The United States has imposed a new 10% tariff on imports from India under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing concerns over the enforcement of laws against goods produced using forced labor. The tariff is part of a broader trade action targeting multiple economies. While India was initially expected to face a 12.5% tariff, the rate was reduced after New Delhi amended its foreign trade policy to prohibit imports made using forced labor. The US Department of Labor highlighted concerns across several Indian sectors, including textiles, garments, tea, shrimp processing, leather goods, carpets, fireworks, rice mills, and stone quarries. Industry experts warn that the permanent nature of the Section 301 tariffs could affect Indian exports, investments, and ongoing India-US trade negotiations.

US Imposes 10% Tariff on India | Trump Targets Forced Labor, Trade Talks Face New Challenge

Just as India and the United States appeared to be inching closer to a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement, a fresh dispute has landed on the negotiating table. Washington has proposed an additional 12.5 per cent tariff on certain Indian imports, alleging that India's enforcement against forced labour is inadequate. New Delhi has strongly pushed back, calling the proposal legally and factually weak, while insisting the issue should be resolved through consultations rather than new tariffs.The timing matters because both countries have repeatedly said they are close to finalising a trade pact worth hundreds of billions of dollars.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-trade-deal-with-india-is-very-very-close-what-s-holding-it-up-wion-decodes-1782280167960">US says trade deal with India is 'very, very close'. What's holding it up? | WION Decodes</a>So why has the US opened a new trade front now? And which Indian industries stand to lose the most if the tariff eventually takes effect? WION Decodes.<h2>Why is the US proposing new tariffs?</h2>The proposed tariff stems from a Section 301 investigation launched by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).Washington argues that India has not done enough to prevent products allegedly linked to forced labour from entering international supply chains. According to the USTR, this places an unreasonable burden on American commerce and justifies trade action.The proposed duty is not aimed only at India. The investigation covers around 60 economies, although India is among the largest trading partners affected.For now, it remains a proposal rather than a final decision, giving countries an opportunity to challenge the findings before any tariff comes into force.<h2>What exactly is Section 301?</h2>Section 301 is one of Washington's most powerful trade weapons. It comes from the US Trade Act of 1974 and allows the US government to investigate what it considers unfair trade practices by other countries.If the USTR concludes that another country's policies harm American businesses or violate international trade obligations, it can recommend retaliatory measures.Those measures can include:- Additional import tariffs - Restrictions on imports - Suspension of trade concessionsThe law has previously been used against China over intellectual property disputes, European digital taxes and several other trade disagreements.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-s-brahmos-vs-usa-s-tomahawk-russia-s-kalibr-and-china-s-yj-18-why-nations-are-lining-up-for-the-make-in-india-missile-1782892168517">India's BrahMos vs USA's Tomahawk, Russia's Kalibr and China's YJ-18: Why nations are lining up for the Make-in-India missile</a><h2>How did India react to the Section 301 findings?</h2>India argues that Washington has failed to provide country-specific evidence linking Indian exports to forced labour. In a detailed submission dated July 6 to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), India said the investigation does not establish how its laws or policies amount to "unreasonable" practices under the US's Section 301.Officials say the proposal rests on broad allegations rather than documented proof involving Indian manufacturers. "In view of the claims advanced, the identified gaps and lack of a sufficient basis, India requests the United States to reconsider the proposed imposition of tariffs against India. India remains willing to engage constructively with the USTR through consultation and dialogue on any specific concern," the submission reads.India has also questioned whether the tariff has a sufficient legal basis under international trade rules.Instead of unilateral tariffs, New Delhi wants both sides to resolve the dispute through consultations already built into the Section 301 process.At the same time, Indian negotiators are trying to ensure that this issue does not derail the much larger bilateral trade agreement currently under discussion.<h2>Could this affect the India-US trade deal?</h2>Potentially, yes. Although officials on both sides continue to insist that negotiations have made "substantial progress", the proposed tariff has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty.India wants assurances that once a trade agreement is signed, it will not immediately face new tariff measures through a separate process.For Washington, meanwhile, the Section 301 investigation provides additional negotiating leverage. Trade experts believe the issue could eventually become part of a broader bargain involving tariffs, market access and regulatory commitments.<h2>Which Indian industries stand to lose the most?</h2>If an additional tariff is imposed, the impact is unlikely to be felt evenly. Some sectors are significantly more exposed to the US market than others.<h3>- Automotive components</h3>India's auto component industry exports billions of dollars' worth of precision-engineered parts to American manufacturers.An extra tariff would raise costs for US buyers and could reduce the competitiveness of Indian suppliers.<h3>- Textiles and garments</h3>Indian apparel exporters are deeply integrated into global supply chains, and even a relatively modest tariff could influence sourcing decisions by international retailers. Major companies like Shahi Exports and Alok Industries have actively petitioned against the tariff.<h3>- Agricultural and food exports</h3>Rice exporters, spice manufacturers, dehydrated vegetable producers and other processed food exporters could also find it harder to compete in the American market if import costs rise.<h3>- Engineering goods</h3>Engineering exports remain one of India's largest export categories. Forgings, industrial machinery, heavy equipment and specialised manufacturing products could all become more expensive for US customers.<h2>What happens next?</h2>Nothing changes immediately. The tariff proposal is still moving through the USTR consultation process, during which India will continue challenging the findings.Meanwhile, negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement are continuing in parallel.That means the coming weeks could determine whether the two countries move towards deeper economic integration or allow a fresh tariff dispute to complicate the much-awaited India-US trade deal.

Could the proposed 12.5% US tariff derail the long-awaited India-US trade deal? Washington has opened a fresh trade front, but which Indian industries face the biggest risk, why is the US citing forced labour concerns, and how is New Delhi fighting back? Scroll down for a simple explainer.

Just as India and the United States appeared to be inching closer to a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement, a fresh dispute has landed on the negotiating table. Washington has proposed an additional 12.5 per cent tariff on certain Indian imports, alleging that India's enforcement against forced labour is inadequate. New Delhi has strongly pushed back, calling the proposal legally and factually weak, while insisting the issue should be resolved through consultations rather than new tariffs. The timing matters because both countries have repeatedly said they are close to finalising a trade pact worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Also read | US says trade deal with India is 'very, very close'. What's holding it up? | WION Decodes So why has the US opened a new trade front now? And which Indian industries stand to lose the most if the tariff eventually takes effect? WION Decodes. Why is the US proposing new tariffs? The proposed tariff stems from a Section 301 investigation launched by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR). Washington argues that India has not done enough to prevent products allegedly linked to forced labour from entering international supply chains. According to the USTR, this places an unreasonable burden on American commerce and justifies trade action. The proposed duty is not aimed only at India. The investigation covers around 60 economies, although India is among the largest trading partners affected. For now, it remains a proposal rather than a final decision, giving countries an opportunity to challenge the findings before any tariff comes into force. What exactly is Section 301? Section 301 is one of Washington's most powerful trade weapons. It comes from the US Trade Act of 1974 and allows the US government to investigate what it considers unfair trade practices by other countries. If the USTR concludes that another country's policies harm American businesses or violate international trade obligations, it can recommend retaliatory measures. Those measures can include: - Additional import tariffs - Restrictions on imports - Suspension of trade concessions The law has previously been used against China over intellectual property disputes, European digital taxes and several other trade disagreements. Also read | India's BrahMos vs USA's Tomahawk, Russia's Kalibr and China's YJ-18: Why nations are lining up for the Make-in-India missile How did India react to the Section 301 findings? India argues that Washington has failed to provide country-specific evidence linking Indian exports to forced labour. In a detailed submission dated July 6 to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), India said the investigation does not establish how its laws or policies amount to "unreasonable" practices under the US's Section 301. Officials say the proposal rests on broad allegations rather than documented proof involving Indian manufacturers. "In view of the claims advanced, the identified gaps and lack of a sufficient basis, India requests the United States to reconsider the proposed imposition of tariffs against India. India remains willing to engage constructively with the USTR through consultation and dialogue on any specific concern," the submission reads. India has also questioned whether the tariff has a sufficient legal basis under international trade rules. Instead of unilateral tariffs, New Delhi wants both sides to resolve the dispute through consultations already built into the Section 301 process. At the same time, Indian negotiators are trying to ensure that this issue does not derail the much larger bilateral trade agreement currently under discussion. Could this affect the India-US trade deal? Potentially, yes. Although officials on both sides continue to insist that negotiations have made "substantial progress", the proposed tariff has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty. India wants assurances that once a trade agreement is signed, it will not immediately face new tariff measures through a separate process. For Washington, meanwhile, the Section 301 investigation provides additional negotiating leverage. Trade experts believe the issue could eventually become part of a broader bargain involving tariffs, market access and regulatory commitments. Which Indian industries stand to lose the most? If an additional tariff is imposed, the impact is unlikely to be felt evenly. Some sectors are significantly more exposed to the US market than others. - Automotive components India's auto component industry exports billions of dollars' worth of precision-engineered parts to American manufacturers. An extra tariff would raise costs for US buyers and could reduce the competitiveness of Indian suppliers. - Textiles and garments Indian apparel exporters are deeply integrated into global supply chains, and even a relatively modest tariff could influence sourcing decisions by international retailers. Major companies like Shahi Exports and Alok Industries have actively petitioned against the tariff. - Agricultural and food exports Rice exporters, spice manufacturers, dehydrated vegetable producers and other processed food exporters could also find it harder to compete in the American market if import costs rise. - Engineering goods Engineering exports remain one of India's largest export categories. Forgings, industrial machinery, heavy equipment and specialised manufacturing products could all become more expensive for US customers. What happens next? Nothing changes immediately. The tariff proposal is still moving through the USTR consultation process, during which India will continue challenging the findings. Meanwhile, negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement are continuing in parallel. That means the coming weeks could determine whether the two countries move towards deeper economic integration or allow a fresh tariff dispute to complicate the much-awaited India-US trade deal.

Could the proposed 12.5% US tariff derail the long-awaited India-US trade deal? Washington has opened a fresh trade front, but which Indian industries face the biggest risk, why is the US citing forced labour concerns, and how is New Delhi fighting back? Scroll down for a simple explainer.

WION Decodes: Why is the US threatening India with fresh 12.5% tariff under Section 301? Which industries stand to lose the most?

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday (May 30) described India as a key pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific, praising its military modernisation drive and growing defence-industrial capabilities as Washington seeks to strengthen partnerships across the region. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said India plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of power in Asia and is increasingly taking on a larger security role, particularly in the Indian Ocean. "In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line," Hegseth said during his address.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-more-than-capable-of-restarting-war-with-iran-hegseth-amid-reports-of-depleted-missile-stockpiles-shangri-la-dialogue-security-summit-singapore-1780106328135">US 'more than capable' of restarting war with Iran, says Hegseth amid reports of depleted missile stockpiles</a><h2>How India helps maintain a balance of power</h2>"A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region," said Hegseth. The remarks come amid growing strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Washington, as both countries seek closer alignment on regional security, defence manufacturing and maritime operations.Hegseth highlighted India's ongoing military modernisation efforts, saying the country is building the capabilities needed to support high-end military operations and contribute more significantly to regional security. "India is modernising its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean," he said.He also pointed to India's expanding defence manufacturing sector, describing it as an important component of broader US efforts to strengthen military readiness among partners and allies.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-s-military-build-up-causing-alarm-across-asia-says-hegseth-as-us-pushes-regional-balance-1780106901397">Hegseth at Shangri-La Dialogue warns China's military build-up causing 'alarm' across Asia, says US seeking 'stable equilibrium'</a><h2>Hegseth reveals why India's military expansion matters to the US</h2>According to Hegseth, India is developing the industrial and logistical infrastructure needed to support advanced military platforms, including maintenance and repair capabilities for US Navy vessels operating in the region. "This kind of industrial muscle isn't just a long-term goal, it's an immediate operational imperative," Hegseth said.The Pentagon chief also revealed that Washington and New Delhi are moving ahead with defence co-production initiatives, including efforts related to Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems."We've committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities like Javelin anti-tank guided munitions. These are real, tangible steps to improve the collective readiness of our forces," he said.Hegseth framed India's growing defence capabilities within the context of a broader US military expansion. He said the Trump administration plans a major increase in defence spending and manufacturing output."America is undergoing a historic national manufacturing mobilisation of our defence industrial base," he said, adding that President Donald Trump intends to make a "generational investment" in military capabilities.At the same time, Hegseth urged US allies and partners to increase their defence commitments, arguing that countries willing to shoulder greater responsibility would receive greater strategic cooperation from Washington. "Those nations that are most capable, clear-eyed, and ready to defend their national interests. For those nations, we are moving them to the front of the line," he said.

US calls India a "critical anchor" in the Indo-Pacific: At Asia's top security summit, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praised India's military modernisation and growing defence industry, arguing that a stronger India helps maintain the regional balance of power.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday (May 30) described India as a key pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific, praising its military modernisation drive and growing defence-industrial capabilities as Washington seeks to strengthen partnerships across the region. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said India plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of power in Asia and is increasingly taking on a larger security role, particularly in the Indian Ocean. "In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line," Hegseth said during his address. Also read | US 'more than capable' of restarting war with Iran, says Hegseth amid reports of depleted missile stockpiles How India helps maintain a balance of power "A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region," said Hegseth. The remarks come amid growing strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Washington, as both countries seek closer alignment on regional security, defence manufacturing and maritime operations. Hegseth highlighted India's ongoing military modernisation efforts, saying the country is building the capabilities needed to support high-end military operations and contribute more significantly to regional security. "India is modernising its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean," he said. He also pointed to India's expanding defence manufacturing sector, describing it as an important component of broader US efforts to strengthen military readiness among partners and allies. Also read | Hegseth at Shangri-La Dialogue warns China's military build-up causing 'alarm' across Asia, says US seeking 'stable equilibrium' Hegseth reveals why India's military expansion matters to the US According to Hegseth, India is developing the industrial and logistical infrastructure needed to support advanced military platforms, including maintenance and repair capabilities for US Navy vessels operating in the region. "This kind of industrial muscle isn't just a long-term goal, it's an immediate operational imperative," Hegseth said. The Pentagon chief also revealed that Washington and New Delhi are moving ahead with defence co-production initiatives, including efforts related to Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems. "We've committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities like Javelin anti-tank guided munitions. These are real, tangible steps to improve the collective readiness of our forces," he said. Hegseth framed India's growing defence capabilities within the context of a broader US military expansion. He said the Trump administration plans a major increase in defence spending and manufacturing output. "America is undergoing a historic national manufacturing mobilisation of our defence industrial base," he said, adding that President Donald Trump intends to make a "generational investment" in military capabilities. At the same time, Hegseth urged US allies and partners to increase their defence commitments, arguing that countries willing to shoulder greater responsibility would receive greater strategic cooperation from Washington. "Those nations that are most capable, clear-eyed, and ready to defend their national interests. For those nations, we are moving them to the front of the line," he said.

US calls India a "critical anchor" in the Indo-Pacific: At Asia's top security summit, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praised India's military modernisation and growing defence industry, arguing that a stronger India helps maintain the regional balance of power.

'Critical anchor': Hegseth at Shangri-La Dialogue lauds India, calls New Delhi a pillar of regional stability

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a "productive" meeting with US State Secretary Marco Rubio. Misri, who is on a three-day visit to Washington, held talks with senior officials across the State Department, Pentagon and Department of Commerce in what both sides described as a productive round of diplomatic engagement.<h2>What did Misri-Rubio discuss?</h2>The most prominent meeting of Misri's Washington visit happened at the White House, where the Indian Foreign Secretary sat down with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who was present, said the conversation focused on trade, critical minerals, defence cooperation and the Quad. He also confirmed that Rubio is planning to visit India next month."Welcome to the White House, Vikram Misri! Productive meeting with Marco Rubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Sergio Gor posted on X.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-s-defence-minister-deletes-cancerous-israel-post-amid-uproar-ahead-of-islamabad-peace-talks-1775793727837">'Cancerous' Israel: Pakistan defence minister deletes anti-Israel post ahead of Islamabad peace talks</a><h2>Vikram Misri meets Christopher Landau</h2>Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also met with Misri, with both sides reaffirming the broader partnership and exchanging views on the situation in the Persian Gulf alongside other regional priorities.The Pentagon portion of the visit was equally substantive. Misri met with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby — their second meeting in quick succession after Colby's trip to New Delhi last month for the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting. The Indian Embassy in the US noted on X that the discussion aimed at "sustaining the momentum of India-US defence exchanges."The Indian Embassy further described the conversation as "another wide-ranging conversation with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby at the Pentagon, covering the ongoing developments in the Indo-Pacific region and West Asia."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-wow-what-a-hot-piece-of-a-melania-trump-denies-epstein-and-maxwell-ties-but-these-emails-complicate-that-story-fact-check-1775783396467">'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK</a><h2>Misri meets Mike Duffy</h2>A separate meeting with Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Mike Duffey focused on industrial cooperation, technology transfers and supply chain integration, all within the framework of the Major Defence Partnership established last year.At the Commerce Department, Misri met with Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt. Those discussions centred on expanding cooperation in commercial and critical technologies and building what the embassy called "resilient and trusted supply chains".

During a key Washington visit, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US State Secretary Marco Rubio, with talks spanning trade, defence and the Indo-Pacific.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a "productive" meeting with US State Secretary Marco Rubio. Misri, who is on a three-day visit to Washington, held talks with senior officials across the State Department, Pentagon and Department of Commerce in what both sides described as a productive round of diplomatic engagement. What did Misri-Rubio discuss? The most prominent meeting of Misri's Washington visit happened at the White House, where the Indian Foreign Secretary sat down with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who was present, said the conversation focused on trade, critical minerals, defence cooperation and the Quad. He also confirmed that Rubio is planning to visit India next month. "Welcome to the White House, Vikram Misri! Productive meeting with Marco Rubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!" Sergio Gor posted on X. Also read | 'Cancerous' Israel: Pakistan defence minister deletes anti-Israel post ahead of Islamabad peace talks Vikram Misri meets Christopher Landau Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also met with Misri, with both sides reaffirming the broader partnership and exchanging views on the situation in the Persian Gulf alongside other regional priorities. The Pentagon portion of the visit was equally substantive. Misri met with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby — their second meeting in quick succession after Colby's trip to New Delhi last month for the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting. The Indian Embassy in the US noted on X that the discussion aimed at "sustaining the momentum of India-US defence exchanges." The Indian Embassy further described the conversation as "another wide-ranging conversation with Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby at the Pentagon, covering the ongoing developments in the Indo-Pacific region and West Asia." Also read | 'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK Misri meets Mike Duffy A separate meeting with Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Mike Duffey focused on industrial cooperation, technology transfers and supply chain integration, all within the framework of the Major Defence Partnership established last year. At the Commerce Department, Misri met with Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt. Those discussions centred on expanding cooperation in commercial and critical technologies and building what the embassy called "resilient and trusted supply chains".

During a key Washington visit, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US State Secretary Marco Rubio, with talks spanning trade, defence and the Indo-Pacific.

India-US ties: Marco Rubio confirms India visit following 'productive' high-level talks with Vikram Misri

At the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Google unveiled a series of major initiatives aimed at accelerating India’s digital and artificial intelligence ecosystem. CEO Sundar Pichai outlined plans to expand digital infrastructure, deepen AI research collaborations, and equip millions with AI-driven skills as adoption surges nationwide.&nbsp;A key highlight was the launch of the America-India Connect initiative, a strategic subsea cable project designed to establish new high-capacity data corridors between the United States and India. The fiber-optic network will also extend connectivity to regions across the Southern Hemisphere, strengthening global digital links. Pichai emphasised that Google’s investments reinforce the foundational infrastructure powering the digital economy, saying that enhanced connectivity will improve network resilience and expand access to cloud services and AI-powered platforms for businesses and developers.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-i-could-have-been-more-galgotias-professor-neha-singh-on-robodog-row-at-india-ai-impact-summit-1771412394196">'I could have been more...': Galgotias professor Neha Singh on Robodog row at India AI Impact Summit</a>&nbsp;The initiative builds upon Google’s existing subsea cable systems spanning the Pacific and Africa, further expanding the company’s global connectivity footprint. Speaking on AI’s broader potential, Preeti Lobana, Vice President and Country Manager of Google India, highlighted the transformative impact of artificial intelligence when adapted to local contexts. She stressed that partnerships with governments can integrate AI into sectors such as education, scientific research, and public services to drive inclusive growth.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Google DeepMind is strengthening its India engagement through a collaboration with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The partnership will provide Indian researchers access to advanced AI-for-science tools, including AlphaGenome, AI Co-scientist, and Earth AI. It will also support hackathons, academic mentorship, and innovation-focused programs for universities and startups.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rafale-deal-boost-hammer-missiles-to-be-made-in-india-with-bharat-electronics-wion-1771419603753/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/rafale-deal-boost-hammer-missiles-to-be-made-in-india-with-bharat-electronics-wion-1771419603753/embed</a>&nbsp;On the education front, Google plans to introduce generative AI assistants to nearly 11 million students via Atal Tinkering Labs. The initiative aims to foster early exposure to AI, coding, and scientific problem-solving skills. Workforce development is another major focus area. Google will collaborate with Karmayogi Bharat to train approximately 20 million public servants across more than 800 districts in AI and digital competencies. Collectively, these initiatives signal Google’s intensified commitment to positioning India as a global AI innovation hub while expanding access to cutting-edge digital infrastructure.

AI Impact Summit 2026: Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces new India-US subsea cable project

At the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Google unveiled a series of major initiatives aimed at accelerating India’s digital and artificial intelligence ecosystem. CEO Sundar Pichai outlined plans to expand digital infrastructure, deepen AI research collaborations, and equip millions with AI-driven skills as adoption surges nationwide. A key highlight was the launch of the America-India Connect initiative, a strategic subsea cable project designed to establish new high-capacity data corridors between the United States and India. The fiber-optic network will also extend connectivity to regions across the Southern Hemisphere, strengthening global digital links. Pichai emphasised that Google’s investments reinforce the foundational infrastructure powering the digital economy, saying that enhanced connectivity will improve network resilience and expand access to cloud services and AI-powered platforms for businesses and developers. Also Read: 'I could have been more...': Galgotias professor Neha Singh on Robodog row at India AI Impact Summit The initiative builds upon Google’s existing subsea cable systems spanning the Pacific and Africa, further expanding the company’s global connectivity footprint. Speaking on AI’s broader potential, Preeti Lobana, Vice President and Country Manager of Google India, highlighted the transformative impact of artificial intelligence when adapted to local contexts. She stressed that partnerships with governments can integrate AI into sectors such as education, scientific research, and public services to drive inclusive growth. Meanwhile, Google DeepMind is strengthening its India engagement through a collaboration with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The partnership will provide Indian researchers access to advanced AI-for-science tools, including AlphaGenome, AI Co-scientist, and Earth AI. It will also support hackathons, academic mentorship, and innovation-focused programs for universities and startups. https://www.wionews.com/videos/rafale-deal-boost-hammer-missiles-to-be-made-in-india-with-bharat-electronics-wion-1771419603753/embed On the education front, Google plans to introduce generative AI assistants to nearly 11 million students via Atal Tinkering Labs. The initiative aims to foster early exposure to AI, coding, and scientific problem-solving skills. Workforce development is another major focus area. Google will collaborate with Karmayogi Bharat to train approximately 20 million public servants across more than 800 districts in AI and digital competencies. Collectively, these initiatives signal Google’s intensified commitment to positioning India as a global AI innovation hub while expanding access to cutting-edge digital infrastructure.

At the AI Summit 2026, Google announces subsea cable, AI research partnerships, and large-scale training programs to accelerate India’s digital and AI ecosystem growth

The United States and India have entered a new phase in their economic partnership with the launch of an interim reciprocal trade framework. The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral trade, address tariff concerns, and expand market access between the two major economies.

US–India Bilateral Trade Enters New Phase with Interim Reciprocal Trade Framework

US-India Trade Deal Enters New Phase with Interim Reciprocal Trade Framework

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday (Jan 20) said that President Donald Trump does not need fresh approval from the US Senate to impose crushing tariffs on countries that keep buying Russian oil. Bessent was speaking about a Russia Sanctions Bill currently before the Senate that would allow tariffs of up to 500 per cent on nations purchasing Russian crude. The Trump aide also claimed that, faced with pressure, India has stopped buying Russian oil, while slamming China and Europe for "financing the (Ukraine) war against themselves".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-there-can-be-no-going-back-trump-insists-greenland-is-imperative-after-very-good-call-with-nato-chief-1768888844768">‘There can be no going back’: Trump insists Greenland is ‘imperative,’ after 'very good' call with NATO chief</a><h2>Trump doesn't need US Senate nod, says Bessent</h2>According to Bessent, while the bill, sponsored by Lindsey Graham, would formally grant Trump the power to impose up to 500 per cent tariffs on nations buying Russian oil, the president doesn't necessarily need it. He said that Trump already has the authority to act under existing emergency trade laws."On the 500% tariff on the buyers of Russian oil, that is a proposal that Senator Graham has in front of the Senate, and we will see whether that passes. We don't believe that President Trump needs that authority, that he can do it under IEPA, but that the Senate wants to give him that authority," said Bessent in an interview.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-pushes-illegal-claim-on-india-s-shaksgam-valley-in-kashmir-hides-behind-pakistan-deal-from-1960s-1768279252397">China pushes illegal claim on India's Shaksgam Valley, hides behind Pakistan deal from 1960s</a><h2>India taken off Washington’s radar?</h2>Bessent claimed that India, once a major buyer of discounted Russian oil, has now stepped back after the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods."India started buying Russian oil after the conflict began, but President Trump put a 25% tariff on them, and India has geared down and has stopped buying Russian oil," he said.However, he slammed Europe and China for continuing to buy Russian oil. Bessent accused European countries of still buying Russian oil years four into the

Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump can impose harsh tariffs on buyers of Russian oil without fresh Senate approval. While slamming Russia and China, he said THIS about India.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday (Jan 20) said that President Donald Trump does not need fresh approval from the US Senate to impose crushing tariffs on countries that keep buying Russian oil. Bessent was speaking about a Russia Sanctions Bill currently before the Senate that would allow tariffs of up to 500 per cent on nations purchasing Russian crude. The Trump aide also claimed that, faced with pressure, India has stopped buying Russian oil, while slamming China and Europe for "financing the (Ukraine) war against themselves". Also read | ‘There can be no going back’: Trump insists Greenland is ‘imperative,’ after 'very good' call with NATO chief Trump doesn't need US Senate nod, says Bessent According to Bessent, while the bill, sponsored by Lindsey Graham, would formally grant Trump the power to impose up to 500 per cent tariffs on nations buying Russian oil, the president doesn't necessarily need it. He said that Trump already has the authority to act under existing emergency trade laws. "On the 500% tariff on the buyers of Russian oil, that is a proposal that Senator Graham has in front of the Senate, and we will see whether that passes. We don't believe that President Trump needs that authority, that he can do it under IEPA, but that the Senate wants to give him that authority," said Bessent in an interview. Also read | China pushes illegal claim on India's Shaksgam Valley, hides behind Pakistan deal from 1960s India taken off Washington’s radar? Bessent claimed that India, once a major buyer of discounted Russian oil, has now stepped back after the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods. "India started buying Russian oil after the conflict began, but President Trump put a 25% tariff on them, and India has geared down and has stopped buying Russian oil," he said. However, he slammed Europe and China for continuing to buy Russian oil. Bessent accused European countries of still buying Russian oil years four into the

Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump can impose harsh tariffs on buyers of Russian oil without fresh Senate approval. While slamming Russia and China, he said THIS about India.

Trump can impose 500% tariff on Russian oil buyers without Senate, claims top aide; Says THIS about India

US top diplomat Marco Rubio on Wednesday (Nov 12) called this week's explosion close to Delhi's Red Fort 'clearly' a 'terrorist attack', while also giving credit to local officials for how they've managed the probe up to now. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara, Canada, Rubio said, "It clearly was a terrorist attack. It was a car loaded with highly explosive materials that detonated and killed a lot of people."<h2>What did Rubio say?</h2>While responding to questions from the press about the blast in Delhi on Monday, Rubio said, "The Indians need to be commended. They've been very measured, cautious and very professional on how they're carrying out this investigation. That investigation continues." He added, "I think they are doing a very good job of carrying out an investigation, and I think when they'll have facts, they'll release those facts."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-lungs-and-gut-ruptured-bones-broken-reveals-delhi-blast-victims-post-mortem-details-1762966931007">‘Lungs ruptured, bones broken,’ reveal Delhi blast victims’ post-mortem details</a>Rubio made clear he'd talked to Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the attack. He also revealed that America has offered to help India, while noting India was "very capable" and could handle the probe just fine by itself. "We are aware of the potential it has, and we spoke a little about it today- the potential it has to become something broader. We are going to await to see what the investigation reveals. We have offered to help but I think they are very capable on these investigations. They don't need our help and they are doing a good job", he said.<h2>Red Fort blast</h2>The explosion in Delhi on Monday night, close to the famous Red Fort, is now being called a terrorist act by India’s authorities. Initial investigation results point toward a link to a "white-collar terror network" connections with groups based in Pakistan - specifically Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH). Authorities have additionally found signs of a quiet kind of militant setup, made up of white-collar workers like physicians and religious figures. Police say joint raids from Oct 19 to Nov 10 turned up close to 3,000 kilos of bomb materials - alongside several detentions tied to the group.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/shocking-epstein-emails-claim-trump-spent-hours-with-victim-white-house-says-he-did-nothing-wrong-1762997460941">White House says 'he did nothing wrong’ after shocking Epstein emails claim Trump 'spent hours' with victim</a> &nbsp;

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Red Fort blast a “terrorist attack,” while praising Indian officials for their “measured and professional” probe. He said the US offered help, but added India was “very capable” of handling the investigation.

US top diplomat Marco Rubio on Wednesday (Nov 12) called this week's explosion close to Delhi's Red Fort 'clearly' a 'terrorist attack', while also giving credit to local officials for how they've managed the probe up to now. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara, Canada, Rubio said, "It clearly was a terrorist attack. It was a car loaded with highly explosive materials that detonated and killed a lot of people." What did Rubio say? While responding to questions from the press about the blast in Delhi on Monday, Rubio said, "The Indians need to be commended. They've been very measured, cautious and very professional on how they're carrying out this investigation. That investigation continues." He added, "I think they are doing a very good job of carrying out an investigation, and I think when they'll have facts, they'll release those facts." Also read | ‘Lungs ruptured, bones broken,’ reveal Delhi blast victims’ post-mortem details Rubio made clear he'd talked to Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the attack. He also revealed that America has offered to help India, while noting India was "very capable" and could handle the probe just fine by itself. "We are aware of the potential it has, and we spoke a little about it today- the potential it has to become something broader. We are going to await to see what the investigation reveals. We have offered to help but I think they are very capable on these investigations. They don't need our help and they are doing a good job", he said. Red Fort blast The explosion in Delhi on Monday night, close to the famous Red Fort, is now being called a terrorist act by India’s authorities. Initial investigation results point toward a link to a "white-collar terror network" connections with groups based in Pakistan - specifically Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH). Authorities have additionally found signs of a quiet kind of militant setup, made up of white-collar workers like physicians and religious figures. Police say joint raids from Oct 19 to Nov 10 turned up close to 3,000 kilos of bomb materials - alongside several detentions tied to the group. Also read | White House says 'he did nothing wrong’ after shocking Epstein emails claim Trump 'spent hours' with victim

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Red Fort blast a “terrorist attack,” while praising Indian officials for their “measured and professional” probe. He said the US offered help, but added India was “very capable” of handling the investigation.

US offers help, calls Delhi Red Fort explosion a 'terror attack', praises India’s handling of probe

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Oct 20) repeated his claims that India has assured him that it would stop oil trade with Russia to court US favours. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump, for the third time in five days, repeated his claim that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that he was "not going to be doing the Russian oil thing". The POTUS claimed that Modi told him this during a phone call. His claims come after India previously denied that Modi and Trump held a phone call regarding India's purchase of discounted Russian oil or any purported plans to stop the said trade.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-i-don-t-want-to-destroy-his-political-career-trump-makes-bizarre-remark-about-pm-modi-1760580304027">‘I don’t want to destroy his political career’: Trump makes bizarre remark about PM Modi</a><h2>What did Trump say?</h2>In his latest statement regarding India's purchase of Russian oil, Trump claimed, "I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he's not going to be doing the Russian oil thing". His claim was met with questions about New Delhi denying that he and Modi held a phone call last week regarding India's purchase of Russian oil. To this, as reported by Reuters, Trump said, "But if they want to say that, then they'll just continue to pay massive tariffs, and they don't want to do that".Previously, on Thursday (Oct 16) the US President claimed that Modi "assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia." However, he did not share a timeline for this but said, “You know, you can't do it immediately. It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon." Later, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he repeated the claim, "Well, India is not going to be buying Russian oil anymore".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pushes-back-after-trump-says-modi-assured-him-on-russian-oil-consumer-interests-are-our-priority-1760591822871">India pushes back after Trump says Modi assured him on Russian oil: ‘Consumer interests are our priority’</a><h2>India pushes back against Trump's claim</h2>On Thursday, just hours after Trump claimed that Modi had "assured" him that New Delhi would soon stop buying oil from Russia, New Delhi, in a statement, said it was its "consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario." While avoiding directly accepting or refuting Trump's claims, the South Asian nation noted, "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario."&nbsp; However, later, when asked by a reporter, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal refused that such a call happened and said: "I am not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders". &nbsp;

Trump has repeated his claim that India has assured him it would stop buying Russian oil, despite New Delhi denying any such call or commitment. In the latest claim, he said Modi told him, he was "not going to be doing the Russian oil thing".

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Oct 20) repeated his claims that India has assured him that it would stop oil trade with Russia to court US favours. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump, for the third time in five days, repeated his claim that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that he was "not going to be doing the Russian oil thing". The POTUS claimed that Modi told him this during a phone call. His claims come after India previously denied that Modi and Trump held a phone call regarding India's purchase of discounted Russian oil or any purported plans to stop the said trade. Also read | ‘I don’t want to destroy his political career’: Trump makes bizarre remark about PM Modi What did Trump say? In his latest statement regarding India's purchase of Russian oil, Trump claimed, "I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he's not going to be doing the Russian oil thing". His claim was met with questions about New Delhi denying that he and Modi held a phone call last week regarding India's purchase of Russian oil. To this, as reported by Reuters, Trump said, "But if they want to say that, then they'll just continue to pay massive tariffs, and they don't want to do that". Previously, on Thursday (Oct 16) the US President claimed that Modi "assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia." However, he did not share a timeline for this but said, “You know, you can't do it immediately. It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon." Later, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he repeated the claim, "Well, India is not going to be buying Russian oil anymore". Also read | India pushes back after Trump says Modi assured him on Russian oil: ‘Consumer interests are our priority’ India pushes back against Trump's claim On Thursday, just hours after Trump claimed that Modi had "assured" him that New Delhi would soon stop buying oil from Russia, New Delhi, in a statement, said it was its "consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario." While avoiding directly accepting or refuting Trump's claims, the South Asian nation noted, "India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario." However, later, when asked by a reporter, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal refused that such a call happened and said: "I am not aware of any conversation yesterday between the two leaders".

Trump has repeated his claim that India has assured him it would stop buying Russian oil, despite New Delhi denying any such call or commitment. In the latest claim, he said Modi told him, he was "not going to be doing the Russian oil thing".

Trump doubles down, says Modi promised to end Russian oil trade, threatens New Delhi for denying his claims

Amid rising trade tensions between India and the United States, President Donald Trump is considering blocking US-based companies from outsourcing their work to Indian IT companies, Trump aide and far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed. She added that Americans will no longer need to “press 2” for English to speak with someone “who doesn’t speak English. She further urged to “Make Call Centres American Again”.In a post on X, Laura Loomer wrote, “President Trump is now considering blocking US IT companies from outsourcing their work to Indian companies. In other words, you don’t need to press 2 for English anymore. Make Call Centers American Again!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">JUST IN: President Trump is now considering blocking US IT companies from outsourcing their work to Indian companies. In other words, you don’t need to press 2 for English anymore. Make Call Centers American Again!&mdash; Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) <a href="https://twitter.com/LauraLoomer/status/1963998239079714979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In another post, she said, “I am so excited for President Trump to end the days of pressing 2 for English to speak with someone who doesn’t speak English. Very nice.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am so excited for President Trump to end the days of pressing 2 for English to speak with someone who doesn’t speak English. Very nice.&mdash; Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) <a href="https://twitter.com/LauraLoomer/status/1964089271523914186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Laura Loomer’s claim comes amid renewed calls for stricter rules on outsourcing and remote work by conservative commentators in the US. Jack Poso, a right-wing commentator, has demanded that the Trump administration impose tariffs on countries of foreign remote workers.“Countries must pay for the privilege of providing services remotely to the US, the same way as goods. Apply across industries, levelled as necessary per country,” Poso said.Reportedly, his suggestion received a “thumbs up” from Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, a key figure behind the administration’s trade policies.&nbsp;However, it is not clear whether the Trump administration will impose strict restrictions on outsourcing to major IT firms of India like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, or whether they would consider tariffs on foreign services.This comes amid the trade tensions between India and the US since Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, citing Russian oil imports. While the US president and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have exchanged cordial words and suggested cooperation, the issues between the two nations remain unresolved.

Trump aide and far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed that Trump is considering blocking US-based companies from outsourcing their work to Indian IT companies.

Amid rising trade tensions between India and the United States, President Donald Trump is considering blocking US-based companies from outsourcing their work to Indian IT companies, Trump aide and far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed. She added that Americans will no longer need to “press 2” for English to speak with someone “who doesn’t speak English. She further urged to “Make Call Centres American Again”. In a post on X, Laura Loomer wrote, “President Trump is now considering blocking US IT companies from outsourcing their work to Indian companies. In other words, you don’t need to press 2 for English anymore. Make Call Centers American Again!”

Trump aide and far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed that the US president is considering blocking US-based companies from outsourcing their work to Indian IT companies.

US to block firms from outsourcing to Indians? Here’s what Trump aide claims

White House advisor Peter Navarro had a public meltdown on Sunday (Sep 7) after one of his posts targeting India's purchase of Russian oil was flagged by a community note on X. Navarro, who, in recent days, has repeatedly accused New Delhi of profiteering from its energy trade with Moscow, wrote on X that India was buying Russian crude "purely to profit/revenues feed Russia war machine". However, the factually wrong post was fact-checked by users, which caused Navarro to have a full-on public meltdown and lash out at US President Donald Trump's former closest ally, Elon Musk. Navarro took to accusing Musk of “letting propaganda into people's posts” while calling the community note a "crap note". Here's what happened.<h2>Navarro fact-checked</h2>In a post on Saturday (Sep 6) Navarro claimed as "fact" that India's "highest tariffs costs US jobs". He claimed that New Delhi "buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine," leading to deaths of both Ukrainians and Russians, and causing US taxpayers to "shell out more".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-trade-adviser-calls-india-kremlin-laundromat-targets-brahmins-in-shocking-remark-brahmins-profiteering-at-the-expense-of-1756695443300">Peter Navarro calls India ‘Kremlin laundromat’, targets Brahmins in shocking remark: 'Brahmins profiteering at the expense of...'</a>However, his factually incorrect post invited a fact-check in the form of a community note. Netizens corrected the Trump aide, pointing out that India’s imports were tied to its energy security needs, not just profits, and that the purchases did not violate sanctions. The community note added that “While India has some tariffs, the US has a trade surplus with it in services.” It added that despite the recent narrative, the US itself continues to import certain commodities from Russia — a point many called hypocritical.This fact-check led to Navarro lashing out at Musk.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/planning-a-us-trip-trump-just-made-it-pricier-starting-this-date-indians-will-have-to-pay-22-000-integrity-fee-for-a-visa-1756795635272">Planning a US trip? Trump just made it pricier — Starting THIS date Indians will have to pay ₹22,000 'integrity fee' for a Visa</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Wow. <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> is letting propaganda into people&#39;s posts. That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn&#39;t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukranians. Stop taking… <a href="https://t.co/Uj1NMUrVOM">https://t.co/Uj1NMUrVOM</a>&mdash; Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealPNavarro/status/1964397326937755671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Navarro's public meltdown over India</h2>The correction appeared to rattle Navarro. Dismissing the note as "crap," he lashed out at Elon Musk for "letting propaganda into people's posts" and doubled down on his accusations. "India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn't buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukranians [Ukrainians]. Stop taking American jobs," Navarro wrote.It must be noted that Musk had nothing to do with the community note. According to X, these notes, "aim to create a better informed world by empowering people on X to collaboratively add context to potentially misleading posts."<h2>Trump aide's continuous India attacks</h2>Navarro's language toward India has become increasingly sharp. From calling the country a "Kremlin laundromat" to even resorting to caste-based slurs like "Brahmins are profiteering," he has kept up a steady barrage of attacks against New Delhi.India, meanwhile, has rejected his claims outright. The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday called Navarro's statements "inaccurate and misleading", stressing that the India-US relationship remains a "comprehensive global strategic partnership" anchored in shared interests and democratic values.&nbsp;&nbsp;

White House advisor Peter Navarro had a full-on public meltdown on X after a community note fact-checked his post targeting India's purchase of Russian oil. He even lashed out at Elon Musk. Here's what happened.

White House advisor Peter Navarro had a public meltdown on Sunday (Sep 7) after one of his posts targeting India's purchase of Russian oil was flagged by a community note on X. Navarro, who, in recent days, has repeatedly accused New Delhi of profiteering from its energy trade with Moscow, wrote on X that India was buying Russian crude "purely to profit/revenues feed Russia war machine". However, the factually wrong post was fact-checked by users, which caused Navarro to have a full-on public meltdown and lash out at US President Donald Trump's former closest ally, Elon Musk. Navarro took to accusing Musk of “letting propaganda into people's posts” while calling the community note a "crap note". Here's what happened. Navarro fact-checked In a post on Saturday (Sep 6) Navarro claimed as "fact" that India's "highest tariffs costs US jobs". He claimed that New Delhi "buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine," leading to deaths of both Ukrainians and Russians, and causing US taxpayers to "shell out more". Also read | Peter Navarro calls India ‘Kremlin laundromat’, targets Brahmins in shocking remark: 'Brahmins profiteering at the expense of...' However, his factually incorrect post invited a fact-check in the form of a community note. Netizens corrected the Trump aide, pointing out that India’s imports were tied to its energy security needs, not just profits, and that the purchases did not violate sanctions. The community note added that “While India has some tariffs, the US has a trade surplus with it in services.” It added that despite the recent narrative, the US itself continues to import certain commodities from Russia — a point many called hypocritical. This fact-check led to Navarro lashing out at Musk. Also read | Planning a US trip? Trump just made it pricier — Starting THIS date Indians will have to pay ₹22,000 'integrity fee' for a Visa

White House advisor Peter Navarro had a full-on public meltdown on X after a community note fact-checked his post targeting India's purchase of Russian oil. He even lashed out at Elon Musk. Here's what happened.

Trump aide Navarro lashes out at India again! Targets Musk in a public meltdown after netizens fact-check his Russian oil claims

Finland President Alex Stubb, who happens to be Donald Trump's golf buddy, has taken an apparent dig at the US President for his recent aggressive actions against India. In a statement, he has called for "cooperative and dignified foreign policy" towards countries in the Global South, particularly India. He also sounded a warning that the failure to do so could result in significant losses for the West. Stubb's warning comes as India and the United States remain at odds after Trump imposed a sweeping tariff on Indian imports, allegedly over New Delhi's imports of discounted Russian oil. However, reports suggest that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's snub of Trump, hinting at a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for the India-Pakistan ceasefire in May—for which the POTUS has repeatedly claimed credit—could be behind the excessive tariffs.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/did-modi-s-snub-over-trump-s-nobel-peace-prize-push-lead-to-50-tariffs-for-india-shocking-report-claims-this-1756605189312">Modi rejected Trump's Nobel prize fantasy during call, reveals shocking report — 50% tariff the price of POTUS' bruised ego?</a><h2>What did the Finnish president say?</h2>Stubb, while warning about how the lack of cooperation with India and the Global South could harm the West, said that the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin was a good reminder "to all of us in the global West of what is at stake. We're trying to preserve the remnants of the old order".His message was directed at both Trump and the European Union (EU). "My message, not only to my European colleagues but especially to the United States, is that if we don't derive a more cooperative and dignified foreign policy towards the Global South, the likes of India, we are going to lose this game," he said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-latest-wild-plan-reopen-insane-asylums-like-joker-s-arkham-amid-his-crime-crackdown-here-s-what-he-said-1756784333958">Trump's latest wild plan: Reopen 'insane asylums' like Joker's Arkham amid his crime crackdown. Here's what he said</a>Watch what he said here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“If Europe and America don’t have a more cooperative foreign policy towards the Global South and India, then we will lose. The SCO meeting in China is a reminder to the West about what is at stake,” declares Finland’s President Alex Stubb <a href="https://t.co/aV2pJmMyTw">pic.twitter.com/aV2pJmMyTw</a>&mdash; Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattooShashank/status/1963064963997610481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>The Stubb-Trump connection</h2>Alex Stubb, as per reports, is no ordinary European leader when it comes to Trump. The two leaders boast a close rapport and earlier this year made headlines for a marathon seven-hour round of golf at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Trump has previously spoken highly of Stubb, describing him as a "young, powerful man" who has "done a great job" and stating, "We wanted to have you here because you are somebody that we all respect." So, the question is, would Stubb's remarks change Trump's mind about penalising India?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Finland's President Alexander Stubb, a known golf partner of US President Donald Trump, has taken a dig at the US's recent policies toward India. He said that ‘we are going to lose this game’ if…

Finland President Alex Stubb, who happens to be Donald Trump's golf buddy, has taken an apparent dig at the US President for his recent aggressive actions against India. In a statement, he has called for "cooperative and dignified foreign policy" towards countries in the Global South, particularly India. He also sounded a warning that the failure to do so could result in significant losses for the West. Stubb's warning comes as India and the United States remain at odds after Trump imposed a sweeping tariff on Indian imports, allegedly over New Delhi's imports of discounted Russian oil. However, reports suggest that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's snub of Trump, hinting at a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for the India-Pakistan ceasefire in May—for which the POTUS has repeatedly claimed credit—could be behind the excessive tariffs. Also read | Modi rejected Trump's Nobel prize fantasy during call, reveals shocking report — 50% tariff the price of POTUS' bruised ego? What did the Finnish president say? Stubb, while warning about how the lack of cooperation with India and the Global South could harm the West, said that the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin was a good reminder "to all of us in the global West of what is at stake. We're trying to preserve the remnants of the old order". His message was directed at both Trump and the European Union (EU). "My message, not only to my European colleagues but especially to the United States, is that if we don't derive a more cooperative and dignified foreign policy towards the Global South, the likes of India, we are going to lose this game," he said. Also read | Trump's latest wild plan: Reopen 'insane asylums' like Joker's Arkham amid his crime crackdown. Here's what he said Watch what he said here:

Finland's President Alexander Stubb, a known golf partner of US President Donald Trump, has taken a dig at the US's recent policies toward India. He said that ‘we are going to lose this game’ if…

'We're going to lose if...': Finland President Stubb issues dire warning to Trump over India standoff. Watch!

Is PM Narendra Modi's refusal that Donald Trump was behind the ceasefire between India and Pakistan the reason for the excessive tariffs imposed on New Delhi by Washington? According to a recent report, in June, US President Trump called Modi and apparently hinted that he deserved credit for halting military hostilities between neighbours India and Pakistan the previous month. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he “solved” the crisis, mentioned how Islamabad was going to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize and not-so-subtly implied that New Delhi should also endorse him.<h2>Trump, the Nobel Peace Prize, and India's refusal to give him any credit for the ceasefire</h2>In May, a conflict had broken out between the two neighbours after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terror bases in Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam attack. After four days of military conflict, India announced a ceasefire following talks between the two armies.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-satanic-trump-white-house-portrait-sets-internet-on-fire-netizens-call-it-his-most-honest-image-yet-compare-potus-to-hitler-1755752441076">‘Satanic’ Trump White House portrait sets internet on fire—netizens call it his most honest image yet, compare POTUS to Hitler</a>Ever since, POTUS Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for ending the hostilities between India and Pakistan. As per a New York Times report, citing people familiar with the matter, the US President reiterated his claims in a call with PM Modi on June 17, and launched a not-so-subtle bid to get India to nominate him for Nobel Peace Prize. The White House never acknowledged the June 17 call, and Trump did not post about it on social media.&nbsp; However, according to the report, Modi pushed back during the call, telling Trump that the ceasefire was arranged directly between New Delhi and Islamabad without US involvement. The next day, in a statement to the press, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Modi told Trump "clearly" that during the conflict "no talks were held at any level on the mediation between India and Pakistan by America". Misri added that "The talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan under the existing channels established between both militaries".Despite Modi’s position, the Times said Trump brushed aside the comments and emphasised his own role, even noting that Pakistan was planning to nominate him for the Nobel. The suggestion that Modi should do the same reportedly added to strains in their relationship.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/taylor-swift-engaged-to-travis-kelce-and-even-trump-is-suddenly-nice-to-her-potus-finds-love-for-popstar-after-months-of-hate-says-this-1756257878135">Taylor Swift engaged to Travis Kelce; Trump finds love for popstar after months of HATE</a><h2>Reciprocal tariffs or retaliatory tariffs?</h2>To India's surprise, just weeks after the June 17 phone call and PM Modi's dismissal of Trump's role in solving the conflict, the US announced that India would be subject to a 25 per cent tariff. This reciprocal duty was followed by another 25 per cent penalty for New Delhi's purchase of discounted Russian oil. The moves strained bilateral ties further, even as talks on a trade agreement were still underway.Meanwhile, Trump has continued to publicly argue that he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping conflicts, including what he claims was a US-brokered halt to fighting between India and Pakistan. “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do,” he posted in June.

A shocking new report suggests that Trump’s new 50% tariffs on India may be retaliation for PM Modi's refusal to credit him with ending military hostilities with Pakistan. During a June phone call, Trump reportedly sought a Nobel Peace Prize endorsement, which Modi denied.

Is PM Narendra Modi's refusal that Donald Trump was behind the ceasefire between India and Pakistan the reason for the excessive tariffs imposed on New Delhi by Washington? According to a recent report, in June, US President Trump called Modi and apparently hinted that he deserved credit for halting military hostilities between neighbours India and Pakistan the previous month. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he “solved” the crisis, mentioned how Islamabad was going to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize and not-so-subtly implied that New Delhi should also endorse him. Trump, the Nobel Peace Prize, and India's refusal to give him any credit for the ceasefire In May, a conflict had broken out between the two neighbours after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terror bases in Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam attack. After four days of military conflict, India announced a ceasefire following talks between the two armies. Also read | ‘Satanic’ Trump White House portrait sets internet on fire—netizens call it his most honest image yet, compare POTUS to Hitler Ever since, POTUS Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for ending the hostilities between India and Pakistan. As per a New York Times report, citing people familiar with the matter, the US President reiterated his claims in a call with PM Modi on June 17, and launched a not-so-subtle bid to get India to nominate him for Nobel Peace Prize. The White House never acknowledged the June 17 call, and Trump did not post about it on social media. However, according to the report, Modi pushed back during the call, telling Trump that the ceasefire was arranged directly between New Delhi and Islamabad without US involvement. The next day, in a statement to the press, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Modi told Trump "clearly" that during the conflict "no talks were held at any level on the mediation between India and Pakistan by America". Misri added that "The talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan under the existing channels established between both militaries". Despite Modi’s position, the Times said Trump brushed aside the comments and emphasised his own role, even noting that Pakistan was planning to nominate him for the Nobel. The suggestion that Modi should do the same reportedly added to strains in their relationship. Also read | Taylor Swift engaged to Travis Kelce; Trump finds love for popstar after months of HATE Reciprocal tariffs or retaliatory tariffs? To India's surprise, just weeks after the June 17 phone call and PM Modi's dismissal of Trump's role in solving the conflict, the US announced that India would be subject to a 25 per cent tariff. This reciprocal duty was followed by another 25 per cent penalty for New Delhi's purchase of discounted Russian oil. The moves strained bilateral ties further, even as talks on a trade agreement were still underway. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to publicly argue that he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping conflicts, including what he claims was a US-brokered halt to fighting between India and Pakistan. “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do,” he posted in June.

A shocking new report suggests that Trump’s new 50% tariffs on India may be retaliation for PM Modi's refusal to credit him with ending military hostilities with Pakistan. During a June phone call, Trump reportedly sought a Nobel Peace Prize endorsement, which Modi denied.

Modi rejected Trump's Nobel prize fantasy during call, reveals shocking report — 50% tariff the price of POTUS' bruised ego?

Some visitors to the United States may soon have to cough up a whopping $15,000 in bond money before entering the nation. According to a notice posted to the Federal Register on Monday, the US State Department has announced that it will soon launch a pilot programme for visa bonds. The 12-month trial of the visa bonds, as per reports, is set to start in 15 days' time. This bond could apply to both business and leisure visitors from certain countries. This comes amid heightened US-India tensions over President Donald Trump's tariffs. So, would Indians have to pay $15,000 to enter the US? All you need to know.<h2>Pilot programme</h2>Under the upcoming pilot programme, visa applicants would be required to post a bond of $5,000-$15,000 to obtain a business or tourist visa to the US - a $10,000 bond per adult and $5,000 per child."Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries identified by the department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program," reads the notice.What's more, once the travellers are granted the right to travel to the US, they can only do so by travelling via certain US airports, the names of which are yet to be revealed.The money posted for the bond would be refunded once the travellers go back to their home country in accordance with the terms of their visa.<h2>Which countries will be targeted with Trump's visa bonds?</h2>As per the notice published on the Federal Register website, the pilot programme is aimed at travellers from certain nations that are deemed to have high overstay rates. It will reportedly apply to both business and leisure visitors from countries that the US identifies as "having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient".<h2>Will Indians be affected?</h2>Every year, hundreds of thousands of Indians travel to the US for business or pleasure. According to US National Travel &amp; Tourism Office (NTTO) data, last year, between January and October, nearly 1.9 million Indian visitors travelled to the US, marking a 48 per cent increase compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The fate of these travellers amid heightened tensions, for now, is uncertain. While reports suggest that citizens of Canada, Mexico, and other countries which are part of the Visa Waiver Program are exempt from the bond requirement, it is not known if Indians would be asked to post bonds or not. The notice states that the countries subject to the Pilot Program will be announced on the travel.state.gov website. This list may also be modified on a rolling basis.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Some visitors to the United States may soon have to cough up a whopping $15,000 in bond money before entering the nation. According to a notice posted to the Federal Register on Monday, the US State Department has announced that it would soon launch a pilot programme for visa bonds. The 12-month-trial of the visa bonds as per reports is set to start in 15 days times. This bond could apply to both business and leisure visitors from certain countries. This comes amid heightened US-India tensions over President Donald Trump's tariffs. Are Indians going to have to pay $15,000 to enter the US? All you need to know.Pilot programmeUnder the upcoming pilot programme visa applicants would be required to post a bond of $5,000-$15,000 to obtain a business or tourist visa to the US - a $10,000 bond per adult and $5,000 per child."Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries identified by the department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program," reads the notice.What's more once the travellers are granted the right to travel to the US they can only do so by travelling via certain US airports, the names of which are yet to be revealed.The money posted for the bond would be refunded once the travellers go back to their home country in accordance with the term of their visa.Which countries will be targeted with Trump's visa bonds?As per the notice published on the Federal Register, the pilot programme is aimed at travellers from certain nations that are deemed to have high overstay rates. It will reportedly apply to both business and leisure visitors from countries that the US identifies as "having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient".Will Indians be affected?As per reports, citizens of Canada, Mexico, and other countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program are exempt from the bond requirement. However, it is not known if Indians would be asked to post bonds or not. The notice states that the countries subject to the Pilot Program will be announced on travel.state.gov website. This list may also be modified on a rolling basis.

This bond could apply to both business and leisure visitors from certain countries. This comes amid heightened US-India tensions over President Donald Trump's tariffs. So, would Indians have to pay $15,000 to enter the US? All you need to know.

Some visitors to the United States may soon have to cough up a whopping $15,000 in bond money before entering the nation. According to a notice posted to the Federal Register on Monday, the US State Department has announced that it will soon launch a pilot programme for visa bonds. The 12-month trial of the visa bonds, as per reports, is set to start in 15 days' time. This bond could apply to both business and leisure visitors from certain countries. This comes amid heightened US-India tensions over President Donald Trump's tariffs. So, would Indians have to pay $15,000 to enter the US? All you need to know. Pilot programme Under the upcoming pilot programme, visa applicants would be required to post a bond of $5,000-$15,000 to obtain a business or tourist visa to the US - a $10,000 bond per adult and $5,000 per child. "Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries identified by the department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot program," reads the notice. What's more, once the travellers are granted the right to travel to the US, they can only do so by travelling via certain US airports, the names of which are yet to be revealed. The money posted for the bond would be refunded once the travellers go back to their home country in accordance with the terms of their visa. Which countries will be targeted with Trump's visa bonds? As per the notice published on the Federal Register website, the pilot programme is aimed at travellers from certain nations that are deemed to have high overstay rates. It will reportedly apply to both business and leisure visitors from countries that the US identifies as "having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient". Will Indians be affected? Every year, hundreds of thousands of Indians travel to the US for business or pleasure. According to US National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO) data, last year, between January and October, nearly 1.9 million Indian visitors travelled to the US, marking a 48 per cent increase compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. The fate of these travellers amid heightened tensions, for now, is uncertain. While reports suggest that citizens of Canada, Mexico, and other countries which are part of the Visa Waiver Program are exempt from the bond requirement, it is not known if Indians would be asked to post bonds or not. The notice states that the countries subject to the Pilot Program will be announced on the travel.state.gov website. This list may also be modified on a rolling basis.

This bond could apply to both business and leisure visitors from certain countries. This comes amid heightened US-India tensions over President Donald Trump's tariffs. So, would Indians have to pay $15,000 to enter the US? All you need to know.

Indians to pay $15k to enter US? Trump's America will force foreigners to post hefty bond for visa

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 1) claimed to have heard that India may stop buying oil from Russia, calling it "a good step" if true. His statement comes just days after he imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India, saying the US has a massive trade deficit with the country. He also said that India will be paying additional penalties due to its trade relations with Russia. However, in New Delhi, the government pushed back, saying it was its sovereign right to take energy decisions based on national interest and market dynamics.<h2>What did Trump say about India?</h2>The US president, when asked if he planned to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..."When asked if he was open to negotiating with India, Trump said, "We're talking to them now. We'll see what happens. Again, India was the highest or just about the highest tariff nation in the world, one of the highest, 100 points, 150 points or percentages. So India was one of the highest in the world. They had 175 per cent and higher than that."However, he emphasised US-India ties and his friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he referred to as a "good friend". "As you know, Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don't do very much business in terms of business with us. They sell a lot to us, but we don't buy from them. You know why? Because the tariff is so high. They have one of the highest tariffs in the world. Now they're willing to cut it very substantially. But we'll see what happens. We're talking to India now," he said.<h2>What is India's stand on the US tariff matter?</h2>Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs addressed media reports that some Indian oil firms had paused Russian imports. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he was not aware of any such developments. "You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics," Jaiswal said. The comments come amid growing criticism from Washington over India's continued imports of discounted Russian oil, despite Western sanctions related to the Ukraine war. Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly voiced concern in recent weeks.

Trump, when asked if he planned to speak with PM Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..."

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 1) claimed to have heard that India may stop buying oil from Russia, calling it "a good step" if true. His statement comes just days after he imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India, saying the US has a massive trade deficit with the country. He also said that India will be paying additional penalties due to its trade relations with Russia. However, in New Delhi, the government pushed back, saying it was its sovereign right to take energy decisions based on national interest and market dynamics. What did Trump say about India? The US president, when asked if he planned to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..." When asked if he was open to negotiating with India, Trump said, "We're talking to them now. We'll see what happens. Again, India was the highest or just about the highest tariff nation in the world, one of the highest, 100 points, 150 points or percentages. So India was one of the highest in the world. They had 175 per cent and higher than that." However, he emphasised US-India ties and his friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he referred to as a "good friend". "As you know, Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don't do very much business in terms of business with us. They sell a lot to us, but we don't buy from them. You know why? Because the tariff is so high. They have one of the highest tariffs in the world. Now they're willing to cut it very substantially. But we'll see what happens. We're talking to India now," he said. What is India's stand on the US tariff matter? Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs addressed media reports that some Indian oil firms had paused Russian imports. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he was not aware of any such developments. "You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics," Jaiswal said. The comments come amid growing criticism from Washington over India's continued imports of discounted Russian oil, despite Western sanctions related to the Ukraine war. Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly voiced concern in recent weeks.

Trump, when asked if he planned to speak with PM Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..."

Trump calls reports of India halting Russian oil purchase 'good step' calls PM Modi a 'good friend'

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Jul 23) warned American tech giants operating overseas against outsourcing manufacturing to China and employing workers in countries like India. Speaking at the AI Summit in Washington, Trump said that such practices would not be tolerated under his administration, as he urged to prioritise hiring workers in the US rather than creating jobs in India and China.&nbsp;“Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India and slashing profits in Ireland, you know that,” the US president said. “All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home. Under President Trump, those days are over.”

Trump made the remarks as he signed three executive orders aimed at boosting the artificial intelligence (AI) sector in the US. This included America’s AI action plan, which is a White House action plan aimed at securing US leadership in global AI development. The US president urged companies like Google and Microsoft to adopt a more patriotic approach, which aligns with national interests, as he described. “We need US technology companies to be all in for America. We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That's all we ask,” said Trump. He further called for “a new spirit of patriotism and national loyalty in Silicon Valley and beyond.”

Trump’s statements have sparked concern among the global tech community, especially in countries like India. Although no formal policy changes have been announced yet, experts believe that Trump’s remarks may influence the hiring decisions of major tech companies.

“America is the country that started the AI race, and as president of the United States, I’m here today to declare that America is going to win it,” Trump said at the summit. “Winning this competition will be a test of our capacities unlike anything since the dawn of the space age.”

The US president urged companies like Google and Microsoft to adopt a more patriotic approach, which aligns with national interests, and warned the tech giants against hiring workers in India and China.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Jul 23) warned American tech giants operating overseas against outsourcing manufacturing to China and employing workers in countries like India. Speaking at the AI Summit in Washington, Trump said that such practices would not be tolerated under his administration, as he urged to prioritise hiring workers in the US rather than creating jobs in India and China. “Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India and slashing profits in Ireland, you know that,” the US president said. “All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home. Under President Trump, those days are over.”

The US president urged companies like Google and Microsoft to adopt a more patriotic approach, which aligns with national interests, and warned the tech giants against hiring workers in India and China.

Will Google, Microsoft stop hiring Indians? Trump instructs tech giants to ‘put America first’

A high-level team from India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry has reached Washington to carry on the negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States, and the four-day discussions are to begin on Monday morning (US time). India’s chief negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal, who is special secretary in the Department of Commerce at Centre, will join the team on Wednesday, while the rest of the team is already on the ground to thrash out the preliminary agenda and procedural matters, said an ANI report. The visit assumes significance as both sides have to iron out issues in sectors like agriculture and automobiles, and the US has postponed the imposition of additional tariffs on several countries, including India, until August 1.&nbsp;On being asked if an interim trade deal can be expected before August 1, an official, seeking anonymity, said, “We are talking about a BTA. How it moves forward, whether there will be the first phase, second phase, whatever phase, will be mutually decided.”“We are moving in terms of a BTA and we are looking for a mutually beneficial solution,” the official added.&nbsp;Earlier, the Indian team was in Washington from June 26 to July 2 for negotiations.&nbsp;<h2>India adopts hard stance on US demand for duty concessions on agri, dairy products</h2>&nbsp;As per reports, India has hardened its position on the US demand for duty concessions on agriculture and dairy products. New Delhi has, so far, not given any duty concessions in the dairy sector to any of its trading partners in a free trade agreement.It is also seeking the easing of tariffs on steel and aluminium (50 per cent) and the auto (25 per cent) sectors. Against these, India has reserved its right under the WTO (World Trade Organization) norms to impose retaliatory duties.US President Donald Trump announced heavy tariffs on a number of countries, including India, on April 2, but postponed them first for 90 days until July 9 and then recently to August 1.&nbsp;The Trump administration has issued tariff letters to a number of its trading partners, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Serbia, and Tunisia.&nbsp;The US wants duty concessions on certain industrial goods, automobiles, wines, petrochemical products, and agri goods, like dairy items, apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops.India is seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananas.&nbsp;The two countries are looking to conclude talks for the first tranche of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by September-October this year but are looking for an interim trade pact before that. India’s merchandise exports to the US rose 21.78 per cent to USD 17.25 billion in April-May this fiscal year, while imports rose 25.8 per cent to USD 8.87 billion, said a PTI report.&nbsp;India and the US have agreed to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

India’s merchandise exports to the US rose 21.78 per cent to USD 17.25 billion in April-May this fiscal year, while imports rose 25.8 per cent to USD 8.87 billion, said a PTI report. India and the US have agreed to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

A high-level team from India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry has reached Washington to carry on the negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States, and the four-day discussions are to begin on Monday morning (US time). India’s chief negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal, who is special secretary in the Department of Commerce at Centre, will join the team on Wednesday, while the rest of the team is already on the ground to thrash out the preliminary agenda and procedural matters, said an ANI report. The visit assumes significance as both sides have to iron out issues in sectors like agriculture and automobiles, and the US has postponed the imposition of additional tariffs on several countries, including India, until August 1. On being asked if an interim trade deal can be expected before August 1, an official, seeking anonymity, said, “We are talking about a BTA. How it moves forward, whether there will be the first phase, second phase, whatever phase, will be mutually decided.” “We are moving in terms of a BTA and we are looking for a mutually beneficial solution,” the official added. Earlier, the Indian team was in Washington from June 26 to July 2 for negotiations. India adopts hard stance on US demand for duty concessions on agri, dairy products As per reports, India has hardened its position on the US demand for duty concessions on agriculture and dairy products. New Delhi has, so far, not given any duty concessions in the dairy sector to any of its trading partners in a free trade agreement. It is also seeking the easing of tariffs on steel and aluminium (50 per cent) and the auto (25 per cent) sectors. Against these, India has reserved its right under the WTO (World Trade Organization) norms to impose retaliatory duties. US President Donald Trump announced heavy tariffs on a number of countries, including India, on April 2, but postponed them first for 90 days until July 9 and then recently to August 1. The Trump administration has issued tariff letters to a number of its trading partners, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Serbia, and Tunisia. The US wants duty concessions on certain industrial goods, automobiles, wines, petrochemical products, and agri goods, like dairy items, apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops. India is seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananas. The two countries are looking to conclude talks for the first tranche of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by September-October this year but are looking for an interim trade pact before that. India’s merchandise exports to the US rose 21.78 per cent to USD 17.25 billion in April-May this fiscal year, while imports rose 25.8 per cent to USD 8.87 billion, said a PTI report. India and the US have agreed to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

India’s merchandise exports to the US rose 21.78 per cent to USD 17.25 billion in April-May this fiscal year, while imports rose 25.8 per cent to USD 8.87 billion, said a PTI report. India and the US have agreed to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

High-level Indian team in US for negotiations on trade deal: Report

United States senators are preparing to hand Trump what they're describing as a "sledgehammer" that would break Russian President Vladimir Putin's war economy. This so-called sledgehammer bill, as per reports, can have potentially devastating economic ramifications on India and other nations. What is this 'sledgehammer', and why would it affect India? Here's all you need to know.<h2>Trump's new 'sledgehammer' against Russia</h2>In the US, bipartisan momentum is building in the US Senate for sweeping new sanctions, with reports suggesting that senators were on the path to arming Trump with a "sledgehammer" bill to use against Moscow. The bill would arm the President of the United States, Donald Trump, with sweeping authority to hit Russia.&nbsp;This bill has bipartisan support, which means it has backing from both Trump's Republican Party and the opposition Democratic Party. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who introduced the bill alongside Democrat Richard Blumenthal, said it would serve as a "sledgehammer" to break Putin's war economy. It would allow Trump "to go after Putin's economy and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine," Graham told CBS News.<h2>How will a bill against Russia affect India?</h2>The bill, as mentioned earlier, would give the POTUS sweeping powers to hit Putin's Russia with harsh economic penalties. However, it could also lead to the US imposing up to a 500 per cent tariff on India. How?In addition to sanctioning power against Moscow, it would allow Trump to impose equally harsh financial penalties and sanctions on any nation the US deems to be helping Russia's "war machine". This includes nations that purchase from Russia. Speaking to CBS News, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that "this congressional package... would give President Trump the ability to impose 500% tariffs on any country that helps Russia". This includes economies that purchase Russian goods, like India, and nations like China or Brazil. India imports precious stones and metals, discounted crude oil, coal, and fertilisers from Russia.Watch | Asian stocks dip as Trump steps up tariff threats<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/asian-stocks-dip-as-trump-steps-up-tariff-threats-1752471036975/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/asian-stocks-dip-as-trump-steps-up-tariff-threats-1752471036975/embed</a><h2>Will Trump use the bill to sanction India?</h2>While Trump has not specifically mentioned whether he would penalise India for trading with Russia, he appeared to back the bill. In a conversation with NBC, Trump said, "It's a bill that the Senate is passing that very respectfully lets the president do whatever he wants, as you know," he said, adding, "In other words, it's at my option if I want to use it. They're going to pass a very major and very biting sanctions bill, but it’s up to the president as to whether or not he wants to exercise it."&nbsp;&nbsp;

This so-called sledgehammer bill, as per reports, can have potentially devastating economic ramifications on India and other nations. What is this 'sledgehammer', and why would it affect India? Here's all you need to know.

United States senators are preparing to hand Trump what they're describing as a "sledgehammer" that would break Russian President Vladimir Putin's war economy. This so-called sledgehammer bill, as per reports, can have potentially devastating economic ramifications on India and other nations. What is this 'sledgehammer', and why would it affect India? Here's all you need to know. Trump's new 'sledgehammer' against Russia In the US, bipartisan momentum is building in the US Senate for sweeping new sanctions, with reports suggesting that senators were on the path to arming Trump with a "sledgehammer" bill to use against Moscow. The bill would arm the President of the United States, Donald Trump, with sweeping authority to hit Russia. This bill has bipartisan support, which means it has backing from both Trump's Republican Party and the opposition Democratic Party. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who introduced the bill alongside Democrat Richard Blumenthal, said it would serve as a "sledgehammer" to break Putin's war economy. It would allow Trump "to go after Putin's economy and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine," Graham told CBS News. How will a bill against Russia affect India? The bill, as mentioned earlier, would give the POTUS sweeping powers to hit Putin's Russia with harsh economic penalties. However, it could also lead to the US imposing up to a 500 per cent tariff on India. How? In addition to sanctioning power against Moscow, it would allow Trump to impose equally harsh financial penalties and sanctions on any nation the US deems to be helping Russia's "war machine". This includes nations that purchase from Russia. Speaking to CBS News, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that "this congressional package... would give President Trump the ability to impose 500% tariffs on any country that helps Russia". This includes economies that purchase Russian goods, like India, and nations like China or Brazil. India imports precious stones and metals, discounted crude oil, coal, and fertilisers from Russia. Watch | Asian stocks dip as Trump steps up tariff threats https://www.wionews.com/videos/asian-stocks-dip-as-trump-steps-up-tariff-threats-1752471036975/embed Will Trump use the bill to sanction India? While Trump has not specifically mentioned whether he would penalise India for trading with Russia, he appeared to back the bill. In a conversation with NBC, Trump said, "It's a bill that the Senate is passing that very respectfully lets the president do whatever he wants, as you know," he said, adding, "In other words, it's at my option if I want to use it. They're going to pass a very major and very biting sanctions bill, but it’s up to the president as to whether or not he wants to exercise it."

This so-called sledgehammer bill, as per reports, can have potentially devastating economic ramifications on India and other nations. What is this 'sledgehammer', and why would it affect India? Here's all you need to know.

India in crosshairs? Trump's 'SLEDGEHAMMER' Russia sanctions bill could slam New Delhi with 500% tariffs. Here's how

US President Donald Trump, in an interview, has claimed that India was ready to "cut a 100% of their tariffs for the United States".
Speaking to Fox News, the American leader also reiterated how India was "one of the highest tariff nations in the world," and said that the nation makes it "impossible to do business".
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/he-knew-exactly-what-that-meant-trump-claims-comey-called-for-his-assassination-with-8647-message-pam-bondi-9077234">'He knew exactly what that meant': Trump claims Comey called for his 'assassination' with '8647' message</a>
<h2>What did Trump say exactly?</h2>
Trump, during the interview with Fox News's Bret Baier, was talking about Iran and the prospective nuclear agreement; Trump brought up India.
"India is one of the highest tax...tariff nations in the world. They make it almost impossible to do business. Do you know that they're willing to cut a 100 per cent of their tariffs for the United States?" he said.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/fragile-man-netizens-troll-78-year-old-trump-for-saying-35-year-old-taylor-swift-no-longer-hot-9077413">'Fragile man': Netizens troll 78-year-old Trump for saying 35-year-old Taylor Swift 'no longer HOT'</a>
You can watch what he said here &ndash; Trump's statement on India starts around the 10-minute mark:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-martgg97-43reawue-pfspm8hz">
President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> opens up about investments in America, trade negotiations, his trip to the Middle East and plans to transform Gaza in an exclusive interview with <a href="https://twitter.com/BretBaier?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BretBaier</a> on 'Special Report.' <a href="https://t.co/PnfDiEzjMn">pic.twitter.com/PnfDiEzjMn</a>
&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1923539200529371222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>So, is an India-US tariff deal imminent?</h2>
When asked, "Is that deal (zero tariff) coming soon?" Trump did not specify a time frame but said, "Yeah, that will come soon."
Acting coy, he then said, "I'm in no rush," but emphasised that "everyone wants to make a deal with us".
"150 countries want to make deals with us," he claimed.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-tone-deaf-disrespectful-behaviour-at-popes-funeral-ignites-online-hate-moron-embarrassed-us-on-world-stage-9006273">'Tone-deaf' Trump's disrespectful behaviour at Pope's funeral ignites online hate: 'Moron embarrassed us on world stage'</a>

World | India News | South Asia | Discover US President Trump's claim that India is willing to eliminate 100% of tariffs for the United States. Is it true? Watch the video here.

US President Donald Trump, in an interview, has claimed that India was ready to "cut a 100% of their tariffs for the United States". Speaking to Fox News, the American leader also reiterated how India was "one of the highest tariff nations in the world," and said that the nation makes it "impossible to do business". Also read | 'He knew exactly what that meant': Trump claims Comey called for his 'assassination' with '8647' message What did Trump say exactly? Trump, during the interview with Fox News's Bret Baier, was talking about Iran and the prospective nuclear agreement; Trump brought up India. "India is one of the highest tax...tariff nations in the world. They make it almost impossible to do business. Do you know that they're willing to cut a 100 per cent of their tariffs for the United States?" he said. Also read | 'Fragile man': Netizens troll 78-year-old Trump for saying 35-year-old Taylor Swift 'no longer HOT' You can watch what he said here – Trump's statement on India starts around the 10-minute mark: President @realDonaldTrump opens up about investments in America, trade negotiations, his trip to the Middle East and plans to transform Gaza in an exclusive interview with @BretBaier on 'Special Report.' pic.twitter.com/PnfDiEzjMn — Fox News (@FoxNews) May 17, 2025 So, is an India-US tariff deal imminent? When asked, "Is that deal (zero tariff) coming soon?" Trump did not specify a time frame but said, "Yeah, that will come soon." Acting coy, he then said, "I'm in no rush," but emphasised that "everyone wants to make a deal with us". "150 countries want to make deals with us," he claimed. Also read | 'Tone-deaf' Trump's disrespectful behaviour at Pope's funeral ignites online hate: 'Moron embarrassed us on world stage'

Trump claims India ready to 'cut a 100% of their tariffs for the United States' | Watch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard exchanged special gifts during their meeting on Monday (Mar 17), symbolising India&rsquo;s culture and heritage.
<h2>Leaders exchange special gifts</h2>
The two leaders exchanged presents, which are believed to be sacred.
PM Modi presented Gabbard with a vase containing the holy water from the sacred Ganga River from the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. It is believed that bathing in the sacred water of Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, during the Maha Kumbh festival helps in cleansing sins and brings salvation.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/direct-dialogue-is-happening-at-very-top-intelligence-chief-tulsi-gabbard-on-us-india-tariff-issue-8861895">&lsquo;Direct dialogue is happening at the very top&rsquo;: US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard on US-India tariff issue</a>
Gabbard also presented PM Modi with a thoughtful gift. She gifted him a Tulsi mala or Tulsi rosary, saying, &ldquo;This is a gift from me and my new position as Director. This is from Tulsi ji, a Tulsi mala.&rdquo;
The gifts symbolise the spiritual and cultural significance of India while also showing strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-meets-tulsi-gabbard-hours-after-india-raises-concerns-with-us-over-khalistani-terror-8862690">PM Modi meets Tulsi Gabbard hours after India raises concerns with US over Khalistani terror</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. The PM presented her with a vase containing Gangajal from the recently concluded Prayagraj Mahakumbh. <a href="https://t.co/jJ0OJbggNF">pic.twitter.com/jJ0OJbggNF</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1901626886234534374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>PM Modi and Gabbard meet</h2>
PM Modi and Gabbard discussed strategies to strengthen collaboration in addressing challenges like cybersecurity and terrorism. They also talked about shaping the vision for a robust India-US partnership.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-raises-concerns-with-us-over-khalistani-terror-and-sikhs-for-justice-in-meeting-with-tulsi-gabbard-8862222">India raises concerns over Khalistani terror, Sikhs For Justice in meeting with Tulsi Gabbard</a>
This meeting marked the second meeting between the Indian prime minister and the US intelligence chief. The two held talks in February during PM Modi&rsquo;s US visit to Washington. During his visit, PM Modi also met with US President Donald Trump and other key members of the cabinet.
Earlier in the day, Gabbard met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and had talks focusing on enhancing the overall India-US strategic ties, particularly in areas of defence and information sharing.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tulsi-gabbard-meets-indias-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-8861248">Tulsi Gabbard meets India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh</a>
The US intelligence chief also met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Sunday (Mar 16) to discuss the Indo-US relationship. She is currently on a two-and-a-half-day trip to India as part of a multi-nation visit and arrived in the national capital early Sunday (Mar 16).
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | Trending | PM Modi presented Gabbard with a vase containing the holy water from the sacred Ganga River from the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard exchanged special gifts during their meeting on Monday (Mar 17), symbolising India’s culture and heritage. Leaders exchange special gifts The two leaders exchanged presents, which are believed to be sacred. PM Modi presented Gabbard with a vase containing the holy water from the sacred Ganga River from the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. It is believed that bathing in the sacred water of Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, during the Maha Kumbh festival helps in cleansing sins and brings salvation. Also read | ‘Direct dialogue is happening at the very top’: US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard on US-India tariff issue Gabbard also presented PM Modi with a thoughtful gift. She gifted him a Tulsi mala or Tulsi rosary, saying, “This is a gift from me and my new position as Director. This is from Tulsi ji, a Tulsi mala.” The gifts symbolise the spiritual and cultural significance of India while also showing strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations. Also read | PM Modi meets Tulsi Gabbard hours after India raises concerns with US over Khalistani terror #WATCH | Delhi: US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. The PM presented her with a vase containing Gangajal from the recently concluded Prayagraj Mahakumbh. pic.twitter.com/jJ0OJbggNF — ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2025 PM Modi and Gabbard meet PM Modi and Gabbard discussed strategies to strengthen collaboration in addressing challenges like cybersecurity and terrorism. They also talked about shaping the vision for a robust India-US partnership. Also read | India raises concerns over Khalistani terror, Sikhs For Justice in meeting with Tulsi Gabbard This meeting marked the second meeting between the Indian prime minister and the US intelligence chief. The two held talks in February during PM Modi’s US visit to Washington. During his visit, PM Modi also met with US President Donald Trump and other key members of the cabinet. Earlier in the day, Gabbard met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and had talks focusing on enhancing the overall India-US strategic ties, particularly in areas of defence and information sharing. Also read | Tulsi Gabbard meets India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh The US intelligence chief also met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Sunday (Mar 16) to discuss the Indo-US relationship. She is currently on a two-and-a-half-day trip to India as part of a multi-nation visit and arrived in the national capital early Sunday (Mar 16). (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | PM Modi and US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard exchange sacred gifts

Indian foreign minister S&nbsp;Jaishankar dismissed US President Joe Biden's comment that xenophobia was hobbling the South Asian nation's economic growth, as reported by The Economic Times on Saturday (May 4).

During a round table hosted by the newspaper on Friday (May 3), Jaishankar said that India's economy is not faltering and that it has been a society that is very open.

"This is the reason we have the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble. I think we should be open to people who have the need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India," Jaishankar said, referring to a law that allows immigrants who have fled persecution from neighbouring countries to become citizens.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/biden-claims-xenophobia-stalling-economic-growth-in-india-china-japan-717243">Biden claims 'xenophobia' stalling economic growth in India, China, Japan</a>

Earlier this week, Biden stated that xenophobia in China, Japan, and India was impeding economic growth in those countries. He contrasted this with the positive impact of immigration on the US economy, highlighting that welcoming immigrants contributes to America's economic vitality.

"One of the reasons why our economy's growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden said during a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign, which coincided with the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast last month that growth in Asia's three largest economies would slow in 2024 from the previous year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaishankar-expresses-concern-over-rise-in-deaths-of-indian-students-overseas-711649">Jaishankar expresses concern over rise in deaths of Indian students overseas</a>

The IMF also forecast that the US economy would grow 2.7%, slightly brisker than its 2.5% rate last year. Many economists attribute the upbeat forecast&nbsp;partly to migrants expanding the country's labour force.

<h2>US Immigration</h2>

Concern over illegal migration has become a top issue for the US voters ahead of November's presidential election.

In a recent interview with the TIME magazine, Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump suggested that if elected, he would take up a massive deportation program to deport about 15-20 million people from the US, in what Trump described were "illegal migrants".&nbsp;

Biden has opposed the rhetoric of his Republican opponent Donald Trump as anti-immigrant.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Biden Scores Self-Goal, Blames ‘Xenophobia’ for China, India's Economic Troubles

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When Trump was asked about his vow to launch the largest deportation operation in American history, the former US president said: "Because we have no choice."

"I don't believe this is sustainable for a country, what's happening to us, with probably 15 million and maybe as many as 20 million by the time Biden's out. Twenty million people, many of them from jails, many of them from prisons, many of them from mental institutions."

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar dismissed US President Joe Biden's comment that xenophobia was hobbling the South Asian nation's economic growth, as reported by The Economic Times on Saturday (May 4).

Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar dismissed US President Joe Biden's comment that xenophobia was hobbling the South Asian nation's economic growth, as reported by The Economic Times on Saturday (May 4). During a round table hosted by the newspaper on Friday (May 3), Jaishankar said that India's economy is not faltering and that it has been a society that is very open. "This is the reason we have the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble. I think we should be open to people who have the need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India," Jaishankar said, referring to a law that allows immigrants who have fled persecution from neighbouring countries to become citizens. Also read: Biden claims 'xenophobia' stalling economic growth in India, China, Japan Earlier this week, Biden stated that xenophobia in China, Japan, and India was impeding economic growth in those countries. He contrasted this with the positive impact of immigration on the US economy, highlighting that welcoming immigrants contributes to America's economic vitality. "One of the reasons why our economy's growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden said during a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign, which coincided with the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast last month that growth in Asia's three largest economies would slow in 2024 from the previous year. Also read | Jaishankar expresses concern over rise in deaths of Indian students overseas The IMF also forecast that the US economy would grow 2.7%, slightly brisker than its 2.5% rate last year. Many economists attribute the upbeat forecast partly to migrants expanding the country's labour force. US Immigration Concern over illegal migration has become a top issue for the US voters ahead of November's presidential election. In a recent interview with the TIME magazine, Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump suggested that if elected, he would take up a massive deportation program to deport about 15-20 million people from the US, in what Trump described were "illegal migrants". Biden has opposed the rhetoric of his Republican opponent Donald Trump as anti-immigrant. Watch: Biden Scores Self-Goal, Blames ‘Xenophobia’ for China, India's Economic Troubles × When Trump was asked about his vow to launch the largest deportation operation in American history, the former US president said: "Because we have no choice." "I don't believe this is sustainable for a country, what's happening to us, with probably 15 million and maybe as many as 20 million by the time Biden's out. Twenty million people, many of them from jails, many of them from prisons, many of them from mental institutions." (With inputs from agencies)

India is not xenophobic: Jaishankar dismisses Joe Biden's comment

A&nbsp;dispute has arisen over reforming the World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement system at&nbsp;the 13th ministerial meeting (MC13),&nbsp;with India accusing the US of stalling progress.&nbsp;

Under President Donald Trump, the US obstructed the appointment of new judges to the WTO's appeals court, which led to a deadlock in 2019.&nbsp;

Despite efforts for reform, several disagreements persist among member states.&nbsp;

India has highlighted the importance of restoring the appellate body before advancing on other agreements, such as fisheries subsidies and agriculture.&nbsp;

There are concerns that delays in restoring the appellate body could jeopardise WTO's operations, especially if Trump is re-elected.&nbsp;

The Appellate Body, the appellate branch of the dispute settlement system, has not operated since December 2019 after the United States blocked the appointment of its members.

This has led to questions being raised on the legitimacy of the WTO as a whole as well as the rules-based trade system it maintains.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said,&nbsp;"A credible and reliable WTO dispute settlement system is the bedrock of an equitable, effective, secure and predictable multilateral trading system."&nbsp;

Seeking formalisation and multilateralisation of reform discussions

While participating in informal dispute settlement reform discussions for the past year, India has highlighted the challenges faced by developing countries due to the format and pace of these discussions.

The Ministry has called for the immediate and effective formalisation and multilateralisation of the reform process, proposing a three-point action plan:

<ul>
	<li>Transition discussions to formal WTO bodies:&nbsp;India has called for the discussions to be moved to formal WTO bodies, preferably under the guidance of the Dispute Settlement Body Chair, to fulfil the mandates set forth in the 12th Ministerial Conference Declaration.</li>
	<li>Ensure effective multilateralisation:&nbsp;India has emphasised the need for an inclusive and member-driven process that acknowledges the capacity constraints of developing countries and least developed countries. This includes allowing for new proposals at any stage and ensuring the resulting text reflects the diverse viewpoints and is reached through consensus, with hybrid participation options.</li>
	<li>Prioritise restoration of the appellate body:&nbsp;India has reiterated the importance of prioritising the restoration of the Appellate Body as a key element of the reform process.</li>
</ul>

(With inputs from agencies)

A dispute has arisen over reforming the World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement system at the 13th ministerial meeting (MC13), with India accusing the US of stalling progress.

A dispute has arisen over reforming the World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement system at the 13th ministerial meeting (MC13), with India accusing the US of stalling progress. Under President Donald Trump, the US obstructed the appointment of new judges to the WTO's appeals court, which led to a deadlock in 2019. Despite efforts for reform, several disagreements persist among member states. India has highlighted the importance of restoring the appellate body before advancing on other agreements, such as fisheries subsidies and agriculture. There are concerns that delays in restoring the appellate body could jeopardise WTO's operations, especially if Trump is re-elected. The Appellate Body, the appellate branch of the dispute settlement system, has not operated since December 2019 after the United States blocked the appointment of its members. This has led to questions being raised on the legitimacy of the WTO as a whole as well as the rules-based trade system it maintains. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said, "A credible and reliable WTO dispute settlement system is the bedrock of an equitable, effective, secure and predictable multilateral trading system." Seeking formalisation and multilateralisation of reform discussions While participating in informal dispute settlement reform discussions for the past year, India has highlighted the challenges faced by developing countries due to the format and pace of these discussions. The Ministry has called for the immediate and effective formalisation and multilateralisation of the reform process, proposing a three-point action plan: Transition discussions to formal WTO bodies: India has called for the discussions to be moved to formal WTO bodies, preferably under the guidance of the Dispute Settlement Body Chair, to fulfil the mandates set forth in the 12th Ministerial Conference Declaration. Ensure effective multilateralisation: India has emphasised the need for an inclusive and member-driven process that acknowledges the capacity constraints of developing countries and least developed countries. This includes allowing for new proposals at any stage and ensuring the resulting text reflects the diverse viewpoints and is reached through consensus, with hybrid participation options. Prioritise restoration of the appellate body: India has reiterated the importance of prioritising the restoration of the Appellate Body as a key element of the reform process. (With inputs from agencies)

WTO Showdown: US-led reform efforts trigger friction with India

US Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland and the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) said he only approved the sale of MQ-9 drones to India after months of “painstaking discussions” and assurances that New Delhi remained committed to investigating an alleged plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

US Senator Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland and the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) said he only approved the sale of MQ-9 drones to India after months of “painstaking discussions” and assurances that New Delhi remained committed to investigating an alleged plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. While SFRC chair Republican Michael McCaul and ranking member Democrat Gregory Meeks gave a nod to the proposed deal, Cardin stalled it, albeit briefly. “My approval was the result of months of painstaking discussions. While I’m fully aware of the significance of this sale, for US national security and strategic interests,” Cardin said. "I have consistently conveyed my concerns regarding the timing of this sale to administration officials in light of the alleged murder-for-hire plot involving Indian officials to attempt to assassinate an American citizen on US soil," he added. Cardin's statement came after the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Thursday (Feb 1) delivered the required certification notifying US Congress of the sale of 31 of these Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The deal involving MQ-9B drones comes at an estimated cost of $3.99 billion. Under the proposed deal, New Delhi will receive 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs, of which the Navy will get 15 SeaGuardian drones while the Army and AIr Force will receive eight each of the land version. The procurement of these drones by India comes as the country is looking to enhance its maritime security. This also comes at a crucial juncture as recent attacks on Red Sea shipping by Houthi rebels have raised concerns globally and exposed the vulnerability of maritime trade routes to threats. Watch | US drones for India: US DSCA clears sale of MQ-9B predator drones × What did the US allege? It was in November last year that Washington alleged that an Indian citizen named Nikhil Gupta attempted to kill Pannun. Gupta allegedly undertook the mission after he was assured by an Indian government official directing him that a purported Gujarat case against him would be taken care of. Also read | US charges Indian national with conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani separatist Pannun Described as CC-1 in the US Justice Department papers, Gupta has also been accused of dabbling in international narcotics and weapons trafficking. The allegations by the US came in the backdrop of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claiming he had 'credible allegations' that New Delhi was involved in the killing of another Khalistani separatist named Hardeep Singh Nijjar. (With inputs from agencies)

US senator reveals drone deal with India 'approved' after assurances over Gurpatwant Pannun murder plot probe

The US is mulling granting India "treaty country status" under which the new E1 and E2 visa options will open for Indian traders and businessmen travelling to American cities. The two countries are also discussing a proposal to allow H-1B visa holders and their family members to renew their visas in America only, without having to travel to India.&nbsp;

India presented the proposals at the&nbsp;Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting on Friday (Jan 12)&nbsp;co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and&nbsp;US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.&nbsp;

During the meeting, the two sides noted that the movement of professional and skilled workers as well as students and investors immensely enhanced the&nbsp;bilateral economic and technological partnership.

"The (Indian) commerce department and the ministry of external affairs have been working together on several issues and we had a very good year in 2023 in our relationship with the US," said Goyal in a media interaction.&nbsp;

The joint statement added: “Minister Goyal highlighted challenges being faced by business visitors from India due to visa processing time periods and requested the US to augment processing."

As for the H-1B visa, an official in the know of the matter said New Delhi had requested Washington to make the arrangement permanent.&nbsp;Currently, in the US, the state-side facility is in a pilot programme. The state-side&nbsp;facility means the person staying with an H1B visa can get it renewed in the US only.

"We are asking to extend this facility not only to the original visa holder but to his/her family also so that the family does not need to come back to India for renewal of visas,” the unnamed officials was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/record-number-of-india-students-get-us-visas-664411">WATCH |&nbsp;Record number of India students get US visas</a>

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<h2>What are E1 and E2 visas?</h2>

The two visa types, commonly referred to as E1 (the Treaty Trader) and E2 (Treaty Investor) were established to facilitate and enhance economic interaction between the United States and other countries.&nbsp;

US immigration law explicitly states that "E-1 visa holders must enter solely to carry on substantial trade and E-2 holders solely to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise&nbsp;in which he or she has invested".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-processes-1-million-visas-to-indian-in-2023-garcetti-says-more-to-come-640571">Also read |&nbsp;Record number of India studeUS processes 1 million visas to Indians in 2023, ambassador Eric Garcetti says more to come</a>

These visas are only extended to countries who are part of the treaty countries of the US. They can be renewed or extended only if the investment or trade continues to meet all applicable requirements of US immigration laws and regulations.

As many as&nbsp;100 countries, including China (Taiwan), Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka have been granted treaty country status but India is yet to receive it.&nbsp;

Notably, these visas are non-immigrant visas and thus 'temporary'. Any individual wishing to remain indefinitely in the US may need to apply for the other appropriate immigrant visa option.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The US is mulling granting India "treaty country status" under which the new E1 and E2 visa options will open for Indian traders and businessmen travelling to American cities.

The US is mulling granting India "treaty country status" under which the new E1 and E2 visa options will open for Indian traders and businessmen travelling to American cities. The two countries are also discussing a proposal to allow H-1B visa holders and their family members to renew their visas in America only, without having to travel to India. India presented the proposals at the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting on Friday (Jan 12) co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai. During the meeting, the two sides noted that the movement of professional and skilled workers as well as students and investors immensely enhanced the bilateral economic and technological partnership. "The (Indian) commerce department and the ministry of external affairs have been working together on several issues and we had a very good year in 2023 in our relationship with the US," said Goyal in a media interaction. The joint statement added: “Minister Goyal highlighted challenges being faced by business visitors from India due to visa processing time periods and requested the US to augment processing." As for the H-1B visa, an official in the know of the matter said New Delhi had requested Washington to make the arrangement permanent. Currently, in the US, the state-side facility is in a pilot programme. The state-side facility means the person staying with an H1B visa can get it renewed in the US only. "We are asking to extend this facility not only to the original visa holder but to his/her family also so that the family does not need to come back to India for renewal of visas,” the unnamed officials was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. WATCH | Record number of India students get US visas × What are E1 and E2 visas? The two visa types, commonly referred to as E1 (the Treaty Trader) and E2 (Treaty Investor) were established to facilitate and enhance economic interaction between the United States and other countries. US immigration law explicitly states that "E-1 visa holders must enter solely to carry on substantial trade and E-2 holders solely to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which he or she has invested". Also read | Record number of India studeUS processes 1 million visas to Indians in 2023, ambassador Eric Garcetti says more to come These visas are only extended to countries who are part of the treaty countries of the US. They can be renewed or extended only if the investment or trade continues to meet all applicable requirements of US immigration laws and regulations. As many as 100 countries, including China (Taiwan), Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka have been granted treaty country status but India is yet to receive it. Notably, these visas are non-immigrant visas and thus 'temporary'. Any individual wishing to remain indefinitely in the US may need to apply for the other appropriate immigrant visa option. (With inputs from agencies)

US mulls 'treaty country' status for India as New Delhi seeks easier visa norms for traders

Eric Garcetti, the US ambassador to India, during a panel discussion at the Carnegie 'Global Technology Summit' held in New Delhi, spoke about India-US relations, and said that the two nations are now "dating" each other.

The envoy also made mention of an upcoming visit by the FBI director next week. This visit comes amid a US federal investigation into an alleged plot to kill&nbsp;Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

He said that India was "the number one country she (US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen) went to outside the United States. Four times this year. The Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) just came here for the third time. Secretary of Defence (Lloyd Austin) for the second time. The FBI director is here next week."

<h2>The Pannun murder plot&nbsp;</h2>

The US shared with India intel on the alleged scheme to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.&nbsp;

The claims follow a Financial Times report that the US had thwarted a bid to kill&nbsp;the Khalistani separatist. Reportedly, the nation also issued a "diplomatic warning" over concerns of the involvement of an Indian government official in the plot.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-looking-into-us-report-on-alleged-nexus-between-organised-criminals-terrorists-and-others-mea-664221">India looking into US report on alleged 'nexus between organised criminals, terrorists, and others': MEA</a>

Citing people familiar with the case, the British daily also reported that US federal prosecutors had filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court.

As per the report, the US was debating whether to unseal the contents of the indictment or wait till Canada wraps up its investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist killed on Canadian soil earlier this year.&nbsp;

<h2>What is India doing about the alleged plot?</h2>

India, as per MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, is taking US inputs "seriously" as they "impinge on our national security interests as well".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-taking-inputs-shared-by-us-related-to-terrorists-nexus-seriously-bagchi-661637">India reacts to western media reports of US intel on Pannun's assassination&nbsp;plot</a>

He said that the relationship the two nations share is "multi-faceted" and "constantly evolving".

As per Bagchi, relevant departments were examining the issue and the Government of India has constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee "to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter." He also stated the GOI will take follow-up action based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee.

(With inputs from agencies)

Eric Garcetti, the US ambassador to India, during a panel discussion at the Carnegie 'Global Technology Summit' held in New Delhi, spoke about India-US relations, and said that the two nations are now "dating" each other.

Eric Garcetti, the US ambassador to India, during a panel discussion at the Carnegie 'Global Technology Summit' held in New Delhi, spoke about India-US relations, and said that the two nations are now "dating" each other. The envoy also made mention of an upcoming visit by the FBI director next week. This visit comes amid a US federal investigation into an alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. He said that India was "the number one country she (US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen) went to outside the United States. Four times this year. The Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) just came here for the third time. Secretary of Defence (Lloyd Austin) for the second time. The FBI director is here next week." The Pannun murder plot The US shared with India intel on the alleged scheme to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The claims follow a Financial Times report that the US had thwarted a bid to kill the Khalistani separatist. Reportedly, the nation also issued a "diplomatic warning" over concerns of the involvement of an Indian government official in the plot. Also read | India looking into US report on alleged 'nexus between organised criminals, terrorists, and others': MEA Citing people familiar with the case, the British daily also reported that US federal prosecutors had filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court. As per the report, the US was debating whether to unseal the contents of the indictment or wait till Canada wraps up its investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist killed on Canadian soil earlier this year. What is India doing about the alleged plot? India, as per MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, is taking US inputs "seriously" as they "impinge on our national security interests as well". Also read | India reacts to western media reports of US intel on Pannun's assassination plot He said that the relationship the two nations share is "multi-faceted" and "constantly evolving". As per Bagchi, relevant departments were examining the issue and the Government of India has constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee "to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter." He also stated the GOI will take follow-up action based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee. (With inputs from agencies)

FBI director to visit India amid investigation into alleged plot to kill Pannun

Indian External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said that it was looking into US reports on the alleged "nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others".

Responding to media queries on US-India security cooperation, MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India takes US inputs "seriously".

<h2>National Security Concern</h2>

As per a press release on the MEA website, Bagchi reiterated that during bilateral security cooperation discussions, "the US side shared some inputs pertaining to the nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others."

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Breaking: India constitutes high-level Enquiry Committee to look into US inputs pertaining to "nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others". MEA release: <a href="https://t.co/lUaXnS07uE">pic.twitter.com/lUaXnS07uE</a>
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He said that India takes such inputs seriously as they "impinge on our national security interests as well".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-taking-inputs-shared-by-us-related-to-terrorists-nexus-seriously-bagchi-661637">India reacts to western media reports of US intel on Pannun's assassination&nbsp;plot</a>

As per Bagchi, relevant departments were examining the issue and&nbsp;the Government of India has constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee "to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter." He also stated the GOI will take follow-up action&nbsp;based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee.

<h2>What the US said</h2>

Previously, the US shared with India intel on the alleged scheme to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.&nbsp;

The claims follow a Financial Times report that the US had thwarted an assassination attempt on the Sikh separatist leader. Reportedly, the nation also issued a "diplomatic warning" over concerns of the Indian government's involvement in the plot.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sfjs-pannun-takes-a-u-turn-says-never-claimed-to-bomb-air-india-only-boycott-663929">SFJ's Pannun takes a u-turn, says never claimed to ‘bomb’ Air India, only called for ‘boycott’</a>

Citing people familiar with the case, the British daily also reported that US federal prosecutors had filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court.

As per the report, the US was debating whether to unseal the contents of the indictment or wait till Canada wraps up its investigation into the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist leader killed on Canadian soil earlier this year.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said that it was looking into US reports on the alleged "nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others".

Indian External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said that it was looking into US reports on the alleged "nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others". Responding to media queries on US-India security cooperation, MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India takes US inputs "seriously". National Security Concern As per a press release on the MEA website, Bagchi reiterated that during bilateral security cooperation discussions, "the US side shared some inputs pertaining to the nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others." Breaking: India constitutes high-level Enquiry Committee to look into US inputs pertaining to "nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others". MEA release: pic.twitter.com/lUaXnS07uE — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 29, 2023 × He said that India takes such inputs seriously as they "impinge on our national security interests as well". Also read | India reacts to western media reports of US intel on Pannun's assassination plot As per Bagchi, relevant departments were examining the issue and the Government of India has constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee "to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter." He also stated the GOI will take follow-up action based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee. What the US said Previously, the US shared with India intel on the alleged scheme to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The claims follow a Financial Times report that the US had thwarted an assassination attempt on the Sikh separatist leader. Reportedly, the nation also issued a "diplomatic warning" over concerns of the Indian government's involvement in the plot. Also read | SFJ's Pannun takes a u-turn, says never claimed to ‘bomb’ Air India, only called for ‘boycott’ Citing people familiar with the case, the British daily also reported that US federal prosecutors had filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court. As per the report, the US was debating whether to unseal the contents of the indictment or wait till Canada wraps up its investigation into the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist leader killed on Canadian soil earlier this year. (With inputs from agencies)

India looking into US report on alleged 'nexus between organised criminals, terrorists, and others': MEA

US green card backlog has git a record high of 1.8 million. 400,000 Indians will die before they ever get their green card. Is U.S' immigration system broken? Molly Gambhir tells you more

Gravitas: US green card backlog hits 1.8 million | Indians face waiting period of 134 years

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the US, the White House on Monday dismissed concerns about the health of the Indian democracy and said that it is in fact "vibrant" and that anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can witness that.

<h2>US and India's 'vibrant' democracy</h2>

Speaking at a press conference, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, stated: "India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that the strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion."

As per PTI, he was responding to a question on the health of Indian democracy under Prime Minister Modi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-us-intelligence-officer-turns-whistleblower-reveals-american-govt-has-ufos-alien-vehicles-601082">Explained: US intelligence officer turns whistleblower, reveals American govt has UFOs, alien vehicles</a>

"And, look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends; you're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world," said Kirby.

"But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward," he added.

<h2>Kirby on Modi's upcoming visit</h2>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to America later this month. His June 22 visit, as per the White House, will boost the US and India's "shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific."

Kirby said Modi's visit is about advancing "what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward".

During the visit, Indian PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/antony-blinken-says-us-wont-let-iran-get-nuclear-weapons-600982">US won't allow Iran get nuclear weapons, says Secretary of State Antony Blinken</a>

The reason behind this, as per Kirby, is that Biden wants to meet his Indian counterpart to advance and deepen bilateral partnership and friendship.

"There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the President is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby said.

Modi has also been invited by the US Congress to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Reportedly, the theme of his address will be focused on the Indian PM's vision for India's future and the global challenges faced by India and the United States.

"India is a strong partner on very, very many levels with the United States. You saw that, in Shangri-La, Secretary Austin (Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin) announced some additional defence cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," added Kirby.

(With inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the US, the White House on Monday dismissed concerns about the health of the Indian democracy and said that it is in fact "vibrant" and that anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can witness that.

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the US, the White House on Monday dismissed concerns about the health of the Indian democracy and said that it is in fact "vibrant" and that anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can witness that. US and India's 'vibrant' democracy Speaking at a press conference, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, stated: "India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that the strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion." As per PTI, he was responding to a question on the health of Indian democracy under Prime Minister Modi. Also read | Explained: US intelligence officer turns whistleblower, reveals American govt has UFOs, alien vehicles "And, look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends; you're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world," said Kirby. "But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward," he added. Kirby on Modi's upcoming visit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to America later this month. His June 22 visit, as per the White House, will boost the US and India's "shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific." Kirby said Modi's visit is about advancing "what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward". During the visit, Indian PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House. Also read | US won't allow Iran get nuclear weapons, says Secretary of State Antony Blinken The reason behind this, as per Kirby, is that Biden wants to meet his Indian counterpart to advance and deepen bilateral partnership and friendship. "There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the President is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby said. Modi has also been invited by the US Congress to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate. Reportedly, the theme of his address will be focused on the Indian PM's vision for India's future and the global challenges faced by India and the United States. "India is a strong partner on very, very many levels with the United States. You saw that, in Shangri-La, Secretary Austin (Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin) announced some additional defence cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," added Kirby. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ahead of Modi's US trip, White House says India a strong partner on many levels

The US Senate will sit on Wednesday to vote on the nomination of Eric Garcetti&nbsp;as the new ambassador to India.&nbsp;Garcetti's nomination was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a 13-8 vote last week.&nbsp;

The confirmation vote is scheduled to take place at 2:15 PM local Washington time. If&nbsp;confirmed, Garcetti will head to India soon to assume the all-important position, vacant for more than two years.&nbsp;

Last week, Todd Young and Bill Hagerty, the two Republican Senators, joined the Democrats and voted in favour of Garcetti, as the key committee passed his name for the second time in as many years. After the midterms, President Joe Biden renominated Garcetti as his preferred envoy to India.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-former-la-mayor-eric-garcetti-finally-advances-in-india-ambassador-bid-570356">WATCH | U.S: Former LA mayor Eric Garcetti finally advances in India ambassador bid</a>

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Garcetti's name was first proposed in July 2021, a few months after Biden took office. However, since then, Garcetti has not been able to receive approval from the US Senate, primarily due to a sexual harassment controversy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Democrat leader had served as Biden's co-chair during the presidential election campaign. He is still one of Biden's most significant political allies and at one time, he was seen as a potential part of the president's cabinet. However, the controversy proved to be a spanner in the job.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eric-garcetti-bidens-choice-for-ambassador-to-india-approved-by-key-senatorial-committee-570065">Read more:&nbsp;Eric Garcetti, Biden's choice for ambassador to India, approved by key Senate committee</a>

Usually, lack of an ambassador is perceived as a breakdown in the relations between two countries. However, India-US relations have been on an upswing over the years and absence of the envoy has sent confusing signals to allies.&nbsp;

Notably, ever since Kenneth Juster's departure as the US ambassador to India in January 2021, Washington has appointed six interim envoys. Currently,&nbsp;Elizabeth Jones is serving as&nbsp;the charge d'Affaires ad interim at its Embassy in Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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The US Senate will sit on Wednesday to vote on the nomination of Eric Garcetti as the new ambassador to India. Garcetti's nomination was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a 13-8 vote last week.

The US Senate will sit on Wednesday to vote on the nomination of Eric Garcetti as the new ambassador to India. Garcetti's nomination was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a 13-8 vote last week. The confirmation vote is scheduled to take place at 2:15 PM local Washington time. If confirmed, Garcetti will head to India soon to assume the all-important position, vacant for more than two years. Last week, Todd Young and Bill Hagerty, the two Republican Senators, joined the Democrats and voted in favour of Garcetti, as the key committee passed his name for the second time in as many years. After the midterms, President Joe Biden renominated Garcetti as his preferred envoy to India. WATCH | U.S: Former LA mayor Eric Garcetti finally advances in India ambassador bid × Garcetti's name was first proposed in July 2021, a few months after Biden took office. However, since then, Garcetti has not been able to receive approval from the US Senate, primarily due to a sexual harassment controversy. The Democrat leader had served as Biden's co-chair during the presidential election campaign. He is still one of Biden's most significant political allies and at one time, he was seen as a potential part of the president's cabinet. However, the controversy proved to be a spanner in the job. Read more: Eric Garcetti, Biden's choice for ambassador to India, approved by key Senate committee Usually, lack of an ambassador is perceived as a breakdown in the relations between two countries. However, India-US relations have been on an upswing over the years and absence of the envoy has sent confusing signals to allies. Notably, ever since Kenneth Juster's departure as the US ambassador to India in January 2021, Washington has appointed six interim envoys. Currently, Elizabeth Jones is serving as the charge d'Affaires ad interim at its Embassy in Delhi. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US Senate to vote on Eric Garcetti, Biden's preferred choice for ambassador to India

Two&nbsp;Indian students died in the United States due to drowning.

The tragic incident took place on Saturday&nbsp;when both students went swimming at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.&nbsp;

As per the death reports,&nbsp;one student died due to drowning and the second one died in an attempt to save another from drowning. But unfortunately, both lost their lives.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-three-indian-students-all-in-their-20s-killed-in-road-accident-in-western-massachusetts-529042">Also read |&nbsp;US: Three Indian students, all in their 20s, killed in road accident in western Massachusetts</a>

The two were identified as Uthej Junta, 24 and Shiva Keliigari, 25. Both hailed from Telangana and were pursuing their master's degrees at St Louis University in Missouri.

The police statement said that on Saturday noon, first Kunta went swimming but when he did not return Kelliagri jumped to save him but failed to come back too.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/five-indian-students-killed-in-canada-road-accident-462087">Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;Five Indian students killed in Canada road accident</a>

The two had been staying at an Airbnb whose manager said that he and his daughters immediately called 911 after hearing cries for help. He further added that even his brother jumped in the water to save them but by the time he got to the kayak, the boys were already gone.&nbsp;

The police said that following a call at 2:20 pm, the rescue services recovered Kunta's body two hours after the incident took place, however, Kelligaris' body was recovered a day later, PTI reported.&nbsp;

After hearing about the incident, Telangana's Minister K T Rao in a tweet expressed his condolence to the families and said that his team would assist the families in getting back the body remains.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Two Indian students died in the United States due to drowning. The tragic incident took place on Saturday when both students went swimming at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.

Two Indian students died in the United States due to drowning. The tragic incident took place on Saturday when both students went swimming at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. As per the death reports, one student died due to drowning and the second one died in an attempt to save another from drowning. But unfortunately, both lost their lives. Also read | US: Three Indian students, all in their 20s, killed in road accident in western Massachusetts The two were identified as Uthej Junta, 24 and Shiva Keliigari, 25. Both hailed from Telangana and were pursuing their master's degrees at St Louis University in Missouri. The police statement said that on Saturday noon, first Kunta went swimming but when he did not return Kelliagri jumped to save him but failed to come back too. Also read | Five Indian students killed in Canada road accident The two had been staying at an Airbnb whose manager said that he and his daughters immediately called 911 after hearing cries for help. He further added that even his brother jumped in the water to save them but by the time he got to the kayak, the boys were already gone. The police said that following a call at 2:20 pm, the rescue services recovered Kunta's body two hours after the incident took place, however, Kelligaris' body was recovered a day later, PTI reported. After hearing about the incident, Telangana's Minister K T Rao in a tweet expressed his condolence to the families and said that his team would assist the families in getting back the body remains. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US: Two Indian students die from drowning in Missouri 

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The US on Tuesday advised its citizens to reconsider any travel to India due to the current high level of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The latest travel advisory from the US State Department also advised them to exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-slips-to-140-in-corruption-index-find-out-about-india-us-others-447355">Also read |&nbsp;Pakistan slips to 140 in corruption index; find out about India, US &amp; others</a>

The new advisory comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level-three&nbsp;Travel Health Notice for India due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country.

"Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorised vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers," the State Department said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-doesnt-want-deeper-us-india-relations-taking-actions-to-press-territorial-claims-with-neighbour-us-426795">Also read |&nbsp;China doesn’t want deeper US-India relations, taking 'actions’ to press territorial claims with neighbour: US</a>

Placing India on "Level 3" travel advisory, the State Department advised its citizens to reconsider travel to India due to COVID-19. It also advised them to exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism.

"Do not travel to: The state of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest. Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict," the advisory said.

"Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations," it added.<img height="0" src="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackimp/N733098.4334065TABOOLA-TATAAIA/B27037104.324247502;dc_trk_aid=516544974;dc_trk_cid=163695073;ord=[timestamp];dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;ltd=?;dc_ref=ndtv.com" width="0" />
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The US on Tuesday advised its citizens to reconsider any travel to India due to the current high level of COVID-19 cases in the country. The latest travel advisory from the US State Department also advised them to exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism.

The US on Tuesday advised its citizens to reconsider any travel to India due to the current high level of COVID-19 cases in the country. The latest travel advisory from the US State Department also advised them to exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Also read | Pakistan slips to 140 in corruption index; find out about India, US & others The new advisory comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level-three Travel Health Notice for India due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country. "Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorised vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers," the State Department said. Also read | China doesn’t want deeper US-India relations, taking 'actions’ to press territorial claims with neighbour: US Placing India on "Level 3" travel advisory, the State Department advised its citizens to reconsider travel to India due to COVID-19. It also advised them to exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. "Do not travel to: The state of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest. Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict," the advisory said. "Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations," it added.

US asks its citizens to reconsider travelling to India amid surge in coronavirus cases

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