Top Stories
India-Canada Trade Pact Could Be Finalised Before Year-End
India and Canada are aiming to complete a comprehensive trade agreement by the end of 2026 after concluding a fourth round of talks. The proposed CEPA would cover goods, services, investment and energy as both countries target C$70 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
From Death Row to Acquittal: Surendra Koli Found Dead in Haridwar
Surendra Koli, acquitted in all cases linked to the Nithari killings after spending nearly two decades in prison, has been found hanging at his tea stall in Haridwar. Police suspect suicide, but no note was found and a post-mortem will determine the cause of death.
Trump and Xi Prepare for High-Stakes Washington Summit
Xi Jinping will visit Washington on September 24 for high-stakes talks with Donald Trump covering tariffs, rare earths, Boeing sales, Taiwan, AI, fentanyl and Iran. With the world’s two largest economies still locked in strategic rivalry, even limited agreements could have global consequences.
Trump Signs New Russia Sanctions Law, Raising Risks for India and China
Donald Trump has signed sweeping new Russia sanctions legislation that expands restrictions on Moscow and gives the White House power to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, putting countries including India and China under greater scrutiny.
Russia and China Block Extension of Iran Sanctions Monitoring Panel
Russia and China have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution extending independent monitoring of sanctions on Iran. The sanctions themselves remain in place, but the expert panel meant to track violations and evasion has now lost its mandate, widening the monitoring gap around Tehran.
Trump Administration Approves $24.3 Billion Saudi Fighter Jet Sale
The US State Department has approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth fighters and 49 engines to Saudi Arabia. The deal still needs congressional approval and could reshape Gulf air power while testing Washington’s commitment to preserving Israel’s military edge.
UN Probe Says US Strikes on Iranian School and Sports Centre Were War Crimes
A UN fact-finding mission says there are reasonable grounds to believe the US committed war crimes in two February strikes in Iran, including an attack on a primary school in Minab.
Applied Materials Announces $5 Billion India Semiconductor Investment
Applied Materials will invest $5 billion in India by 2035, including a 140-acre semiconductor research park, a tenfold expansion of local supply-chain capacity and a larger R&D workforce. The move strengthens India’s push to build a complete chip ecosystem beyond fabrication and assembly.
Venezuela Is Suddenly ‘Cooperating’ on Drugs After Washington Took Control of the Transition
The US has removed Venezuela from its list of countries deemed to be failing on counternarcotics obligations, months after American forces captured Nicolás Maduro and Washington began reshaping the country’s political and oil sectors.
Trump Warns EU of Trade Retaliation Over Canada Membership Plan
Donald Trump has threatened the EU with heavy tariffs and possible trade restrictions if Brussels moves ahead with plans for closer association with Canada. He called the proposal a potential “hostile act”, raising fresh uncertainty around the $1.6 trillion US-EU trade relationship.
Why the Fed’s Rate Hike Matters for India
The US Federal Reserve has raised rates by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00% and signalled more tightening may follow. For India, the move increases pressure on the rupee, bond yields, foreign investment and the RBI’s own rate outlook as oil prices and inflation remain elevated.
Houthis Claim They Shot Down Saudi F-15 Over Yemen
Yemen’s Houthis say they shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib using a locally made missile as fighting intensifies across the country. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed losing an aircraft, and no independently verified evidence of the alleged shootdown has yet emerged.