Page 3 - White House

No reason China should retaliate over Covid travel restrictions: US

China has said it would hit back at nations that impose new rules on its travelers, dismissing the measures as "political goals

In 2023, US will continue to enhance its strategic position: White House

In 2023, the United States will continue to enhance its strategic position over the long haul, the White House said Tuesday. "This is a decisive decade, and we are focused on how we compete vigorously to advance our interest while building diverse coalitions to address the biggest challenges of our time," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. In 2022, US President Joe Biden hosted and met with leaders of the Americas, of Africa, of Southwest Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. That is something that the President did in just one year alone. He has attended very consequential: the G7, the G20, and NATO summits, she said. "This year, you will continue to see us enhance our strategic position over the long haul by doing a couple of things here that I'll list out: making significant investment in the sources of America's domestic strength; standing with Ukraine and standing up for the principles of an international order

US President Joe Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as envoy to India

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday renominated Eric Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, as his envoy to India, with the White House exuding confidence that he would be confirmed by the United States Senate this time. "Eric M. Garcetti, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of India, the White House said after sending the nomination to the Senate. Today, the White House will begin renominating candidates who were not confirmed in the last Congress, a media statement said. "As Secretary (of State, Tony) Blinken said very recently, our relationship with India is crucial and it's consequential, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. "Confirmation of Mayor Garcetti, who was voted out of committee unanimously and with strong bipartisan support to serve as ambassador to India. And that's important as we're talking about bipartisanship, as we're talking how

Trump's returns show how he used write-offs to pay little or no tax

The returns, which include his personal and business filings from 2015 to 2020, are the first complete look into Trump's tax records for the years he was running for office and in the White House

Biden outpacing former US prez Trump, Obama with diverse judicial nominees

For the Biden White House, a quartet of four female judges in Colorado encapsulates its mission when it comes to the federal judiciary. One of the judges, Charlotte Sweeney, is an openly gay woman with a background in workers' rights. Nina Wang, an immigrant from Taiwan, is the first magistrate judge in the state to be elevated to a federal district seat. Regina Rodriguez, who is Latina and Asian American, served in a U.S. attorney's office. Veronica Rossman, who came from the former Soviet Union with her family as refugees, is the first former federal public defender to be a judge on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. With these four women, who were confirmed during the first two years of President Joe Biden's term, there is a breadth of personal and professional diversity that the White House and Democratic senators have promoted in their push to transform the judiciary. The nominations send a powerful message to the legal community that this kind of public service is open t

'It's an honour to be by your side': Biden tells Zelenskyy at White House

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked President Joe Biden, U.S. lawmakers and ordinary people of America for their support as he visited the White House on Wednesday. Biden told Zelenskyy that Ukrainians inspire the world, before the two leaders began an Oval Office summit that was Zelenskyy's first known trip outside his home country since Russia invaded in February. In a brief remarks before reporters, Biden told Zelenskyy that it's an honor to be by your side and he pledged continued financial, military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Biden also warned that Russia is trying to use winter as a weapon" in the war. Zelenskyy said he wanted to visit the United States at an earlier time, but could not. He stressed that the war is not over and that his country faces many challenges in battling Russia.

Joe Biden slams antisemitic violence, says America will not be silent

US President Joe Biden said "America will not be silent" as he slammed antisemitism at a White House party to commemorate the second day of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights

US doesn't want any conflict with China, says White House official Kirby

Despite acknowledging the security challenges posed by China, White House official John Kirby has stated that Washington doesn't want to see a conflict with Beijing

Garcetti well-qualified to serve as US Ambassador to India: White House

Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is well-qualified to serve as the US Ambassador to India, the White House said Thursday. The statement comes days after influential senator Chuck Grassley opposed Garcetti's nomination as he faces an allegation of sexual harassment by one of his staff members. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, however, told reporters at her daily news conference that a diplomat in India is a priority. As you know, this is a priority and continues to be a priority for us. Mayor Garcetti is well-qualified to serve in this vital role, she said. Grassley's remarks on the Senate floor came amidst the White House intensifying its efforts to push Garcetti in the position which has remained vacant for nearly two years. India currently chairs G20, resulting in scores of diplomatic activities between the two countries, and the Biden administration wants to have its envoy in New Delhi at the earliest. Garcetti, who served as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles f

'Glad both sides disengaged,' says White House on India-China clash

The White House has said the Biden administration is glad that both India and China quickly disengaged after clashing in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector

Biden signs gay marriage law, calls it 'a blow against hate in all forms'

A celebratory crowd of thousands bundled up on a raw Tuesday afternoon to watch President Joe Biden sign gay marriage legislation into law, a joyful ceremony that was tempered by the backdrop of an ongoing conservative backlash over gender issues. This law and the love it defends strike a blow against hate in all its forms, Biden said on the South Lawn of the White House. And that's why this law matters to every single American. Singers Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper performed. Vice President Kamala Harris recalled officiating at a lesbian wedding in San Francisco. And the White House played a recording of Biden's television interview from a decade ago, when he caused a political furor by unexpectedly disclosing his support for gay marriage. Biden was vice president at the time, and President Barack Obama had not yet endorsed the idea. I got in trouble, Biden joked of that moment. Three days later, Obama himself publicly endorsed gay marriage. Lawmakers from both parties attended ...

Elon Musk's attacks on Anthony Fauci 'disgusting,' says White House

Musk in a tweet on Sunday mocked the use of gender pronouns and called for Fauci to be prosecuted. "My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci," he wrote

White House, Congress remain underwater in approval ratings: Survey

President Joe Biden's approval rating stands at 40%, with 55% disapproving of the way he is handling his job

News LIVE: IMD says Cyclone Mandous landfall started near Mamallapuram

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India-US ties not built on anxiety around China: White House official

The diplomatic relationship between India and the United States is not just based on mutual concern over China but a deeper understanding of the synergies, a White House official has said

India will not be a US ally, it will be another great power: White House

India, which has a unique strategic character, will not be an ally of the US, but another great power, a top White House official has said, asserting there is no other bilateral relationship that is being "deepened and strengthened" more rapidly than between the two countries over the last 20 years. Responding to a question on India during his appearance at the Aspen Security Forum meeting here on Thursday, Kurt Campbell, the White House Asia Coordinator, said that in his view India is the most important bilateral relationship for the United States in the 21st century. The fact is, I don't know of any bilateral relationship that is being deepened and strengthened more rapidly than the United States and India over the last 20 years, he told a Washington audience. The United States needs to invest even more of its capacity, and build in people-to-people ties, working together on technology and other issues, he said. India has a unique strategic character. It will not be an ally of th

US Congress sends bill on same-sex marriage to White House after approval

The US Congress approved a bill on same-sex marriage and sent it to the White House

US-India ties are strong; grateful for their G20 leadership: White House

The White House believes that the relationship between India and the United States is strong, a presidential spokesperson said Thursday. We see it as a strong relationship. President (Joe) Biden and all levels of US government are in touch with our Indian partners or their counterparts," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. The US relationship with India is strong. That's what we believe, she said in response to a question. We are grateful for their leadership at the last G-20, and look forward to working closely with India as they're new chair of the G-20. So, we also look forward to continue working with India on a range of important regional and global issues as well, Jean-Pierre said. The spokesperson said the Biden Administration continues to seek the confirmation of Los Angele Mayor Eric Garcetti as the US Ambassador to India. We want to see that happen quickly, who was voted...with strong bipartisan support to serve as

US govt aware of long delays in Indian visa appointments: White House

The Biden Administration is aware of the long delays in visa appointments in India and is working to respond to the "significant demand of these visa services", the White House said Thursday. I can say that the Biden administration is aware of the issues, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. She was responding to a question on the agonizing long visa appointment period at the US missions in India, which currently runs into more than 1,000 days. While we have made great strides, as you know, because you cover this very closely, in recovering from the pandemic related closures and staffing challenges, we are still working to respond to the significant demand of these visa services, Jean-Pierre said. That is something that we will continue to do. We are successfully lowering visa interview wait times, that's around the world, and we've doubled our hiring of US Foreign Service personnel to do this important work. Visa processing is

White House backs bill eliminating per country quota for green cards

The White House has supported Congress to pass a legislation that seeks to eliminate the per country quota on green cards to allow US employers to focus on hiring people based on merit, not their birthplace, a bill if passed would benefit several hundreds of thousands of immigrants specially Indian-Americans. A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently. This week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act of 2022. The EAGLE Act would eliminate a per-country cap on employment-based green cards a policy that disproportionately affects Indian immigrants. If passed, this legislation would phase out the per-country caps over the course of nine years to ensure that eligible immigrants from less populated countries are not excluded as the EAGLE Act is implemented. The ..