India is stepping up engagement with Moscow amid rising tensions with the United States over Russian oil imports. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Russia on 20-21 August, where he will meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. 


Jaishankar-Lavrov Meet: Talks on Bilateral Issues on the Agenda

The Reserve Bank of India has made it easier for foreign banks to put their extra rupees to work. These rupees sit in something called a special rupee vostro account, a type of account held by an indian bank on behalf of a foreign bank. Now, the RBI says the extra money in these accounts can be freely invested in indian government bonds, removing earlier limits on short term investments. 

RBI Allows Foreign Rupee Balances In Government Bonds

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BREAKING: India Ramps Up Engagement With Russia, S. Jaishankar To Meet Russia's Sergey Lavrov

India and China are set to resume direct flights as soon as next month, after five years of no air connectivity, people familiar with the matter said, according to a Bloomberg report. This hints at a diplomatic reboot between the two countries, which might help in resetting the political ties between India and China.&nbsp;The air connectivity between the two nations has been suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, according to the report, Indian airlines have been asked to stand ready for flights to China on short notice.&nbsp;This decision will probably be announced officially during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which is scheduled to be held at the end of this month (August) in China, the sources said.&nbsp;After the COVID-19 pandemic, direct flights between India and China were suspended, which led to people taking indirect routes via Hong Kong or Singapore.&nbsp;Moreover, this comes amid US President Donald Trump imposing massive tariffs on India, citing concerns over New Delhi buying Russian oil, which has potentially brought Russia and China closer to India. China came in support of India last week, against Trump's tariffs, saying, "India's sovereignty is non-negotiable and its foreign policy choices cannot be manipulated by other countries, no matter how significant their own ties with India are."&nbsp;The Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India also attached an illustration showing an elephant, representing India, and a baseball bat, representing the US tariff.&nbsp;Notably, this also comes just a day after Air India announced the suspension of non-stop flights from Delhi to Washington from September 1, citing a combination of reasons.&nbsp;They stressed that the decision has been taken to ensure the integrity of the airline. The airline added that the decision is also linked to a planned shortage of aircraft as it retrofits 26 Boeing 787-8 planes.&nbsp;“The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month,” Air India said.

The air connectivity between the two nations has been suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, according to the report, Indian airlines have been asked to stand ready for flights to China on short notice.

India and China are set to resume direct flights as soon as next month, after five years of no air connectivity, people familiar with the matter said, according to a Bloomberg report. This hints at a diplomatic reboot between the two countries, which might help in resetting the political ties between India and China. The air connectivity between the two nations has been suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, according to the report, Indian airlines have been asked to stand ready for flights to China on short notice. This decision will probably be announced officially during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which is scheduled to be held at the end of this month (August) in China, the sources said. After the COVID-19 pandemic, direct flights between India and China were suspended, which led to people taking indirect routes via Hong Kong or Singapore. Moreover, this comes amid US President Donald Trump imposing massive tariffs on India, citing concerns over New Delhi buying Russian oil, which has potentially brought Russia and China closer to India. China came in support of India last week, against Trump's tariffs, saying, "India's sovereignty is non-negotiable and its foreign policy choices cannot be manipulated by other countries, no matter how significant their own ties with India are." The Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India also attached an illustration showing an elephant, representing India, and a baseball bat, representing the US tariff. Notably, this also comes just a day after Air India announced the suspension of non-stop flights from Delhi to Washington from September 1, citing a combination of reasons. They stressed that the decision has been taken to ensure the integrity of the airline. The airline added that the decision is also linked to a planned shortage of aircraft as it retrofits 26 Boeing 787-8 planes. “The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month,” Air India said.

The air connectivity between the two nations has been suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, according to the report, Indian airlines have been asked to stand ready for flights to China on short notice.

India, China to resume direct flights soon, after 5-year break—Could this signal a warming of ties?

The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), along with its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). The decision was announced by the US State Department on Monday (Aug 11). The decision coincided with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's visit to the US. Notably, this was Munir's second visit to the US in two months. Experts have also said that America's move might also be to “get back” at India, and also in a way a support to Pakistan's long-standing accusation that New Delhi funds Baloch insurgency. This designation comes in addition to the BLA's status as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organisation, which it has held since 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the SDGT status primarily restricted financial support, the new FTO designation makes it a criminal offence for anyone in the United States to offer any kind of support—logistical, material, or financial—to the group. According to the US State Department, the designations have been made under Section 219 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224. They will take effect once published in the Federal Register. But what is BLA and the Majeed Brigade, and why is Pakistan rattled by it?<h2>What is the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)?</h2>The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is a Pakistan-based armed separatist group that seeks full independence for the Baloch people. It emerged in the early 2000s, fueled by long-standing grievances over political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and military repression by the Pakistani state. The BLA is known for orchestrating violent attacks targeting Pakistani security forces, government infrastructure, and projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The group is opposed to Chinese investment in the region, seeing it as exploitative and a threat to Baloch sovereignty. The Majeed Brigade is an elite unit within the BLA, known for carrying out suicide missions and highly coordinated urban assaults. It has been involved in several attacks claimed by the BLA and is now included in the US designation as part of the terrorist group.&nbsp;While designating the BLA as a terror organisation, the US State Department noted that it was responsible for suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex in 2024. It further added that in March 2025, the group hijacked the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express from Quetta, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and taking over 300 passengers as hostages. Pakistan has accused BLA of terrorist activities, and the US designation is seen as support from America that strengthens their claim.

<h3>Why is the BLA considered a terrorist group?</h3>Balochistan has witnessed at least five separatist uprisings since Pakistan’s independence in 1947. The most recent wave began in the early 2000s, expanding its goals from merely securing a share of local resources to seeking full independence from Pakistan.Supporters of the movement argue that the Pakistani government exploits Balochistan’s wealth, leaving the local population impoverished and politically marginalised. While the BLA frames its struggle as a freedom movement for Balochistan's independence, both Pakistan and multiple Western nations consider it a terrorist organisation due to its use of violence, including suicide bombings and civilian casualties. The group’s increasing attacks against infrastructure projects and civilian transport systems have escalated its profile globally. The US now views the BLA as a direct threat to regional stability, particularly in the context of strategic trade routes. &nbsp;<h2>Where is Balochistan?</h2>Balochistan is the largest but least populous and poorest province in Pakistan, covering nearly 44% of the country’s land area. It lies in the southwestern part of Pakistan and shares borders with Iran to the west, Afghanistan to the northwest, Sindh province to the southeast and the Arabian Sea to the south. The province is rich in natural resources such as gas, coal, and minerals, but has remained underdeveloped, fueling deep resentment among its estimated 15 million residents. Despite being rich in natural resources like gas, minerals, and coastal assets, Balochistan remains among Pakistan’s poorest and most underdeveloped regions. The BLA opposes the extraction of these resources without local benefit and condemns the Pakistani government's denial of Baloch rights.&nbsp;&nbsp;Quetta, the capital and largest city of Balochistan, is strategically located near the Afghan and Iranian borders. With a population of over 1.5 million as of 2024, it is the tenth largest city in Pakistan and a key political and military hub in the region. Moreover, Balochistan is strategically important, not only to Pakistan but also to other countries as it hosts Gwadar Port, a cornerstone of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It serves as a strategic route linking southwestern China to the Arabian Sea. It is central to regional trade and security dynamics involving Pakistan, China, Iran, and Afghanistan.

The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as a terrorist organisation. This comes amid Asim Munir's visit to the US. Why is BLA termed a terrorist organisation?

The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), along with its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). The decision was announced by the US State Department on Monday (Aug 11). The decision coincided with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's visit to the US. Notably, this was Munir's second visit to the US in two months. Experts have also said that America's move might also be to “get back” at India, and also in a way a support to Pakistan's long-standing accusation that New Delhi funds Baloch insurgency. This designation comes in addition to the BLA's status as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organisation, which it has held since 2019. While the SDGT status primarily restricted financial support, the new FTO designation makes it a criminal offence for anyone in the United States to offer any kind of support—logistical, material, or financial—to the group. According to the US State Department, the designations have been made under Section 219 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224. They will take effect once published in the Federal Register. But what is BLA and the Majeed Brigade, and why is Pakistan rattled by it? What is the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)? The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is a Pakistan-based armed separatist group that seeks full independence for the Baloch people. It emerged in the early 2000s, fueled by long-standing grievances over political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and military repression by the Pakistani state. The BLA is known for orchestrating violent attacks targeting Pakistani security forces, government infrastructure, and projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The group is opposed to Chinese investment in the region, seeing it as exploitative and a threat to Baloch sovereignty. The Majeed Brigade is an elite unit within the BLA, known for carrying out suicide missions and highly coordinated urban assaults. It has been involved in several attacks claimed by the BLA and is now included in the US designation as part of the terrorist group. While designating the BLA as a terror organisation, the US State Department noted that it was responsible for suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex in 2024. It further added that in March 2025, the group hijacked the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express from Quetta, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and taking over 300 passengers as hostages. Pakistan has accused BLA of terrorist activities, and the US designation is seen as support from America that strengthens their claim.

The United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its militant wing, the Majeed Brigade, as a terrorist organisation. This comes amid Asim Munir's visit to the US. Why is BLA termed a terrorist organisation?

What is BLA and its Majeed Brigade - designated 'foreign terrorist groups' by US - and what's its connection with Pakistan

New Delhi: In a significant upping of defence ties, India and Australia have signed an agreement to increase intelligence exchanges during the visit of the Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart. The Australian army chief is on a visit to India till 14th August. On Monday, he held talks with his counterpart, the Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi. Interestingly, both of them were coursemates at the United States Army War College in 2015.&nbsp;The top Australian Army official was briefed on India’s Operation Sindoor under which Indian forces conducted precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack. A statement from India’s defence ministry said, “The Chief of the Australian Army was briefed on India’s security perspective, Operation SINDOOR, and recent advancements in technology absorption within the Indian Army.”&nbsp;Both sides have inked an agreement to increase the complexity of military exercises and focus on high-end war fighting. They already hold regular bilateral exercises. including Austrahind (army exercises), Ausindex (Navy exercises) and are part of the Malabar naval exercises that see the participation of Japan and the US as well.&nbsp;Australia participated in India’s Exercise Milan in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. India participated in the 2021 and 2023 editions of Australia’s EX TALISMAN SABRE as observers. Additionally, plans were discussed for joint training initiatives in the Pacific.&nbsp;The India-Australia defence relationship has grown significantly in the past few years, which included both sides signing an air-to-air refuelling agreement last year that enhances the operational reach of both air forces. Australia has already designated India as a “top-tier security partner” in its defence strategic review. The visiting Australian Army chief met senior leadership of the Indian Armed Forces, including General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff; Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff; and Rajesh Kumar, Defence Secretary.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Tuesday, General Stuart will travel to Agra to visit the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade and visit Taj Mahal. He will also address the National Defence College in Delhi.&nbsp;On 13-14th August, he will be in Pune, where he will meet General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, and visit the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. A statement from the Indian side said, “This high-level visit reaffirms the strong and growing India-Australia defence partnership and underscores the shared commitment of both nations towards a stable, secure, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.”

The India-Australia defence relationship has grown significantly in the past few years, which included both sides signing an air-to-air refuelling agreement last year that enhances the operational reach of both air forces.

New Delhi: In a significant upping of defence ties, India and Australia have signed an agreement to increase intelligence exchanges during the visit of the Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart. The Australian army chief is on a visit to India till 14th August. On Monday, he held talks with his counterpart, the Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi. Interestingly, both of them were coursemates at the United States Army War College in 2015. The top Australian Army official was briefed on India’s Operation Sindoor under which Indian forces conducted precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack. A statement from India’s defence ministry said, “The Chief of the Australian Army was briefed on India’s security perspective, Operation SINDOOR, and recent advancements in technology absorption within the Indian Army.” Both sides have inked an agreement to increase the complexity of military exercises and focus on high-end war fighting. They already hold regular bilateral exercises. including Austrahind (army exercises), Ausindex (Navy exercises) and are part of the Malabar naval exercises that see the participation of Japan and the US as well. Australia participated in India’s Exercise Milan in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. India participated in the 2021 and 2023 editions of Australia’s EX TALISMAN SABRE as observers. Additionally, plans were discussed for joint training initiatives in the Pacific. The India-Australia defence relationship has grown significantly in the past few years, which included both sides signing an air-to-air refuelling agreement last year that enhances the operational reach of both air forces. Australia has already designated India as a “top-tier security partner” in its defence strategic review. The visiting Australian Army chief met senior leadership of the Indian Armed Forces, including General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff; Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff; and Rajesh Kumar, Defence Secretary. On Tuesday, General Stuart will travel to Agra to visit the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade and visit Taj Mahal. He will also address the National Defence College in Delhi. On 13-14th August, he will be in Pune, where he will meet General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, and visit the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. A statement from the Indian side said, “This high-level visit reaffirms the strong and growing India-Australia defence partnership and underscores the shared commitment of both nations towards a stable, secure, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.”

The India-Australia defence relationship has grown significantly in the past few years, which included both sides signing an air-to-air refuelling agreement last year that enhances the operational reach of both air forces.

India and Australia sign agreement on intel exchange, mull training in Pacific

In a shocking and horrific incident, a 15-month-old girl was brutally assaulted by a minor caretaker at a Noida daycare centre. According to the CCTV footage, the daycare worker (nanny) slapped the girl, bit her, and even hit her with a plastic bat.The 16-year-old woman attendant, who was working at a daycare in a Paras Tierea residential complex in Noida Sector 137, has been detained after the girl's parents accused her of assaulting their child.The horrific CCTV footage shows the daycare worker hitting the girl on the face and even dropping her to the ground, intentionally.<h2>What did the FIR read?</h2>The mother said that when she confronted the caretaker, she misbehaved with her. While filing the police complaint, the parents also alleged that the daycare owner did not intervene during these incidents.“When I confronted the caretaker and the daycare director, they misbehaved with me and verbally abused me,” the toddler’s mother said in her FIR. “When my daughter was screaming during the assault, no one came to help her.”“While changing the toddler’s clothes on Thursday, the mother noticed two marks on each thigh. Suspecting a skin infection, she took her to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed they were bite marks,” said Vinod Kumar Mishra, station house officer (SHO), Sector 142.It comes after the mother noticed the injuries on her child and took her to the hospital. She first saw the bite marks on her girl's thighs. Initially, they thought it was some allergic reaction, but later they visited a doctor. The doctor told them the marks were caused by bites.The parents then asked the complex authorities to show the CCTV footage of the daycare. After which, it was revealed that the woman worker hit the infant and also dropped her. The girl was seen crying in the footage.When police questioned the caretaker, she allegedly told police, “I was playing with her and suddenly bit her without any reason.” According to the police, around 40 children are enrolled at the facility, and no past assault complaints have been filed so far. However, the investigation has begun, but no arrests have been made yet.&nbsp;

It comes after the mother noticed the injuries on her child and took her to the hospital. She first saw the bite marks on her girl's thighs. Initially, they thought it was some allergic reaction, but later they visited a doctor. The doctor told them the marks were caused by bites.

In a shocking and horrific incident, a 15-month-old girl was brutally assaulted by a minor caretaker at a Noida daycare centre. According to the CCTV footage, the daycare worker (nanny) slapped the girl, bit her, and even hit her with a plastic bat. The 16-year-old woman attendant, who was working at a daycare in a Paras Tierea residential complex in Noida Sector 137, has been detained after the girl's parents accused her of assaulting their child. The horrific CCTV footage shows the daycare worker hitting the girl on the face and even dropping her to the ground, intentionally. What did the FIR read? The mother said that when she confronted the caretaker, she misbehaved with her. While filing the police complaint, the parents also alleged that the daycare owner did not intervene during these incidents. “When I confronted the caretaker and the daycare director, they misbehaved with me and verbally abused me,” the toddler’s mother said in her FIR. “When my daughter was screaming during the assault, no one came to help her.” “While changing the toddler’s clothes on Thursday, the mother noticed two marks on each thigh. Suspecting a skin infection, she took her to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed they were bite marks,” said Vinod Kumar Mishra, station house officer (SHO), Sector 142. It comes after the mother noticed the injuries on her child and took her to the hospital. She first saw the bite marks on her girl's thighs. Initially, they thought it was some allergic reaction, but later they visited a doctor. The doctor told them the marks were caused by bites. The parents then asked the complex authorities to show the CCTV footage of the daycare. After which, it was revealed that the woman worker hit the infant and also dropped her. The girl was seen crying in the footage. When police questioned the caretaker, she allegedly told police, “I was playing with her and suddenly bit her without any reason.” According to the police, around 40 children are enrolled at the facility, and no past assault complaints have been filed so far. However, the investigation has begun, but no arrests have been made yet.

It comes after the mother noticed the injuries on her child and took her to the hospital. She first saw the bite marks on her girl's thighs. Initially, they thought it was some allergic reaction, but later they visited a doctor. The doctor told them the marks were caused by bites.

'Slapped, bitten, hit with bat': 15-month-old baby horribly assaulted at Noida daycare centre, caught on CCTV

As US President Donald Trump has imposed massive tariffs on India, citing concerns over New Delhi buying Russian oil, it has brought Russia and China closer to India. On Tuesday, the Kremlin supported India and slammed Trump for raising tariffs, calling it "illegal". Meanwhile, China on Thursday expressed support for India against the 50 per cent tariffs, saying "India's sovereignty is non-negotiable."&nbsp;After years of inactivity, Russia renewed its push to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) mechanism, with China also supporting the idea. This comes amid all three nations face some kind of push from Trump, be it on tariffs or to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.&nbsp;In an escalation in the trade tensions between the United States and India, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 6) signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports into the US, making the total tariffs imposed on India 50 per cent.<h2>How did Russia react?</h2>The Kremlin on Tuesday slammed US President Donald Trump's threats to raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Calling it "illegal", Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Russia.&nbsp;Peskov further stressed that sovereign nations can choose their trading partners.“Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.&nbsp;Moreover, Russian President Putin is expected to visit India, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said during his Moscow visit. The NSA did not reveal the dates yet, but said that the dates of the meeting are being finalised.&nbsp;India's NSA Ajit Doval is currently in Russia and is holding talks, mainly on expanding defence ties between the two countries. "We have had high-level engagements and they have contributed substantially. We are excited and delighted to learn about the visit of his excellency President Putin to India," Doval said.&nbsp;He further said that the dates are finalised, adding, "The most important part is, these summit meetings have almost always been watershed points."&nbsp;Meanwhile, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said that Russia is committed to deeper cooperation with India to build a fair world order.<h2>How did China react?</h2>China on Thursday (August 7) expressed its support for India against Trump's 50 per cent tariff. The Chinese embassy took to X and stressed, "India's sovereignty is non-negotiable and its foreign policy choices cannot be manipulated by other countries, no matter how significant their own ties with India are."&nbsp;The Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India also attached an illustration showing an elephant, representing India, and a baseball bat, representing the US tariff.&nbsp;In another post, the spokesperson said that the Western media was trying to set a narrative of "who will replace whom", having India and China at the centre of the whole tariff chaos.&nbsp;Moreover, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. He is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.<h2>The RIC revival</h2>The Russia-India-China framework was first proposed in the late 1990s by former Russian President Yevgeny Primakov. This was done with the sole aim that three large Eurasian powers with major regional influence could work together to shape a multipolar world order.&nbsp;But later, it fell in 2020 following the Galwan Valley incident, which deteriorated India-China relations.Now, it might be revived in the light of Trump's trade war and continuous threats to India, China, and Russia, over tariffs and the Ukraine war.&nbsp;

After years of inactivity, Russia renewed its push to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) mechanism, with China also supporting the idea. This comes amid all three nations face some kind of push from Trump, be it on tariffs or to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.

As US President Donald Trump has imposed massive tariffs on India, citing concerns over New Delhi buying Russian oil, it has brought Russia and China closer to India. On Tuesday, the Kremlin supported India and slammed Trump for raising tariffs, calling it "illegal". Meanwhile, China on Thursday expressed support for India against the 50 per cent tariffs, saying "India's sovereignty is non-negotiable." After years of inactivity, Russia renewed its push to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) mechanism, with China also supporting the idea. This comes amid all three nations face some kind of push from Trump, be it on tariffs or to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. In an escalation in the trade tensions between the United States and India, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Aug 6) signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports into the US, making the total tariffs imposed on India 50 per cent. How did Russia react? The Kremlin on Tuesday slammed US President Donald Trump's threats to raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Calling it "illegal", Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Russia. Peskov further stressed that sovereign nations can choose their trading partners. “Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Moreover, Russian President Putin is expected to visit India, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said during his Moscow visit. The NSA did not reveal the dates yet, but said that the dates of the meeting are being finalised. India's NSA Ajit Doval is currently in Russia and is holding talks, mainly on expanding defence ties between the two countries. "We have had high-level engagements and they have contributed substantially. We are excited and delighted to learn about the visit of his excellency President Putin to India," Doval said. He further said that the dates are finalised, adding, "The most important part is, these summit meetings have almost always been watershed points." Meanwhile, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said that Russia is committed to deeper cooperation with India to build a fair world order. How did China react? China on Thursday (August 7) expressed its support for India against Trump's 50 per cent tariff. The Chinese embassy took to X and stressed, "India's sovereignty is non-negotiable and its foreign policy choices cannot be manipulated by other countries, no matter how significant their own ties with India are." The Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India also attached an illustration showing an elephant, representing India, and a baseball bat, representing the US tariff. In another post, the spokesperson said that the Western media was trying to set a narrative of "who will replace whom", having India and China at the centre of the whole tariff chaos. Moreover, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. He is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The RIC revival The Russia-India-China framework was first proposed in the late 1990s by former Russian President Yevgeny Primakov. This was done with the sole aim that three large Eurasian powers with major regional influence could work together to shape a multipolar world order. But later, it fell in 2020 following the Galwan Valley incident, which deteriorated India-China relations. Now, it might be revived in the light of Trump's trade war and continuous threats to India, China, and Russia, over tariffs and the Ukraine war.

After years of inactivity, Russia renewed its push to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) mechanism, with China also supporting the idea. This comes amid all three nations face some kind of push from Trump, be it on tariffs or to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.

Russia-India-China revival soon? How Trump's tariff is bringing back RIC amid trade war

Indian politician and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Ashok Kumar Mittal on Thursday (August 7) wrote an open letter to US President Donald Trump, urging him to "choose dialogue over discord" as Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India over the import of Russian oil. Calling Trump's move "deeply disappointing", Mittal asked Trump to choose coordination over coercion while dealing with India.&nbsp;"For two nations that have a long strategic, values-based partnership, this move is deeply disappointing," he said.&nbsp;The AAP MP took to X and shared the letter, written to Donald Trump, with a caption, "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 146 crore Indians boycott American companies operating in India? My open letter to Donald Trump on the US’s 50% tariffs for India, in which I 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞 him to “choose dialogue over discord, coordination over coercion.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 146 crore Indians boycott American companies operating in India? My open letter to <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> on US’s 50% tariffs for India, in which I 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞 him to “choose dialogue over discord, coordination over coercion.” Jai Hind! <a href="https://t.co/rQJXv8yhiY">pic.twitter.com/rQJXv8yhiY</a>&mdash; Ashok Kumar Mittal (@DrAshokKMittal) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrAshokKMittal/status/1953435423071486346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While responding to Trump's "dead economy" jibe, he stressed that this "dead economy" is the 4th largest in the world, soon to be third, and remains the fastest growing among major nations. "American companies generate $80+ billion annually from the Indian market across education, tech, finance, and IP. India's position as the third-largest air transport market holds deep strategic value for the US, with deals worth $2.45 billion signed in 2022 alone. The US digital economy runs on code, much of it written in India," he added. Further, Mittal called out that the US's close ally, the European Union, has also recorded over €67.5 billion in trade with Russia last year, while it calls on others to scale back. "What is more surprising is that the United States continues to quietly import uranium, palladium, as well as chemicals from Russia. Should a nation pressurize India against trade with Russia when it itself relies on the Kremlin for its domestic interests?" he added in his letter. He continued, warning Trump that if 146 crore Indians come together and initiate a strategic restriction of US businesses, the impact would be far more severe. "It is important to note that on this day, August 7, the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905, a powerful assertion of economic self-reliance against foreign control. If 146 crore Indians were to channel that spirit today and initiate a strategic restriction of U.S. businesses, the impact would be far more severe for the United States than for India," he said. He concluded by asking Trump to choose dialogue over discord and shape the future "through respect, resolve, and renewed commitment to a rules-based global order."

While responding to Trump's "dead economy" jibe, the Indian politician stressed that this "dead economy" is the 4th largest in the world, soon to be third, and remains the fastest growing among major nations.

Indian politician and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Ashok Kumar Mittal on Thursday (August 7) wrote an open letter to US President Donald Trump, urging him to "choose dialogue over discord" as Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India over the import of Russian oil. Calling Trump's move "deeply disappointing", Mittal asked Trump to choose coordination over coercion while dealing with India. "For two nations that have a long strategic, values-based partnership, this move is deeply disappointing," he said. The AAP MP took to X and shared the letter, written to Donald Trump, with a caption, "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 146 crore Indians boycott American companies operating in India? My open letter to Donald Trump on the US’s 50% tariffs for India, in which I 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞 him to “choose dialogue over discord, coordination over coercion.”

While responding to Trump's "dead economy" jibe, the Indian politician stressed that this "dead economy" is the 4th largest in the world, soon to be third, and remains the fastest growing among major nations.

'What If all Indians boycott US businesses...': Indian politician warns Trump over tariff row - Read his OPEN LETTER here

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India in later this month, Reuters reported citing Interfax news agency. While, India's NSA Ajit Doval, who is currently in Russia, announced Putin's visit, however, did not specify the exact dates. He said that the dates are being finalised. This comes amid the ongoing India-US tariff tirade.&nbsp;The tariff row intensified after US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India over the import of Russian oil.&nbsp;India's NSA Ajit Doval is currently in Russia and is holding talks, mainly on expanding defence ties between the two countries. India and Russia will also focus on boosting industrial ties amid the ongoing tariff threats by Trump.&nbsp;"We have got a very special and long relationship and we highly value our strategic partnership. We have had high level engagements and they have contributed substantially. We are excited and delighted to learn about the visit of his excellency President Putin to India," Doval said in Moscow.&nbsp;He further said that the dates are finalised, adding, "The most important part is, these summit meetings have almost always been watershed points."&nbsp;Meanwhile, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said that Russia is committed to deeper cooperation with India to build a fair world order.&nbsp;"Regular Putin–Modi talks are the cornerstone of Russia–India trust," Shoigu said, adding, "Strengthening strategic partnership with India is priority for Russia."&nbsp;Moreover, Doval's visit will also focus on the purchase of additional S-400 missile defence systems and dialogue on Su-57 fighter jets.<h2>Trump targets India</h2>The US president has threatened India with sanctions if it purchases Russian oil, as it is somehow helping Russia in its war in Ukraine. Initially, Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he further increased to 50 per cent.&nbsp;Trump has further warned the purchasers of Russian oil with secondary tariffs unless Putin agrees to pause the war in Ukraine. "Could happen," Trump told reporters, after saying he expected to announce more secondary sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine. "It may happen ... I can't tell you yet," Trump said.&nbsp;While the 25 per cent rate is effective from August 7, 2025, the newly announced additional tariff will come into place 21 days from now. "The ad valorem duty imposed...shall be in addition to any other duties, fees, taxes, exactions, and charges applicable to such imports...," the order said.&nbsp;"I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil. Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent," it said.

India's NSA Ajit Doval is currently in Russia and is holding talks, mainly on expanding defence ties between the two countries. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India in later this month, Reuters reported citing Interfax news agency. While, India's NSA Ajit Doval, who is currently in Russia, announced Putin's visit, however, did not specify the exact dates. He said that the dates are being finalised. This comes amid the ongoing India-US tariff tirade. The tariff row intensified after US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India over the import of Russian oil. India's NSA Ajit Doval is currently in Russia and is holding talks, mainly on expanding defence ties between the two countries. India and Russia will also focus on boosting industrial ties amid the ongoing tariff threats by Trump. "We have got a very special and long relationship and we highly value our strategic partnership. We have had high level engagements and they have contributed substantially. We are excited and delighted to learn about the visit of his excellency President Putin to India," Doval said in Moscow. He further said that the dates are finalised, adding, "The most important part is, these summit meetings have almost always been watershed points." Meanwhile, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said that Russia is committed to deeper cooperation with India to build a fair world order. "Regular Putin–Modi talks are the cornerstone of Russia–India trust," Shoigu said, adding, "Strengthening strategic partnership with India is priority for Russia." Moreover, Doval's visit will also focus on the purchase of additional S-400 missile defence systems and dialogue on Su-57 fighter jets. Trump targets India The US president has threatened India with sanctions if it purchases Russian oil, as it is somehow helping Russia in its war in Ukraine. Initially, Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, which he further increased to 50 per cent. Trump has further warned the purchasers of Russian oil with secondary tariffs unless Putin agrees to pause the war in Ukraine. "Could happen," Trump told reporters, after saying he expected to announce more secondary sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine. "It may happen ... I can't tell you yet," Trump said. While the 25 per cent rate is effective from August 7, 2025, the newly announced additional tariff will come into place 21 days from now. "The ad valorem duty imposed...shall be in addition to any other duties, fees, taxes, exactions, and charges applicable to such imports...," the order said. "I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil. Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent," it said.

India's NSA Ajit Doval is currently in Russia and is holding talks, mainly on expanding defence ties between the two countries.&nbsp;

Putin likely to visit India to hold talks amid Trump's tariff crusade over purchase of Russian oil

The Indian economy is “doing very well” and contributing more to global growth than the US, Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Wednesday, days after US President Donald Trump’s remark of India being a dead economy.The country is expected to grow 6.5 per cent, as against the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) estimate of about 3 per cent global growth in 2025, Malhotra told reporters at the central bank headquarters here.“We are contributing about 18 per cent, which is more than the US where the contribution is expected to be much less — about 11 per cent or something. We are doing very well and we will continue to improve further,” Malhotra said, replying to a question on Trump’s recent comments.Malhotra said the aspirational growth rate for India should be more than 6.5 per cent, which the RBI is projecting for FY25, and added that the country has grown at a yearly average of 7.8 per cent in the past.Amid the trade policy negotiations, Trump had called India as a “dead economy” while expressing disappointment with New Delhi’s posturing to continue buying cheap oil from Russia.“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together,” Trump had reportedly said.This statement and the ones following that were as sharp a critique, while having the potential to destabilise the India-US relationship, have also led to concerns over exact tariffs and penalties for buying Russian oil that await India from the Trump administration.Malhotra said the RBI does not expect any impact on inflation because of the tariff-related aspects, while Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta elaborated that there will not be any first order impact of the geopolitical issues on the domestic inflation.Even in the event of India being forced to shift away from Russian oil because of US concerns, there will not be any impact on domestic inflation, Malhotra said.He said this fiscal year, authorities will step in to ensure that the purchase prices of petroleum prices do not pinch the common man, hinting of a possible cut in duties if the oil becomes dearer.

The RBI governor said the aspirational growth rate for India should be more than 6.5 per cent, which the RBI is projecting for FY25, and added that the country has grown at a yearly average of 7.8 per cent in the past.

The Indian economy is “doing very well” and contributing more to global growth than the US, Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Wednesday, days after US President Donald Trump’s remark of India being a dead economy. The country is expected to grow 6.5 per cent, as against the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) estimate of about 3 per cent global growth in 2025, Malhotra told reporters at the central bank headquarters here. “We are contributing about 18 per cent, which is more than the US where the contribution is expected to be much less — about 11 per cent or something. We are doing very well and we will continue to improve further,” Malhotra said, replying to a question on Trump’s recent comments. Malhotra said the aspirational growth rate for India should be more than 6.5 per cent, which the RBI is projecting for FY25, and added that the country has grown at a yearly average of 7.8 per cent in the past. Amid the trade policy negotiations, Trump had called India as a “dead economy” while expressing disappointment with New Delhi’s posturing to continue buying cheap oil from Russia. “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together,” Trump had reportedly said. This statement and the ones following that were as sharp a critique, while having the potential to destabilise the India-US relationship, have also led to concerns over exact tariffs and penalties for buying Russian oil that await India from the Trump administration. Malhotra said the RBI does not expect any impact on inflation because of the tariff-related aspects, while Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta elaborated that there will not be any first order impact of the geopolitical issues on the domestic inflation. Even in the event of India being forced to shift away from Russian oil because of US concerns, there will not be any impact on domestic inflation, Malhotra said. He said this fiscal year, authorities will step in to ensure that the purchase prices of petroleum prices do not pinch the common man, hinting of a possible cut in duties if the oil becomes dearer.

The RBI governor said the aspirational growth rate for India should be more than 6.5 per cent, which the RBI is projecting for FY25, and added that the country has grown at a yearly average of 7.8 per cent in the past.

RBI governor reacts to Trump's 'dead economy' remark - Here's how he defended India

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (August 5) imposed additional 25 per cent tariffs on India, doubling it, making it 50 per cent now in total. On Tuesday, Trump warned that he would be raising the tariff in the next 24 hours, over India's buying Russian oil amid the ongoing Ukraine war.&nbsp;The US president signed an executive order, imposing additional 25 per cent tariffs on India as they "directly or indirectly" import Russian oil.&nbsp;"I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil," Trump stated in the order.&nbsp;He added, "Articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent." Trump said that the rate of duty will be effective on or after 12:01 am, 21 days after the date of this order.&nbsp;Should a foreign country retaliate against the United States in response to this action, I may modify this order to ensure the efficacy of the actions herein ordered.<h2>What will happen if India retaliates?</h2>In the executive order, Trump also stated the basis on which the order can be modified in the future. He stated that he might modify the order, "including in light of additional information, recommendations from senior officials, or changed circumstances."&nbsp;If India retaliates, the US president might modify the order to ensure the efficacy of the actions mentioned in the order.&nbsp;"Should a foreign country retaliate against the United States in response to this action, I may modify this order to ensure the efficacy of the actions herein ordered," the order read.&nbsp;"Should the Government of the Russian Federation or a foreign country impacted by this order take significant steps to address the national emergency described in section 1 of this order and align sufficiently with the United States on national security, foreign policy, and economic matters, I may further modify this order," he added.&nbsp;Trump further warned that if his secretary of commerce finds that a country is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, and along with other officials will “recommend whether and to what extent I should take action as to that country, including whether I should impose an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent on imports of articles of that country.”

The US president signed an executive order, imposing additional 25 per cent tariffs on India as they "directly or indirectly" import Russian oil.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (August 5) imposed additional 25 per cent tariffs on India, doubling it, making it 50 per cent now in total. On Tuesday, Trump warned that he would be raising the tariff in the next 24 hours, over India's buying Russian oil amid the ongoing Ukraine war. The US president signed an executive order, imposing additional 25 per cent tariffs on India as they "directly or indirectly" import Russian oil. "I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil," Trump stated in the order. He added, "Articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent." Trump said that the rate of duty will be effective on or after 12:01 am, 21 days after the date of this order. Should a foreign country retaliate against the United States in response to this action, I may modify this order to ensure the efficacy of the actions herein ordered. What will happen if India retaliates? In the executive order, Trump also stated the basis on which the order can be modified in the future. He stated that he might modify the order, "including in light of additional information, recommendations from senior officials, or changed circumstances." If India retaliates, the US president might modify the order to ensure the efficacy of the actions mentioned in the order. "Should a foreign country retaliate against the United States in response to this action, I may modify this order to ensure the efficacy of the actions herein ordered," the order read. "Should the Government of the Russian Federation or a foreign country impacted by this order take significant steps to address the national emergency described in section 1 of this order and align sufficiently with the United States on national security, foreign policy, and economic matters, I may further modify this order," he added. Trump further warned that if his secretary of commerce finds that a country is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, and along with other officials will “recommend whether and to what extent I should take action as to that country, including whether I should impose an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent on imports of articles of that country.”

The US president signed an executive order, imposing additional 25 per cent tariffs on India as they "directly or indirectly" import Russian oil.

What will happen if India retaliates against US tariffs? Trump WARNS after imposing 50% import duties over buying Russian oil

Amid the ongoing standoff between the US and Russia, US &nbsp;President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (August 5). Witkoff arrived in Russia today, just two days ahead of the August 8 deadline set by Trump for Russia to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin held "constructive" talks with Witkoff in Moscow over the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said Wednesday after the three-hour meeting.&nbsp;"A quite useful and constructive conversation took place," Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said, adding that as well as Ukraine, Russia-US strategic cooperation was discussed.&nbsp;This comes as the US keeps threatening India with tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine. While the Russian president has stressed that he will not end his campaign in Ukraine, according to a Bloomberg report.&nbsp;WATCH | India pushes back against US criticism on Russian oil imports | Doval's Moscow visit amid US tariff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-pushes-back-against-us-criticism-on-russian-oil-imports-doval-s-moscow-visit-amid-us-tariff-1754476165894/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-pushes-back-against-us-criticism-on-russian-oil-imports-doval-s-moscow-visit-amid-us-tariff-1754476165894/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump has been frustrated with Russia over its continued war in Ukraine, as hundreds of people are getting killed. Expressing “disappointment” with the Russian leader, Trump even reduced his 50-day deadline for Russia to 10-12 days because Putin “just won't stop killing people.”<h2>Russia attacks gas transportation facilities in Ukraine</h2>Just hours before Witkoff met Putin, Russia struck a gas facility in Ukraine's Odesa region. The Russian defence ministry confirmed that they have attacked the gas transportation facilities in Ukraine.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that it was an attempt to undermine Ukrainian preparations for winter, according to a Reuters report.&nbsp;“This was a deliberate blow to our preparations for the heating season, absolutely cynical, like every Russian blow to the energy sector,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.&nbsp;Notably, Ukraine has faced a major gas shortage since a series of devastating Russian missile strikes this year, significantly reducing domestic gas production.

Trump's special envoy and Russian President Putin meets as the US keeps threatening India with tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine.

Amid the ongoing standoff between the US and Russia, US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (August 5). Witkoff arrived in Russia today, just two days ahead of the August 8 deadline set by Trump for Russia to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin held "constructive" talks with Witkoff in Moscow over the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said Wednesday after the three-hour meeting. "A quite useful and constructive conversation took place," Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said, adding that as well as Ukraine, Russia-US strategic cooperation was discussed. This comes as the US keeps threatening India with tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine. While the Russian president has stressed that he will not end his campaign in Ukraine, according to a Bloomberg report. WATCH | India pushes back against US criticism on Russian oil imports | Doval's Moscow visit amid US tariff https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-pushes-back-against-us-criticism-on-russian-oil-imports-doval-s-moscow-visit-amid-us-tariff-1754476165894/embed Trump has been frustrated with Russia over its continued war in Ukraine, as hundreds of people are getting killed. Expressing “disappointment” with the Russian leader, Trump even reduced his 50-day deadline for Russia to 10-12 days because Putin “just won't stop killing people.” Russia attacks gas transportation facilities in Ukraine Just hours before Witkoff met Putin, Russia struck a gas facility in Ukraine's Odesa region. The Russian defence ministry confirmed that they have attacked the gas transportation facilities in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that it was an attempt to undermine Ukrainian preparations for winter, according to a Reuters report. “This was a deliberate blow to our preparations for the heating season, absolutely cynical, like every Russian blow to the energy sector,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Notably, Ukraine has faced a major gas shortage since a series of devastating Russian missile strikes this year, significantly reducing domestic gas production.

Trump's special envoy and Russian President Putin meets as the US keeps threatening India with tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine.

'Discussed Ukraine conflict': Trump's envoy Witkoff holds 'three-hour' long meeting with Putin amid US-Russia standoff

Republican Leader and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Tuesday (August 5) criticised US President Donald Trump for threatening India over the purchase of Russian oil, as he said to impose 25 per cent tariffs plus penalties, while giving China a pass for the same reason.In a post on X, Nikki Haley stressed that Trump’s move to impose tariffs on India for buying Russian oil could impact US-India relations.She further said that not just India, but also China, is a number one buyer of Russian oil, but got a pass as the US gave it a 90-day tariff pause.“India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” Haley wrote in her post on X.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India.&mdash; Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley/status/1952737102967275590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Trump last week also imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with penalties for arms trading with Russia, as well as oil imports. Later, on Monday (Aug 4), Trump issued a fresh threat of a “substantial hike” in trade duties on India for buying Russian oil and “selling it on the open market for big profits”.Following the statements made by the US president, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.”India even stated that the US had earlier actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening the stability of global energy markets.“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement added.Earlier today, the Kremlin slammed Trump's threats to raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, calling it "illegal". Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, while speaking to reporters, said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Russia.Peskov further stressed that sovereign nations can choose their trading partners. “Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Nikki Haley said that not just India, but also China, is a number one buyer of Russian oil, but got a pass as the US gave it a 90-day tariff pause.

Republican Leader and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Tuesday (August 5) criticised US President Donald Trump for threatening India over the purchase of Russian oil, as he said to impose 25 per cent tariffs plus penalties, while giving China a pass for the same reason. In a post on X, Nikki Haley stressed that Trump’s move to impose tariffs on India for buying Russian oil could impact US-India relations. She further said that not just India, but also China, is a number one buyer of Russian oil, but got a pass as the US gave it a 90-day tariff pause. “India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” Haley wrote in her post on X.

Nikki Haley said that not just India, but also China, is a number one buyer of Russian oil, but got a pass as the US gave it a 90-day tariff pause.

‘Don’t burn relationship with India’: Nikki Haley defends India, accuses Trump of favouring China amid tariff threats

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (August 5) targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin, after he again warned India that the US will raise the tariff on India in the next '24 hours over Russian oil import. As he pointed to Russia, Trump said that the drop in energy prices could make Putin halt the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;While speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box, the US president stressed that if energy goes down, Putin will stop killing people.&nbsp;“If energy goes down enough, Putin is going to stop killing people,” he said. Further slamming Russia’s economy, Trump said, “If you get energy down, another $10 a barrel, he’s going to have no choice because his economy stinks.”&nbsp;Trump further repeated that he would increase US tariffs on India soon and maybe in the next 24 hours over their import of Russian oil, and since “they’re fueling the war machine.”&nbsp;“They have the highest tariff of anybody ... We settled on 25%, but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours because they’re buying Russian oil, they’re fueling the war machine, and if they going to do that, I’m not going to be happy,” he said.<h2>EU could face 35% tariffs</h2>Trump warned the European Union, while speaking to Squawk Box, saying that the EU could face 35 per cent tariffs if it fails to meet $600 billion investment promises under the US-EU deal.&nbsp;“They brought down their tariffs. They paid $600bn, and because of that, I reduced their tariffs from thirty percent down to fifteen percent, and a couple of countries came, ‘How come the EU is paying less than us’, and I said, well, because they gave me $600bn,” he said.&nbsp;“And that’s a gift, that’s not like, you know, a loan … they gave us $600bn that we can invest in anything we want,” Trump added.&nbsp;Trump further stressed that the EU has been “ripping us” for so many years, and it's time that they pay up.

While speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box, the US president stressed that if energy goes down, Putin will stop killing people, adding that he will have no choice because his economy stinks. 

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (August 5) targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin, after he again warned India that the US will raise the tariff on India in the next '24 hours over Russian oil import. As he pointed to Russia, Trump said that the drop in energy prices could make Putin halt the war in Ukraine. While speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box, the US president stressed that if energy goes down, Putin will stop killing people. “If energy goes down enough, Putin is going to stop killing people,” he said. Further slamming Russia’s economy, Trump said, “If you get energy down, another $10 a barrel, he’s going to have no choice because his economy stinks.” Trump further repeated that he would increase US tariffs on India soon and maybe in the next 24 hours over their import of Russian oil, and since “they’re fueling the war machine.” “They have the highest tariff of anybody ... We settled on 25%, but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours because they’re buying Russian oil, they’re fueling the war machine, and if they going to do that, I’m not going to be happy,” he said. EU could face 35% tariffs Trump warned the European Union, while speaking to Squawk Box, saying that the EU could face 35 per cent tariffs if it fails to meet $600 billion investment promises under the US-EU deal. “They brought down their tariffs. They paid $600bn, and because of that, I reduced their tariffs from thirty percent down to fifteen percent, and a couple of countries came, ‘How come the EU is paying less than us’, and I said, well, because they gave me $600bn,” he said. “And that’s a gift, that’s not like, you know, a loan … they gave us $600bn that we can invest in anything we want,” Trump added. Trump further stressed that the EU has been “ripping us” for so many years, and it's time that they pay up.

While speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box, the US president stressed that if energy goes down, Putin will stop killing people, adding that he will have no choice because his economy stinks.&nbsp;

‘Russia’s economy stinks’: Trump targets Kremlin, says if energy prices go down, Putin will stop killing people

Amid the ongoing India-US tariff tussle, a video of a former US envoy has surfaced, where he was seen admitting that the US itself encouraged India to buy Russian oil in order to stabilise global oil prices. Notably, the envoy's statement came as US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil.&nbsp;Trump has recently threatened India with imposing 25 per cent tariffs, along with penalties, citing several reasons, including oil and arms trade with Russia.&nbsp;In a video that has gone viral, former US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti admitted that the US encouraged India to buy Russian oil. Garcetti's statement has put the US in a baffled situation.<h2>WATCH video</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Hear US Ambassador Eric Garcetti openly admit that the US wanted India to buy Russian oil to keep global prices stable. Yet today, Trump, defying all logic, is accusing India of ‘war profiteering.’ When nothing else works, just blame India? <a href="https://t.co/5bOokHyIQe">pic.twitter.com/5bOokHyIQe</a>&mdash; Jai Gohil (@Junkie4news_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Junkie4news_/status/1952427887736287359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"They bought Russian oil because we wanted somebody to buy Russian oil at a price cap. That was not a violation or anything. It was actually the design of the policy because, as a commodity, we didn’t want the oil prices going up, and they fulfilled that," Garcetti said at an event last year. The video has shocked netizens, with people noticing how the US stance has flipped with time, contradicting its foreign policy.<h2>‘Is Trump a hypocrite’, netizens ask</h2>As the video went viral, netizens started slamming the US president over his threats to India. One of the users wrote, "Someone should show this clip to President Trump." Another user asked Grok, "Is Grok a Trump hypocrite? Listen video." While a third user slammed the US president and said, “He will blame it on Biden. It wasn't his policy..so..” "Hear US Ambassador Eric Garcetti openly admit that the US wanted India to buy Russian oil to keep global prices stable. Yet today, Trump, defying all logic, is accusing India of ‘war profiteering.’ When nothing else works, just blame India?" another user wrote. After Trump's continuous threats, India today called out the United States and the European Union for their "unjustified and unreasonable" targeting of India for having ties with Russia, stressing that its purchase of Russian crude oil was "actively encouraged" by the US. "The US at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability," India's Ministry of External Affairs said.

In a video that has gone viral, former US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti admitted that the US encouraged India to buy Russian oil. Garcetti's statement has put the US in a baffled situation.

Amid the ongoing India-US tariff tussle, a video of a former US envoy has surfaced, where he was seen admitting that the US itself encouraged India to buy Russian oil in order to stabilise global oil prices. Notably, the envoy's statement came as US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil. Trump has recently threatened India with imposing 25 per cent tariffs, along with penalties, citing several reasons, including oil and arms trade with Russia. In a video that has gone viral, former US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti admitted that the US encouraged India to buy Russian oil. Garcetti's statement has put the US in a baffled situation. WATCH video

In a video that has gone viral, former US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti admitted that the US encouraged India to buy Russian oil. Garcetti's statement has put the US in a baffled situation.

US wanted India to import Russian oil when Ukraine war started, but flipped now - Here's what US envoy reveals | WATCH

After US President Donald Trump criticised India for buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine, the Kremlin on Tuesday (August 5) slammed Trump's threats to raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, calling it "illegal". Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, while speaking to reporters, said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Russia, according to Reuters and AFP reports.&nbsp;Peskov further stressed that sovereign nations can choose their trading partners.&nbsp;“Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.&nbsp;Trump earlier took to Truth Social, posting, "They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine." The US president further accused India of selling Russian oil "on the Open Market for big profits”.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-tariffs-average-us-tariffs-jump-to-nearly-20-surge-10-times-under-trump-2-0-1754380751487/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-tariffs-average-us-tariffs-jump-to-nearly-20-surge-10-times-under-trump-2-0-1754380751487/embed</a>&nbsp;Trump last week also imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with penalties for arms trading with Russia, as well as oil imports. Later, on Monday (Aug 4), Trump issued a fresh threat of a “substantial hike” in trade duties on India for buying Russian oil and “selling it on the open market for big profits”.&nbsp;Following the statements made by the US president, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-hypocrisy-exposed-west-s-russia-energy-trade-is-on-while-trump-boxes-india-modi-vs-trump-russia-oil-gas-nato-eu-trade-reality-explained-1754380112701">Also read: Bad if we do it, good if you do? US, West's Russia energy trade HYPOCRISY EXPOSED as Trump browbeats India with tariffs, fines</a>&nbsp;India even stated that the US earlier actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening the stability of global energy markets.&nbsp;“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement added.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, while speaking to reporters, said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Russia.

After US President Donald Trump criticised India for buying Russian oil amid its war with Ukraine, the Kremlin on Tuesday (August 5) slammed Trump's threats to raise tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, calling it "illegal". Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, while speaking to reporters, said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Russia, according to Reuters and AFP reports. Peskov further stressed that sovereign nations can choose their trading partners. “Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Trump earlier took to Truth Social, posting, "They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine." The US president further accused India of selling Russian oil "on the Open Market for big profits”. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-tariffs-average-us-tariffs-jump-to-nearly-20-surge-10-times-under-trump-2-0-1754380751487/embed Trump last week also imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with penalties for arms trading with Russia, as well as oil imports. Later, on Monday (Aug 4), Trump issued a fresh threat of a “substantial hike” in trade duties on India for buying Russian oil and “selling it on the open market for big profits”. Following the statements made by the US president, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.” Also read: Bad if we do it, good if you do? US, West's Russia energy trade HYPOCRISY EXPOSED as Trump browbeats India with tariffs, fines India even stated that the US earlier actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening the stability of global energy markets. “In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement added.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, while speaking to reporters, said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Russia.

'Can't force countries': Kremlin hits back at Trump for 'illegally' threatening India over Russian oil imports

Amid the ongoing India-US tariff row, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) factcheck unit debunked claims that India is reviewing the list of US goods exempted from tariffs. Taking to X, the fact-check unit of the ministry has dismissed these claims made by several reports.&nbsp;The reports claimed, "The Indian government begins reviewing the list of U.S. products exempted from tariffs... and declares: 'No privileges without mutual respect."&nbsp;The MEA fact-check unit called it "fake news" on Sunday (August 3).&nbsp;In another post, the MEA factcheck shared the "fake" claims being spread on X, saying, “Disinformation being spread on X.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is FAKE News!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MEAFactCheck?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MEAFactCheck</a> <a href="https://t.co/3dyvVcOYtA">https://t.co/3dyvVcOYtA</a>&mdash; MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAFactCheck/status/1952003374116999504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;One of the reports claimed, "India is considering suspending or reviewing certain bilateral agreements with the United States if hostile economic policies continue."&nbsp;Trump last week imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, citing several reasons. The US president even slapped a penalty on India. Trump slammed New Delhi for having the most "strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country".&nbsp;&nbsp;"Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country," he wrote on Truth Social.&nbsp;The US delegation is expected to land in New India on August 24 to participate in the sixth round of trade talks.&nbsp;The next day, Trump wrote another post, saying that India and Russia can "take their dead economies and go down together."&nbsp;A day after Trump announced the tariffs, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the government is now engaging with exporters to assess the impact of Mr Trump's tariffs.&nbsp;The New Delhi officials were shocked and disappointed by the tariffs, the people said on condition of anonymity. The government is keen to keep bilateral trade talks on track and is exploring ways to increase purchases from its largest trading partner.

India debunked media reports, claiming India is reviewing the list of US goods exempted from tariffs. This comes after Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs, along with penalty on India, citing several reasons.

Amid the ongoing India-US tariff row, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) factcheck unit debunked claims that India is reviewing the list of US goods exempted from tariffs. Taking to X, the fact-check unit of the ministry has dismissed these claims made by several reports. The reports claimed, "The Indian government begins reviewing the list of U.S. products exempted from tariffs... and declares: 'No privileges without mutual respect." The MEA fact-check unit called it "fake news" on Sunday (August 3). In another post, the MEA factcheck shared the "fake" claims being spread on X, saying, “Disinformation being spread on X.”

India debunked media reports, claiming India is reviewing the list of US goods exempted from tariffs. This comes after Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs, along with penalty on India, citing several reasons.

FACTCHECK: India reviewing US goods exempted from tariffs? MEA clarifies claims by media

India is gearing up for a new highway travel initiative, and it’s set to roll out this Independence Day. The Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, under Nitin Gadkari, is introducing a FASTag Annual Pass exclusively for private vehicles. The pass aims to simplify toll payments and provide unlimited ease on designated National Highways (NH) and National Expressways (NE), up to a limit.<h2>What is FASTag Annual Pass?</h2>Effective from August 15, 2025, the FASTag Annual Pass is a prepaid tolling system that allows cars, jeeps, and vans to make up to 200 free trips or travel for one year, whichever comes first. It is designed for private users and will work only at designated NH and NE toll plazas identified by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).&nbsp;As per the announcement, this move is part of a broader strategy to decongest toll booths and reduce friction in India’s growing road network. The FASTag system is already mandatory for all vehicles, and the new pass is expected to further incentivise digital toll payments.<h2>What about price, availability and validity?</h2>The cost of the FASTag Annual Pass has been fixed at ₹3,000 for the financial year 2025–26. It can be purchased via the Rajmargyatra mobile app or directly through the official NHAI website. After purchase, the pass will be activated within two hours—pending verification of the vehicle and its linked FASTag account.&nbsp;The pass remains valid for one year from the date of activation or 200 transactions, depending on which limit is hit earlier. Once the pass expires—either due to duration or number of trips—it automatically reverts to a standard FASTag, meaning tolls will start being deducted per trip again as usual.<h2>Is it transferable?&nbsp;</h2>Each Annual Pass is vehicle-specific. It cannot be transferred to another car or reused across vehicles. According to NHAI’s guidelines, any attempt to use the pass on a different vehicle will result in immediate deactivation of the pass.<h2>What counts as a trip?</h2>Under the rules, each crossing of a point-based toll plaza counts as one trip. A round journey, going and coming back, counts as two trips. For closed tolling systems, which are usually found on access-controlled expressways, a full journey from entry to exit will be counted as one trip.<h2>Gadkari’s push for smart highways</h2>The FASTag Annual Pass comes amid Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s push for intelligent transport systems and digitalisation of India’s roadways. As per the Ministry, the new system is expected to benefit lakhs of commuters who frequently travel on national highways and face repetitive toll charges.&nbsp;By capping annual payments and offering digital pass management, the initiative is likely to encourage more people to switch to private road travel, especially across India’s expanding expressway network.With the FASTag Annual Pass, the government is taking another step towards seamless highway travel and digitised tolling. While it offers convenience and cost predictability to frequent travellers, users will need to follow strict guidelines to avoid deactivation.&nbsp;(With inputs from the agencies)

Set to debut this Independence Day, the FASTag Annual Pass promises smoother, cost-effective highway travel, but with strict rules on use and vehicle verification.

India is gearing up for a new highway travel initiative, and it’s set to roll out this Independence Day. The Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, under Nitin Gadkari, is introducing a FASTag Annual Pass exclusively for private vehicles. The pass aims to simplify toll payments and provide unlimited ease on designated National Highways (NH) and National Expressways (NE), up to a limit. What is FASTag Annual Pass? Effective from August 15, 2025, the FASTag Annual Pass is a prepaid tolling system that allows cars, jeeps, and vans to make up to 200 free trips or travel for one year, whichever comes first. It is designed for private users and will work only at designated NH and NE toll plazas identified by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). As per the announcement, this move is part of a broader strategy to decongest toll booths and reduce friction in India’s growing road network. The FASTag system is already mandatory for all vehicles, and the new pass is expected to further incentivise digital toll payments. What about price, availability and validity? The cost of the FASTag Annual Pass has been fixed at ₹3,000 for the financial year 2025–26. It can be purchased via the Rajmargyatra mobile app or directly through the official NHAI website. After purchase, the pass will be activated within two hours—pending verification of the vehicle and its linked FASTag account. The pass remains valid for one year from the date of activation or 200 transactions, depending on which limit is hit earlier. Once the pass expires—either due to duration or number of trips—it automatically reverts to a standard FASTag, meaning tolls will start being deducted per trip again as usual. Is it transferable? Each Annual Pass is vehicle-specific. It cannot be transferred to another car or reused across vehicles. According to NHAI’s guidelines, any attempt to use the pass on a different vehicle will result in immediate deactivation of the pass. What counts as a trip? Under the rules, each crossing of a point-based toll plaza counts as one trip. A round journey, going and coming back, counts as two trips. For closed tolling systems, which are usually found on access-controlled expressways, a full journey from entry to exit will be counted as one trip. Gadkari’s push for smart highways The FASTag Annual Pass comes amid Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s push for intelligent transport systems and digitalisation of India’s roadways. As per the Ministry, the new system is expected to benefit lakhs of commuters who frequently travel on national highways and face repetitive toll charges. By capping annual payments and offering digital pass management, the initiative is likely to encourage more people to switch to private road travel, especially across India’s expanding expressway network. With the FASTag Annual Pass, the government is taking another step towards seamless highway travel and digitised tolling. While it offers convenience and cost predictability to frequent travellers, users will need to follow strict guidelines to avoid deactivation. (With inputs from the agencies)

India to launch a FASTag Annual Pass for private vehicles on August 15, offering up to 200 toll-free trips on select highways for ₹3,000 a year.

India launches FASTag Annual Pass for private vehicles from August 15: Details here

Days after US President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on India, India's Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (August 1) reaffirmed the strength and resilience of India-US relations. The MEA stressed that the India-US relationship has "weathered many transitions" and remains anchored in shared interests and mutual respect.&nbsp;Trump on Wednesday announced 25 per cent tariffs, along with a penalty on India, citing high trade barriers and India's arms and oil imports from Russia amid its war with Ukraine.&nbsp;MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said that India and the US have strong defence ties, which have been strengthening over the last several years.&nbsp;“There is potential for our defence partnership to grow further. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that both countries have committed to," Jaiswal asserted.&nbsp;Despite the disappointing tariff announcement, India's ministry expressed confidence that bilateral ties between the two nations would continue to progress.&nbsp;"We are confident our relationship with the United States will continue to move forward,” Jaiswal said.<h2>Ties shouldn't be seen from prison of third nation</h2>MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal further stressed that the ties between India and the US should not be seen through the prism of a third nation.&nbsp;“Ties with any country, and all the ties that we have with various countries, stand on their own merit and shouldn’t be seen through the prism of a third country,” he said.&nbsp;Trump on Wednesday announced that impose 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with a penalty, citing several reasons. India has been disappointed by the US tariffs.&nbsp;India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the government is now engaging with exporters to assess the impact of Mr Trump's tariffs. He added that his ministry is collecting feedback from exporters and industry groups, and will take "all necessary steps to secure and advance our national interest."&nbsp;

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said that India and the US have strong defence ties, which have been strengthening over the last several years. This comes days after Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs, along with a penalty on India. 

Days after US President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on India, India's Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (August 1) reaffirmed the strength and resilience of India-US relations. The MEA stressed that the India-US relationship has "weathered many transitions" and remains anchored in shared interests and mutual respect. Trump on Wednesday announced 25 per cent tariffs, along with a penalty on India, citing high trade barriers and India's arms and oil imports from Russia amid its war with Ukraine. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said that India and the US have strong defence ties, which have been strengthening over the last several years. “There is potential for our defence partnership to grow further. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that both countries have committed to," Jaiswal asserted. Despite the disappointing tariff announcement, India's ministry expressed confidence that bilateral ties between the two nations would continue to progress. "We are confident our relationship with the United States will continue to move forward,” Jaiswal said. Ties shouldn't be seen from prison of third nation MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal further stressed that the ties between India and the US should not be seen through the prism of a third nation. “Ties with any country, and all the ties that we have with various countries, stand on their own merit and shouldn’t be seen through the prism of a third country,” he said. Trump on Wednesday announced that impose 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with a penalty, citing several reasons. India has been disappointed by the US tariffs. India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the government is now engaging with exporters to assess the impact of Mr Trump's tariffs. He added that his ministry is collecting feedback from exporters and industry groups, and will take "all necessary steps to secure and advance our national interest."

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said that India and the US have strong defence ties, which have been strengthening over the last several years. This comes days after Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs, along with a penalty on India.&nbsp;

Can Trump's tariffs upend India-US ties? MEA responds amid ongoing trade row—Here's what it said

Days after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs plus a penalty on India, a Pakistani propaganda account claimed that India has entered a state of financial emergency. However, the Indian government fact-check unit Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked the claims.The PIB fact-checked the claim it shared on its official X handle, stating that the claim made by the Pakistani account is "fake", clarifying that no financial emergency has been declared in India.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A Pakistani propaganda account is claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to a 25% tariff announced by Donald Trump.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PIBFactCheck?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PIBFactCheck</a> ❌This claim is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Fake</a> ✅ No financial emergency has been declared in India… <a href="https://t.co/cJRp1GeeA1">pic.twitter.com/cJRp1GeeA1</a>&mdash; PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1950939650291581426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;According to the Pakistani propaganda account, it suggested that India had entered a state of financial emergency after its markets reportedly lost $60 billion in value following Trump's tariff announcement. The Indian government stressed that the information is entirely baseless and fabricated.<h2>What did Pakistan claim?</h2>The Pakistani account shared a post, claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to a 25 per cent tariff announced by Donald Trump.The Press Information Bureau clarified, calling it "fake".Trump on Wednesday (July 30) announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on India, effective from August 1, saying that the US has a massive trade deficit with India. Trump stressed that, along with a 25 per cent tariff, India will also be paying penalties.While noting that India is a "friend", said that relatively, the US has done "little business with them because their tariffs are far too high." The US president added that India's tariffs are among the “highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”Trump continued, as he raised concerns over India buying the majority of its military equipment from Russia, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the war in Ukraine.Later, India reacted to the US imposing 25 per cent tariffs on India, saying that the government is studying the implications of tariffs. The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs.Moreover, it concluded that the Indian government will take all steps necessary to "secure our national interest".&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Pakistani account shared a post, claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to Trump's 25% cent tariff.  The Indian government stressed that the information is entirely baseless and fabricated.

Days after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs plus a penalty on India, a Pakistani propaganda account claimed that India has entered a state of financial emergency. However, the Indian government fact-check unit Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked the claims. The PIB fact-checked the claim it shared on its official X handle, stating that the claim made by the Pakistani account is "fake", clarifying that no financial emergency has been declared in India.

The Pakistani account shared a post, claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to Trump's 25% cent tariff. &nbsp;The Indian government stressed that the information is entirely baseless and fabricated.

Financial emergency in India post Trump's 25% tariffs? India's fact check unit clarifies Pakistani propaganda claims

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO. On behalf of the government, Jaishankar said that his ministry has taken note of an Islamic group in Dhaka named ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, which is backed by a Turkish NGO called the 'Turkish Youth Federation', that has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. Jaishankar was responding to a starred question by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala in the Rajya Sabha, saying the map in question was displayed at Dhaka University on the occasion of Poila Boisakh on April 14 this year. The EAM added that India continues to take all necessary measures to safeguard it.<h2>What is Centre's response to the controversy?</h2>"The Government has taken note of reports that an Islamist group in Dhaka called the ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, backed by a Turkish NGO called the ‘Turkish Youth Federation’, has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. The map was displayed in the Dhaka University," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs quoted Jaishankar as saying. "The Government of Bangladesh fact-checker platform, ‘BanglaFact’, claimed that there is no evidence of ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ operating in Bangladesh. It further clarified that the ‘map’ was displayed at a historical exhibition in reference to the so-called earlier Bengal Sultanate," the statement added. The MEA statement also added that the organisers behind the exhibition denied any connections with any foreign political entity.<h2>What is the controversy?</h2>A Turkish NGO-backed Islamist group in Dhaka allegedly displayed maps of ‘Greater Bangladesh’ — which comprised several Indian states of the Eastern and Northeast regions. According to a report published by the Economic Times, a group ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ allegedly put out the controversial map of "Greater Bangladesh". The map marked Myanmar's Arakan State, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the entire Northeast region of India as part of ‘Greater Bangladesh’. According to ET, Turkey is increasing its influence in Bangladesh after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. It must be noted that Bangladesh is already mending ties with Pakistan and the latter has a good relationship with Turkey. Turkey has reportedly stepped up its engagement through proposed military supplies to the Bangladesh armed forces. As per the report, Turkish NGOs aligned with the country's ruling government have also grown increasingly active in Bangladesh. Notably, Turkey supported Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to hit terror infrastructure inside the neighbouring country, prompting calls for its boycott in India.

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO.

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO. On behalf of the government, Jaishankar said that his ministry has taken note of an Islamic group in Dhaka named ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, which is backed by a Turkish NGO called the 'Turkish Youth Federation', that has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. Jaishankar was responding to a starred question by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala in the Rajya Sabha, saying the map in question was displayed at Dhaka University on the occasion of Poila Boisakh on April 14 this year. The EAM added that India continues to take all necessary measures to safeguard it. What is Centre's response to the controversy? "The Government has taken note of reports that an Islamist group in Dhaka called the ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, backed by a Turkish NGO called the ‘Turkish Youth Federation’, has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. The map was displayed in the Dhaka University," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs quoted Jaishankar as saying. "The Government of Bangladesh fact-checker platform, ‘BanglaFact’, claimed that there is no evidence of ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ operating in Bangladesh. It further clarified that the ‘map’ was displayed at a historical exhibition in reference to the so-called earlier Bengal Sultanate," the statement added. The MEA statement also added that the organisers behind the exhibition denied any connections with any foreign political entity. What is the controversy? A Turkish NGO-backed Islamist group in Dhaka allegedly displayed maps of ‘Greater Bangladesh’ — which comprised several Indian states of the Eastern and Northeast regions. According to a report published by the Economic Times, a group ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ allegedly put out the controversial map of "Greater Bangladesh". The map marked Myanmar's Arakan State, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the entire Northeast region of India as part of ‘Greater Bangladesh’. According to ET, Turkey is increasing its influence in Bangladesh after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. It must be noted that Bangladesh is already mending ties with Pakistan and the latter has a good relationship with Turkey. Turkey has reportedly stepped up its engagement through proposed military supplies to the Bangladesh armed forces. As per the report, Turkish NGOs aligned with the country's ruling government have also grown increasingly active in Bangladesh. Notably, Turkey supported Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to hit terror infrastructure inside the neighbouring country, prompting calls for its boycott in India.

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO.

‘Greater Bangladesh’ map includes Indian territory: S Jaishankar responds to Turkey links - What he said

Indian state refiners have stopped buying Russian oil in the past week, citing discounts narrowed this month, the industry sources told Reuters. This comes amid US President Donald Trump warning India against buying oil from Russia as Moscow intensifies its war with Ukraine.&nbsp;Several state refiners of India, including Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), opens new tab, Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL.NS), Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL.NS), and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd (MRPL.NS), have not sought Russian crude in the past week, four sources familiar with the refiners' purchase told Reuters.&nbsp;Notably, India is the world's third-largest oil importer and the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude.&nbsp;However, the refiners have not responded to the request for comment yet.&nbsp;These four refiners regularly buy Russian oil on a delivered basis, but now they have turned to spot markets for replacement supply, including Middle Eastern grades such as Abu Dhabi's Murban crude and West African oil, sources said.&nbsp;State refiners control over 60 per cent of India's overall 5.2 million barrels per day refining capacity.<h2>Trump calls India, Russia's economy 'dead'</h2>Earlier today, Trump hit out at India for purchasing oil from Russia. This came hours after the US president announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports.&nbsp;Trump said that he does not care about India's trade dealings with Russia, saying that the two "can take their dead economies down together".&nbsp;"I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India; their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.&nbsp;On July 14, Trump even threatened 100 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a ceasefire and peace deal with Ukraine.&nbsp;

These four refiners regularly buy Russian oil on a delivered basis, but now they have turned to spot markets for replacement supply, including Middle Eastern grades such as Abu Dhabi's Murban crude and West African oil. 

Indian state refiners have stopped buying Russian oil in the past week, citing discounts narrowed this month, the industry sources told Reuters. This comes amid US President Donald Trump warning India against buying oil from Russia as Moscow intensifies its war with Ukraine. Several state refiners of India, including Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), opens new tab, Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL.NS), Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL.NS), and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd (MRPL.NS), have not sought Russian crude in the past week, four sources familiar with the refiners' purchase told Reuters. Notably, India is the world's third-largest oil importer and the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude. However, the refiners have not responded to the request for comment yet. These four refiners regularly buy Russian oil on a delivered basis, but now they have turned to spot markets for replacement supply, including Middle Eastern grades such as Abu Dhabi's Murban crude and West African oil, sources said. State refiners control over 60 per cent of India's overall 5.2 million barrels per day refining capacity. Trump calls India, Russia's economy 'dead' Earlier today, Trump hit out at India for purchasing oil from Russia. This came hours after the US president announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports. Trump said that he does not care about India's trade dealings with Russia, saying that the two "can take their dead economies down together". "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India; their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. On July 14, Trump even threatened 100 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a ceasefire and peace deal with Ukraine.

These four refiners regularly buy Russian oil on a delivered basis, but now they have turned to spot markets for replacement supply, including Middle Eastern grades such as Abu Dhabi's Murban crude and West African oil.&nbsp;

Indian state refiners halt Russian oil imports amid Trump's 25% tariff and penalty threat

As tariffs and trade remain in the headlines, US President Donald Trump on Thursday (July 31) said that the tariffs are making America great and "rich again". He stressed that the US has successfully countered this "onslaught of tariffs" used against it.&nbsp;The US president took to Truth Social, saying that the tariffs were used against the US for decades, coupled with "pathetic and crooked politicians."&nbsp;"Tariffs are making America GREAT &amp; RICH Again. They were successfully used against the USA for decades and, coupled with really dumb, pathetic, and crooked politicians, we’re having a devastating impact on the future, and even the survival, of our country," he wrote in the post.&nbsp;Trump added that it has completely changed now, stressing that America was a dead country a year ago, but now it is the hottest country in the world.&nbsp;"Now the tide has completely turned, and America has successfully countered this onslaught of Tariffs used against it. ONE YEAR AGO, AMERICA WAS A DEAD COUNTRY, NOW IT IS THE “HOTTEST”COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!," he added.&nbsp;This comes a day after Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with penalties for several reasons, effective from August 1. He said that the US has a massive trade deficit with India.&nbsp;Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday, and while noting that India is a "friend", said that relatively, the US has done “little business with them because their tariffs are far too high.” The US president added that India's tariffs are among the “highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”&nbsp;Trump continued, as he raised concerns over India buying the majority of its military equipment from Russia, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. Trump announced to put penalties on India, along with the 25 per cent tariffs, starting on August 1.<h2>Here's how India reacted</h2>Hours after Trump imposed tariffs on India, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry reacted to the US imposing 25 per cent tariffs on India. It stated that the government is studying the implications of tariffs.&nbsp;The ministry said that the government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. "The Government is studying its implications."&nbsp;It further noted that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.

Day after Trump imposed tariffs on India, he posted on Truth Social, saying that tariffs has made America hottest country in the world, stressing that one year ago, it was a dead country. 

As tariffs and trade remain in the headlines, US President Donald Trump on Thursday (July 31) said that the tariffs are making America great and "rich again". He stressed that the US has successfully countered this "onslaught of tariffs" used against it. The US president took to Truth Social, saying that the tariffs were used against the US for decades, coupled with "pathetic and crooked politicians." "Tariffs are making America GREAT & RICH Again. They were successfully used against the USA for decades and, coupled with really dumb, pathetic, and crooked politicians, we’re having a devastating impact on the future, and even the survival, of our country," he wrote in the post. Trump added that it has completely changed now, stressing that America was a dead country a year ago, but now it is the hottest country in the world. "Now the tide has completely turned, and America has successfully countered this onslaught of Tariffs used against it. ONE YEAR AGO, AMERICA WAS A DEAD COUNTRY, NOW IT IS THE “HOTTEST”COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!," he added. This comes a day after Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with penalties for several reasons, effective from August 1. He said that the US has a massive trade deficit with India. Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday, and while noting that India is a "friend", said that relatively, the US has done “little business with them because their tariffs are far too high.” The US president added that India's tariffs are among the “highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.” Trump continued, as he raised concerns over India buying the majority of its military equipment from Russia, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. Trump announced to put penalties on India, along with the 25 per cent tariffs, starting on August 1. Here's how India reacted Hours after Trump imposed tariffs on India, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry reacted to the US imposing 25 per cent tariffs on India. It stated that the government is studying the implications of tariffs. The ministry said that the government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. "The Government is studying its implications." It further noted that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.

Day after Trump imposed tariffs on India, he posted on Truth Social, saying that tariffs has made America hottest country in the world, stressing that one year ago, it was a dead country.&nbsp;

'America HOTTEST country in world': Trump credits tariffs for making US great and rich again

People in India's Uttar Pradesh villages have spotted blinking drones in the sky, triggering paranoia and fear among the civilians. As everybody is on alert there, people have armed themselves and are assembling for night patrolling to keep an eye on what's happening in the villages.&nbsp;Moreover, not just this, videos and forwarded messages on social media have also triggered panic among people.In Kumhera village, a group out on a night patrol said that "drone sightings" began a week ago. They made announcements on a megaphone, saying, "If you spot a drone, please inform the police immediately, or inform us."&nbsp;The fear has created chaos in several villages of Uttar Pradesh, including Rampur, Amhroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, and the villages of Ghaziabad, according to reports.&nbsp;Indian news agency ANI reported that the unverified viral videos on social media show blinking objects flying in the sky, with residents insisting it is a drone “scouting” the area.&nbsp;Moreover, as the people become more aware now, residents of Amirpuri Gharhi have begun asking for verification from those entering the village. “We need to be sure who we are letting in," members of the group, some armed with axes, said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, in Moradabad, people have armed themselves with flashlights and sticks while patrolling at night.The additional SP of Moradabad told ANI that the police have been receiving reports from rural areas about an object that blinks and is being spotted at night.<h2>Police investigation on</h2>The police said that they have received reports of drones flying on Sunday, but as they reached the spot, there was no such activity spotted.&nbsp;However, the police have found no evidence to support the villagers' claims. “However, when our deployed out teams, we didn't find evidence of criminal activity,” SP said.&nbsp;He also said that the police are conducting patrols on a regular basis, and the matter is being investigated.&nbsp;On the other hand, two people in Muzaffarnagar have been arrested for allegedly spreading rumours about drones flying over Kairana town in Shamli, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

The fear has created chaos in several villages of Uttar Pradesh, including Rampur, Amhroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, and the villages of Ghaziabad. as the people become more aware now, residents of Amirpuri Gharhi have begun asking for verification from those entering the village. 



People in India's Uttar Pradesh villages have spotted blinking drones in the sky, triggering paranoia and fear among the civilians. As everybody is on alert there, people have armed themselves and are assembling for night patrolling to keep an eye on what's happening in the villages. Moreover, not just this, videos and forwarded messages on social media have also triggered panic among people. In Kumhera village, a group out on a night patrol said that "drone sightings" began a week ago. They made announcements on a megaphone, saying, "If you spot a drone, please inform the police immediately, or inform us." The fear has created chaos in several villages of Uttar Pradesh, including Rampur, Amhroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, and the villages of Ghaziabad, according to reports. Indian news agency ANI reported that the unverified viral videos on social media show blinking objects flying in the sky, with residents insisting it is a drone “scouting” the area. Moreover, as the people become more aware now, residents of Amirpuri Gharhi have begun asking for verification from those entering the village. “We need to be sure who we are letting in," members of the group, some armed with axes, said. Meanwhile, in Moradabad, people have armed themselves with flashlights and sticks while patrolling at night. The additional SP of Moradabad told ANI that the police have been receiving reports from rural areas about an object that blinks and is being spotted at night. Police investigation on The police said that they have received reports of drones flying on Sunday, but as they reached the spot, there was no such activity spotted. However, the police have found no evidence to support the villagers' claims. “However, when our deployed out teams, we didn't find evidence of criminal activity,” SP said. He also said that the police are conducting patrols on a regular basis, and the matter is being investigated. On the other hand, two people in Muzaffarnagar have been arrested for allegedly spreading rumours about drones flying over Kairana town in Shamli, news agency PTI reported.

The fear has created chaos in several villages of Uttar Pradesh, including Rampur, Amhroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, and the villages of Ghaziabad. As people become more aware now, residents of Amirpuri Gharhi have begun asking for verification from those entering the village.&nbsp;

'Blinking drones' spying on India's UP? Villagers go for armed patrol as flying object videos create panic

India’s legal discourse has a new conundrum. Supreme Court advocate Indira Jaising has appealed to the top court&nbsp;to consider lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16. The age of consent is the age at which people are considered legally capable of agreeing to sexual intercourse.&nbsp;Jaising has filed a written submission challenging the blanket criminalisation of sexual activity among adolescents aged 16 to 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;She has argued that “there is no rational reason or empirical data to justify the increase in the age of consent from 16 to 18 years, when the age was 16 for 70 years.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Union of India has opposed it, saying “the statutory age of consent fixed at 18 years must… be strictly and uniformly enforced. Any departure from this standard, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would amount to rolling back decades of progress in child protection law.”&nbsp;&nbsp;A Brief History&nbsp;&nbsp;The age of consent in India stood at 10 for females and no specified age for men in 1860.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1891, it was raised to 12 after Phulmoni,&nbsp; an 11-year-old girl, died due to a rupture of her vagina after her husband forced sex on her, but the accused was only sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following that, the age of consent was increased to 14 in 1925 and 16 in 1940.&nbsp;In 2012, following the horrific Delhi Nirbhaya rape case, the age of consent was raised to 18 for both males and females under the POCSO or Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;International Comparision&nbsp;Countries across the world have lowered or maintained their age of consent to 16 or lower.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the US, federal law maintains the age of consent as 18, but in several states, the age of consent differs.&nbsp;In Australia, the age of consent varies from 16 to 17 years depending on the state or territory.&nbsp;&nbsp;Japan had the age of consent as 13 till 2023, while the age of majority is 20 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;South Africa, too, has the age of consent as 16 while the age of majority is 18.&nbsp;Inter-caste, inter-faith teenage love&nbsp;&nbsp;In many cases across the country, parents of interfaith and inter-caste teenage couples have filed rape cases against one of the partners, even though the relationships were consensual.&nbsp;Jaising noted in her submission to the SC that there has been a 180% rise in prosecutions under POCSO involving minors aged 16–18 between 2017 and 2021, highlighting an alarming trend.&nbsp;&nbsp;Citizens' view&nbsp;On being asked about sexual activity among those below 18, Naman Verma, a 28-year-old, said that “it is definitely common, consensually and comfortably practised amongst people under 18. I have learned about instances of sexual activities from people when they were under 18. So, it does happen, even if it is illegal.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Verma added that “ I think the 'age of consent' in this context does not define the autonomy of a teenager, but also depicts an opinion of the nation; the system. If I, as ruler, have to decide such a thing, I will keep in mind the trends amongst the people engaging in this activity. For instance, 'sex education'. If I am allowing teens to officially engage in sexual activity by their own will, I need to ensure that they are educated and aware of the risks and precautions required to take.&nbsp;Shubham Ranjan, a 27-year-old designer, said that “lowering the age might help in genuine cases of consensual teenage love. Many boys, especially from minority or lower castes, are wrongfully punished due to family disapproval. A lower consent age could prevent misuse of strict laws like POCSO, but it needs careful safeguards.”&nbsp;Richa Kapoor, an Advocate on Record for the Supreme Court and a former public prosecutor at the Delhi High Court, says that “with advancement in technology, modernization in education and access to knowledge, 16-year-old teens today are more capable of making mature, educated decisions about their own bodies and relationships.”&nbsp;Advocate Kapoor elaborated on the protection of children from rape, stating that abuse against adolescents can still be prevented, as "without consent" would still be considered rape.&nbsp;&nbsp;Advocate Kunal Anand, a designated Partner at Mark Legal LLP, recommends a “close-in-age” in the law. This exception will create an exception for couples who are close to the age of consent and thus prevent false cases.&nbsp;Anand says that by introducing this exception, “the law would still punish exploitation and coercion but stop unfairly criminalizing teenagers who are in consensual relationships. This change would balance child protection with the rights to privacy, dignity, and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, while also ensuring that POCSO focuses on genuine cases of abuse..”&nbsp;&nbsp;An alternative to lowering the age of consent is the application of the 'judicial discretion’, which basically means that each case will be considered by the judge and the discretion of the judge would apply to differentiate between genuine cases of ‘teenage love’ and exploitation.&nbsp;&nbsp;But Anand says that this approach also has its limitations. “It leaves adolescents vulnerable to lengthy criminal trials before relief is granted, as discretion comes only at the stage of judicial decision-making,” he explains.&nbsp;&nbsp;Need for sex education&nbsp;&nbsp;India severely lacks sex education among adolescents. The people WION talked to agreed that there is a need for widespread sex education before the age of consent is lowered to allow young adults to make informed choices about their bodies.&nbsp;&nbsp;“If teenagers are themselves aware and sensible about their sexual health and rights, they would be in a better position to understand consent and also protect themselves from exploitation,” said Namam Verma.&nbsp;&nbsp;While lowering the age of consent might be the way forward to ensure sexual autonomy for young adults, providing them with information about consent, safe sexual practices and hygiene is a prerequisite.&nbsp;

The Indian Supreme Court is considering lowering the age of consent in the country from 18 to 16, drawing divisive reactions. WION’s Akul Baiju talks to experts and citizens on whether India should take this significant step. 

India’s legal discourse has a new conundrum. Supreme Court advocate Indira Jaising has appealed to the top court to consider lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16. The age of consent is the age at which people are considered legally capable of agreeing to sexual intercourse. Jaising has filed a written submission challenging the blanket criminalisation of sexual activity among adolescents aged 16 to 18. She has argued that “there is no rational reason or empirical data to justify the increase in the age of consent from 16 to 18 years, when the age was 16 for 70 years.” Meanwhile, the Union of India has opposed it, saying “the statutory age of consent fixed at 18 years must… be strictly and uniformly enforced. Any departure from this standard, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would amount to rolling back decades of progress in child protection law.” A Brief History The age of consent in India stood at 10 for females and no specified age for men in 1860. In 1891, it was raised to 12 after Phulmoni, an 11-year-old girl, died due to a rupture of her vagina after her husband forced sex on her, but the accused was only sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment. Following that, the age of consent was increased to 14 in 1925 and 16 in 1940. In 2012, following the horrific Delhi Nirbhaya rape case, the age of consent was raised to 18 for both males and females under the POCSO or Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act. International Comparision Countries across the world have lowered or maintained their age of consent to 16 or lower. In the US, federal law maintains the age of consent as 18, but in several states, the age of consent differs. In Australia, the age of consent varies from 16 to 17 years depending on the state or territory. Japan had the age of consent as 13 till 2023, while the age of majority is 20 years. South Africa, too, has the age of consent as 16 while the age of majority is 18. Inter-caste, inter-faith teenage love In many cases across the country, parents of interfaith and inter-caste teenage couples have filed rape cases against one of the partners, even though the relationships were consensual. Jaising noted in her submission to the SC that there has been a 180% rise in prosecutions under POCSO involving minors aged 16–18 between 2017 and 2021, highlighting an alarming trend. Citizens' view On being asked about sexual activity among those below 18, Naman Verma, a 28-year-old, said that “it is definitely common, consensually and comfortably practised amongst people under 18. I have learned about instances of sexual activities from people when they were under 18. So, it does happen, even if it is illegal.” Verma added that “ I think the 'age of consent' in this context does not define the autonomy of a teenager, but also depicts an opinion of the nation; the system. If I, as ruler, have to decide such a thing, I will keep in mind the trends amongst the people engaging in this activity. For instance, 'sex education'. If I am allowing teens to officially engage in sexual activity by their own will, I need to ensure that they are educated and aware of the risks and precautions required to take. Shubham Ranjan, a 27-year-old designer, said that “lowering the age might help in genuine cases of consensual teenage love. Many boys, especially from minority or lower castes, are wrongfully punished due to family disapproval. A lower consent age could prevent misuse of strict laws like POCSO, but it needs careful safeguards.” Richa Kapoor, an Advocate on Record for the Supreme Court and a former public prosecutor at the Delhi High Court, says that “with advancement in technology, modernization in education and access to knowledge, 16-year-old teens today are more capable of making mature, educated decisions about their own bodies and relationships.” Advocate Kapoor elaborated on the protection of children from rape, stating that abuse against adolescents can still be prevented, as "without consent" would still be considered rape. Advocate Kunal Anand, a designated Partner at Mark Legal LLP, recommends a “close-in-age” in the law. This exception will create an exception for couples who are close to the age of consent and thus prevent false cases. Anand says that by introducing this exception, “the law would still punish exploitation and coercion but stop unfairly criminalizing teenagers who are in consensual relationships. This change would balance child protection with the rights to privacy, dignity, and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, while also ensuring that POCSO focuses on genuine cases of abuse..” An alternative to lowering the age of consent is the application of the 'judicial discretion’, which basically means that each case will be considered by the judge and the discretion of the judge would apply to differentiate between genuine cases of ‘teenage love’ and exploitation. But Anand says that this approach also has its limitations. “It leaves adolescents vulnerable to lengthy criminal trials before relief is granted, as discretion comes only at the stage of judicial decision-making,” he explains. Need for sex education India severely lacks sex education among adolescents. The people WION talked to agreed that there is a need for widespread sex education before the age of consent is lowered to allow young adults to make informed choices about their bodies. “If teenagers are themselves aware and sensible about their sexual health and rights, they would be in a better position to understand consent and also protect themselves from exploitation,” said Namam Verma. While lowering the age of consent might be the way forward to ensure sexual autonomy for young adults, providing them with information about consent, safe sexual practices and hygiene is a prerequisite.

The Indian Supreme Court is considering lowering the age of consent in the country from 18 to 16, drawing divisive reactions. WION’s Akul Baiju talks to experts and citizens on whether India should take this significant step.&nbsp;

India debates lowering age of consent from 18 to 16. Experts weigh in

US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with penalties, as he slams India for several things, including arms trade with Russia amid its war with Ukraine. Trump said the tariffs will be imposed effective from August 1. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, stressed that India, although it is a friend, has done "relatively little business with them", adding that their tariffs are far too high.<h2>Why did Trump slap India with penalties?</h2>The US president explained in his post on Truth Social why he has imposed 25 per cent tariffs and additional penalties. Trump said that India's tariffs are too high and the highest in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;He added that they have the highest tariffs in the world and have the most "strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country."&nbsp;Trump then shifted the focus to India's arms trade deal with Russia, saying that India has always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia.&nbsp;The US president added that India is Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, "at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!"&nbsp;"INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST," he said.&nbsp;Earlier on Tuesday, Trump, while speaking to reporters, said that India will pay 25 per cent if the US and India fail to finalise a trade deal soon. Although Trump referred to India as a friendly partner, he has repeatedly criticised the country’s trade practices and high import duties, calling the relationship “very tough”.&nbsp;The US has taken issue not only with India’s high tariffs but also with its non-tariff barriers, such as digital service taxes and complex regulations for foreign imports. The administration has called India’s testing requirements “uniquely burdensome.”

The US president explained in his post on Truth Social why he has imposed 25 per cent tariffs and additional penalties. Trump said that India's tariffs are too high and the highest in the world.

US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with penalties, as he slams India for several things, including arms trade with Russia amid its war with Ukraine. Trump said the tariffs will be imposed effective from August 1. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, stressed that India, although it is a friend, has done "relatively little business with them", adding that their tariffs are far too high. Why did Trump slap India with penalties? The US president explained in his post on Truth Social why he has imposed 25 per cent tariffs and additional penalties. Trump said that India's tariffs are too high and the highest in the world. He added that they have the highest tariffs in the world and have the most "strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country." Trump then shifted the focus to India's arms trade deal with Russia, saying that India has always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia. The US president added that India is Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, "at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!" "INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump, while speaking to reporters, said that India will pay 25 per cent if the US and India fail to finalise a trade deal soon. Although Trump referred to India as a friendly partner, he has repeatedly criticised the country’s trade practices and high import duties, calling the relationship “very tough”. The US has taken issue not only with India’s high tariffs but also with its non-tariff barriers, such as digital service taxes and complex regulations for foreign imports. The administration has called India’s testing requirements “uniquely burdensome.”

The US president explained in his post on Truth Social why he has imposed 25 per cent tariffs and additional penalties. Trump said that India's tariffs are too high and the highest in the world.

Why Trump announced 25% tariffs plus penalties on India - Here's what he said

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 30) announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on India, effective from August 1, saying that the US has a massive trade deficit with India. Trump stressed that, along with a 25 per cent tariff, India will also be paying penalties.&nbsp;Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday, and while noting that India is a "friend", said that relatively, the US has done "little business with them because their tariffs are far too high."&nbsp;The US president added that India's tariffs are among the “highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">US President Donald Trump announces 25% tariffs on India starting August 1st. Source: Donald Trump&#39;s Truth Social Account <a href="https://t.co/bgj1wsGcMR">pic.twitter.com/bgj1wsGcMR</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1950531766038761550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Trump continued, as he raised concerns over India buying the majority of its military equipment from Russia, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. "Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE," he stressed. Trump announced to put penalties on India, along with the 25 per cent tariffs, starting on August 1. "ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!," he posted. In just a few minutes, Trump shared another post, stating, "WE HAVE A MASSIVE TRADE DEFICIT WITH INDIA!!!." Earlier on Tuesday, while speaking to reporters, Trump threatened to slap tariffs of up to 25% on Indian imports if Washington and New Delhi fail to finalise a trade deal soon. Although Trump referred to India as a friendly partner, he has repeatedly criticised the country’s trade practices and high import duties, calling the relationship “very tough”.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 30) announced to impose 25 per cent tariff on India, effective from August 1, saying that the US has a massive trade deficit with India. 

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 30) announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on India, effective from August 1, saying that the US has a massive trade deficit with India. Trump stressed that, along with a 25 per cent tariff, India will also be paying penalties. Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday, and while noting that India is a "friend", said that relatively, the US has done "little business with them because their tariffs are far too high." The US president added that India's tariffs are among the “highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”

The US president said that India's tariffs are among the highest in the world, adding that they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.

'Massive trade deficit with India': Trump imposes 25% tariff on India, plus penalties for arms trade with Russia

Maldives finance minister Moosa Zameer has said that soon Indian tourists can pay in Indian Rupees as his country is working for a local currency settlement with India. Finance Minister Moosa Zameer, speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal in Malé, said, "Local currency settlement agreements that we are coming in, it will be easier for local businesses to source from India and pay in Indian rupees. And Indian tourists will come to the Maldives to pay in Indian rupees to the locals."&nbsp;The Maldives and India are working on the usage of Indian currency in the country, whose mainstay is tourism. Indian tourists form the 6th largest number of foreign tourists arriving in the Maldives. When asked about free trade agreement talks, the finance minister said, "groundwork has been laid" with PM Modi's visit and "more Indian businesses will be interested in supplying to the Maldives".&nbsp;PM Modi was on a visit to the Maldives on Friday and Saturday, his 3rd visit to the country since 2014. During this visit, he was the guest of honour at the Independence Day celebrations. Interview:&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: How do you think, opening of the new terminal will help the Maldives? Moosa Zameer: Obviously, we have had some hurdles in the past couple of years because of the high number of tourists that were arriving, and we were not able to give enough space for the market that was developing in the aviation industry. Today, with this opening of the new terminal, I'm sure that has changed. And looking at the Indian market, yes, and it has been growing tremendously. And with the visit of Prime Minister Modi recently as a guest of honour for the Maldives Independence Day, I'm sure the numbers will increase. The Government is actively seeking to find ways to increase Indian destinations to Maldives. India as a source market has played a key role in Maldives, and I'm sure with this expansion, it will help much more than what we can anticipate right now, because we see the growth. If you look at the past two years, it's evident.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: During PM Modi's visit, a line of credit was announced. If you can talk about that. Also announcement related to UPI, FTA. Moosa Zameer: One of the most important things that I see is the UPI. India's RBI is working on it. This is going to unite us in a way that has not happened in the past. The Prime Minister's visit will definitely increase the People to People connection and also at the government level, the work that we have been doing will get boosted. And then this is how we see the economy getting benefits. Indian market is a source market, plus many other things that have happened in the visit are about the development of housing and many other projects that have been initiated. And also, I think it will also increase the number of tourists that will arrive in the north by September, since the Hanimaadhoo international airport will be opened. It's very close to India, so it will be easier for Indian tourists to travel. So I'm very optimistic about the rest of the areas.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: By when do you plan to conclude the India-Maldives FTA? Moosa Zameer: &nbsp;The groundwork has been done with the Prime Minister's visit. &nbsp;We do a lot of cross-border trade, and with FTA definitely. FTA definitely will give a boost. And also it will be more Indian businesses will be interested in supplying to the Maldives, will have the opportunity, plus local currency settlement agreements that we are coming in, it will be easier for local businesses to source from India and pay in Indian rupees. And Indian tourists will come to Maldives to pay in Indian rupees to the locals. Bank of Maldives has now started opening Indian rupee accounts for even retail customers, that's going to increase the kind of activity.

The Maldives and India are working on the usage of Indian currency in the country, whose mainstay is tourism. Indian tourists form the 6th largest number of foreign tourists arriving in the Maldives. 

Maldives finance minister Moosa Zameer has said that soon Indian tourists can pay in Indian Rupees as his country is working for a local currency settlement with India. Finance Minister Moosa Zameer, speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal in Malé, said, "Local currency settlement agreements that we are coming in, it will be easier for local businesses to source from India and pay in Indian rupees. And Indian tourists will come to the Maldives to pay in Indian rupees to the locals." The Maldives and India are working on the usage of Indian currency in the country, whose mainstay is tourism. Indian tourists form the 6th largest number of foreign tourists arriving in the Maldives. When asked about free trade agreement talks, the finance minister said, "groundwork has been laid" with PM Modi's visit and "more Indian businesses will be interested in supplying to the Maldives". PM Modi was on a visit to the Maldives on Friday and Saturday, his 3rd visit to the country since 2014. During this visit, he was the guest of honour at the Independence Day celebrations. Interview: Sidhant Sibal: How do you think, opening of the new terminal will help the Maldives? Moosa Zameer: Obviously, we have had some hurdles in the past couple of years because of the high number of tourists that were arriving, and we were not able to give enough space for the market that was developing in the aviation industry. Today, with this opening of the new terminal, I'm sure that has changed. And looking at the Indian market, yes, and it has been growing tremendously. And with the visit of Prime Minister Modi recently as a guest of honour for the Maldives Independence Day, I'm sure the numbers will increase. The Government is actively seeking to find ways to increase Indian destinations to Maldives. India as a source market has played a key role in Maldives, and I'm sure with this expansion, it will help much more than what we can anticipate right now, because we see the growth. If you look at the past two years, it's evident. Sidhant Sibal: During PM Modi's visit, a line of credit was announced. If you can talk about that. Also announcement related to UPI, FTA. Moosa Zameer: One of the most important things that I see is the UPI. India's RBI is working on it. This is going to unite us in a way that has not happened in the past. The Prime Minister's visit will definitely increase the People to People connection and also at the government level, the work that we have been doing will get boosted. And then this is how we see the economy getting benefits. Indian market is a source market, plus many other things that have happened in the visit are about the development of housing and many other projects that have been initiated. And also, I think it will also increase the number of tourists that will arrive in the north by September, since the Hanimaadhoo international airport will be opened. It's very close to India, so it will be easier for Indian tourists to travel. So I'm very optimistic about the rest of the areas. Sidhant Sibal: By when do you plan to conclude the India-Maldives FTA? Moosa Zameer: The groundwork has been done with the Prime Minister's visit. We do a lot of cross-border trade, and with FTA definitely. FTA definitely will give a boost. And also it will be more Indian businesses will be interested in supplying to the Maldives, will have the opportunity, plus local currency settlement agreements that we are coming in, it will be easier for local businesses to source from India and pay in Indian rupees. And Indian tourists will come to Maldives to pay in Indian rupees to the locals. Bank of Maldives has now started opening Indian rupee accounts for even retail customers, that's going to increase the kind of activity.

The Maldives and India are working on the usage of Indian currency in the country, whose mainstay is tourism. Indian tourists form the 6th largest number of foreign tourists arriving in the Maldives.&nbsp;

Indian tourists can pay in Indian Rupees with local currency settlement agreement, says Maldives Finance Minister Moosa Zameer

As India and the United Kingdom signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday (July 24) after three years of negotiations, the deal will give a much-needed boost to the bilateral trade between the two nations, by around $34 billion annually. As per the details of the agreement, cost of scotch whiskey, cars, chocolates, aerospace parts and several other products will decrease. This comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UK, to sign the historic deal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Notably, this is India's most ambitious trade deal in over a decade, which both nations have called a "historic milestone" in their economic relationship.&nbsp;The deal will lead to a cut in prices of scotch whiskey; however, it won't have a major impact on reshaping the market. It will now be easier for UK firms to export whiskey to India with tariffs slashed in half.<h2>Scotch whiskey</h2>It will now be immediately from 150% to 75% and then drop even further to 40% over the next ten years. In the premium segment of scotch, where the prices start from Rs 3500 per bottle, brands like Johnie Walker, Black Label and Chivas Regal 12 years may cost less by Rs 200-300 per bottle.&nbsp;Meanwhile, for the standard segment, which costs somewhere between Rs 1700 and Rs 2000, brands like Red Label and Ballentine's may cost less by Rs 100-150.&nbsp;"Most Indian whisky producers import Scotch whiskey to use for blending with domestic whiskies. Reduction in customs duty will help the bottom lines of these Indian producers," said Vinod Giri, liquor trade expert and director general of Brewers Association of India.<h2>Aerospace parts</h2>Now, under the deal, people and industries in India will be able to access several products made and imported from the UK, including medical devices and aerospace parts at much affordable prices.<h2>Soft drinks, chocolate, and biscuits</h2>Indian customers will now have better access to British products, including soft drinks and cosmetics. Meanwhile, India will also cut tariffs on salmon, chocolates, and biscuits imported from the UK, making them cheaper for Indians.&nbsp;Moreover, the Indian professionals will be exempted from UK social security payments for three years under this deal.&nbsp;

India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is India's most ambitious trade deal in over a decade, which both nations have called a "historic milestone" in their economic relationship.

As India and the United Kingdom signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Thursday (July 24) after three years of negotiations, the deal will give a much-needed boost to the bilateral trade between the two nations, by around $34 billion annually. As per the details of the agreement, cost of scotch whiskey, cars, chocolates, aerospace parts and several other products will decrease. This comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UK, to sign the historic deal. Notably, this is India's most ambitious trade deal in over a decade, which both nations have called a "historic milestone" in their economic relationship. The deal will lead to a cut in prices of scotch whiskey; however, it won't have a major impact on reshaping the market. It will now be easier for UK firms to export whiskey to India with tariffs slashed in half. Scotch whiskey It will now be immediately from 150% to 75% and then drop even further to 40% over the next ten years. In the premium segment of scotch, where the prices start from Rs 3500 per bottle, brands like Johnie Walker, Black Label and Chivas Regal 12 years may cost less by Rs 200-300 per bottle. Meanwhile, for the standard segment, which costs somewhere between Rs 1700 and Rs 2000, brands like Red Label and Ballentine's may cost less by Rs 100-150. "Most Indian whisky producers import Scotch whiskey to use for blending with domestic whiskies. Reduction in customs duty will help the bottom lines of these Indian producers," said Vinod Giri, liquor trade expert and director general of Brewers Association of India. Aerospace parts Now, under the deal, people and industries in India will be able to access several products made and imported from the UK, including medical devices and aerospace parts at much affordable prices. Soft drinks, chocolate, and biscuits Indian customers will now have better access to British products, including soft drinks and cosmetics. Meanwhile, India will also cut tariffs on salmon, chocolates, and biscuits imported from the UK, making them cheaper for Indians. Moreover, the Indian professionals will be exempted from UK social security payments for three years under this deal.

India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is India's most ambitious trade deal in over a decade, which both nations have called a "historic milestone" in their economic relationship.

Scotch whiskey prices to drop in India? Here's what all will be cheaper after India-UK free trade deal

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