US Ambassador Sergio Gor calls Jammu and Kashmir important part of India after meeting Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” after meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. Ambassador Gor, who arrived in Srinagar as part of his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since assuming office, held discussions with Omar Abdullah on India-US relations and areas where Washington could engage with the Union Territory....more

Ambassador Gor calls for stronger India-US economic partnership

By Deepak Arora

MUMBAI: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Tuesday called for India and the United States to work together as “true partners” to address friction points and unlock the full potential of their economic relationship. Addressing the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) National Convention in Mumbai, Ambassador Gor called for stronger India-US economic partnership. He stressed the need for predictable taxation and regulatory frameworks to provide businesses with greater certainty and encourage investment and innovation....more

IOC USA Expands Footprint, Launches Connecticut Chapter Under Kamal Swamy

By Deepak Arora

CONNECTICUT (USA): The Indian Overseas Congress USA has strengthened its political and community presence in the Northeast with the launch of its Connecticut Chapter, led by Kamal Swamy, as the organization moves to expand its grassroots network among Indian Americans. The new chapter was formally inaugurated in Connecticut in the presence of senior IOC USA leaders, community members and supporters. The launch marks another step in the organization's nationwide expansion under President Mohinder Singh Gilzian....more

Trump strikes major diesel deal with Russia in bid to lower US fuel prices ahead of midterms

WASHINGTON, Oct 10: US President Donald Trump announced a major energy supply agreement with Russia on Friday that could see Moscow supply nearly 5 million tons of diesel fuel to global energy markets.

The deal was unveiled after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and was swiftly followed by the US Treasury issuing a temporary general license allowing the purchase of Russian diesel until April 7 next year.

The move comes as part of Trump’s effort to reduce domestic energy prices ahead of the crucial midterm elections in the US, in which the President’s Republican party is expected to fare poorly due to widespread concerns about high inflation and affordability.

“I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Putin of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter. Additionally, based on the condition of their Diesel Refineries, Russia will then deliver, within a short period of time, 3,000,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.

The Republican also asserted that the announcement would lead to a speedy reduction in diesel prices for American and global consumers.

It is unclear how the energy deal with Russia impacts the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which was signed into law by President Trump last month. The act was explicitly designed to cripple Russia’s energy export earnings by directing President Trump to place tariffs up to 100% on goods from the top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas in the 12-month period prior to the date the act was signed into law.

India, China, Azerbaijan, Slovakia and Hungary were expected to be the five nations impacted by this legislation. This is particularly important because the legislation requires the President to impose tariffs on Russian oil purchasers within 30 days, which would fall on October 18.

To be sure, the act also gives President Trump the authority to grant national interest waivers, exempting a country from the tariffs. The announcement of the US-Russia energy deal has led to some uncertainty about whether the tariffs will be levied.

US suspends Microsoft from green card programme; Tata, Cognizant, HCL, Infosys also targeted

WASHINGTON, Oct 8: In another move targeting the H-1B visa programme, the US administration under President Donald Trump has suspended tech giant Microsoft from a programme that allows companies to apply for green cards for foreign workers as it cited an alleged fraud.

Other companies in H-1B trouble include Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Infosys Ltd., Tata, Wipro Ltd., HCL Technologies Ltd., and Capgemini SE.

Announcing the decision at a White House briefing on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance said the company should put “Americans first”.

“Our message to Microsoft is: You're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers,” Vance said.

Escalating the Trump administration's criticism of the company, Vance claimed that no US firm had “abused” the green card system more than Microsoft.

The vice president said the programme from which Microsoft has been suspended requires companies to advertise jobs in the United States before applying to the Department of Labor for green cards, demonstrating that qualified American workers are unavailable for those positions.

He alleged that Microsoft laid off 6,000 American workers last year while securing 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards.

“If you do the math, for every worker that Microsoft laid off, they replaced that worker with one and a half foreign indentured servants,” Vance said.

The H-1B visa program allows US employers to help sponsor foreign workers for permanent residency.

In the process to acquire green card for foreign workers, employers seek certification from the Department of Labor that there is no qualified, willing or available US worker for a specific job. This step is required before filing petitions for most employment-based green cards.

US labor secretary Keith Sonderling said other companies that would be suspended from the Permanent Labor Certification Program included Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Infosys Ltd., Tata, Wipro Ltd., HCL Technologies Ltd., and Capgemini SE. He said there were multiple active federal investigations ongoing into the matter.

"We will not accept any new or process any pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies," Sonderling was quoted as saying.

Two Mumbai-based firms, 5 Indian nationals face US sanctions over Iran oil trade

WASHINGTON, Oct 8: The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on two Mumbai-based firms and five Indian nationals associated with them over allegations of being involved in the trade of petroleum products from Iran.

The US Department of State action targeted SSPL Solutions Private Limited and Samudra Marine Services Private Limited for facilitating the import of petroleum products from Iran.

Two persons associated with SSPL Solutions – Dhwani and Nisarg Vora, and three persons related to Samudra Marine Services – Ketan Kochikar, Bhupendrasingh Sahu and Harishyam Hariharan Chundakattil have also been blocked from performing any transactions related to their respective firms.

The action against the Indian entities and individuals is part of the US crackdown against Iran under Operation Economic Outcast.

"The Department of State is sanctioning ten entities, six individuals, and five vessels in connection with trade in Iranian-origin petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemical products," an official statement said.

The State Department said these entities channelled millions of dollars to the Iranian regime, bolstering one of its most critical revenue streams and enabling its continued illicit conduct.

"The US government is imposing sanctions on both the buyers and sellers driving this trade in Iranian petrochemical products," the department said.

At the same time, the US also authorised wind-down transactions by Samudra Marine Services till October 23.

A wind-down of transactions is a temporary, authorised grace period allowing parties to safely finish existing business and exit operations before new sanctions or liquidations take full effect.

Additionally, the Treasury Department also sanctioned 17 entities and their shadow fleet vessels to deprive the Iranian regime of funds.

"Treasury is starving the tyrannical regime in Tehran of the money it uses to wage war in the region, and we will continue exposing those who enable the regime's oil sales," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"No enabler of Iranian sanctions evasion is safe from the full force of Treasury's authorities," he said.

Trump claims Iran’s economy is ‘gone,’ says war will end soon

WASHINGTON, Oct 6: President Donald Trump said Monday that he expects the Iran war to end shortly before or after the midterm elections.

U.S. Central Command also said Monday that its forces have redirected 130 ships since the start of its blockade of Iranian ports.

Washington moved 12 American bombers from RAF Fairford in the U.K. on Sunday amid concerns about a potentially complex drone attack ordered by the IRGC, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The Treasury Department is continuing its campaign to economically cut off Iran, now telling financial institutions that any continued business with Tehran could trigger immediate sanctions.

President Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. is doing “extremely well” against Iran, declaring that the country’s military is “shot” and suggesting a decision is coming soon on how to bring the conflict to an end.

“We’re doing extremely well in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump said in Sparrows Point, Maryland. “They have no military. It’s shot. The whole place is shot.”

“And they were the evil one. They were the bully of the Middle East and not so much the bully anymore,” Trump said.

“But we have to finish up, and it’s only a question of which way do we want to do it: the nice way or the not-so-nice way? And pretty soon you’ll find out.”

 

Qatar confirms US-Iran talks ongoing as Doha pushes for diplomatic progress

DOHA, Oct 6: Qatar confirmed Tuesday that talks and its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran are ongoing, with Doha actively working to help both nations achieve meaningful diplomatic progress.

In a statement shared on X, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, director of the Media and Communication Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the diplomatic push aims to build momentum "covering all issues of concern to both parties," while Qatar acts as a key mediator.

Al Hashmi emphasized resolving long-standing tensions "requires making every effort to find negotiable solutions while taking into account the concerns of all parties involved."

He added that Qatar remains committed to maintaining open channels of communication to ensure steady progress toward stability in the region.

 

Trump to speak to Putin on plague as US steps up pressure

WASHINGTON, Oct 6: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would speak very soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the reported plague death of a laboratory technician, as Washington pressured Moscow for transparency.

Russian authorities denied that they were imposing anti-plague measures and played down the reports of an incident at an anti-plague institute in Siberia's Irkutsk region last week.

But Washington is showing growing concern, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on Russia to be open about the situation.

"We encourage Russia to be transparent and share more information with the world so that all of us could react accordingly and appropriately," Rubio said during a trip to Iceland.

Trump later said he would be speaking to Putin about what happened.

"I have a call scheduled, yes," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he had spoken to Putin on the issue yet, adding that it would happen "very soon."

The Wall Street Journal reported that the US State Department had sent Russia a confidential diplomatic communication known as a demarche warning Moscow that failure to disclose details runs counter to its international health obligations.

Russian news outlet People of Baikal reported Friday that the dead woman named as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova may have contracted pneumonic plague from a broken test tube.

Other media reported a possible link between her death and a lab accident at the facility.

The People of Baikal outlet also said up to 200 people with whom she may have had contact were under quarantine.

But Russian authorities say the cause of death is not confirmed and health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has denied claims circulating in a document online that special measures had been put in place.

"We wish to clarify that the document and information in question do not originate from official sources and are untrue," it said on Telegram.

Russian officials said postmortem tests had not detected the disease.

Irkutsk Regional Governor Igor Kobzev said Monday that a Rospotrebnadzor inspection had found the woman died of pneumonia and the cause was "undetermined".

"No microorganisms linked to the young woman's professional work were found in her biological samples," he said, adding that no other staff at the institute had sought medical attention since her death.

The World Health Organization said that an update received Tuesday from Russia stressed that "no case of this dangerous disease has been recorded in the city of Irkutsk."

The update said Russia had launched an epidemiological investigation into a "case of community-acquired pneumonia" in an employee at the Irkutsk institute, and had identified contacts and made arrangements for medical monitoring and laboratory testing.

"Test results showed no presence of dangerous infectious disease pathogens in any of the contacts," the update said, according to WHO.

The United Nations health agency meanwhile said there was a "moderate to low" risk for Irkutsk based on the available information, spokesman Christian Lindmeier said in Geneva, adding it was monitoring the situation closely.

Plague is a bacterial disease that can occur in several forms, including pneumonic plague, which is the most contagious type and can be transmitted by respiratory means. Bubonic plague is transmitted by infected fleas.

Pneumonic plague, which causes lung failure, can be fatal if not treated early, according to WHO.

Trump had said Monday he was ready to help Russia if needed.

But in an apparent response to Trump's offer, the Russian watchdog said Tuesday that Moscow was prepared to assist the United States in combating its own outbreaks of infectious diseases.

It highlighted among other things a "significantly worsened" measles situation in three US states, and a "fatal case of plague" recorded in New Mexico in June.

Measles cases have increased under the Trump administration, in which vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr serves as health secretary.

 

Trump claims Iran is responsible for flydubai incident

WASHINGTON, Oct 5: US President Donald Trump said Monday he "personally" believes Iran was responsible for the September 30 flydubai incident where Indian pilot Smit Machchar was stabbed by Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami.

Trump's comments came even as US Vice President JD Vance told reporters on his way to Alaska Monday that there is "nothing conclusive" linking the incident to Iran.

UAE authorities, who are investigating the incident, have not given a conclusive verdict on who was behind the attack as the probe continues. al-Hammami has been handed over to the UAE after initial interrogation by authorities in Saudi Arabia.

As Trump boarded Air Force One Monday afternoon, a reporter asked him about Iran's involvement in the flydubai incident. "I do. I personally do," Trump said.

However, when reporters asked Vice President JD Vance about it as he and Second Lady Usha Vance departed for Alaska Monday, the Ohio Republican was much more cautious. Instead of commenting directly, he said he would defer it to the CIA Director, as the latter is better equipped to comment.

"That's something that I defer to John Ratcliffe and some of the intelligence folks on," JD Vance said. "I don't want to get ahead of any announcements there, but it's certainly something that we're looking at. But I wouldn't say I've seen anything conclusively just yet."

Officials in Israel, UAE and Saudi Arabia have characterised the flydubai incident as a "terror attack." But questions remain about whether the attacking co-pilot acted alone or was part of a larger terror plot.

NBC News reported, citing US officials briefed on the probe, that investigators believe the Omani co-pilot acted alone rather than as part of a larger organisation. The report cautioned that the probe is in its "early stages."

UAE Attorney General and Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi had said on October 3 that a preliminary probe indicated that Hamam al-Hammami had planned to carry out a terrorist attack.

"Investigations into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 found that the co-pilot had attempted ⁠to carry out a terrorist attack," he said, noting that they are working to establish the “full circumstances, motives, and any links.”

3rd Aircraft Carrier, 10,000 Troops Head To Middle East After Trump's Warning

WASHINGTON, Oct 2: The United States is sending a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East along with another 9,000 to 10,000 more troops after US President Donald Trump warned Iran of possible new strikes after the midterm elections on November 3.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group carrying the service members would arrive in the Middle East by the end of November. Currently two other aircraft carriers are stationed in the region -- the USS George HW Bush and the USS George Washington.

Although the USS George Washington is usually deployed in the Pacific Ocean, it has reached the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln after its long deployment.

The deployment would bring the US naval presence to an unusually high number of more than 20,000 sailors and Marines as well as hundreds of aircraft.

Trump rejected Iran's peace proposal that was announced by the Islamic Republic last week at the UN General Assembly in New York. Iran said that the proposal was transmitted to the US through Qatari mediators.

"They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they're losing so badly," Trump told reporters at the White House.

While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump also suggested that Iran is linked to the co-pilot who stabbed the captain and tried to crash an Israel-bound flight.

When asked if there was a connection between the pilot who attacked the captain and Iran, Trump said, "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is 'yes,' but we're working on it right now."

On whether the US would retaliate against Iran if it was responsible for the attack, Trump replied, "Oh, they'll be hit very hard, don't worry."

The reporter then asked if the man might have been placed on the plane by the IRGC, or radicalised in some other way before deciding to bring the aircraft down. "Could have been, yeah," Trump replied.

There has been no official evidence of Iranian involvement yet.

Goyal meets US Trade Representative Greer, holds ‘productive talks’ on proposed pact

MILWAUKEE, Oct 2: Today’s fertiliser shortage could become tomorrow’s food crisis, commerce minister Piyush Goyal said at the G20 trade ministers’ meeting in Milwaukee, and on its sidelines he also held a “productive” discussion with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on early conclusion of the proposed India-US trade deal.

“Met USTR Jamieson Greer, @USTradeRep, on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee. Had a productive discussion with USTR Greer towards early conclusion of a mutually beneficial interim agreement under the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement,” Goyal said in a post on X.

India and the US are engaged in talks to finalise the proposed interim bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in line with the joint statement issued on February 7. Although the two had reached a framework for an interim BTA in February, they could not sign the agreement after the US Supreme Court invalidated the legal basis for the preferential tariff mechanism Washington had offered. India is now awaiting a preferential tariff framework that provides competitive access for its exporters vis-a-vis competing countries.

“We also exchanged views on G20 deliberations under US Chairship,” Goyal said in the post. He also participated in the opening day of the G20 trade ministers’ meeting, hosted under the United States G20 Presidency. Speaking at the session on food and trade, Goyal thanked the Presidency for placing food at the centre of the discussions.

“Ensuring food security for all and creating greater opportunities for farmers are central to India’s policy and food must never be used as an instrument of pressure against any country,” a commerce ministry’s statement quoted minister as saying on Thursday.

Trump claims flydubai co-pilot who stabbed Indian captain Smit Machchhar 'linked to Iran'

WASHINGTON, Oct 1: On Thursday, US President Donald Trump claimed that the Omani co-pilot who stabbed Indian captain Smith Machchar aboard the flydubai plane Wednesday, intending to crash the aircraft, could be linked to Iran.

Authorities are investigating the motivation of the attacking co-pilot behind crashing the flydubai plane. The plane had 174 passengers on board, 170 of whom were Israelis.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz described the attack as "attempted jihadist terror attack."

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, from where flydubai operates, said that they are investigating whether the incident was indeed a terror plot.

Trump was asked by reporters Thursday about the flydubai incident. One reporter specifically asked the President what he thought about a potential Iran involvement in the attack. He had earlier said that the attack could be "a terrorist or perhaps a whack job".

"Has anybody briefed you on whether the FlyDubai pilot is linked to Iran?" the reporter asked Trump.

“I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now,” Trump replied.

The Omani co-pilot attacked Smit Machchar when the Boeing 737 MAX was flying at an altitude of 36,000 feet. A cockpit confrontation followed in which Machchar opened the locked cockpit door. Passengers rushed in and subdued the attacking co-pilot.

Captain Smit Machchar, who worked with Indian carrier SpiceJet for 11 years, earned praise worldwide for the heroic act of opening the cockpit door on time, averting a major crash. Among those who paid tribute to Captain Machahar were Netanyahu and Trump.

"My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery," Netanyahu said in a X post Wedensday. “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.”

Trump, meanwhile, said Machchar was " in very bad shape... but he had the sense to, amazing, to, in a way he was a hero to open the door."