Trump says open to negotiations with India, but also links tariff ‘penalty’ to BRICS membership

Following his announcement of a 25% tariff rate on India plus an unspecified “penalty” tariff for India purchasing Russian energy and arms, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration was still negotiating the final tariff rate with India, while at the same time linking India’s membership to the BRICS group of countries as another reason for the penalty.

Donald Trump’s latest tariff deadline is approaching: Here are the trade deals the U.S. has announced so far

The clock is ticking closer to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff deadline of August 1. And while several more deals — or at least frameworks for deals — have been reached since his last tariff deadline of July 9 came and went, trade talks with many countries are still in flux. Mr. Trump unveiled sweeping import taxes on goods coming into the U.S. from nearly every country back in April. That included heightened so-called reciprocal rates for certain countries, the bulk of which have since been postponed twice.

No local has joined terror groups in J&K in the last six months, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that in the past six months, no local had joined any terrorist group in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Those being killed in security operations in the Union Territory were all foreigners, he said. He said there should be no doubt that the three terrorists killed during Operation Mahadev on July 28 were the ones who carried out the Pahalgam terror attack, as the investigating agencies had matched their photos, and the evidence was backed by forensic reports.

Air India Group tops audit with 19 critical safety breaches; DGCA says ‘entirely normal’

An audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over the past year identified 19 findings against Air India Group airlines that needed immediate corrective action, while all other carriers recorded zero findings in this category. The regulator, though, claimed that a high number of audit observations was “entirely normal”. The data released by the DGCA on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) showed that its audit revealed 10 “level 1” findings against Vistara, seven against Air India, and two against Air India Express, all of which are part of the Air India Group. All other airlines recorded zero observations in this category.

Opposition walks out of Rajya Sabha over PM’s absence

Opposition parties staged a walkout in Rajya Sabha evening just as Home Minister Amit Shah rose to speak in conclusion of the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Upper House, in protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence. Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that it was an insult to the Upper House that the Prime Minister, despite being in Parliament, refused to come.

Lok Sabha gives nod to statutory resolution approving extension of President’s Rule in Manipur

Lok Sabha passed a resolution approving extension of President’s Rule in Manipur by another six months beyond August 13, with the government asserting that peace is prevailing in the northeastern state. What can be a bigger proof of peace returning there than the fact that since President’s Rule was imposed, there has been only one fatality with no casualties in the last four months, Minister of State Nityanand Rai said.

U.S. sanctions hit Indian companies over Iran oil trade

The United States has imposed sanctions on at least half a dozen Indian companies accused of trading in Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals as part of broader action targeting 20 entities worldwide. The U.S. Department of State announced the sanctions on Wednesday (July 30, 2025), alleging the Indian firms knowingly engaged in “significant transactions” for the purchase and marketing of Iranian petroleum products, violating American sanctions on Iran.

All patients to register with ABHA ID, says NMC to all medical colleges and institutes

To ensure that authentic patient records are maintained by medical colleges, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has written to them directing that Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID should be recorded along with patient registration in the hospital. The ABHA card contains a unique 14-digit identification number called ABHA ID. The entire medical history, consultation details, and prescriptions are included in the ABHA ID. However, NMC maintained that no patient should be denied treatment without the ABHA lD.

Focus on practical not ‘paper’ measures for Israel-Palestine two-state solution: India at the U.N.

India joined the call for Israel to end the war in Gaza and ensure access to food, for Hamas to return hostages, and for U.N. members to recognise the Statehood of Palestine at a United Nations conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, but stayed on the sidelines of the major working groups formed. In a speech Indian Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said that in 1988, India was one of the first countries to recognise the Palestinian state, and it is now time to focus on the steps required for practical solutions, not “paper solutions” to help the situation.

Indian statement on Pahalgam attackers ‘replete with fabrications’, says Pakistan

Home Minister Amit Shah’s account of forces killing who he said were three Pakistanis involved in the April attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir was “replete with fabrications”, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said. Mr. Shah told Parliament on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) that the three militants killed in a gun battle in a Kashmir forest this week were the perpetrators of the April 22 Pahalgam attack and that New Delhi had found evidence to back it. “Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless assertions and provocative claims made by the Indian leaders during the Lok Sabha debate on the so-called “Operation Sindoor.”

‘Atrocious, shocking’: Cong slams Jaishankar’s remarks on Nehru, Indus Waters Treaty

The Congress termed as “atrocious” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks calling the Indus Waters Treaty appeasement by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and said the minister showed that he has long given up the slightest pretence of being a professional. The Congress’ attack on Mr. Jaishankar came after his speech in Rajya Sabha while intervening in the special discussion on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack.

Kerala nuns arrest: Durg court disposes of bail plea citing lack of jurisdiction

A sessions court in Durg, Chhattisgarh disposed of the bail application of the arrested Christian nuns from Kerala, observing that it does not have the jurisdiction to hear cases under Section 143 of BNS (human trafficking), according to the lawyer for the two nuns. The court added that they may have to move to an NIA court for further legal action.

India, UAE agree to elevate defence ties

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation during the 13th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, held at the Secretary level for the first time, in New Delhi. The two sides agreed to elevate defence ties to match the growing momentum in areas such as trade, investment, and social relations, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Pahalgam terror attack: UNSC monitoring report mentions TRF

The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, has found mention for the first time in a UN Security Council (UNSC) report for its role in the Pahalgam attack, a move expected to bolster India’s diplomatic offensive against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism. The report by the UNSC’s Monitoring Team (MT) quoted one unnamed member state as saying that the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir could not have happened without Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) support and that there was a relationship between the “LeT and The Resistance Front (TRF).

Bihar govt announces hike in incentive for rural health workers ahead of Assembly polls

Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that ASHA workers in the State will now get ₹3,000 per month as an incentive, a substantial increase from the existing amount of ₹1,000. He also doubled the incentive of Mamta health workers from ₹300 per delivery. The decision to increase their incentives was taken in view of the contributions of ASHA and Mamta workers to strengthen health services in rural areas, the CM wrote on social media.

Actor Prakash Raj appears before ED in betting app case

Actor Prakash Raj appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its ongoing investigation into the alleged promotion of unauthorised online betting platforms. He arrived at the ED office in Basheerbagh with his lawyer. Mr. Prakash Raj was the first among the 29 to appear for questioning before the ED. An officer from the department said that his statements will be verified further. “He answered all the questions. We will be verifying his statements and submission and decide if we have to call him again,” said the officer.

Eviction drive under way for second day in Assam to clear encroachment on 1,500 hectares of forest land

“A massive eviction drive to clear alleged encroachment on nearly 1,500 hectares of forest land in Assam’s Golaghat district continued for the second day on Wednesday (July 30, 2025),” officials said. “The exercise, once completed, will displace around 1,500 families, mostly from the Muslim community,” they added. The eviction drive started on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) to uproot illegal settlements on almost 11,000 bighas (nearly 1,500 hectares) of land in the Rengma Reserve Forest in Uriamghat along the Assam-Nagaland border in Sarupathar sub-division.

Congress loses its last MLA in Meghalaya

The Congress party lost its last legislator in Meghalaya. Thomas A. Sangma, the State’s Assembly Speaker, confirmed the resignation of Congress MLA Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, and his merger with the National People’s Party (NPP) headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. The crossover made Meghalaya the third of the eight northeastern States without any Congress MLA. The other two States are Nagaland and Sikkim.

ENG vs IND fifth Test | Don’t know why the curator would not allow us to examine the surface: Gill

There have been several intense moments between India and England in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, India captain Shubman Gill made it clear that there was no animosity between the players off the field. While Gill got into an argument with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley at Lord’s, Ben Stokes extended a handshake to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to end the Old Trafford game in a draw when they were inching closer to their centuries.