Topic: United States
CIA has a new Afghan problem: How to spy, conduct ops in Afghanistan after US exit this year
An NYT report, titled ‘C.I.A. Scrambles for New Approach in Afghanistan’, talks about US spy agency’s search for ways to carry out intel & counter-terror ops in Afghanistan after military pullout.
India to get a part of 7 million Covid shots US will give Asia
US will send 25 million Covid vaccine doses to foreign countries across Asia, Africa & Latin America through UN's Covax programme & directly as well.
US Congress lawmakers introduce bill to eliminate per-country cap on Green Card
The bill phases out the 7% per-country limit on employment-based immigrant visas. The bill also raises the 7% per-country limit on family-sponsored visas to 15%.
US nears victory over virus as CDC lifts most guidance on wearing masks
The guidance shift signals a broad return to everyday life, and is also a bet that any surge in spread from relaxed guidelines won’t be enough to reverse progress in inoculations.
US boost for vaccine production in India aimed at neighbours too, says envoy Daniel Smith
US Chargé D'Affaires Daniel Smith says it will take time for them to ship the readymade vaccines doses of AstraZeneca and J&J to India and other countries
US-India trade body expects Covid assistance from US to touch nearly $1 billion by May-end
US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum CEO Mukesh Aghi said it's emotional for the Indian diaspora, almost everyone has someone who has been touched by Covid.
China does not want war. It’s playing the long game
Sometimes actions speak louder than words. And China’s actions so far have avoided crossing the threshold of open warfare.
Four issues that will dominate news for rest of 2021
Covid will dominate the headlines, but here are four stories, none of which is currently prominent in the news, to watch for the rest of 2021.
Biden bans travel from India due to high Covid caseload, exempts few categories
Students, academics, journalists & individuals who provide critical support in countries affected by Covid restrictions may qualify for the exception, the State Department said.
US sending Covid supplies to India via 3 military aircraft, 20 mn vaccine doses also coming soon
Two aircraft with shipments of the emergency Covid supplies is scheduled to arrive in India on 30 April and a third is due to arrive on 3 May.
Why Prashant Kishor’s lunch meet is giving Modi rivals a taste of 2024
An anti-BJP Mahagathbandhan minus Congress for 2024 isn’t a bad idea. But a pre-poll umbrella of parties with influence over 300 seats can be a formidable entity, theoretically.
India’s retail inflation spikes to 6.3% in May from 4.23% in April
Centre has asked the RBI to keep the retail inflation at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side. The central bank had left the key interest rate unchanged earlier this month.
Defence
India sets eyes on Russian Sprut light tanks to counter China, gets rare access to trials
The 18-tonne amphibious Sprut-SDM1 is capable of being airlifted, parachuted with crew inside and can even disembark from a ship.
China’s Wuhan story unravels as world’s finest, including from India, nail Covid lab-leak proof
The global hunt for where the virus behind pandemic came from shows science, democracy and a sense of inquiry can overcome politics, ideology and omerta codes.