Trade Cannot Happen Under Pressure, Says Mohan Bhagwat; Army Foils Infiltration Attempt In J&K; And More

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"We Will Come Together": US Treasury Chief Expresses Confidence Regarding Trade Deal With India

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi will "come together" despite escalating trade tensions as President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods took effect Wednesday.

"I do think India's the world's largest democracy, the US is the world's largest economy. I think at the end of the day we will come together," Bessent told a US business channel, while acknowledging negotiations have become "complicated."

Bessent revealed the US expected a breakthrough by early summer but said India's continued Russian crude imports complicated talks. He described parts of India's stance as "performative".

Notably, reports indicated that US team wanted access to India's agricultural market as part of the trade deal. That was the red line for New Delhi. "Your interests are paramount for Modi. My government will never let any harm come to small entrepreneurs, farmers, and animal keepers," Prime Minister Modi declared as recently as this week.

The tariff duties on India are among the highest in the world, marking a downturn in India-US relations.

Despite tariff confrontations though, both governments maintain their broader strategic partnership remains intact.

Army Kills Two Terrorists Attempting LoC Infiltration in Bandipora

The Indian Army killed two terrorists Thursday as they attempted to infiltrate across the Line of Control in the Gurez sector of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir.

The encounter occurred near Naushehra Naar, where alert soldiers engaged a group of infiltrators trying to cross into Indian territory, officials said. Security forces subsequently launched a search operation to ensure no additional infiltrators remained in the area.

Earlier this month, three terrorists were eliminated during Operation Akhal, bringing the total militants killed under the mission to six. The operation began August 1 following intelligence inputs about armed militants in the Akhal forest area.

Other developments

US School Shooter Had 'Nuke India' Scribbled On Gun

A shooter, identified as Robin Westman, 23, opened fire on Wednesday (27 August) at the Annunciation Catholic School, Minneapolis, USA, during a church service, killing two children and injuring 17 others, including three adults.

Westman used a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol to fire dozens of rounds before being found dead in the parking lot from what officials believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A now-deleted YouTube channel titled "Robin W" linked to Westman revealed disturbing footage of weapons and journals.

One of the videos, shot on a mobile phone, displayed a cache of firearms and magazines with chilling inscriptions such as "Kill Donald Trump," "Burn Israel," "Where is your God?" and "For the Children."

Among them was the phrase "Nuke India," scribbled on a weapon.

American authorities have confirmed the authenticity of the videos.

Trade Should Not Happen Under Pressure: Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Wednesday called for voluntary international trade and urged Indians to choose swadeshi products as US President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariff on India took effect.

Speaking on day two of his three-day lecture series at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan, Bhagwat said: "We must promote Swadesh and become self-reliant. Being self-reliant does not mean stopping imports or exports. International trade will continue, but it should not happen under pressure."

He emphasized trade policy should be based on "voluntary cooperation, not compulsion" and asked people to prioritize locally produced goods first, then products from other states, followed by imports from other countries.

Bhagwat also advocated practical swadeshi choices, suggesting Indians "drink home-made lemonade rather than opting for soft drinks like Coca Cola" and buy from local markets rather than seeking cheaper alternatives from other states.

Government Boosts Street Vendor Loan Limits Under Expanded PM SVANidhi Scheme

The Union government on Wednesday announced significant enhancements to the PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme. The loan ceiling for the first installment has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, while the second installment limit rose from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. The third installment remains unchanged at Rs 50,000.

The decision was approved during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official statement released Wednesday. The Union Cabinet simultaneously sanctioned the scheme's restructuring and extension until March 31, 2030, with an allocated budget of Rs 7,332 crore.

Under the enhanced framework, street vendors who repay their second loans on time will become eligible for UPI-linked RuPay credit cards to meet emergency business and personal needs. Additionally, vendors adopting digital payment options for retail and wholesale transactions will receive incentives up to Rs 1,600.

The restructured scheme targets 1.15 crore beneficiaries, including 50 lakh new street vendors. Implementation will be jointly managed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Department of Financial Services, with banks facilitating loan and credit card access.

Originally launched on June 1, 2020, to support pandemic-affected vendors, PM SVANidhi has distributed over 9.6 million loans worth Rs 13,797 crore to more than 6.8 million street vendors as of July 30. The expanded program emphasizes capacity building, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, and food safety training in partnership with FSSAI.

You’re all caught up—until next time.