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Hillary Clinton to meet salt pan workers on 2nd day of Gujarat visit

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will meet salt pan workers in Gujarat's Surendranagar district on Monday, the second day of her visit to the state. During the programme, she will also announce a 'Climate Resilience Fund', the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) said in a statement. Clinton will visit the shelter and salt pan of a woman farmer in Kuda desert of Surendranagar district. Some farmers will also explain to her the process of salt farming and share their experiences, it said. She will also visit a community learning centre and attend a round table with SEWA leaders on the next 50 years of the organisation, the statement said. On Sunday, Clinton attended a programme in Ahmedabad to mark 50 years of SEWA as a trade union and paid homage to its founder and renowned social activist Ela Bhatt. During the event, she said heat caused by climate change poses an additional challenge to women workers in informal sectors and a global Climate Resilience Fund will h

US body welcomes govt's budget proposal to reduce import tariffs on pecan

America's National Pecan Federation has welcomed the annual budgetary proposal of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to reduce the import duty on pecan by 70 per cent, a move it said would benefit thousands of farmers in the country, especially in Georgia. This is great news for the pecan industry, Larry Don Womack, chairman of National Pecan Federation (NPF), said after Sitharaman in her budget proposed to reduce the import tariff on pecan from 100 per cent to just 30 per cent. The federation, in a statement on Thursday, described it as a significant positive change for the pecan industry that opens the US pecan export market to India. Pecans are grown in 15 states and have a significant impact on these rural economies. Opening the India market will be a great opportunity for our industry to expand and grow, Womack said. Over the last few years, the NPF had been working with pecan growers, lawmakers and US trade representatives asking them to urge India to reduce the tariff

US Republican senator seeks removal of subsidies on wheat, rice in India

A powerful Republican Party Senator has urged the Biden administration to speak to the Indian government about the subsidies it gives to its wheat and rice growing farmers, which he claimed is against the norms of the World Trade Organization. Rice and wheat farmers throughout the country are seriously impacted by India's blatant WTO violations, Senator John Boozman from Arkansas said during a Congressional hearing on the 2023 Farm Bill organised by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. We continue to engage India in multilateral forums on this issue, raising questions in the WTO, and working on counter notifications in years past to bring out really what we view as the truth to their subsidisation policy, replied Alexis Taylor, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. He was responding to a question from Boozman, who is a Ranking Member of the Agricultural Committee. Could you tell us a little bit about what you are doing in your ...

India, US keen to conclude $3 billion MQ-9B predator armed drones deal

India and the United States are keen for an early conclusion of the 30 MQ-9B predator armed drones deal at a cost of over USD 3 billion, which will help New Delhi strengthen its overall surveillance apparatus along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Indian Ocean. In the works for more than five years, the ball is now in India's court, officials familiar with the development said Wednesday, without explaining further. The MQ-9B predator armed drones -- 10 each for three services -- is seen to be a key part of India's national security and defense needs. The officials did not elaborate further but ruled out that there was any bureaucratic hurdle or regulatory issues involved. I have to take that back and check on that, Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs Jessica Lewis told reporters here when asked for the delay in the deal, which was announced in the summer of 2017. It has been pending for quite some time now, for reasons not known in the public. Howev

Launch of 'Innovation Bridge' to connect US, Indian defence startups

The two sides discussed opportunities for greater cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, co-development and coproduction, and ways to deepen connectivity across our innovation ecosystems

Indian, US space officials discuss human space exploration in Washington

A highlight of the NASA-ISRO cooperation is the Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, planned for next year

US, India seek joint production of GE jet engines amid push for closer ties

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a briefing that the framework won't be solely driven by the geopolitical challenges posed by Moscow or Beijing

US-India partnership targets arms, semiconductors, AI to compete with China

New Delhi has frustrated Washington by participating in military exercises with Russia and increasing purchases of the country's crude oil, a key source of funding for Russia's war in Ukraine

India-US relationship not as strong as it needs to be: Congressman Thanedar

The relationship between India and the US has not been as strong as it needs to be, Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has said, vowing that he will work to strengthen economic ties that benefit both countries and help enhance cooperation between their people. Thanedar, 67, represents the 13th Congressional District of Michigan, which mainly comprises parts of Detroit and its suburbs. He was sworn in as a member of the US House of Representatives early this month. He became the fifth Indian-American to be in the current Congress, joining four others: Dr Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal. I think historically, this (India-US relationship) has not been as strong a relationship as it needs to be. We are the two biggest democracies. India has a huge economic power. India now has the leadership of G-20, Thanedar told PTI. His first month of in the House has been quite historic as he voted 15 times to elect the Speaker. This week, he was made members of

India important partner of choice, says Biden admin ahead of Doval's visit

India is an important partner of choice for the United States, the Biden administration has said ahead of a crucial visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for talks with the top American leadership, including his counterpart Jake Sullivan. In response to a question on Doval's planned visit to Washington next week, State Department's Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters here on Thursday that enhanced security cooperation with India was also part of US-India relations. "India is an important partner of choice for the United States in a number of spaces, and that includes trade cooperation, Patel said. It, of course, includes security cooperation. It also includes technological cooperation as well. I don't want to get too ahead of the process or get ahead of any specific meetings that might be coming down the pike, he said. Both sides are yet to announce the visit of Doval to Washington. This (India-US ties) is, of course, of great importance to us, Patel said. Ear

US deploys diplomacy professionals to mentor women-led Indian ventures

The United States is deploying its public diplomacy professionals to mentor women-led, early-stage ventures in India, a top American diplomat has said. In her address to the US-India Alliance Shatter Summit, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said when women succeed, inclusiveness increases and discrimination declines and when women thrive, communities are stronger and economies are more resilient. We are deploying our public diplomacy professionals to mentor women-led, early-stage ventures in India from an idea on the back of a napkin to a fully-functioning business, Sherman said. Women are critical for rapid and sustainable growth in India and everywhere. Indeed, before the pandemic, one study estimated that gender parity could add USD 770 billion to India's GDP by 2025, Sherman said. We are helping equip female entrepreneurs, in India and South Asia, with the digital skills needed to compete in the 21st century. And we are supporting women disproportionately impacted by ...

India important partner of choice for US, says Biden administration

India is an important partner of choice for the United States, the Biden Administration has said ahead of the crucial visit of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for talks with the top American leadership, including his counterpart Jake Sullivan. India is an important partner of choice for the United States in a number of spaces, and that includes trade cooperation, State Department's Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters here on Thursday. It, of course, includes security cooperation. It also includes technological cooperation as well. I don't want to get too ahead of the process or get ahead of any specific meetings that might be coming down the pike, he said in response to a question. This (India-US ties) is, of course, of great importance to us, Patel said.

US instrumental partner during India's transformative journey: Ambassador

India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, here on Thursday during an occasion to celebrate the 74th Republic Day said the United States has been an instrumental partner for India during its transformative journey. Sandhu, joined by Indian American Congressmen Ro Khanna and Thanedar, celebrated the Republic Day here along with community members in and around the US capital. The global comprehensive strategic partnership, between India and the United States, has continued to intensify, covering almost all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests, on a range of issues, and vibrant, people to people contacts, the Ambassador said. Our two countries are benefiting from mutual exchanges, across domains including healthcare, clean energy, security, education, technology, translating the vision of PM Modi and President Biden, into action. Our engagements with partners in Quad, have expanded into infrastructure, supply chains, climate .

Smriti Irani, Wendy Sherman to address summit on Women's empowerment

Top women leaders from India and the United States, including Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, and US President's top advisor Neera Tanden will address the first-ever US-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment Shatter Summit here. To be joined by top diplomats and officials from the two countries, the day-long summit co-hosted by the US Department of State and the Shatter Foundation, the summit will celebrate the United States' and India's joint commitment to invest in and economically empower women and girls. Women's participation in the economy is not just good for the world, but also good for business. Being held at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department here on January 26, the summit will feature eminent speakers from both sides including Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Assistant Secretary of .

US-India relations not a Bollywood movie, need more than just photo-ops

A new survey shows that Indians view the US as the biggest military threat to their country after China - and, even more shocking, put it ahead of Pakistan

'India a great example of countries choosing security assistance from US'

In 1997, defence trade between India and the US was almost negligible, today it stands above $20 billion

Significant progress in issuance of business visas in India, says US

The US said there has been significant progress in issuance of business visas in India, and America is taking several steps like increasing the number of staff to further facilitate the process here

Globalisation in reverse gear: Opportunity for bold US-India partnership?

Globalisation was once thought to be an irrevocable, universal force promoting the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Today, that belief is under challenge

India, US create new working group on 'resilient trade' under TPF

There will also be discussion on issues such as digitisation of Customs procedures and strengthening the resilience of global supply chains in critical sectors

LIVE: Former Union Minister Sharad Yadav passes away, confirms his daughter

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