles restrictions issued by former President Donald Trump, his Republican predecessor. The rights groups successfully blocked the Trump rules in court and asked the same California-based judge to block these as well.

California becomes first US state to add caste as a protected category in its anti-discrimination laws

The California State Senate has passed a bill by a vote of 34-1 to make caste a 'protected category' in the state's anti-discrimination laws. The move could see California become the first US state to add caste discrimination to its anti-discrimination laws. The bill - SB 403 - follows a lawsuit brought against Cisco Systems last year by California's employment regulator regarding a 'low caste' Indian employee that accused two of his superiors of blocking his career prospects.

Banned TTP still using Afghan soil to attack Pakistan: Pakistan Defence Minister Asif

Asif's remarks come as Pakistan has witnessed a surge in TTP violence since peace talks between the militant group and the government began to falter in the latter half of last year. The TTP formally ended the ceasefire on November 28 and has executed more than 100 attacks since then.

Urination incident on American Airlines flight: Delhi Police to record witness statements

Based on a complaint from the airline, a case was registered and, as part of their ongoing investigation, investigators will record statements of the witnesses, including the passengers and the crew members, on the flight, a senior Delhi Police official said.

Nuclear risk seen rising as Vladimir Putin unpicks last treaty with US

Now it may be beyond repair, raising the risk of a new arms race - in parallel with the war in Ukraine - in which neither side can rely on the stable, predictable framework that successive nuclear accords have provided for more than 50 years. Security analysts said that could hugely complicate the delicate calculus that underpins mutual deterrence between the two countries, while also spurring other powers such as China, India and Pakistan to build up their nuclear arsenals.

Is Pakistan planning to eliminate Tehrik-e-Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan with American help?

According to a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP), Pakistan is likely to launch a major ground as well as air offensive to target the hideouts of Pakistan Taliban militants in Afghanistan, risking further deterioration of ties with the neighbouring country.

They were some of 9/11's biggest names. Where are they now?

In the aftermath of the planes falling from the sky, America and the world were introduced to an array of personalities. Some we had known well, but came to see in different ways. Others were thrown into public consciousness by unhappy happenstance.

US military flies out evacuees in waning hours of withdrawal

Senior administration officials said Sunday that the United States has the capacity to evacuate the approximately 300 U.S. citizens remaining in Afghanistan who want to leave before President Joe Biden's Tuesday deadline.

Is climate change to blame for the recent weather disasters? 2 things you need to understand

First, humans have pumped so much carbon dioxide and other planet-warming greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that what's "normal" has shifted.

Is climate change to blame for the recent weather disasters? 2 things you need to understand

View: Climate change poses grave risks to life, limb and livelihoods

When plastics replaced glass, porcelain and metal to make containers, buckets, plates and innumerable industrial and household items, no one knew the extent to which it would affect public health and welfare, never mind the survival of other species, especially marine organisms.

View: The charm of American education is over

​​The quest for higher-level learning and acquiring knowledge, made the youth to look for studies abroad. Studying abroad became synonymous to material success and social status. In this context, the United States of America stands apart and dominates the table. The country has consistently ranked as the most favored destination for international students for a long time.

Two agricultural experts from India named by UN chief to scientific group for 2021 food summit

Lal, a preeminent Indian-American soil scientist, was named last month as the 2020 World Food Prize Laureate for developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change.

Indian-American soil scientist wins prestigious World Food Prize

Dr Lal, in his career spanning more than five decades and four continents, has promoted innovative soil-saving techniques benefiting the livelihoods of more than 500 million small farmers, improving the food and nutritional security of more than two billion people and saving hundreds of millions of hectares of natural tropical ecosystems.

Health authorities expect coronavirus spread on US soil

Officials are also worried the outbreak poses a threat to the security of the US drug supply chain because a high proportion of ingredients used to make medicine is made in China, where the virus was first identified.