US President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel to 50% from January 1, 2027, escalating the trade dispute between the two countries. The announcement followed the collapse of trade talks between Washington and Ottawa. Trump accused Canada of imposing unfair tariffs on US farmers and said Canada had taken advantage of the United States for years. Canada has already indicated it could retaliate against US tariffs on a range of American goods. Trump said manufacturers could avoid the higher duties by producing vehicles and automotive parts in the United States. The proposed increase would further intensify trade tensions between the two closely linked North American economies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Kremlin on Monday, discussing the expansion of India-Russia ties and cooperation across key sectors. Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings and delivered a personal message from him. Putin highlighted decades of bilateral relations and said trade had continued to grow in 2026, with cooperation expanding across almost all areas. Jaishankar pointed to significant progress in trade, energy, fertilisers and nuclear cooperation following the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission meeting. Putin also said Russia was ready to increase fertiliser supplies to India to support its agricultural sector. Jaishankar said Modi looked forward to meeting Putin at the SCO and BRICS summits and holding their annual summit. 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s postponed three-day Delhi visit has highlighted growing strains in India-Bangladesh relations, according to the article. Dhaka has sought Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, while some officials have expressed interest in a Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey defence pact dubbed “Islamic NATO”. Rahman visited Beijing before his planned Delhi trip, discussing the Teesta project and a proposed Yunnan-Bangladesh highway via Myanmar. The article also points to rising Chinese influence and security concerns involving radical groups in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, India is strengthening security around the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor. Rahman’s reported reluctance to attend the BRICS summit could further reduce opportunities for talks on counter-terrorism, trade, electricity and transport. The article argues for pragmatic India-Bangladesh partnership. (PC: Vartha Bharati)

The Trump administration on August 24 released a proposed regulation to codify a fee of more than $100,000 on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. President Donald Trump had first imposed the fee through a temporary proclamation last year, but courts blocked it. The proposed fee would significantly increase the cost of H-1B visas, which are widely used by the technology, education and research sectors. The move is facing legal challenges, with lawsuits arguing that the administration’s power to restrict entry does not allow it to override the law establishing the H-1B visa programme. The proposal could therefore face further legal scrutiny as the administration seeks to formalise the unprecedented charge. (PC: Getty Images)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced a strategic partnership with German sports car maker Porsche AG to deliver AI services across Porsche’s mobility value chain. Under the agreement, TCS will acquire 100% of Porsche’s management and IT consulting subsidiary, MHP Management-und IT-Beratung GmbH, for €320 million, or about Rs 3,575 crore. Porsche has also signed a five-year strategic agreement with MHP and TCS worth €1.25 billion, approximately Rs 13,967 crore. As part of the partnership, TCS will establish an AI Mobility Centre of Excellence for Porsche. The centre will focus on driving innovation across manufacturing, engineering, operations and customer experience, strengthening the technology partnership between the two companies and accelerating innovation. (PC: X)

Government sources have described India’s discussions on media arrangements surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in France in June as “normal practice”. The clarification followed US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s claim that India had specifically requested no media interaction after the bilateral meeting. According to the sources, discussions on public appearances are routine before VVIP visits, and India communicated its standard practice for such engagements. Gor said Trump initially agreed but later invited reporters’ questions, resulting in a 45-minute press conference with Modi beside him. The Modi-Trump meeting took place on June 17 in Evian-les-Bains, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

India’s AK-203 assault rifle, named ‘Sher’, has achieved 100% indigenisation, with full-scale domestic production set to begin at Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited’s Korwa plant in Amethi. Ten fully indigenous prototypes will be handed to the Indian Army within a month for user, quality assurance, infantry and environmental trials. The rifles have already completed 3,000 successful factory test firings. Deliveries are scheduled from April 2027, with 7,000 rifles planned in the first three months. IRRPL aims to produce 1.5 lakh annually and fulfil its over-six-lakh rifle order by 2030-31, ahead of schedule. Localising 50 major components, 180 child parts and 1,600 precision gauges required extensive engineering work. Export plans are also underway. (PC: News18)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a youth protest march on September 5 from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters, accusing the Centre of failing to fulfil commitments that led to the withdrawal of the students’ movement on July 25. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the march would remain peaceful and warned that the party would not accept “vishwasghaat” (betrayal) against Gen Z protesters, young demonstrators and families of those who died. Das also questioned whether the Narendra Modi government intended to honour its promises to student protesters. The announcement comes a month after the CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest spread across India, drawing attention to the party’s demands and its criticism of the Centre’s handling of the movement. (PC: PTI)

A 19-year-old Indian-origin student, Alli Renee Singh, died after the car she was travelling in plunged off a cliff into the ocean near Santa Cruz, California. The accident happened on April 13 near the Steamer Lane surf break. Singh was studying psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. A male passenger escaped with minor injuries. Rescue teams found Singh trapped inside the submerged car. Four professional divers helped bring her out. She was taken to a hospital but later died from her injuries. Her family asked for privacy. The accident also raised concerns over coastal erosion along West Cliff Drive.

IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has pledged another ₹300 crore to IIT Kanpur’s Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology. His total contribution to the project has now reached ₹400 crore. Gangwal had earlier donated ₹100 crore in 2022. The latest contribution also includes a matching grant. He will match donations from alumni and other supporters up to ₹300 crore. The medical school plans to build a 500-bed super-speciality hospital and a 200-bed cancer care research centre. The project aims to combine medicine, engineering and technology. IIT Kanpur said the new funding will help speed up the project’s development.