President Trump called China's massive military parade "impressive" but dismissed it as staged performance to grab his attention. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump criticized Xi Jinping for omitting US contributions in his World War 2 victory speech, saying America "helped China greatly gain its freedom." The parade at Tiananmen Square featured cutting-edge missiles, goose-stepping troops, and 50,000 spectators, with Xi flanked by Putin and Kim Jong Un. Trump earlier posted on Truth Social suggesting the trio was "conspiring against America," but softened his tone later, claiming good relationships with all three leaders. Despite heightened US-China tensions over tariffs and geopolitical dominance, Trump hinted at possible upcoming meeting with Xi.

President Trump questioned Apple CEO Tim Cook about US investments during a White House tech dinner, referencing Apple's India operations as Cook announced $600 billion commitment. Trump pressed other CEOs too: Zuckerberg pledged $600 billion for Meta, Pichai committed $250 billion over two years for Google, while Nadella announced $75-80 billion for Microsoft this year. The questioning follows Trump's May warning to Cook against building in India, despite Apple's plans to manufacture 25% of global iPhones there. Apple reportedly told Indian officials it won't slow expansion, planning $2.5 billion investment to boost production from 40 million to 60 million units annually. The dinner included prominent tech leaders discussing AI advancement and US manufacturing priorities. (PC: India Today & CNN)

The Indian Air Force initiated a rescue mission on the morning of September 5, 2025, evacuating pilgrims stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra pilgrimage in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district. A first Chinook flight carried 50 devotees from Bharmour to Chamba, under the oversight of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi. Simultaneously, three IAF Chinooks airlifted 135 more pilgrims to safety amid clearing weather. On Thursday, a small helicopter had already completed seven sorties, rescuing 35 ailing and elderly devotees. Nearly 500 pilgrims are also being escorted by road with food, water, and transport arranged en route. (PC: ANI)  

On September 4, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing a previously negotiated trade agreement with Japan, reducing tariffs on Japanese automobiles from 27.5% to 15% . The new rate applies retroactively to imports shipped from August 7, and extends a 15% cap to a broader array of goods . As part of the deal, Japan pledged a staggering $550 billion investment in U.S. projects, ranging from infrastructure to defense and agriculture, aiming to deepen economic ties and foster job creation . Meanwhile, South Korea warned of potential disadvantages to its auto exports under the unchanged 25% duty. (PC: The Economic Times)

Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin superstar, delivered a modest 85.01 m in last week’s Diamond League final in Zurich—well below the 90 m benchmark he needs to defend his world championship title in Tokyo this month. Despite six consecutive top-two finishes and a personal best of 90.23 m earlier this year under new coach Jan Zelezny, his recent performances fall short of expectations. Chopra remains optimistic: “This was not too bad... In Tokyo, everything will be different,” he reflected after Zurich, eyeing peak form for the championship challenge ahead. 

The GST Council plans additional levies on tobacco and related products beyond the new 40% GST rate to protect state revenues after compensation cess ends. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a special 40% GST slab for "sin goods" including pan masala, cigarettes, zarda, and unmanufactured tobacco, effective September 22. Despite higher GST rates, overall tax incidence will remain 52-88%, matching current levels through supplementary duties. The compensation cess, originally implemented in 2017 for five years and extended until March 2026 due to pandemic-related state revenue losses, will be phased out gradually. Current 28% GST plus cess structure continues until November-December while compensation liabilities are fulfilled, preventing potential state revenue shortfalls. (PC: Health hub)

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged calm over India-US trade tensions, asserting "no need to panic" despite Trump's punitive 50% tariffs on Indian goods. Goyal emphasized India maintains "very good relations" with Washington and expressed confidence in reaching an "equitable, fair and balanced agreement." The tariffs doubled from 25% to 50% as penalty for India's Russian oil trade. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously called India "recalcitrant" in negotiations, initially targeting October completion. However, scheduled August talks were deferred indefinitely. Goyal stressed patience in trade negotiations, noting there's "never a timeline" for such complex discussions. Multiple negotiation rounds have occurred recently as both nations seek resolution amid escalating trade disputes and geopolitical tensions. (PC: X)

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton declares the Trump-Modi friendship "gone now" amid escalating trade tensions. Bolton warns that personal relationships with Trump offer no real protection from his unpredictable policies, citing the deteriorating India-US ties as evidence. Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods while Modi has been seen with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing, signaling shifting priorities. Bolton, who served as Trump's NSA from 2018-2019, criticizes Trump's tendency to view foreign policy through personal relationships rather than strategic interests. The former aide warns other leaders, including UK's Keir Starmer, that even strong personal bonds won't shield them from Trump's worst decision-making, marking the end of the much-publicized Trump-Modi "bromance". (PC: Bloomberg & The New York Times)

US President Donald Trump hosted prominent tech executives at a White House dinner Thursday, emphasizing AI advancements and corporate investments. The high-profile gathering included five notable Indian-American leaders: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Micron Technologies CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, TIBCO Chairman Vivek Ranadive, and Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar. Trump described attendees as "high IQ people" taking the country "to a new level." Originally planned for the Rose Garden, the event moved to the State Dining Room due to weather. Earlier, First Lady Melania Trump chaired the newly formed Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force meeting with participating tech leaders. The dinner underscores the administration's focus on AI innovation and strengthening ties with tech industry leaders driving America's technological advancement.

An old Irfan Pathan interview has gone viral again, reigniting debate about his relationship with former Indian captain MS Dhoni. In the resurfaced clip, Pathan suggested that Dhoni smoked hookah and allegedly favored players who participated. This has sparked widespread trolling and renewed scrutiny of team dynamics . The controversy is further fueled by renewed attention to a past incident where Pathan criticized Dhoni for wearing army-insignia gloves during a match . Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, has weighed in—launching a scathing attack on Dhoni and other legends for allegedly mistreating fellow players—and backed Pathan’s claims.