Page 61 - United States

China slams US for increasing its defence budget to $1 trillion

The Chinese military on Wednesday criticised the United States for increasing its defence budget to USD one trillion, saying that "wanton use of force will not make America great again". Reacting to reports that the US defence budget for fiscal year 2026 will reach a record USD one trillion, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defence, said such an act would only inflict painful disasters upon the people of the US and the rest of the world. China, which is the second largest defence spender after the US, hiked its defence budget early this year by 7.2% increase to USD 249, which is a USD 17 billion rise compared to last year. America's sky-high defence budget exposed once again the bellicose nature of the US side and its belief in "might makes right," Zhang was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The US government is in heavy debt, yet it keeps pouring ill-gotten wealth exploited from other countries into manufacturing weapons,

India eyes ending import tax on US ethane and LPG in trade talks: Report

India levies import taxes of 2.5 per cent on ethane, mainly used as a feedstock for producing petrochemicals, and propane and butane

'Eradicated' measles returns to the US. How safe are we in India right now?

With measles resurging in the US, Indian experts say there is no cause for panic yet but underline the need for high vaccine coverage and public awareness

India's trade deficit widens to $21.54 bn, exports see 0.7% growth in March

Imports witnessed 11 per cent growth year-on-year at $63.51 billion

India-US bilateral trade deal: In-person talks may begin by May-end

India is also looking at non-tariff barriers as well as tariff barriers in the agreement

Harvard's decision to resist Trump is of 'momentous significance'

University's $2.2 bn funding frozen for defying Prez's campus demands

India and US just took the first big step toward a $500 bn trade goal

India and the US have finalised terms for the first phase of their trade deal, aiming to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 and deepen strategic economic ties

Trump slams Iran for slow nuclear talks, says they're 'tapping us along'

President Donald Trump complained Monday about the pace of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran as the two countries start a new round of pivotal negotiations. I think they're tapping us along, he said in the Oval Office during a meeting with El Salvador's president. The next meeting is expected to take place on Saturday in Rome, according to a source in the Italian government who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they weren't authorised to speak publicly. While Iran did not specifically acknowledge the plans, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks would happen in Rome while speaking to his Iraqi counterpart on Monday, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency. Speaking of Iran, Trump said I want them to be a rich, great nation. However, he said these are radicalised people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon." The first round of talks over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme took place over the weekend in Om

Polished diamond exports hit two-decade low, says industry group

The slump dragged down overall gem and jewellery exports by 11.7% to $28.5 billion - a four-year low - from $32.28 billion the previous year

China imposes visa curbs on US officials over 'egregious' Tibet actions

China on Monday slapped visa restrictions against US personnel who have acted egregiously on Tibet-related issues in retaliation to additional visa curbs imposed by Washington on Chinese officials. Tibet affairs are purely China's internal affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing here. In accordance with the Law on Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China and the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China, China decided to impose visa restrictions on US personnel who have acted egregiously on the Xizang (Tibet) -related issues, Lin told a media briefing. China refers to Tibet as Xizang. The restrictions were in response to similar restrictions imposed by Washington on Chinese officials. In a statement issued on March 31, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would impose additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials determined to be substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies .

Climate change sidelined as America pivots to fossil-fuel-heavy future

This is not the time to bury our heads in the sand and think that the Donald Trump administration's energy policy will not lead to massive changes in their world and ours

Exiting the markets now could prove costly as you may miss the rebound

Stick to the time-tested mantras of sticking to asset allocation, maintaining long-term orientation, and investing systematically to sail through these volatile times

US tariff break a 'small step' in fixing wrongdoings, says Beijing

President Donald Trump's administration excluded smartphones, computers and other electronics from the increased import duties on Friday

'Zero-for-zero' tariff under proposed India-US BTA unlikely: Report

A 'zero-for-zero' tariff strategy under the proposed bilateral trade agreement between India and the US is unlikely, as the two countries are at different levels of economic development, official sources said. Certain trade experts have suggested that India can propose a 'zero-for-zero' tariff strategy to the US for addressing America's reciprocal tariff hikes. An official said that zero-for-zero tariffs can be possible between the US and the European Union (EU) as both are developed and advanced nations. The India-US agreement will always be a "package" deal that could include issues such as goods and non-tariff barriers, the official said adding "it does not happen like this that if he will do 'zero' in electronics, we will also do in electronics. Trade agreements do not happen like this. It is a wrong thinking". India and the US have been engaged in negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) since March. Both sides have targeted to conclude the first phase of the pact by fall

At least 1 person dead after small plane crashes near New York's Copake

Two passengers were onboard the plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2B heading to Columbia County Airport near Hudson, New York

Court orders Trump admin to restore Maine funds over 'gender bias law'

A US District Court judge ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze federal aid to Maine to comply with requirements under a law aimed at prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education. District Court Judge John Woodcock issued a temporary restraining order on Friday in a case brought by the state of Maine against the US Department of Agriculture. An e-mail message seeking comment was sent Saturday to the Agriculture Department. At issue was the freezing of federal funds to Maine for certain administrative and technological functions in the state's schools. A letter from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins explained the decision stemmed from a disagreement between the state and federal governments over whether Maine was complying with Title IX, the federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. Soon after the secretary's letter was sent, Maine's Department of Education could not access several sources of federal funds for a state nutrition program, according

Iran, US begin indirect talks over Tehran's advancing nuclear programme

Envoys from Iran and the United States began negotiations Saturday in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. No overall agreement is immediately likely, but the stakes of the negotiations couldn't be higher for these two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear programme if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Flight-tracking data analysed by The Associated Press showed a private jet from Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, arrived in Oman on Saturday morning. US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff had just met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday there. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry released footage of Tehran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr ...

After passing budget plan, hard part of lawmaking begins for Republicans

Republicans narrowly got their budget plan over the finish line. Now comes the hard part. The resolution adopted this week was only a first step that allows Republicans to draft legislation that they can push through Congress without Democratic support. Next, they begin crafting a final bill with enough spending cuts to satisfy those on the right while not jeopardizing the reelection prospects of more vulnerable lawmakers whose constituents rely on key safety net programs. With thin majorities in the House and Senate, Republicans can afford to lose hardly any votes from their side of the aisle as they draft legislation, giving every individual lawmaker leverage over the process. It's going to take all of us to get it done, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. The road ahead is daunting. Republicans are determined to extend the individual tax cuts that were approved during President Donald Trump's first term before they expire at year's end. But they intend for the ...

India eyes trade pact push as US pauses reciprocal tariffs for 3 months

In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and American President Donald Trump had announced the intention to finalise the first phase of a mutually beneficial BTA by the end of 2025

S&P 500 drops 5% after Trump hikes China tariffs to 145%

US stocks are giving back much of their historic gains from the day before as Wall Street weighs a trade war that has cooled in temperature but is still threatening the economy. The S&P 500 fell 5 per cent Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,746 points, and the Nasdaq composite sank 5.8 per cent. Even a better-than-expected report on inflation wasn't enough to get US stocks to climb further. Losses for stocks accelerated after the White House clarified that Chinese imports will be tariffed at 145 per cent, not the 125 per cent rate that US President Donald Trump had earlier written about.