In Focus by The Hindu

In this episode we do a quick catch up with three major news events that all seemed to occur virtually simultaneously in the U.S. The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump ended with his acquittal by the United States Senate. Mr Trump then proceeded to deliver a State of the Union Speech that was something of a victory lap. Meanwhile the Democratic primary process to pick a challenger to go up against Mr Trump in the November election got off to a rocky start with controversy surrounding the Iowa caucuses.Guest: Narayan Lakshman, Associate Editor and former U.S. correspondent, The Hindu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we drill down into the specifics of the optional new tax regime proposed in the Union Budget which proposes that individuals foregoing exemptions and deductions would be taxed at reduced rates. What effect will this new opt-in structure have on the market for insurance, how will it affect home loans and most importantly, which structure may benefit you in the short or long term. We speak to an expert on taxation.Guest: Rama Karmakar, Partner, People Advisory Services, Ernst & Young IndiaFor a larger discussion on the Budget and economic growth:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/does-the-budget-do-enough-in-providing-a-stimulus-to-growth/article30755337.eceTo see various income and tax scenarios: http://bit.ly/2uTzPEi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Delhi goes to vote on February 8, the BJP has targeted anti-CAA protesters as the central plank of its campaign, unleashing a level of vitriol that observers in the capital say they have never seen. The AAP has manoeuvred artfully, with their manifesto delivering a few surprising twists of its own. The Congress meanwhile, is making a last minute push. The second of our two part series on the Delhi elections lays the ground before voting. Guest: Varghese George, Associate Editor, The HinduLinks to Parley podcast on free speech laws:https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/do-free-speech-laws-need-to-be-reworked-in-todays-context-the-hindu-parley-podcast/article30693469.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-restrictions-on-free-speech-be-reviewed/article30694970.ece Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the national capital gears up to vote on February 8 the ruling Aam Aadmi Party have emerged as the clear front runners, showcasing their governance record over the last five years. The BJP has responded by pitching its campaign on national issues like the CAA. And where does the Congress stand? Our first episode on the Delhi elections is a quick primer on the campaign of each party.Guest: Varghese George, Associate Editor, The Hindu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past few months Australia has seen some of the worst bushfires in its history, devastating land, property and wildlife as they have swept along the continent. At the time of our recording this episode, fire season is still on and warnings continue to be issued in several States. What caused the severity of this crisis in Australia and what lessons can the rest of the world take from it?Guest: Ken Thompson, former deputy commissioner of New South Wales Fire and Rescue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court on January 27, asked the government to explain why a law meant to protect the transgender community requires a magistrate’s certificate as a prior condition for the State to even identify a transperson. The court was responding to a petition filed by Swati Bidhan Baruah, an Assam-based advocate and transgender rights activist. As this story develops, here's our podcast on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, when it was made into law by Parliament in November last year. This podcast looks at which provisions in the Bill are problematic and why it was met by protests from activists and the transgender community, who said it showed a poor understanding of gender and sexual identity.Guest: Ramya Kannan, Chief of Bureau, T.N., The Hindu  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our first sports analysis podcast, soon to be a regular feature, features a discussion on the newly-appointed Barcelona boss, his history as a player and manager and most importantly, his devotion to the Cruyff style. Where do Barça go with him at the helm? Guest: Ram Mahesh, Senior Deputy Sports Editor, The HinduAlso read: https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/what-quique-setien-brings-to-barcelona/article30646841.ece Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new BJP chief formally takes over a party machinery shaped by its most successful president ever in Amit Shah. A look at his political career so far and the challenges facing him as he attempts to navigate a series of tough electoral challenges ahead while evolving his own style as party chief. Guest: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The HinduBackground Reading:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-faces-stiff-challenges-in-2020/article30440624.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-jp-nadda-the-new-bjp-national-president/article30607088.ece Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest outbreak of the deadly coronavirus detected in the city of Wuhan in China has caused nine deaths and affected more than 400 people, said China’s National Health Commission on January 22. The virus has now spread to several other countries with the first case outside of Asia having been reported on Tuesday. This podcast looks at what we know so far about how the coronavirus was discovered, how it spreads and what the response of global bodies like the WHO has been.Guest: R Prasad, Science Editor, The Hindu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kerala’s suit against the Citizenship Amendment Act, filed under Article 131 of the Constitution and likely to be taken up the Supreme Court on January 22, is often confused with other political stances against the CAA, with leaders in other non-BJP States saying that they will not implement the law. What are the Centre’s powers over States for implementing laws over Parliament and how can we understand Kerala’s suit in that context?Guest: K. Venkataramanan, Associate Editor, The Hindu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices