Sperling will take a role similar to the one Biden had as Vice President in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Gene Sperling, a veteran of the Clinton and Obama administrations, will lead the oversight for distributing funds from President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package, the White House said on Monday.Mr. Sperling will take a role similar to the one Biden had as Vice President in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. He will work with the heads of the White House policy councils and federal agencies to get funds out quickly and optimize their effectiveness,…
Author: Mike Harrison
The Indian batting has been improving remarkably with every outing, despite being asked to bat in more demanding, bowler-friendly conditions, in the ongoing one-dayers against South Africa.The Proteas have shown that no target is beyond their batting might, by winning the last two matches when chasing stiff targets of 249 and 267.Glowing exampleFor India, Punam Raut provides a glowing example with her progressive scores of 10, 62, 77 and 104. She remained unbeaten during her knocks of 62 and 104. When the 31-year-old got out, it was in the attempt to accelerate, a hook and a lofted off-drive accounting for…
In its first confirmation yet of investing in the Colombo Port, after much controversy within Sri Lanka and an apparent strain in Indo-Lanka ties, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones on Monday said it was “bolstering” its global footprint with the West Container Terminal (WCT) project in the island nation’s strategic port. The Group announced its expansion in the neighbourhood, even as the Bloomberg Billionaires Index showed group chairman Gautam Adani having accumulated more billions than anyone else in the world this year, with his net worth soaring by $16.2 billion in 2021.Tweeting on the Colombo Port investment, Mr. Adani…
The Pakistani High Commissioner in Colombo has raised concern over Sri Lanka’s recent announcement on outlawing the burqa, noting that such a ban would “injure” the feelings of ordinary Muslims in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Sharing a news report on the development, head of the Pakistani mission Saad Khattak on Monday said in a Twitter thread: “The likely ban on Niqab #SriLanka will only serve as injury to the feelings of ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and Muslims across the globe. At today’s economically difficult time due to Pandemic and other image related challenges faced by the country at international fora,…
Video conference process does not allow proper appraisal of projects, say experts The lockdown reduced the number of clearances accorded by the Environment Ministry by about 45%, a perusal of data suggests.To a question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo said environmental clearances were accorded to 311 Category ‘A’ projects, or those needing a clearance from the Centre from March 20 to December 31, 2020.From January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019, there were 1,757 clearances accorded to similar category A projects. Though a year-wise break-up isn’t available, this works out to an…
Monday’s statement from China was the latest that took aim at the four-country grouping, and the strongest one so far In a strong reaction to Friday’s first leaders’ summit of the Quad — India, the United States, Japan and Australia — and the upcoming visits this week of the U.S. Secretary of Defence to Japan, South Korea and India, China’s Foreign Ministry hit out at countries “forming enclosed small cliques”, describing it as “the sure way to destroy the international order”.Monday’s statement from China was the latest that took aim at the four-country grouping, and the strongest one so far.…
The actor said future updates on himself and his films can be found on his production banner’s official account Bollywood superstar-producer Aamir Khan on Monday announced that he has decided to leave social media, adding that updates about his future projects will be available on his production banner’s official account.Khan, who turned 56 yesterday, also thanked his well-wishers for their love and warmth on his birthday.”Thank you so much for all the love and warmth on my birthday. My heart is full,” the actor said in a statement shared on his social media pages.”In other news, this is going to…
Edappadi K. Palaniswami filed his nomination papers for contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections from Edappadi constituency for the seventh time AIADMK leader and Chief Minister Edappadi.K.Palaniswami on Monday said that if voted back power, the party would insist that the Central government should withdraw Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), based on the request from minorities.Mr.Palaniswami filed his nomination papers for contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections from Edappadi constituency for the seventh time. Talking to presspersons, Mr. Palaniswami said that as a legislator from the consistency, he has worked hard for the development of the constituency.Responding to a question on…
Drop seems to be mainly due to its complex and lengthy procurement processes, says Swedish think tank Arms imports decreased by 33% between 2011–15 and 2016–20 while India continues to remain the second largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia, according to a report from Swedish think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).Also read: ₹70,221 crore reserved in defence budget for domestic procurement, says Rajnath Singh“The overall drop in arms imports between 2011–15 and 2016–20 seems to be mainly due to its complex and lengthy procurement processes, combined with its attempts to reduce its dependence on Russian arms by diversifying…
At least three key takeaways from his early foreign policy moves offer a clear view into his approach towards China. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will meet their Chinese counterparts Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi in Alaska later this week, in the first face-to-face interaction between the Biden administration and China.The meeting is happening after a volley of diplomatic efforts by the Biden administration to strengthen America’s relations with its allies and partners in Asia as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy. Since taking office on January 20, President Joe Biden has moved quickly…