A U.S. trade delegation will visit India on August 25 for the sixth round of talks on a bilateral trade agreement, officials confirmed. The visit comes days before the August 1 deadline, when suspended Trump-era tariffs (up to 26%) on India could be reinstated. Both sides are pushing for an interim pact, with India seeking tariff relief on steel, aluminium, and textiles, while the U.S. demands concessions on agri, dairy, electric vehicles, and industrial goods. India has resisted dairy concessions and asserted its WTO rights. The goal is to finalize an interim deal before a full pact by fall 2025. (PC: The Hindu)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Modi government for allegedly informing Pakistan that Indian forces would not strike military targets during Operation Sindoor. "You said you were going to bomb, but you also told Pakistan ‘we’re not going to bomb your military targets.’ This is not strategy, this is surrender,” Gandhi said in Parliament. He claimed Indian aircraft were shot down because political leadership lacked courage. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier said India informed Pakistan post-strike to prevent escalation. The government insists the mission was a success, but the Opposition continues to demand accountability over the Pahalgam terror attack. (PC: Sansad TV/ANI Grab)

Lord Meghnad Desai, a well-known economist, writer, and teacher, passed away at 85 on July 29. Born in Vadodara in 1940, he studied economics in Mumbai and later earned a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught for years at the London School of Economics and wrote over 20 books. Desai was also a member of the UK House of Lords. In 2008, he received the Padma Bhushan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “anguished” by his passing and praised his deep connection to India. “Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister added in his tribute on social media. (PC: The Hindu)

An Indian student, draped in the national flag, staged a silent protest during his UK graduation. As he reached the stage, he tore a blank white sheet, widely known as a "blank paper protest" to oppose the UK’s new immigration rules. The act went viral, drawing mixed reactions. It symbolised broken promises to students and a future now uncertain. The UK plans to cut Graduate Route visas from two years to 18 months. Settlement will need 10 years instead of five. The student’s quiet protest spoke loudly for many Indians fearing they’ll be forced to leave before building a life abroad.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament that no phone call occurred between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump from April 22 to June 17, refuting Trump’s repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Jaishankar emphasized that India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, was independent and diplomatically backed by global consensus. He clarified that ceasefire talks were initiated through military channels, not foreign mediation, and dismissed any trade linkages. The Cabinet Committee on Security suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and launched diplomatic efforts that led to TRF’s global terror designation. India’s stance: zero tolerance for terror and sovereign right to self-defense. (PC: BBC & Hindustan Times)

Indian-origin Delta Airlines pilot Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, was arrested from the cockpit of Flight 2809 at San Francisco International Airport on July 26. The arrest followed a months-long investigation by Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office into allegations of child sexual abuse. Bhagwagar faces five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 and is held on $5 million bail. Homeland Security agents assisted in the dramatic arrest, which occurred minutes after landing. The investigation began in April after a report was filed. Delta Airlines has suspended Bhagwagar, stating zero tolerance for unlawful conduct. The arrest has sparked widespread outrage and concern over aviation safety and background checks. (PC: India Today)

During a fiery Rajya Sabha debate, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared that the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will one day identify as Indians. He emphasized that Operation Sindoor was a precise, self-defensive strike targeting nine terror camps, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, with no civilian casualties. Singh revealed Pakistan’s failed missile and drone attacks, praised India’s armed forces, and confirmed Operation Mahadev neutralized three terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack. He dismissed US President Trump’s ceasefire mediation claims and warned that Operation Sindoor remains active. Singh concluded by asserting India’s readiness to respond to any aggression and its evolving global security posture.

With the August 1 deadline looming, India faces a trade dilemma due to Trump’s aggressive tariff demands or risk of losing leverage. The US seeks zero-duty access to Indian markets, while India pushes for a 15% tariff ceiling on its exports. Talks remain stalled, though India has signaled willingness to purchase US defense equipment, natural gas, and nuclear reactors. Contentious sectors like dairy and agriculture are off the table. Trump’s proposed 15–20% global tariffs could erode India’s comparative advantage. Exporters face uncertainty, and transshipment clauses may complicate pharma and electronics trade. A final decision may hinge on direct talks between PM Modi and President Trump, with inflation and political optics influencing outcomes. (PC: Instagram)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing Parliament, defended India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack and criticized Congress for historic missteps regarding Pakistan. Shah cited the Indus Waters Treaty and Simla Agreement as examples of Congress’s failures, blaming Nehru for PoK’s existence. He asserted that all three terrorists involved were Pakistani nationals, backed by voter IDs and Pakistani-made chocolates. Shah accused former Home Minister P. Chidambaram of indirectly defending Pakistan by questioning the evidence. He emphasized that India targeted terror camps in Pakistan, reinforcing the government's stance. BJP MPs applauded his remarks, while Shah warned that the public is watching the opposition’s narrative closely. (PC: Business Standard)

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that India has shown interest in opening parts of its market, but more negotiations are needed to finalize a trade deal before President Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline. Talks have stalled over India’s reluctance to open sensitive agriculture and dairy sectors, while the US resists tariff relief on steel, aluminium, and automobiles. Greer emphasized India’s long-standing protectionist trade policy. Despite constructive discussions, no breakthrough was reached after five rounds of talks. India has yet to receive a formal tariff notice, unlike 20 other countries. An interim agreement is being explored to defer contentious issues. (PC: NDTV & The Epoch News)