The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to uphold tariffs on India, saying they are vital for Ukraine peace. India faces a 50% duty on exports to the US after refusing to cut Russian oil trade. Solicitor General John Sauer told the court that removing tariffs would risk economic disaster and weaken America’s defense base. A lower court had ruled the tariffs unlawful. Trump’s team argues the 1977 law allows such emergency powers. Officials claim the tariffs protect US trade and push countries into new deals. India’s trade talks with Washington remain stalled. (PC: X)

US Congressman Gregory Meeks has warned that Donald Trump’s new 50% tariffs on India are “arbitrary” and risk harming the decades-old US-India partnership. After meeting Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra in Washington, Meeks said, “I reaffirmed our commitment to deeper ties, our shared hope for peace in Ukraine, and my alarm at Trump’s arbitrary tariffs that threaten this vital relationship.” India has defended its purchase of Russian oil, saying it is driven by national interest and market realities. Ambassador Kwatra thanked Meeks for his support and discussed trade, energy, and Indo-Pacific strategy with other US lawmakers. (PC: AP)

Amit Kshatriya, a seasoned 20-year NASA veteran, has been named Associate Administrator—NASA’s top civil-service role—by Acting Administrator Sean P. Duffy on September 3, 2025 . Previously deputy head of the Moon-to-Mars Program in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, he played a central role in planning and executing Artemis missions toward lunar and Mars expeditions . A Caltech and University of Texas alumnus, Kshatriya is among just ~100 individuals ever to serve as a mission control flight director. His accolades include the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Silver Snoopy, both recognizing leadership and flight safety excellence. (PC: NASA)

US President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to uphold his tariffs on India, calling them “a crucial aspect of our push for peace” in Ukraine. His administration argued that penalties on India’s Russian oil imports support efforts to end the war. In August, tariffs were doubled to 50%, half linked to Russian trade and half under Trump’s “America First” policy. A federal appeals court had earlier ruled many tariffs illegal but allowed them to remain for now. Trump said tariffs make America strong and vowed to fight on with Supreme Court backing. (PC: AFP)

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called ties with India “important” in a world of “great uncertainty and turbulence.” Speaking in New Delhi with PM Narendra Modi, Wong stressed that the partnership is built on “shared values, mutual respect and trust.” He noted Singapore is India’s largest foreign investor, accounting for nearly a quarter of FDI inflows. Wong also pointed to future growth in frontier areas like space. “We can draw strength from our shared history and friendship,” he said. More than 20 Singapore-made satellites have already been launched by India, showing strong collaboration that will continue to expand. (PC: X/@MEAIndia)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the US against using tariffs and sanctions to pressure India and China. Speaking after the SCO Summit in China, he said Washington’s actions reflect “colonial era” thinking. Putin called India and China powerful economies with their own systems and leaders who cannot be treated with threats. He stressed the colonial past still shapes their political instincts. His comments came as US President Donald Trump announced new sanctions on India for buying Russian oil and hinted at more to come. Putin also praised India’s role in efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. (PC: India Today)

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a sharp rebuke at the Trump administration’s tariff strategy, particularly targeting India and China. He insisted these nations are sovereign, powerful partners—not subjects of economic coercion—asserting, "The colonial era is now over" and emphasizing that such heavy-handed diplomacy is outdated. Putin said the tariffs aim to weaken the leadership of these giant economies, warning that any show of weakness could imperil political careers . He also expressed appreciation for India’s efforts, alongside China and other strategic allies, in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump again attacked India over trade, calling it the “most tariffed nation” in the world. Speaking on a radio show, Trump said India, like China and Brazil, “kills” the US with tariffs. He claimed India offered him a “no tariff” deal only because of his tough stance. India has rejected his repeated criticism, stressing it makes trade and oil decisions based on market needs. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said talks with Washington are still on, while PM Modi has assured India will not compromise on farmers’ interests. Tensions over Russian oil purchases remain. (PC: India Today)

India has issued its second official flood warning to Pakistan in as many weeks, this time alerting Islamabad—via New Delhi’s High Commission—of a potentially dangerous surge in the Sutlej River due to heavy monsoon rains and upstream dam releases . Earlier releases from Indian reservoirs had already triggered widespread flooding in Pakistan’s Punjab, displacing over a million people and affecting some 2.45 million . The deluge has taken a deadly toll in northern India, prompting closures of schools and offices, while rivers like Delhi’s Yamuna have breached danger levels . The escalating crisis underscores mounting climate pressures and challenges in regional disaster management.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed optimism on September 3, 2025, that negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would reach a “decisive conclusion” soon, following talks with his German counterpart during a two-day diplomatic visit . Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reaffirmed his country’s full backing for rapid finalisation of the FTA and pledged to leverage its influence with the European Commission to drive progress . Dialogue also covered deeper cooperation in sectors like green hydrogen, defence, technology, semiconductor manufacturing, and export control mechanisms. (PC: Reuters)