Month: August 2025

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has targeted Indian purchases of Russian crude oil, accusing it of funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and called for New Delhi to stop, Al Jazeera reported, citing the opinion piece published in the Financial Times.

In an opinion piece published in the Financial Times on Monday, Navarro wrote, “India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs.”

Notably, US President Donald Trump and his administration have continuously targeted India over its purchase of Russian crude oil. India, on the other hand, has always maintained that India’s purchases are based on its domestic needs and economic security.

The Ministry of External Affairs also pointed out in its recent statement that the US and European Union purchase much more oil and other goods than India.

Further, Navarro slammed India for “cosying up” to Russia and China, saying “if India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.”

India’s dependence on Russian crude is “opportunistic and deeply corrosive of the world’s efforts to isolate Putin’s war economy,” he added.

The adviser also said that it was risky to transfer cutting-edge US military capabilities to India as New Delhi’s ties to China and Russia deepen, as per Al Jazeera.

Navarro is the second senior Trump administration official to accuse India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine. Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House, in the first week of August, said that New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude was “not acceptable”.

“What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia,” Miller, one of Trump’s most influential aides, said in an interview to Fox News.

In response, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the country is being ‘unfairly’ singled out for buying Russian oil. At the same time, the US and European Union continue to buy goods from Russia.

The EU and US trade much more with Russia than India does, New Delhi’s contention for being singled out – although this trade has dipped significantly since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The EU’s total trade with Russia plummeted to USD 77.9 billion in 2024, down from USD 297.4 billion in 2021.

Notably, the EU continues to import Russian gas, with expenditures reaching USD 105.6 billion since the war began. This amount is equivalent to approximately 75 per cent of Russia’s 2024 military budget, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

In contrast, the total trade between the US and Russia stood at USD 3.5 billion in 2024. US goods exports to Russia in 2024 were USD 528.3 million, down 11.8 per cent (USD 70.5 million) from 2023.

Meanwhile, on this 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech, said that, “Modi will stand like a wall against any policy that threatens their interests. India will never compromise when it comes to protecting the interests of our farmers.”

Notably, at the beginning of this month, United States President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods over the issue, straining US-India ties.

India and the US have been negotiating for months to finalise a free trade agreement, with Trump accusing New Delhi of denying access to US goods by imposing high tariffs. (ANI)

Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana official portal went live on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the scheme during his Independence Day address on August 15.

Mandaviya said the government had launched a significant job scheme aimed at creating over 3.5 crore jobs in the next two years.

“The Union Cabinet on 1st July, 2025, approved the employment-linked incentive scheme named as Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana. The scheme aims to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector. It is a Central Sector Scheme. With an outlay of nearly Rs 1 Lakh Crore, the Scheme aims to incentivise the creation of more than 3.5 Crore jobs in the country, over a period of 2 years,” Mandaviya said.

He also said that the scheme will apply to jobs created between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027.

“The benefits of the Scheme would be applicable to jobs created between 01st August 2025 and 31st July 2027. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana during his 12th Independence Day address from the Red Fort on 15th August 2025. Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojna portal has become live from today, on 18th August 2025,” he added.

The Union Cabinet on July 1 approved the Employment Linked Incentive Scheme named as Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana. The scheme aims to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector.

The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana consists of two parts. Part A offers a one-time incentive to first-time employees equivalent to the average one-month wage (Basic plus DA) up to Rs 15,000, paid in two instalments. Employees with a gross wage up to Rs 1 lakh are eligible for this incentive.

Part B provides support to employers for generating additional employment in all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector. Under this part, establishments will receive an incentive of up to Rs 3,000 per month for each additional employee, including first-timers and re-joiners, for a sustained period of at least six months. The incentive will be paid for two years, but for establishments in the manufacturing sector, it will be provided for four years.

To be eligible under Part B, establishments with fewer than 50 existing employees must hire at least two additional employees, while those with 50 or more existing employees must hire at least five additional employees. The new hires must be maintained for at least six months.

Exempted establishments under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, are also included. These establishments must file the Electronic Challan-cum-Return and open Universal Account Numbers for all their existing and new employees using the facility provided on the UMANG App. (ANI)

Andhra Pradesh IT & HRD Minister, Nara Lokesh, met with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Monday.

The meeting was held to push for fast-track approvals to major highway expansions, urban mobility projects, including the Kuppam-Bengaluru-Chennai industrial corridor.

The discussions focused on building seamless connectivity, city decongestion, and infrastructure that can accelerate Andhra Pradesh’s growth momentum.

A major highlight of the meeting was the discussion on the Kuppam-Hosur-Bengaluru greenfield highway, which would be 56km long and requires an investment of ₹3,000 crore. Minister Lokesh urged the fast-track approval of the project and described it as a game-changer for regional growth, as stated in the release.

Furthermore, the Minister emphasised the need for early approval and direct linkage to the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway (NE-7).

According to the release, the HRD Minister also underlined revival efforts in the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA) region, spanning 1,051 sq km, including plans for a major industrial park to boost investment and employment.

He further urged the immediate widening of NH-65 (Kanuru-Machilipatnam, 59.8km).

Minister Lokesh also sought support to commence the project, pointing out that the DPR is already complete and in-principle approval has been granted. He stressed that this highway will play a crucial role in seamless Amaravati-Hyderabad connectivity while opening up additional port linkages.

On urban infrastructure, the Minister reiterated the state’s request for integrated double-decker flyovers with metro corridors along NH-16, including a 20km elevated corridor in Visakhapatnam and a 4.7km stretch in Vijayawada, modelled after Nagpur’s successful urban design. He also sought support for the 50km Vijayawada Eastern Bypass to ease city traffic congestion.

The Minister further emphasised the need for quick upgrades and bypasses on Kurnool-Yemmiganur road, Vinukonda-Guntur NH-544D, Kakinada Port-NH-216 (South Side), and the Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple link road, noting their importance for balanced regional connectivity.

Minister Lokesh also underlined the urgency of road safety improvements, innovative traffic management, and the development of green corridors. He sought support for advanced tolling systems and real-time traffic information technology, reiterating Andhra Pradesh’s readiness to provide land acquisition, environmental clearances, and compliance with the latest MoRTH technical standards. (ANI)

One new poliovirus case was confirmed each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, bringing Pakistan’s total count this year to 21, National Institute of Health (NIH) said on Monday, Dawn reported.

Pakistan is one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Despite global eradication efforts, Dawn reported that factors such as security challenges, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation continue to obstruct progress.

According to a statement from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Islamabad’s NIH, the latest cases involve a six-year-old girl from Union Council Pattan in KP’s Kohistan district and a 21-month-old girl from UC Matli-2 in Sindh’s Badin.

“With these detections, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 21, including 13 from KP, six from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan,” the statement noted.

Dawn reported that polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection against the debilitating virus is the repeated administration of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, along with timely completion of all routine immunisations, the NIH said.

It added that from September 1 to 7, a sub-national polio vaccination campaign will be conducted, targeting more than 28 million children under five across 99 districts nationwide.

“The campaign in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be conducted from 15 September. The goal is to ensure every child in these districts receives the vaccine to protect them from the lifelong consequences of polio,” it said.

The statement noted that the campaign is part of efforts to strengthen immunity among children and close existing protection gaps. “Parents and caregivers are strongly urged to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine during this and every campaign.”

Last week, poliovirus was detected in 36 per cent of sewage samples collected from 87 districts in July, Dawn reported. In 2024, the country reported at least 71 cases, with the virus found in around 90 districts, including Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB). (ANI)

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the petition moved by Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez in connection with the Rs 200 crore money laundering case.

Jacqueline had challenged the charge sheet filed against her in the Rs 200 crores money laundering case. In this case, Sukesh Chandrasekhar is also an accused.

Justice Anish Dayal dismissed the petition after hearing counsels at length. The detailed order of judgment is to be uploaded by the High Court.

The High Court had reserved the order on actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s petition challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case revolves around allegations of her receiving lavish gifts from conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Senior Advocate Sidharth Aggarwal, along with Advocate Prashant Patil and Shakti Pandey, represented Jacqueline Fernandez, while Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

During arguments, Aggarwal had contended that if the ED claims that money was distributed among 15 individuals, then by that logic, everyone involved, whether a grocery vendor, court officials, or lawyers, could be deemed guilty of money laundering.

He had questioned the premise that any financial transaction involving a criminal automatically constitutes money laundering, suggesting that such an interpretation would create undue fear.

Aggarwal had further argued that the ED’s case hinges on Fernandez’s awareness of Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s criminal background, as reported in a 2021 newspaper article.

He asserted that merely being a celebrity does not imply prior knowledge of tainted funds. “Businessmen often have multiple cases against them,” he stated, adding that Fernandez was introduced to Chandrashekhar as a business tycoon. “Today, I am paying the price of being a celebrity,” Aggarwal concluded.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) argued that its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, is separate and distinct from police investigations into scheduled offences. It had emphasised that individuals accused of money laundering may differ from those charged in the predicate offence, given the distinct nature of the crime.

ED had opposed Jacqueline’s plea and submitted that she continued to enjoy Sukesh’s gifts despite knowing his criminal antecedents. The petition to quash the case is an attempt to stall proceedings.

Advocates for Jacqueline had submitted that being in the public eye and being labelled as a money launderer is problematic.

“My prayer is not to quash the complaint completely, it’s only to quash the present applicant (Jacqueline). Sukesh is sitting in jail and carrying out extortion and fraud from there. EOW comes to me, records my statement, and finds that what I have to say is relevant to their investigation. Ed has filed four complaints, but the investigation is still going on, and the trial cannot start,” said Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal.

Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez had filed a petition seeking the quashing of the ECIR (equivalent to an FIR) and the supplementary chargesheet filed by the ED in connection with the Rs 200 crore money laundering case.

Jacqueline, through a plea, stated that the evidence filed by the Directorate of Enforcement would prove that the Petitioner is an innocent victim of Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s maliciously targeted attack. “There is absolutely no indication that she had any involvement whatsoever in aiding him to launder his purportedly ill-got wealth. Hence, she cannot be prosecuted for the offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002,” the plea stated. (ANI)

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions have expanded significantly in 2025, both in terms of value and volumes, according to a report by SBI.

The data showed that UPI continues to grow in leaps and bounds, becoming an even more integral part of India’s digital payments ecosystem.

In terms of value, the report highlighted that average daily transactions rose from Rs 75,743 crore in January to Rs 80,919 crore in July. The momentum further accelerated in August (so far), with the average daily value touching Rs 90,446 crore.

This steady growth highlights the deepening reliance on UPI for payments across the country. The report stated “UPI transactions have expanded significantly both in value and volumes”.

The rising trend is equally visible in volumes. The average daily transaction volumes increased by 127 million during the same period, reaching 675 million in August compared with January.

This clearly showed the fact that more and more Indians are using UPI for everyday payments, from small transfers to high-value transactions.

The SBI report also provided insights into the leading banks driving the UPI ecosystem. State Bank of India emerged as the top remitter member, handling 5.2 billion transactions.

SBI’s share was almost 3.4 times larger than the second-biggest remitter member, showcasing the dominance of public sector banks in this category.

On the other hand, Yes Bank took the top position as the leading beneficiary member, with nearly 8.0 billion transactions. The trend indicates that while PSBs dominate as remitters, private banks are taking the lead in receiving payments.

For the first time, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has released state-wise data on UPI transactions, giving a clearer picture of regional adoption.

Maharashtra has emerged as the number one state in UPI usage, accounting for a 9.8 per cent share in July alone. Karnataka followed with 5.5 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh stood close at 5.3 per cent.

Notably, Uttar Pradesh is the only north Indian state among the top five, underlining the growing penetration of digital payments beyond traditional strongholds.

The latest data highlighted that the UPI is emerging as both consumer preference and the banking system’s push toward a cashless future. (ANI)

Washington continues to keep a close watch on developments between India and Pakistan “every single day”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday (local time) days after US President Donald Trump once again claimed that he had brokered a ceasefire between the two countries.

Rubio’s comments came in response to a question in an interview to NBC News Meet The Press on the sharp rise in Russian attacks on Ukraine after Trump assumed charge at the Oval Office.

“The only way to have a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop firing at one another. And the Russians just haven’t agreed to that. One of the complications about ceasefires is they have to be maintained, which is very difficult. I mean, every single day we keep an eye on what’s happening between Pakistan and India, what’s happening between Cambodia and Thailand. Ceasefires can fall apart very quickly, especially after a three-and-a-half-year war like what we’re facing now,” Rubio said.

His remarks came days after Trump again claimed that he had “brokered a ceasefire deal” between India and Pakistan. It was around the 40th such assertion made by Trump, which New Delhi has consistently refuted, reiterating that all matters with Pakistan are strictly bilateral.

On being asked why the Trump administration had not imposed fresh sanctions on Russia despite repeated threats from Trump, Rubio said, “Every single sanction that was in place on the day he took over remain. Every – and the impact of all those sanctions remain. When the Russians landed in Alaska, they tried – they were there to refuel. They had to offer to pay in cash to refuel their airplanes because they can’t use our banking system. They face consequences every single day. But the bottom line is that that has not altered the direction of this war. That doesn’t mean those sanctions are inappropriate. It means it hasn’t altered the outcome of it.”

“And the minute you issue new sanctions, your ability to get them to the table, our ability to get them to the table, will be severely diminished, ” he further added.

Meanwhile, ties between Washington and New Delhi faced fresh strain on the trade front. Government sources confirmed that the US team would not travel to India for the sixth round of bilateral trade negotiations scheduled for August 25.

“US Trade team not coming to India for the next round of trade negotiations. The US team was scheduled to visit India on 25th August for the 6th round of negotiations,” a source told ANI. The fifth round of talks was held in Washington DC from July 14-18, 2025.

The setback comes just days after Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50 per cent, along with an unspecified penalty for India’s continued oil imports from Russia.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” Trump said in a recent post.

In an interview with CNBC, the US President accused India of “fueling the war machine” by continuing Russian oil purchases. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing allegations of ‘vote theft,’ opposition parties are likely to bring an impeachment motion in the monsoon session of Parliament against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, sources said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain also spoke on the matter and said that the party is ready to use all democratic tools, including an impeachment motion if needed, though no formal discussions have been held so far.

“If there is a need, we will use all the weapons of democracy under the rules. We have not had any discussions (about impeachment) as of now, but if needed, we can do anything,” Hussain told ANI.

A day earlier, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar refuted all the recent “vote theft” claims made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission of India (ECI) while addressing a press conference in the national capital.

He termed allegations of bias by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabhas an “insult” to the Constitution of India. CEC also asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either furnish a signed affidavit or apologise to the nation for his remarks.

“An affidavit will have to be given or an apology should be made to the country. Teesra koi vikalp nahi (There is no third option.) If the affidavit is not received within seven days, it means that all these allegations are baseless.” CEC Gyanesh Kumar said while addressing mediapersons.

Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, hit back at the CEC Gyanesh Kumar alleging that the ECI is asking for an affidavit from him but doesn’t from BJP MP Anurag Thakur when he makes the same allegations.”

“The Election Commission asks for an affidavit from me. But when Anurag Thakur says the same thing that I am saying, it does not ask for an affidavit from him,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, today, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called on Congress and other opposition parties to refrain from creating disruptions in Parliament over issues related to the Election Commission. (ANI)

Five people died while four others were injured after a chariot came into contact with high-tension electric wires during Krishna Janmasthami celebrations in the Ramanthapur area in Hyderabad.

The incident happened on Sunday night.

According to the police, the injured were rushed to the hospital, while the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.

“Five people died on the spot and four others were injured after receiving a live electric shock during the Sri Krishna Janmashtami procession last night. The injured were shifted to a hospital for further treatment, and the deceased bodies were sent for post-mortem examination,” Uppal police inspector said.

Further information on the incident is awaited.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president, KT Rama Rao, expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

“I am deeply shocked to hear about the accident that took place in Gokhale Nagar, Ramanthapur. Sadly, five people lost their lives due to electric shock in this procession held as part of the Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrations. It is heartbreaking that Krishna Yadav, Srikanth Reddy, Suresh Yadav, Rudra Vikas, and Rajendra Reddy died in this tragedy,” KTR said as per the BRS.

“I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I appeal to the government to support the families of the deceased. I sincerely wish the speedy recovery of the four people who are seriously injured in this incident and are undergoing treatment in the hospital,” he said.

Further, KTR requested the Telangana government to provide better medical assistance to the injured.

“Appropriate precautions should be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future,” the BRS leader said.

Recently, four people lost their lives and around 10 others sustained injuries when a travel bus collided with a loaded lorry at the Macharam flyover under the Jadcherla police station in Mahabubnagar district.

Soon after the incident, the police quickly shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

“Today, in the early morning hours around 4:45 am, a Travels bus collided with a loaded lorry on the Macharam flyover. Three people died on the spot, and one more succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment. Ten other members were injured. We have registered a case, and the deceased bodies have been shifted for post-mortem examination, while the injured have been taken for treatment,” Sub Inspector of Jadcherla police station said.

The official added that the four deceased bodies were sent for post-mortem and subsequently handed over to their families. The injured passengers were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for further treatment. (ANI)