Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

US President Donald Trump revealed that trade negotiations with India were ongoing, despite his earlier threats to impose a 25% tariff on Indian imports and penalize nations purchasing Russian energy. Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said, “We’re talking to India now. We’ll see what happens,” suggesting that a final decision could be reached by the end of the week. He noted that India — which he claimed imposes some of the highest tariffs globally — is now willing to reduce them “very substantially.” While he sidestepped questions about penalties for buying Russian oil, he did mention a 10% charge he had…

A federal court has blocked a controversial move by the Trump administration aimed at ending automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants. On July 25, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled against the policy, making it the third legal setback for the administration’s efforts nationwide. Judge Sorokin’s decision strengthens an earlier, wider injunction that applies to over a dozen states. Although a recent Supreme Court ruling curbed lower courts from issuing sweeping nationwide injunctions, Sorokin relied on an established legal exception that allows such rulings under particular legal circumstances, as reported by the Associated Press.…

India is treading carefully in its ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, influenced by recent challenges other Asian nations have faced while working with the US under Donald Trump’s administration. One example is the fallout from the US-Japan agreement, which has become a cautionary tale due to major disagreements in interpreting its terms. Meanwhile, deals announced with Indonesia and Vietnam have yet to be finalized, raising further concerns. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal shared updates over the weekend, stating that talks with both the US and Oman have made significant progress. American trade representatives are expected to arrive…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Male, Maldives, on Friday morning, receiving a grand ceremonial reception at Velana International Airport. Greeted warmly by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the Indian leader was welcomed with traditional Maldivian songs and enthusiastic chants of “Vande Mataram” echoing across the terminal, underscoring the deep-rooted friendship and cultural affinity between the two neighboring nations. PM Modi is attending the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour, a role that reflects the strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries. This visit marks Modi’s third trip to the island nation and is notably the first…

Despite months of negotiations and several rounds of dialogue, India and the United States have not yet sealed a trade agreement. Meanwhile, Washington has finalized trade deals with countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines in recent weeks. The fifth round of discussions between the two nations ended without any breakthrough. Though US officials have claimed that a deal with India is “close,” several contentious issues continue to hold back progress. A major obstacle remains India’s insistence on protecting its agriculture and dairy sectors. With over 700 million people in rural India dependent on farming—including around 80 million small…

On July 23, 2025, India and China held talks in New Delhi to evaluate the current conditions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This meeting, part of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), served to prepare for the upcoming Special Representatives (SR) dialogue regarding the longstanding border issue. During the discussions, both nations expressed satisfaction with the relatively peaceful conditions across the LAC, which have gradually helped stabilize overall bilateral relations. India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, will lead the next round of SR talks, which are expected…

Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will leave her post in August 2025, the IMF announced this week. She will return to academia to take on a newly established professorship at Harvard University. Gopinath is set to become the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard, where she previously held a prominent role before joining the IMF. Her departure will mark the end of an influential seven-year tenure at the Fund, during which she helped navigate the global economy through some of its most turbulent times. Kristalina Georgieva, IMF’s Managing…

Sawan Shivratri, also called Masik Shivratri or Masa Shivratri, is one of the most spiritually significant occasions for Lord Shiva devotees. In 2025, the festival will be celebrated on July 23, falling on the Chaturdashi tithi during Krishna Paksha. This day holds immense importance, especially during the month of Sawan, which is considered highly auspicious in the Hindu calendar. Worshippers across India mark the day with fasting and special prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many visit temples to perform Gangajal Abhishekam, pouring sacred water over Shiva Lingams, and seeking divine blessings for peace and prosperity. The observance of Sawan Shivratri…

India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar officially stepped down from his position on Monday, citing health concerns as the reason for his early departure. Dhankhar, 74, had been holding the office since August 2022 and decided to resign before completing his five-year term. In his resignation letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar wrote, “To focus on my health and follow medical guidance, I hereby tender my resignation as the Vice President of India, effective immediately.” His statement was shared publicly through his official account on the social media platform X. As the Vice President of India, Dhankhar held the second-highest…

The United States has officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) following the deadly militant attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region on April 22. The attack claimed the lives of 26 men and escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. Announcing the decision, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that TRF initially claimed responsibility for the assault but later retracted its statement. TRF, also referred to as Kashmir Resistance, has now been listed both as an FTO and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity by Washington. The designations…