All stories by Lalit K Jha
Trump lawyers call impeachment trial unconstitutional
Rediff.com3 Feb 2021The provisions do not apply to Trump, "since he is no longer 'President,'" his lawyers say.
Concerned by China's attempts to intimidate neighbours: US
Rediff.com2 Feb 2021'We will stand with friends, partners and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security and values in the Indo-Pacific region'
Biden threatens sanctions on Myanmar after coup
Rediff.com2 Feb 2021Calling the military's seizure of power in Myanmar a 'direct assault' on its transition to democracy, United States President Joe Biden on Monday threatened to slap new sanctions on the country after the junta detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other political leaders.
Global Indian Diaspora seeks repeal of farm laws
Rediff.com1 Feb 2021India has called the remarks by foreign leaders and organisations on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted", asserting that the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country.
Mahatma Gandhi statue vandalised in US; India demands action
Rediff.com30 Jan 2021The statue of Gandhi, which was donated by the Indian government to the city of Davis, was installed by the city council four years ago amidst protests from anti-Gandhi and anti-India organisations.
IMF's Gita Gopinath bats for infra investment in Budget
Rediff.com27 Jan 2021Ahead of India's annual budget presentation next week, IMF's chief economist Gita Gopinath has favoured the extension of the pandemic support measures, thrust on investment in infrastructure and expanding health sectors programmes like Ayushman Bharat, and a very credible divestment path for commercially viable companies. The Indian government has provided a lot of schemes for small and medium enterprises, most of which is in the form of liquidity support, Gopinath told PTI on Tuesday. "And you want to revisit it and see how effectively that is working and see whether additional support may need to be provided," she said while responding to a question on her recommendations to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahead of her presentation of the annual Union Budget on February 1. It would be a good time for banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to raise capital given the attractiveness of financing conditions at this point, she said.
India's new agri laws can raise farm income; social safety net needed: IMF's Gopinath
Rediff.com27 Jan 2021India's recently-enacted agri laws have the potential to increase farmers' income, but there is a need to provide a social safety net to the vulnerable cultivators, IMF's Chief Economist Gita Gopinath has said. Indian agriculture is in need of reforms, she said. There are multiple areas where the reforms are needed, including infrastructure, the chief economist of the Washington-based global financial institution said on Tuesday. The three agri laws, enacted in September last year, have been projected by the Indian government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.
Trump likely to be acquitted in impeachment trial as Democrats lack numbers in Senate
Rediff.com27 Jan 2021Trump is the first US president who facing an impeachment trial after he left the presidency.
IMF projects 11.5% growth for India in 2021
Rediff.com26 Jan 2021The IMF on Tuesday projected an impressive 11.5 per cent growth rate for India in 2021, making the country the only major economy of the world to register a double-digit growth this year amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Janet Yellen becomes US' 1st woman treasury secretary
Rediff.com26 Jan 2021Yellen, 74, was confirmed by the Senate in a broad bipartisan support of 84-15 votes on Monday. Both the Democratic and the Republican parties have 50 members in the 100-seat Senate.
Biden reimposes ban on flyers from Europe, adds South Africa to list
Rediff.com26 Jan 2021The State Department said US citizens should reconsider non-essential travel abroad. Those that must travel abroad following the implementation of this order should carefully consider the strict implementation of the travel restrictions.
US Senate confirms Lloyd Austin as 1st black Pentagon chief
Rediff.com23 Jan 2021A day earlier, the House of Representatives voted 326-78 to pass a waiver exempting Austin from the seven-year 'cooling off period' for retired generals taking over as defence secretary. The senate approved the waiver by 69-27 votes.
Biden launches 'wartime' plan to fight against COVID-19
Rediff.com22 Jan 2021Biden said the plan starts with mounting an aggressive, safe, and effective vaccination campaign to meet the goal of administering 100 million shots in the first 100 days in office.
Biden has no plans to call Trump: White House
Rediff.com22 Jan 2021Trump did not attend Biden's inauguration, a rare for an outgoing president.
On Day 1, Biden signs 15 executive orders
Rediff.com21 Jan 2021The president said he will be signing a number of executive orders over the next several days of the week.
Trump wrote a 'very generous' letter before departing WH: Biden
Rediff.com21 Jan 2021I will not talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous, Biden told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House
Unity is the path forward: Biden in maiden speech as US prez
Rediff.com21 Jan 2021Speaking shortly after taking oath as the 46th President of the United States, 78-year-old Biden also pledged to repair America's global alliances, which suffered during his predecessor Donald Trump's four-year regime.
Ready to serve: Harris' first tweet as US Vice President
Rediff.com21 Jan 2021Harris, the 49th US Vice President, will serve as the deputy of President Joe Biden, 78, who also took the oath of office, becoming the 46th US President.
Joe Biden takes oath as 46th US President
Rediff.com20 Jan 2021The 78-year-old veteran Democrat leader was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts at the West Front of the Capitol -- the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies where the deadly violence took place just two weeks ago.
Kamala Harris wears 2 Black designers on Inauguration Day
Rediff.com20 Jan 2021In opting to wear the dress designed by Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson, Harris has sent her own message to the country that Black designers have arrived on the scene.