Page 9 - United States

India negotiating bilateral trade agreement with US, says Piyush Goyal

With five rounds concluded so far, India-US trade negotiations faced a pause as the US deferred its visit after imposing a 50 per cent duty on Indian goods from August 27

US-India ties continue to reach new heights: US Embassy amid fallout

The post comes amid strained relations between India and the US after the Donald Trump-led administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports

US envoys spark diplomatic tensions, White House not doing much about it

Do not antagonise one's opponents unnecessarily, a basic principle of diplomacy says. But as the United States faces a trade war with China and various tensions overseas, President Donald Trump's emissaries are increasingly ticking off allied countries and being called to account. Just this week, no fewer than three US envoys scrambled to extricate themselves from diplomatic hot water. Denmark's foreign minister summoned the top US diplomat in the country to answer for reports that at least three people with connections to Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland, a Danish territory. France summoned the US ambassador, Trump in-law Charles Kushner, over his letter to President Emmanuel Macron alleging the country has not done enough to fight antisemitism. And the American ambassador to Turkiye, longtime Trump friend Tom Barrack, apologised Thursday for using the word animalistic while calling for a gaggle of reporters to quiet down during a press confere

EPA fires employees who publicly criticised agency policies under Trump

The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday fired at least eight employees who signed a letter criticising the agency's leadership under Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Donald Trump. Following a thorough internal investigation, EPA supervisors made decisions on an individualized basis,' an EPA spokeswoman said Friday in a statement. The so-called declaration of dissent, signed by more than 170 employees in late June, contains inaccurate information designed to mislead the public about agency business,' spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou said. Thankfully, this represents a small fraction of the thousands of hard-working, dedicated EPA employees who are not trying to mislead and scare the American public. The EPA "has a zero-tolerance policy for career officials using their agency position and title to unlawfully undermine, sabotage and undercut the will of the American public that was clearly expressed at the ballot box last November,' she added. Vaseliou declined to say how many .

US consumer spending rises solidly in July as core inflation edges higher

Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, rose 0.5 per cent last month after an upwardly revised 0.4 per cent gain in June

Florida taxpayers may lose $218 mn as 'Alligator Alcatraz' to shutdown

Florida taxpayers could be on the hook for USD 218 million the state spent to convert a remote training airport in the Everglades into an immigration detention centre dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. The centre may soon be completely empty as a judge upheld her decision late Wednesday ordering operations to wind down indefinitely. Shutting down the facility for the time being would cost the state USD 15 million to USD 20 million immediately, and it would cost another USD 15 million to USD 20 million to reinstall structures if Florida is allowed to reopen it, according to court filings by the state. The Florida Division of Emergency Management will lose most of the value of the USD 218 million it has invested in making the airport suitable for a detention centre, a state official said in court papers. Built in just a few days, the facility consists of chain-link cages surrounding large white tents filled with rows of bunk beds. An Associated Press analysis of publicly available state ..

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook sues Trump over attempt to fire her

Cook filed the suit Thursday in federal court in Washington, following through on a vow to fight to finish her term that expires in 2038

Denmark summons US diplomat over alleged 'covert operation' in Greenland

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom (of Denmark) will be unacceptable

Shooting at Minneapolis Catholic school left 3 dead, including shooter

A shooting occurred Wednesday during the first week of classes at a Minneapolis Catholic school, the Minnesota governor and authorities said. There was no immediate information on any injuries. Gov Tim Waltz said on social media that he had been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School. I'm praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence, Waltz wrote on X. A person answering the phone at Annunciation School said students were being evacuated. The pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school had an all-school Mass scheduled at 8:15 am Wednesday morning, according to its website. Monday was the first day of school.

Pro-Khalistani terrorist Pannun defends Sikh driver who killed 3 in Florida

Stating that Pannun has been in touch with Singh over the last two days, the former said the incident was not an intentional act but a misjudgment

Textile hubs in Surat, Tiruppur suspend output as US tariff takes effect

The 50 per cent tariff will affect the export prospects of several industries in India's largest market and also poses a risk for India's near-term growth and capital flows trajectory

What to know about massive dust storms called haboobs in Southwest US

Massive walls of dust and debris called haboobs that roll through the Southwest U.S. can be awe-inspiring and terrifying, especially for motorists caught in their path. Thunderstorms spawn the phenomenon and can create a wall of dust thousands of feet tall and several miles wide, reaching speeds of 60 mph (97 kpm) or more. Here's what to know: How do haboobs form? Thunderstorms can produce strong downdrafts that hit the ground at 50-80 mph (80-129 kph) and then spread in all directions, said Sean Benedict, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Phoenix office. The winds stir up loose dust and dirt, including from arid areas and farm fields, that get blown along in front of the approaching storm cell. If thunderstorms don't keep developing, the dust dissipates. But rain-cooled air in front of a storm can keep pushing warm air upward, generating new storms and more downdrafts, Benedict said. When that happens, the haboob can keep growing, and some travel as far as 100 m

Waaree Solar Americas bags 452 MW solar module supply order in US

Waaree Energies on Tuesday said its US arm Waaree Solar Americas has secured an order to supply 452 MW of advanced solar modules to a leading American developer of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. Scheduled for delivery across FY2026-27, these modules reinforce Waaree's growing presence in North America and highlight a strategic shift in how the US market is embracing Indian manufacturing strength to accelerate its decarbonisation goals, a company statement said. Waaree Energies, India's leading clean energy transition company, announced that its wholly-owned US subsidiary Waaree Solar Americas has signed an agreement to supply 452 MW of advanced solar modules to a leading American developer of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects, it added. The transition from developer to Indian manufacturer underlines India's emergence as a trusted partner in diversifying global renewable energy supply chains, at a time when the world is seeking alternatives to ...

How much do Microsoft engineers earn in the US? Pay levels revealed

Engineers starting at Microsoft on Level 57 receive a base salary of $83,000, while senior roles at Level 70 can command salaries of up to $408,000 annually

Donald Trump moves to ban US flag burning despite Supreme Court ruling

The order the Republican president signed in the Oval Office acknowledged the court's 5-4 ruling in a case from Texas in 1989

India engages second US lobbying firm ahead of 50% export tariff hike

The move follows concerns that India was outpaced by Pakistan in influence over US policy and criticism over its continued purchase of discounted Russian crude oil

European postal services suspend shipment of packages to US over tariffs

The end of an exemption on tariff duties for low-value packages coming into the United States is causing multiple international postal services to pause shipping as they await more clarity on the rule. The exemption, known as the de minimis" exemption, allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty free. A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the US Customs and Border Patrol Agency. It is set to expire on Friday. On Saturday, postal services around Europe announced that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties. Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the U.S. effective immediately. France and Austria will follow on Monday. The U.K.'s Royal Mail said it would halt shipments to the US on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties

US heatwave smothers Pacific Northwest, poses risk in California, Arizona

Residents of the western US are sweltering in a heat wave that's already hospitalized some as temperatures will continue to hit dangerous levels throughout the weekend in Washington, Oregon, Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. Around 1.2 million people were under extreme heat risk Saturday, meaning temperatures are expected to stay dangerously high with no relief overnight. The largest area under the warning is around Tucson, Arizona, where the National Weather Service forecast dangerous highs between 102 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit (39 and 42 degrees Celsius). Areas of inland Southern California also faced extreme risk. Another 18.6 million are under major heat risk, affecting workers and anyone without regular cooling and hydration, including in Miami. Portland, Oregon, reported a record high for August 22, according to preliminary data. Struggling through the smothering heat were long-distance runners who were passing a baton in a relay race from inland Mt. Hood to the Pacifi

'Never saw Trump act improperly', says Maxwell on Jeffrey Epstein ties

Ghislaine Maxwell told DOJ she never saw Donald Trump act inappropriately during his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, denying any connection to Epstein's crimes or misconduct

Judge halts Trump's bid to cut funds to 34 'sanctuary' cities, counties

A judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot deny funding to Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and 30 other cities and counties because of policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts. US District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco late Friday extended a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from cutting off or conditioning the use of federal funds for so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. His earlier order protected more than a dozen other cities and counties, including San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. The Trump administration has ratcheted up pressure on those communities as it seeks to make good on President Donald Trump's campaign promise to remove millions of people in the country illegally. One executive order issued by Trump directs Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold federal money from sanctuary jurisdictions. Another order directs every federal agency to ensure that payments t