Political

Business

Debt-ceiling: As the House nods, no US default for now; Bill sent to the Senate

June 1, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit    New Delhi:  Ahead of the June 5 default deadline, the US Congress’ Lower House (House of Representatives) on Wednesday passed the debt-limit legislation forged by President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy that would impose restraints on government spending through the 2024 election and sent it to the Upper House (Senate) for […]

Read more

Business

Food storage: India to develop the world’s largest facility, invest Rs. 1 lakh crore

May 31, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit    New Delhi: Amid the disruptions in food supply and high inflation because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war increasing food security concerns in several countries, including India, New Delhi has approved the world’s largest foodgrain storage scheme, envisaging an investment of Rs. One trillion (Rs. One lakh crore). Under this plan, every block […]

Read more

Business

Indian politics overseas: Khalistan supporters heckle Rahul Gandhi at an event

May 31, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit    New Delhi: Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi was on Tuesday heckled by a group of Khalistan supporters, who shouted slogans against him and briefly interrupted his speech during an event in the US state of California, the media reported on Wednesday. The incident occurred when Gandhi, who lost his Lok Sabha membership […]

Read more

Business

Transformation: India now a key driver for Asian and global growth

May 31, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit   New Delhi: Global investment banking major Morgan Stanley said on Wednesday that India of 2023 is different from what it was in 2013 and is set to emerge as a key driver for Asian and global growth. The South Asian country has significantly transformed in several areas since 2014, the media reported […]

Read more

Business

Roving Periscope: Facing the ICC warrant, Putin gets diplomatic immunity in South Africa for BRICS Summit

May 30, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit    New Delhi: South Africa has granted diplomatic immunity to Russian President Vladimir Putin, against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague had issued an arrest warrant two months ago for his alleged war crimes in Ukraine, enabling him to participate in the forthcoming BRICS Summit in August 2023. Pretoria has […]

Read more

Business

Roving Periscope: Ahead of PM Modi’s US visit, India puts pressure on China

May 29, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit   New Delhi:  Nearly three weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first State Visit to the United States (June 21-24), and amid a move to induct India into NATO, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s latest remarks that New Delhi is facing a “very complicated challenge” from Beijing in the last three years is […]

Read more

Business

The $31.4 trillion conundrum: US Congress may approve the Biden-McCarthy deal on Wednesday

May 29, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit   New Delhi: Democrat US President Joe Biden’s “compromise” with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on raising the USD 31.4 trillion debt ceiling may have averted the danger of a looming American default after June 1 that would have sent world economies in a tailspin. Similar situations have arisen in the past as […]

Read more

Business

Roving Periscope: Ahead of PM Modi’s US visit in June, a NATO ‘invite’

May 27, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit   New Delhi: It was in the works for some years. And got a boost when India joined the revivified Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) three years ago, becoming the fourth democracy after the US, Australia, and Japan to create what is viewed as an informal “Asian NATO”, striving to contain China. Now, as […]

Read more

Business

World economies: India moved up from 10th to 5th since 2014; poised to be 4th in 2 years

May 27, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit    New Delhi: India, which has moved up from being the 10th largest economy in 2014 to the fifth now, is all set to become the fourth top global economy in the next two years. Enabling policies and grassroots initiatives of the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have led to […]

Read more

Business

The Economy of War: Recession, inflation pushes Germany to inch closer to Russia

May 26, 2023 virendra pandit

Virendra Pandit    New Delhi: It is too early to predict disunity in the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, the massive costs of the 15 months of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine have set disquiet in Europe about the politico-economic uncertainties staring at them. Some countries, like Poland, flooded with Ukrainian refugees, […]

Read more