Telegram becomes operational in India for some users a week after Centre's temporary ban over NEET paper leak

US focused on fair trade deal with India that benefits both countries, embassy says as Goyal, Greer begin BTA talks

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New Delhi on 23 June to advance negotiations on the Interim Agreement, originally launched by US President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The official account of the US Embassy in India said that it remains focused on securing a fair, reciprocal trade deal that opens markets for American exporters and delivers benefits to both nations.The high-level meeting at Vanijya Bhawan focused on moving forward with both the interim deal and a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement, the embassu said. Ambassador Greer was accompanied by the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, and a senior American trade delegation for the high-stakes discussions.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSThe key objectives of the BTA include reducing tariffs, opening markets for American exporters, and creating a mutually beneficial trade environment that enhances economic opportunities for both countries.The interim trade agreement is significant as it sets the foundation for a comprehensive BTA, addressing market access issues and enabling both nations to deepen their economic ties.The proposed BTA plans to lower US tariffs on Indian products from 25% to 18% and suggests India will reduce tariffs on US industrial and agricultural goods in return.Yes, Indian exporters should be optimistic as both countries are negotiating to finalize the trade deal soon, which aims to improve access to the US market for various sectors.The US Supreme Court ruling, which invalidated the legal basis for certain tariffs, has prompted both countries to revisit the trade agreement framework to ensure its viability under the new tariff landscape."@USTradeRep Jamieson Greer and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry @PiyushGoyal met in New Delhi today to advance negotiations on the Interim Agreement launched by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The United States remains focused on securing a fair, reciprocal trade deal that opens markets for American exporters and delivers benefits to both nations," the embassy said.India and the US formally launched BTA negotiations on 13 February 2025, and the first glimpse of the emerging deal appeared in the India-US joint statement issued on 6 February 2026.Earlier, Goyal welcomed the visiting American officials to the Department of Commerce, expressing optimism about the future of the trade relationship. He also welcomed the presence of the US Ambassdor to India, Sergio Gor and the adjoining US delegation for being a part of the ongoing discussions.Warm Welcome to Amb Greer: Goyal“Warm welcome to @USTradeRep Amb Jamieson Greer, @USAmbIndia Amb Sergio Gor and their delegation to @DoC_GoI. Looking forward to productive discussions on the bilateral trade agreement between India and US.”Gor said on Tuesday said that the ongoing discussions will pave the path towards finalisation of the trade deal between the US and India.“Great to be with Minister @PiyushGoyal and @USTradeRep Ambassador Greer today in New Delhi. Ongoing discussions on finalizing the trade deal between the US and India,” Gor said.In another post on X, Gor welcomed the visit of US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer to India and said that the finalisation of the bilateral trade agreement will “ unlock new economic opportunities for both countries and significantly deepen the U.S.-India economic partnership.”“Welcome to India, @USTradeRep Ambassador Greer! Great to have you here as we drive forward our ambitious trade agenda. We are moving decisively toward finalizing a strong bilateral trade agreement that will unlock new economic opportunities for both countries and significantly deepen the U.S.-India economic partnership,” he said.Earlier in the day, Greer reached Vanijay Bhavan in the New Delhi to meet Goyal on Tuesday to discuss an interim deal and the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).The high-level discussions will focused on the United Sta

US focused on fair trade deal with India that benefits both countries, embassy says as Goyal, Greer begin BTA talks

Monsoon arrives in Mumbai; IMD says Delhi to see light rain, heatwave conditions to continue in some parts

Southwest monsoon has arrived in Mumbai and has advanced into more parts of Maharashtra and eastern India, prompting weather alerts. Heavy rain is expected across several states, along with thunderstorms and strong winds.Men take cover under an umbrella while crossing a road as the southwest monsoon arrives in Mumbai(Shyamal Maitra)The much-awaited southwest monsoon finally made its entry into Mumbai and other parts of the state on Tuesday, bringing heavy rainfall and monsoon showers that began on Monday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued weather warnings for Mumbai and nearby regions.Southwest monsoon arrives in MumbaiThe IMD on Monday said that a revival of the southwest monsoon over Maharashtra was expected to bring it to Mumbai within the next 48 hours. The weather agency also clarified that the rainfall received by India's financial capital so far was part of the pre-monsoon showers, ANI reported.In a statement issued today, the weather agency said that the southwest monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of the Central Arabian Sea, some parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, some parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, as well as Bihar, and the remaining parts of Telangana and Odisha. Monsoon updates for other statesAnnouncing the arrival of monsoon in Mumbai, the IMD said that conditions are conducive to the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of the North Arabian Sea and Gujarat, along with additional areas of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh over the next two to three days.According to the agency's forecast, rainfall activity is likely to intensify across large parts of eastern, northeastern and southern India in the next few days. The IMD predicts widespread rain over Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Telangana and adjoining parts of south India, with some areas expected to receive heavy to very heavy showers.In the east, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and parts of West Bengal can expect frequent spells of rain as the monsoon strengthens across the region.In the meantime, the Northeast is likely to be the wettest part of the country, with heavy to very heavy rainfall predicted for Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.Delhi weather forecastAccording to the weather agency's forecast, Delhi can expect a generally cloudy sky with light rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds over the next few days.Thunderstorms accompanied by winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph are expected to persist until 26 June due to the influence of prevailing weather systems over northwest India.Thunderstorms to hit several statesAccording to a Business Today report, apart from the monsoon belt, large parts of the country are expected to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and strong winds. Weather alerts warn that gusts could reach up to 80 kmph in some areas, raising the risk of localized damage and travel disruptions. Intermittent storm activity is likely to continue across several northern, central and eastern states over the next few days.Heatwave conditions to persist for several partsAs the southwest monsoon advances further, heatwave conditions are also expected to persist in several parts of the country, including East Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha. Due to the delayed monsoon advance in several central regions, hot and dry conditions are persisting longer, prompting weather agencies to maintain heat-related advisories.About the AuthorSwati GandhiSwati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.

Telegram becomes operational in India for some users a week after Centre's temporary ban over NEET paper leak

Swati GandhiSwati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.

Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.

At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.

Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.

Telegram becomes operational in India for some users a week after Centre's temporary ban over NEET paper leak

US focused on fair trade deal with India that benefits both countries, embassy says as Goyal, Greer begin BTA talks

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Monsoon arrives in Mumbai; IMD says Delhi to see light rain, heatwave conditions to continue in some parts