Page 6 - United States

Ukrainian, Russian envoys hold second day of US-brokered talks in Geneva

Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv met Wednesday in Geneva for a second consecutive day of US-brokered talks, with officials trying to bridge political and military differences stemming from Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago. "Consultations are taking place in working groups by areas within the political and military tracks," the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, wrote in English on X. "We are working on clarifying the parameters and mechanisms of the decisions discussed yesterday." The negotiations in Switzerland are the third round of direct talks organised by the US, after meetings earlier this year in Abu Dhabi that officials described as constructive but yielded no breakthrough. US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on social media that Washington's push for peace in Ukraine over the past year has "brought about meaningful progress." He didn't elaborate, and the fighting has continued. The two armies are locked in battle on the

YouTube down for more than 320,000 users in US, shows Downdetector

There were 321,958 incidents of people reporting issues with the social media platform

Mamdani threatens to raise NYC property taxes by 10% as last-resort option

Mamdani was elected on a wave of optimism and lofty promises to bring free childcare, no-cost buses, and a rent freeze to New Yorkers struggling in a city that has become increasingly unaffordable

Freed after 43 years, Indian-origin man denied bail in deportation case

An Indian-origin man who spent 43 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned - only to be taken straight into immigration custody - was denied bail Tuesday while he fights deportation. Subramanyam Vedam, 64, will remain in custody while he appeals a 1999 deportation order. The Board of Immigration Appeals agreed this month to hear his appeal based on what it called exceptional circumstances. The Trump administration had initially pursued a quick deportation and moved Vedam to a detention centre in Louisiana last fall, before two separate courts intervened. Vedam's lawyer argued Tuesday that he would have likely been spared deportation and become a citizen if not for the murder case, given immigration laws in place at the time. Vedam would have left prison on a drug charge by 1992, lawyer Ava Benach said. "It was delivery of LSD on a very small scale. This is not importing tons of cocaine," Benach said Tuesday. "He is not a danger to the community. We are talking ab

An illiberal tilt: A clash of civilisations with American characteristics

India will be hosting Brics Plus summit later this year. The grouping has major powers with significant independent agency and is certainly not a mere market to be carved up among countries of West

Crude falls 2% as progress in US-Iran talks raises market optimism

The talks took place amid a US military buildup in the Middle East. Iran's supreme leader said on Tuesday that any US attempt to depose his government would fail

Eli Lilly eyes India as global manufacturing hub amid rising drug demand

Sales of the blockbuster weight-loss drug doubled within months of its launch in India, and became its top-selling medicine by value

Cyber threats a risk, but financial sector well equipped: DFS secretary

US tariff easing brightens outlook for Indian exporters, says DFS secy Nagaraju

Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader who sought US presidency, dies at 84

An impassioned orator, he was a moral and political force who formed a "rainbow coalition" of poor and working-class people. His mission, he said, was "to transform the mind of America"

US open to tweaking steel, aluminum tariff enforcement: Jamieson Greer

Administration officials have been working to narrow the scope of the duties, which not only touch the metals themselves but dozens of products that contain them

Iran temporarily closes Strait of Hormuz for drills as talks with US resume

Iran announced the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday for live fire military drills in a rare show of force as its negotiators held another round of indirect talks with the United States in Geneva over its disputed nuclear programme. It was the first time Iran has announced the closure of the key international waterway, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil passes, since the US began threatening Iran and rushing military assets to the region. It marks a further escalation in a weekslong standoff that could ignite another war in the Middle East. As the talks began, Iran's state media announced that it had fired live missiles toward the Strait and would close it for several hours for "safety and maritime concerns." The semiofficial Tasnim news agency, which is close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said missiles launched inside Iran and along its coast had struck their targets in the Strait. Iranian state TV later said the talks had wrapped up after

Nuclear talks with US in Geneva end after 3-hour meet: Iranian state media

Iranian state TV says the latest round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States ended after almost three hours. The negotiations held in Geneva came as Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for live fire drills. The US and Iran were holding their second round of talks about Iran's nuclear programme on Tuesday in Geneva as Iran said it will close the Strait of Hormuz for several hours for live fire military exercises and the United States ramps up its military forces in the region.

Farm interests safeguarded in India-US trade deal: Agri Min Shivraj Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the India-US interim trade deal was finalised after careful consideration, with the government ensuring that no decision harms the farming community. Speaking at a programme here, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said, "I am speaking with full responsibility as the agriculture minister of India. In the trade agreement, we have taken complete care of the interests of Indian farmers. There will be no losses for India's farming community," he said. On imports, Chouhan said the country has to bring in the things it needs. "We are not self-sufficient when it comes to pulses even today. If something that we need comes from another country, what is the objection?" he asked. Similarly, he said, India imports around 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of apples. "They come from countries like Turkey and Iran. If one lakh metric tonnes (of apple) come from the United States, after ensuring that it does not affect our farmers, what

Indian exporter secures US order for 5,000 tonnes basmati rice: IREF

A member of the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) has entered into a commercial agreement to supply 5,000 tonnes of basmati rice to a buyer in the US, according to a statement. The federation said that this is a significant development as it comes after the finalisation of India-US trade deal, under which America has agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the present 25 per cent. "One of the members of the IREF has successfully entered into a commercial agreement for the supply of 5,000 MTs of basmati rice to a buyer in United States of America," it said. IREF said it has encouraged all its members to continue maintaining quality standards in their export activities.

'I have nothing to hide': Trump rubbishes links with Jeffrey Epstein

Trump's name has repeatedly come up amid the whole controversy, however, he has denied any wrongdoing and distanced himself from Epstein before the scandal fully erupted

3 killed, including suspect, in shooting during Rhode Island hockey game

Three people, including the suspect, were fatally shot during a Rhode Island youth hockey game Monday, authorities said. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves told reporters that three other victims are hospitalized in critical condition. "It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute," she said. Goncalves did not provide details about the suspect or the ages of those who were killed, though she said it appeared that both victims were adults. Authorities were continuing to try to piece together what happened and speak with witnesses, she said. The shooting happened at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, a few miles outside Providence. Outside the arena, tearful families and high school hockey players still in uniform could be seen hugging before they boarded a bus to leave the area. Roads surrounding the arena were shut down as a heavy police presence remained and helicopters flew overhead. Pawtucket is nestled just north of Providence and right under

Hyatt Executive Chairman Pritzker announces retirement over Epstein ties

Pritzker is the latest in a string of high-profile business leaders, politicians and other public figures forced to reckon with public attention on their ties with Epstein

India seizes Iran-linked US-sanctioned tankers, steps up surveillance

The Indian Coast Guard has since deployed about 55 ships ​and 10 to 12 aircraft for round-the-clock surveillance in its maritime zones, according to the ‌source

India to send team to US next week for interim trade pact text: Comm Secy

A team of Indian officials will visit the US next week to finalise the legal text for an interim trade agreement, which is likely to be signed in March, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday. The visit is likely to start on February 23. Earlier this month, India and the US released a joint statement to announce that a framework for an interim trade agreement has been finalised. "The joint statement lays down the contours of the deal. Now, the contours of the deal have to be translated into a legal agreement, which will be signed between the two sides," he told reporters here. Both sides are engaged in finalising that legal agreement, and virtual talks are going on for that. "Next week, (India's) chief negotiator Darpan Jain will be leading a delegation to the US to finalise the legal (pact) to work towards the legal agreement. That work will carry on next week in Washington and, if need be, thereafter in July and March," Agrawal said. Jain is the joint secretary in the