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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrives in India on two-day visit

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in India on Sunday on a two-day visit to explore ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, especially in areas of transfer of critical technologies for co-development of military hardware. Secretary Austin's trip comes over two weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington during which the two sides are expected to unveil initiatives to expand the India-US global strategic partnership. "I'm returning to India to meet with key leaders for discussions about strengthening our Major Defense Partnership. Together, we're advancing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific," the US defence secretary tweeted shortly after landing in New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Austin are set to discuss in their talks on Monday the General Electric's proposal to share technology with India for fighter jet engines and New Delhi's plan to procure 30 MQ-9B armed drones at a cost of over USD 3 billion fro

US FDA to temporarily import Chinese cancer drug to ease shortage

Cisplatin, a generic drug available for decades in the US, has faced national shortage since February after an Indian pharmaceutical company temporarily halted production for the US market

US, Saudi Arabia urge Sudan's warring parties to agree to a new cease-fire

Saudi Arabia and the United States urged Sudan's warring parties in a statement on Sunday to agree to and effectively implement a new cease-fire amid renewed fighting in the northeastern African nation. Sudan descended into chaos after fighting broke out in mid-April between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. For weeks, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been mediating between the warring parties. On May 21, both countries successfully brokered a temporary cease-fire agreement to help with the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to the war-torn country. Their efforts, however, were dealt a blow when the military announced on Wednesday it would no longer participate in the cease-fire talks held in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah. Following the military's decision, the US and Saudi Arabia said they were suspending the talks as a result of repeated serious violations of the ...

Ukrainian army's training on tanks, F-16 jet part of long-term strategy: US

Training for Ukrainian forces on advanced U.S. Abrams tanks has begun, and while those systems will not be ready in time for the imminent counteroffensive, those weapons will be critical in the longer-term to Ukraine ultimately pushing Russia out of its occupied territories, Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley said. Tank training began as the U.S. and allies began to work out agreements to train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets another long-wished-for advanced capability. Ultimately, while the tanks are needed to expel Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, the F-16s would be part of a longer-term security plan to deter future attacks, Milley said Thursday. Everyone recognises Ukraine needs a modernised Air Force, Milley said. It's going to take a considerable amount of time. Milley said detailed planning on class sizes, the types of flying tactics and locations for training was underway now between the U.S. and allies such as the Netherlands and the U.K. that have already ..

US job openings rise to 10.1 mn, labour market strong despite rate hikes

US job openings rose unexpectedly in April, illustrating the resilience of the American labour market even as the Federal Reserve attempts to cool the economy in its fight against inflation. Employers posted 10.1 million job openings last month, up from 9.7 million in March and the most since January. Economists had expected vacancies to slip below 9.5 million. Layoffs fell, but the number of people quitting their jobs a sign of confidence that they can find better pay or working conditions elsewhere slid last month. The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate 10 times in the last 14 months, making it more expensive for businesses to borrow and invest. The central bank is hoping achieve a so-called soft landing raising rates enough to slow hiring, economic growth and price increases without tipping the world's biggest economy into recession. Economists are sceptical and many expect a recession to start later this year. Inflation has come down steadily from the four-decade

Musk meets China's Qin Gang, calls for mutual respect in US-China relations

China's foreign minister met Tesla Ltd. CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday and said strained U.S.-Chinese relations require mutual respect, while delivering a message of reassurance that foreign companies are welcome. U.S.-Chinese relations are especially tense after Washington shot down a Chinese balloon believed to be gathering intelligence and warned Beijing against supplying arms to Russia for its war against Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported China has rejected a request for its defense minister to meet the U.S. defense secretary when both are in Singapore this weekend. We need to keep the steering wheel in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, Qin Gang told Musk, according to a ministry statement. The two sides should avoid dangerous driving,' Qin said. He gave no details of steps to improve relations. Musk's visit comes at a time when the ruling Communist Party is trying to revive investor interest in China's slowing economy. Fore

US ends probe into Tesla for allowing video games in vehicles while moving

U.S. highway safety regulators have closed an investigation into Tesla allowing video games to be played on centre touch screens while vehicles are moving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Tuesday that Tesla disabled the feature called passenger play with an online software update in December of 2021, under pressure from the agency. The agency said in documents that removing passenger play resolved its concerns about distracted driving that could be caused by the feature. The software update covered more than 580,000 vehicles from the 2017 through 2022 model years. One month after software update went out, Tesla reported that 97% of the vehicles had received it. The agency said it opened the investigation in December of 2021 after getting a complaint from a Tesla owner that games could be played by the driver while the vehicles are moving. The investigation was opened to assess the driver distraction potential. It says in documents that

Sri Lankan rupee shows appreciation against US Dollar in recent months

The LKR depreciated dramatically from 202 per dollar in March 2022 to around 360 after the government allowed it to float

US Navy hit by Chinese state-sponsored hacking campaign: Official

The US Navy didn't respond for comment. China denied the hacking accusations

Modi-Biden talks to revolve around peace, people during visits: US Envoy

: The discussions during the upcoming state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US and American President Joe Biden's trip to India will revolve around four Ps- Peace, Prosperity, Planet, and People, said a top diplomat of the US here on Friday. U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti who was in the city, told reporters that the entire planet is counting on the friendship between India and US and the deepening ties. In four months, our leaders will meet thrice face-to-face, and probably as I said it feels natural I think as I said those four Ps- peace, prosperity, work on our planet, and connecting our people will be what you see when Prime Minister (Modi) comes to Washington and you'll see a further reflection and deepening that when the president (Biden) comes here to India.. I hope that he (Biden) will have a chance not just visit the capital Delhi but maybe go someplace else in the country as well, the envoy said when asked about the main agenda of the leaders' visit. P

Hyundai Motor, LG Energy Solution to invest $4.3 bn in US battery plant

In October, Hyundai Motor Group began the construction of a 300,000-unit-a-year EV and battery plant in Georgia, aiming to begin commercial production in the first half of 2025

US economic growth for last quarter revised up to 1.3% annual rate

The US economy grew at a lackluster 1.3 per cent annual rate from January through March as businesses wary of an economic slowdown trimmed their inventories, the government said on Thursday, a slight upgrade from its initial estimate. The government had previously estimated that the economy grew at a 1.1 per cent annual rate last quarter. The Commerce Department's revised measure on Thursday of growth in the nation's gross domestic product the economy's total output of goods and services marked a deceleration from the second half of 2022. Despite the first-quarter slowdown, consumer spending, which accounts for around 70 per cent of America's economic output, rose at a healthy pace. The steady weakening of economic growth is a consequence of the Federal Reserve's aggressive drive to tame inflation, with 10 interest rate hikes over the past 14 months. Across the economy, the Fed's rate increase have elevated the costs of auto loans, credit card borrowing and business loans. With

China defends ban on Micron, accuses Washington of 'economic coercion'

The Chinese government on Wednesday defended its ban on products from US memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. in some computer systems after Washington expressed concern, adding to strains over technology and security. The security review of Micron products was conducted in accordance with the law," said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning. The Cyberspace Administration of China on Sunday said Micron products have unspecified security risks but gave no details. It banned them from computers that handle sensitive information. That came after Washington, Japan and the Netherlands blocked Chinese access to technology to make advanced processor chips on security grounds at a time when the ruling Communist Party is threatening to attack Taiwan and is more assertive toward its other Asian neighbours. China's cybersecurity review does not target specific countries or regions, Mao said. We do not exclude technologies and products from any country. Companies on both sides have bee

Donald Trump's hush-money payment case trial date set for March 2024

He was first arrested and appeared in a New York courtroom in April, where he was charged with 34 felony counts of fraud in a 16-page indictment

US 'natural partner' in Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, says official

Describing Atmanirbhar Bharat as a brilliant initiative which was long overdue, a top Indian-American chief executive has said that the US is a natural partner in India's initiative to make the country self-reliant in various fields, particularly in defence. The remarks by Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the US in June. I think it (Atmanirbhar Bharat) is a brilliant initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Atmanirbhar Bharat is a long overdue process that needs to evolve and, in its definition, itself is a lot of collaboration, a lot of R&D (Research and Development), joint R&D, and a lot of technologies that need to be incubated for the betterment of India," Lall told PTI in an interview. "It is a very laudable initiative. I think the US is a natural partner in that. The ability of the US and India to work together to achieve the Prime Minister's goals is probably the best path ..

China warns against 'geopolitical games'; Blinken to visit Papua New Guinea

China on Friday warned against the introduction of geopolitical games in the South Pacific following the announcement that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Papua New Guinea next week. The U.S. opted to send Blinken after President Joe Biden cancelled what was to have been a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as a visit to Australia for a meeting of leaders of the so-called Quad partnership so he can focus on debt limit talks in Washington. The administration has made putting a greater focus on the Pacific region central to its global outreach, largely to counter China's growing influence there. China has no objection to normal exchanges and cooperation between relevant parties and Pacific Island countries, and has always advocated that the international community should pay more attention to and support the development and revitalisation of the island countries, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing. However, Wang added, We also

US unemployment claims tumbled last week after fraud-inflated jump

Some economists have been wary about drawing strong conclusions from the data amid reports that fraudulent claims have been behind the recent upward trend in filings

India in touch with US authorities on Tahawwur Rana's extradition: Kwatra

India is in regular touch with the US authorities for a speedy and early extradition of Tahawwur Rana, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Thursday against the backdrop of a US court approving extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused. In a major victory for India's fight in bringing perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to justice, US Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of the US District Court of the central district of California issued a 48-page order on May 16, saying Rana should be extradited to India. "Insofar as the question of Tahawwur Rana is concerned, we are in very regular touch with the US authorities to ensure that there is speedy and early extradition of Tahawwur Rana. We have all seen the judgement which was given by the local US court there. That conversation of ours with the US side is continuing," Kwatra said. He was replying to a question at a media briefing on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take up the issue of Rana's extradition to India if .

Biden's re-election campaign sees 'viable pathways' to 2024 election win

President Joe Biden 's reelection campaign is vowing to hold the states that won him the White House in 2020 but also compete in places it lost like North Carolina and increasingly Republican-dominated Florida, providing what it says are a number of viable pathways to the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch four more years. Offering her first extensive comments on strategy since she was named manager of Biden's campaign last month, Julie Chavez Rodriguez wrote in a memo to interested parties that the 2024 race presents significant opportunities to grow Democratic support. It was released while Biden was travelling in Japan, but he is skipping previously planned, subsequent stops in Australia and Papua New Guinea to focus on debt limit talks in Washington. Rodriguez said the reelection campaign is planning early investments to try to retain battleground states Biden won in 2020 including Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada and New Hampshire, and to hold Georgia and Arizona, ..

US factories production surges in April as motor vehicles output rises

Capacity use for the manufacturing sector increased 0.7 percentage point to 78.3% in April. It is 0.1 percentage point above its long-run average