Elections

Business

The POTUS poll: Stuck at the ISS, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to vote from space!

September 14, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Indian-origin veteran astronaut Sunita Williams and her fellow NASA colleague Butch Wilmore plan to vote from space to elect the next President of the United States (POTUS) on November 5, 2024. The two astronauts, who took off aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024, for a week but got stuck in […]

Business

Ukraine: Russia ‘expels’ 6 British diplomats as tensions mount over missiles

September 13, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Amid Track II diplomatic efforts for a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, who have been fighting an inconclusive war since February 2022, Moscow on Friday announced the expulsion of six British diplomats from the country, accusing them of engaging in espionage and sabotage work, the media reported. However, the British […]

Business

Roving Periscope: Biden’s final push to ‘re-energize’ Quad on Sept 21

September 13, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: To dispel the impression that his four-year presidency weakened the progress of ‘Asian NATO,’ aimed at containing China’s expansionist ambitions, outgoing US President Joe Biden is giving a final push to ‘re-energize’ the four-democracy organization, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), on September 21. He will host the final Quad Summit of […]

Business

Roving Periscope: Kamala may trump Trump to become the first woman US President

September 11, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: After an assassination attempt on him in July, that left him with a bandaged right ear, the Time magazine aptly described Donald Trump as the “Man of the Ear.” His popularity suddenly soared and the incumbent Joe Biden lost his second shot at the White House to his deputy Kamala Harris […]

Business

Social media “scourge”: Australia to legally ban users under 16 years of age

September 10, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Although analysts are doubting its technological feasibility, Australia is considering introducing legislation this year to ban access to social media outlets by users under 16 years of age. Even the Opposition will support it, the media reported on Tuesday. The minimum age for children to log into social media sites including […]

Business

Roving Periscope: In Europe’s Far-Right season, the new French PM also turns right!

September 7, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: If the centrist French President Emmanuel Macron has gambled on appointing a Conservative Prime Minister to ‘course correct’ and avert the inexorable rise of the Far Right, he may regret his decision much before the next presidential election in 2027. For, the new PM, Michel Barnier, has hinted at his rightward […]

Business

The USofA: WH asks a smirking Putin to keep off polls; he now supports Harris!

September 6, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Despite stagnation and a series of recent reverses—Ukraine, economy, geopolitics, etc.—Russian President Vladimir Putin, 71, has managed to laugh at the bete noire, relish the campaign of the main contenders during the ongoing presidential elections, and the discomfiture of the White House! Irritated, the White House called Thursday on Putin to […]

Business

Roving Periscope: Pro-Khalistani NDP may now inch closer to Canada’s Conservatives to save its skin

September 6, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Sensing that the unpopular Liberal Party may lose power next year, the pro-Khalistani New Democratic Party (NDP) has pulled out support to the Justine Trudeau government and may inch closer to the Conservatives to avert a possible crackdown on the anti-India outfit by the next rulers. Canadian Leader of Opposition and […]

Business

Singapore: Wary of China, PMs Modi and Wong elevate ties to “comprehensive strategic partnership”

September 5, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: After his successful visit to the island nation of Brunei at the edge of the South China Sea, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong elevated the bilateral ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” the media reported on Thursday. Soon after arrival from […]

Business

Roving Periscope: Rohingyas’ fresh influx worries Bangladesh—and India

September 4, 2024 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: With the rebel Arakan Army, trying to overthrow the military junta regime in Myanmar, reportedly launching a drone and mortal attack and killing nearly 100 Rohingya men on August 5, Bangladesh—and India—have a reason to worry because of a fresh influx of the Rohingya Muslim refugees, the media reported on Wednesday. […]