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ISLAMABAD: A new report by Azim Premji University reveals a worsening employment crisis among India&rsquo;s youth, with unemployment rates approaching 40% among those aged 15-25 and around 20% for those aged 25-29, despite decades of rising educational enrollment. The State of Working India 2026 report highlights a growing disconnect between education and job creation in one of the world&rsquo;s youngest economies. &nbsp;India&rsquo;s youth population (15-29 years) stands at 367 million, roughly one-third of the working-age population.&nbsp; Of these, 263 million are currently out of education, representing a vast potential workforce. However, with the country&rsquo;s median age at 28, the report warns that India&rsquo;s demographic advantage could begin to fade after 2030 if job creation does not accelerate. The transition from education to employment remains particularly challenging. In 2023, 11 million out of 63 million graduates aged 20-29 were unemployed.&nbsp; While about half of young male graduates manage to find work within a year, only 7% secure stable, salaried positions. Notably, graduate unemployment has remained persistently high between 35% and 40% since 1983. This comes even as access to education has expanded significantly. Tertiary enrolment has reached 28%, comparable to countries with similar income levels.&nbsp; Female enrolment rose sharply from 38% in 1983 to 68% in 2023, while male enrolment increased from 49% to 73%. Gains were also recorded among historically disadvantaged communities, though their participation still lags behind the national average. However, the report flags a worrying reversal among young men, with enrolment dropping from 38% in 2017 to 34% in 2024. Financial pressures appear to be a major factor, with 72% of those leaving education citing the need to support household incomes. The rapid expansion of private institutions has driven much of the growth in education.&nbsp; The number of higher education institutions surged from 1,644 to over 69,000 since liberalization. Yet this expansion has raised concerns about quality, with significant teacher shortages reported far exceeding recommended student-teacher ratios. A similar trend is evident in vocational training. Industrial Training Institutes have nearly quadrupled since 2005, with private providers dominating the sector. However, many of these institutions struggle with quality issues and weak links to industry employment. Cost remains another major barrier. Professional degrees are increasingly out of reach for poorer households, with medical education costing nearly ₹97,400 annually and engineering degrees costing an average of ₹2.3 million. These expenses often exceed household incomes, reinforcing inequality in access to high-paying jobs. Despite these challenges, graduates continue to enjoy a wage advantage, earning roughly twice as much as non-graduates at the entry level. However, entry-level salaries for young male graduates have stagnated since 2011. Encouragingly, the gender pay gap among graduates has narrowed, with young women now earning on par with men. The report also notes shifts in employment patterns. Young workers are moving out of agriculture, though women&rsquo;s participation in the sector has risen since 2017. Meanwhile, young women are increasingly entering modern sectors such as IT, manufacturing, and business services. For young men, employment remains concentrated in trade, transport, and construction. Migration continues to play a critical role in balancing labour markets, with youth making up around 40% of informal migrant workers. States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are major sources of migrant labour, while Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab are key destinations. Commenting on the findings, university president Indu Prasad said that while more young Indians are educated and ambitious than ever before, the challenge now lies in ensuring meaningful employment opportunities. Lead author Rosa Abraham added that improving the transition from education to work will be crucial for India&rsquo;s economic future.

India

A report by Azim Premji University finds youth unemployment in India remains high despite rising education levels, highlighting a widening gap between schooling and job creation.

Nearly 40% of Indian graduates under the age of 25 are unemployed

MUMBAI: The chairman of India&#39;s biggest private bank has quit, the lender said in a stock exchange filing Wednesday, with his resignation letter citing differences in &quot;personal values and ethics&quot;. Atanu Chakraborty did not provide further details in quitting HDFC Bank, India&#39;s largest private-sector lender by assets and the second-biggest Indian company by market capitalization. &quot;Certain happenings and practices within the bank, that I have observed over last two years, are not in congruence with my personal values and ethics,&quot; wrote Chakraborty, whose term was to end in May 2027. &quot;This is the basis of my aforementioned decision,&quot; he wrote. First appointed in May 2021 for three years, Chakraborty was named to a second term in May 2024. His tenure coincided with HDFC Bank merging with its parent company, a mortgage lender, in 2023 to create a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-faced-failures-setbacks-in-2025-financial-times" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">financial</a> giant. Chakraborty said in his resignation letter that while the initiative was &quot;strategic&quot;, the &quot;benefits of the merger are yet to fully fructify&quot;. HDFC Bank said that with Chakraborty&#39;s exit, it had received approval from India&#39;s central bank to appoint Keki Mistry as &nbsp;interim chairman for three months.

A HDFC Bank branch in Mumbai, India, on Friday, April 14, 2023 (Photo: Bloomberg/File)

The chairman of India's biggest private bank has quit, the lender said in a stock exchange filing Wednesday, with his resignation letter citing differences in "personal values and ethics".

India's HDFC Bank chairman quits over 'ethics' differences

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday strongly rejected remarks issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India regarding Pakistan&rsquo;s actions against alleged terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.&nbsp;In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi termed the Indian remarks &ldquo;baseless, misleading, and unwarranted,&rdquo; accusing New Delhi of hypocrisy and duplicity.&nbsp;The spokesperson alleged that India has been involved in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-targeting-talibans-military-positions-in-afghanistan-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan</a>&nbsp;from Afghan territory while also playing a destabilizing role in the region.<div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔊PR No.7️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Statement by the Spokesperson <a href="https://t.co/x5iEmTaysp" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/x5iEmTaysp</a>&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2034248008951271589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">March 18, 2026</a></blockquote></div>He further criticized Indian leadership, claiming it had failed to address rising Islamophobia domestically and pointing to its recent expressions of support for actions by Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.&nbsp;The Foreign Office said it was &ldquo;preposterous&rdquo; for a country it accused of undermining the sovereignty of its neighbors to comment on international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.&nbsp;Reiterating its longstanding position, Pakistan accused India of denying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-targeting-talibans-military-positions-in-afghanistan-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kashmiris their right to self-determination</a>&nbsp;in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in violation of UN resolutions.&nbsp;The statement also called on India to cease support for militant groups operating from Afghan soil, including those designated under the UN Security Council sanctions regime, and urged it to stop criticizing Pakistan&rsquo;s counter-terrorism efforts.&nbsp;The development marks a further escalation in tensions between the two countries, with both sides trading accusations over regional security and militancy.

Taliban security personnel manning anti-aircraft gun patrol in a vehicle amid the ongoing clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistani forces in the Momand Dara district of Nangarhar province on March 13, 2026.

Security

The Foreign Office says it was “preposterous” for a country it accused of undermining the sovereignty of its neighbors to comment on international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Pakistan rejects India’s ‘unwarranted’ statement on counter-terrorism actions

<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted">ISLAMABAD: Maharashtra&rsquo;s proposed Freedom of Religion Bill has drawn criticism from civil society groups, minority organizations, and church bodies, which say the measure could deepen pressure on Muslims and other minorities by expanding state and police scrutiny over religious conversion and interfaith relationships. According to The Times of India, the bill proposes prison terms of up to seven years and fines for what the state describes as &ldquo;unlawful religious conversions&rdquo;, including those linked to coercion, fraud or marriage.&nbsp; The report said offences under the proposed law would be cognizable and non-bailable. The Economic Times reported that the bill defines unlawful conversion broadly, including conversion through allurement, deceit, force, misrepresentation, threat, undue influence or fraud, and said such conversions would be treated as null and void. &#39;Anti-love jihad&#39; lawA separate report by The Times of India said the bill requires prior notice before conversion, allows objections to be raised, and places the burden of proof on the accused to show that a conversion was voluntary.&nbsp; The report added that relatives and other persons could lodge complaints, triggering police action. The political language surrounding the bill has added to the concern.&nbsp; The New Indian Express reported that the measure explicitly covers conversions through marriage and provides for tougher penalties in certain cases.&nbsp; Further causing alarm, Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane described it publicly as an &ldquo;anti-love jihad&rdquo; law.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2033063620129730987&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c464e5de9888d09f58d326e7e3d235c5a3269724&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 780px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>That claim itself has been disputed at the national level.&nbsp; In a written reply to the Parliament in 2020, India&rsquo;s home ministry said the term &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo; is not defined under existing laws and that no such case had been reported by central agencies. Opposition has also come from outside party politics.&nbsp; A joint press note carried by Indian Currents said civil society groups had called for wider consultation and warned that such legislation could criminalize personal choice and weaken constitutional freedoms. Critics quoted by various Indian media outlets say the concern is that the bill may be used less to prevent coercion and more to reinforce a wider Hindutva-driven climate in which interfaith relationships involving Muslims are increasingly treated with suspicion, complaint, and legal risk.

Maharashtra’s proposed Freedom of Religion Bill has triggered concern among minority and civil society groups, who say it could widen scrutiny of conversions and interfaith ties, especially involving Muslims.

Maharashtra ‘religion’ bill draws concern over minority rights in India

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Sunday rejected India&rsquo;s remarks regarding Islamabad&rsquo;s actions against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, calling New Delhi&rsquo;s stance &ldquo;absurd&rdquo; and &ldquo;shamefully hypocritical.&rdquo; The response came after India&rsquo;s Ministry of External Affairs criticized Pakistan over strikes inside Afghan territory.&nbsp; &quot;India condemns air strikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan&#39;s territory,&quot; an Indian statement said. &quot;Pakistani establishment remains hostile to the idea of a sovereign Afghanistan.&quot; In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said India&rsquo;s comments regarding Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;legitimate, targeted and precise actions against terrorist hideouts and support bases inside Afghanistan&rdquo; were unwarranted. Andrabi accused India of supporting terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil. &ldquo;India&rsquo;s active support and sponsorship of terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, including Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan, are well known,&rdquo; he said. He added that India&rsquo;s criticism reflected &ldquo;frustration at the destruction of its terrorist franchise in Afghanistan.&rdquo; The spokesperson also pointed to India&rsquo;s record in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying New Delhi continued to violate international law in the region. He further said that following &ldquo;extreme Hindutva ideology,&rdquo; India had systematically &ldquo;marginalized minorities,&rdquo; promoted &ldquo;Islamophobia,&rdquo; and even &ldquo;weaponized water.&rdquo; He said that, &ldquo;India has not only played the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan, but also in the entire region.&rdquo; The spokesperson said Pakistan remained committed to protecting its citizens and would continue to act in line with international law.

Foreign Affairs

 Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) rejects India’s remarks regarding Islamabad’s actions against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, calling New Delhi’s stance “absurd” and “shamefully hypocritical.”

Pakistan rejects India's 'absurd', 'hypocritical' stance on actions in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: The Chairperson of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Vicky Hartzler, said in a post on X on Saturday that the Indian government &ldquo;continues to implement and enforce discriminatory legislation, including harsh anti-conversion laws&rdquo; used to target and harass religious minorities, as the commission renewed concern over freedom of religion conditions in the country.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032109645666410862&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=7d0fa49dd67c9941107d432a928e8889b5009988&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The remarks accompanied the release of the commission&rsquo;s 2026 annual report, which again recommended that India be designated a &ldquo;country of particular concern&rdquo; for what it described as particularly severe violations of religious freedom.&nbsp; The report, released in March 2026, said conditions in India &ldquo;continued to deteriorate&rdquo; in 2025 as the government introduced and enforced legislation targeting minority communities and their places of worship. According to the report, several Indian states moved to introduce or strengthen anti-conversion laws, including tougher prison terms.&nbsp; It said Uttarakhand increased jail terms for what it called illegal conversions, Rajasthan adopted legislation allowing life imprisonment in some cases, and other states announced plans for stricter measures.&nbsp; The report also noted that India&rsquo;s Supreme Court sought responses from nine states facing legal challenges over such laws. The commission further said Indian authorities facilitated the detention and expulsion of citizens and religious refugees and tolerated vigilante attacks against minorities.&nbsp; It cited communal violence in Maharashtra, attacks on Christian families in Odisha, and heightened anti-Muslim sentiment after the April 2025 Kashmir incident.&nbsp; In its broader overview, the report also referred to India&rsquo;s expulsion of hundreds of Muslim citizens and dozens of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh. The commission&rsquo;s India chapter appears in its 2026 annual report among the countries it recommends for designation as countries of particular concern.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says India’s religious freedom conditions worsened in 2025, citing anti-conversion laws, attacks on minorities; recommends designation as a country of concern.

US watchdog criticizes India over minority rights

ISLAMABAD: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly criticized a petition before the Supreme Court of India seeking to invalidate Islamic inheritance law, describing the move as &ldquo;mischievous&rdquo; and warning it threatens constitutionally protected religious freedoms.&nbsp;The petition, reportedly filed by the Naya Nari Foundation, challenges the application of Shariat-based inheritance rules among Muslims in India, arguing that the provisions discriminate against Muslim women.&nbsp;In a statement to the media, AIMPLB spokesperson S. Q. R. Ilyas rejected the claim and said the plea was based on misleading assumptions about Islamic law.&nbsp;&ldquo;The petition is mischievous and presents Islamic inheritance law in a distorted manner,&rdquo; Ilyas said, adding that it ignored constitutional protections guaranteed to religious communities.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032348625565778055&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=7d0fa49dd67c9941107d432a928e8889b5009988&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Board argued that the challenge contradicts Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees citizens the freedom to profess, practise and propagate their religion.&nbsp;According to the AIMPLB, Islamic personal law forms part of that protected religious sphere and cannot be set aside through litigation.&nbsp;Ilyas also pointed to the landmark Narasu Appa Mali case decided by the Bombay High Court, which held that personal laws are not subject to constitutional scrutiny in the same way as statutory legislation.&nbsp;&ldquo;That judgment makes it clear that personal laws cannot be treated as ordinary statutory provisions open to constitutional challenge,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Responding to claims that Islamic inheritance rules are not an essential religious practice, the Board said Muslim family laws derive directly from the Quran and Sunnah, making them binding within the religious framework.<iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2031701672641311119&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=7d0fa49dd67c9941107d432a928e8889b5009988&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 641px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe><div class="fr-embed"> </div>&ldquo;These laws are rooted in the Quran and Sunnah and therefore form an integral part of Islamic life,&rdquo; Ilyas said.&nbsp;Addressing allegations of gender discrimination, the AIMPLB said Islamic law grants men and women equal dignity while assigning them different financial responsibilities.&nbsp;&ldquo;Men are obligated to provide maintenance and bear household expenses, while women are under no financial obligation and may independently retain and use their own income,&rdquo; Ilyas said.&nbsp;The Board also rejected suggestions that the issue could be resolved through the adoption of a Uniform Civil Code, noting that Article 44 of the constitution is only a directive principle and cannot override fundamental rights.&nbsp;&ldquo;Article 44 cannot be imposed on Muslims in a way that violates their fundamental right to practise religion,&rdquo; Ilyas said, urging the court to dismiss the petition.&nbsp;During the hearing, however, the Supreme Court observed that a Uniform Civil Code could potentially address concerns raised in the petition.&nbsp;The bench also questioned whether striking down Shariat inheritance provisions might create a legal vacuum in the absence of an alternative statutory framework governing Muslim inheritance.&nbsp;The case has reignited debate over religious autonomy and minority rights in India, where critics say legal and political pressure on Muslim personal laws has intensified in recent years.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board opposes a Supreme Court petition challenging Islamic inheritance law, warning it threatens religious freedom, while judges suggest a Uniform Civil Code and question whether scrapping Shariat rules would create legal uncertainty.

Indian Muslim board denounces Supreme Court challenge to Shariat inheritance

ISLAMABAD: Panic buying, long queues and delayed deliveries have spread across parts of India as fears over dwindling LPG supplies and rising prices triggered disorder at gas agencies and booking centres, Indian media reported on Friday.&nbsp; The Times of India reported that domestic consumers rushed to book cylinders amid anxiety over shortages, while glitches in IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) and online booking systems worsened the chaos and pushed more people into physical queues and literal fights outside distribution offices.&nbsp; The supply scare comes after a sharp increase in LPG prices earlier this month. Reuters reported that India raised the price of a 14.2-kg domestic cylinder by 60 Indian Rupees in Delhi to 913 rupees, while the price of a 19-kg commercial cylinder climbed to 1,883 Indian Rupees from 1,768.50 rupees. The hike added pressure on households as well as restaurants, hotels and small food businesses already worried about replenishment delays.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2031966317839004101&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=128fdce1f836af0c87b6c296878f67133ef2e177&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 600px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The disruption has been linked to the conflict in West Asia and shipping constraints affecting energy imports. The Telegraph India reported that India, which imported about 60% of its cooking gas demand last year, has seen LPG supplies disrupted by constraints on Gulf shipping routes, prompting the government to curb industrial and commercial use in order to protect household distribution. Reuters also said New Delhi has begun sourcing more LPG from countries such as the United States, Norway, Canada and Russia. In a statement released by the Press Information Bureau, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, whose name is already embroiled in a scandal relating to &#39;Epstein files&#39;, said an LPG Control Order has directed refineries to maximise LPG output, raising production by 28% in five days. Even so, with panic spreading faster than official assurances, the LPG squeeze has already spilled into a full-blown public anxiety crisis.

Panic buying, long queues and rising prices have triggered chaos across India as LPG supplies tighten, with officials promising household priority while import disruptions and public anxiety deepen the crisis

Panic, chaos in India as LPG supply dwindles, prices surge

ISLAMABAD: The United States Trade Representative has launched a Section 301 investigation into India and other countries regarding structural excess capacity in manufacturing, evaluating whether these practices unfairly impact US commerce, according to a statement released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative on Wednesday. &ldquo;Today, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the initiation of investigations regarding the acts, policies, and practices of various economies under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 relating to structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors,&rdquo; the statement said. It added that the &ldquo;investigations will determine whether those acts, policies, and practices are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce.&rdquo; According to the statement, India and other US trading partners are subject to these investigations. &ldquo;The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us. Today&rsquo;s investigations underscore President Trump&rsquo;s commitment to reshore critical supply chains and create good-paying jobs for American workers across our manufacturing sectors,&rdquo; said Ambassador Greer. Structural excess capacity and production&nbsp;The statement quoted the ambassador as stating, &ldquo;The Trump Administration&rsquo;s reindustrialization efforts continue to face significant challenges due to foreign economies&rsquo; structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors. Across numerous sectors, many US trading partners are producing more goods than they can consume domestically.&rdquo; &ldquo;This overproduction displaces existing US domestic production or prevents investment and expansion in US manufacturing production that otherwise would have been brought online. In many sectors, the United States has lost substantial domestic production capacity or has fallen worryingly behind foreign competitors.&rdquo; Section 301&nbsp;Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act), is designed to address unfair foreign practices affecting US commerce, the statement said. An investigation under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act examines whether the acts, policies, or practices of a foreign country are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce, it added.

Americas

Asia

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says, ‘The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us.’

US launches investigation into India, other countries' trade practices

ISLAMABAD: Rights group Hindutva Watch flagged on Monday what it described as a celebratory public reception for cow vigilante Monu Manesar after his release on bail in the 2023 Junaid-Nasir double murder case, highlighting fresh concern over the public glorification of an accused in one of India&rsquo;s most contentious vigilante violence cases.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2030798038642446721&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=11c3e4775eb382ba6e9f994d941f719f5f4a7155&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Monu Manesar, whose real name is Mohit Yadav, was released from Sevar Central Jail in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, after the Rajasthan High Court granted him bail, reported The Quint.&nbsp; He was freed in a bullet-proof vest amid heavy security, with police deployment outside the jail as supporters gathered at the site.&nbsp;The case relates to the killings of Junaid, 35, and Nasir, 27, two Muslim cousins from Rajasthan whose charred bodies were found inside a burned vehicle in Haryana&rsquo;s Bhiwani district in February 2023, Times of India reported.&nbsp; The case was registered on the complaint of a relative at Gopalgarh police station in Deeg district of Rajasthan. An Indian journalist and published author, Ankur Bhardwaj, commented on the news of celebration of Manesar&#39;s release, calling it &quot;sick.&quot;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2030851624604971494&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=11c3e4775eb382ba6e9f994d941f719f5f4a7155&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 543px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>According to court reporting cited by Indian outlets, Manesar had spent about two and a half years in judicial custody before being granted bail.&nbsp; The Quint reported that the High Court took note of the length of incarceration and the slow pace of trial proceedings.&nbsp; Reports said a large number of prosecution witnesses are still yet to be examined, meaning the trial remains far from conclusion. Following his release, Indian media reported celebratory scenes involving supporters.&nbsp; Bhaskar English reported that Manesar was accompanied by a convoy as he returned to Haryana, while the social media video cited by the user appears to show supporters greeting him enthusiastically after his release.&nbsp; This development comes as part of normalization of vigilante violence in India.

Rights group 'Hindutva Watch' on Monday flagged celebrations after Indian cow vigilante Monu Manesar, accused in the 2023 killing of two Muslim men, was released on bail, while the murder case remains pending and his public welcome renewed scrutiny.

Cow vigilante accused of double murder gets hero’s welcome after bail in India

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit that underscores the rapid expansion of India&ndash;Israel ties, according to The Times of Israel, even as his planned address to parliament faces a boycott by sections of the Israeli opposition and criticism from within India.&nbsp;Modi landed at Ben Gurion Airport and is scheduled to hold a private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before travelling to Jerusalem.&nbsp;The visit, billed by New Delhi as an effort to strengthen relations with a key trade and defence partner, comes at a time when both governments face sustained international criticism over human rights and democratic backsliding.&nbsp;Modi is set to become the first Indian prime minister to address the Knesset, a move Israeli officials have described as a &ldquo;strategic leap&rdquo; in bilateral relations.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our nations share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership,&rdquo; Modi said in a departure statement before leaving India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years,&rdquo; he added, confirming he would meet Netanyahu and address the Knesset.&nbsp;However, the address is expected to be partially boycotted by Israel&rsquo;s opposition. According to Israeli media reports cited in the draft, opposition leader Yair Lapid is locked in a standoff with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana over the decision not to invite Supreme Court President Isaac Amit to the special parliamentary session.&nbsp;Lapid has urged Netanyahu to reverse the decision, calling the exclusion a break from parliamentary custom.&nbsp;Growing cooperationIndia has steadily expanded cooperation with Israel across defense, agriculture, technology, and cybersecurity, while publicly maintaining that it balances its interests across the Middle East.&nbsp;This week, Indian and Israeli technical teams opened talks in New Delhi on a proposed free trade agreement. India&rsquo;s government has said total merchandise trade between the two countries stood at $3.62 billion in 2024&ndash;25.&nbsp;Defense cooperation is expected to feature prominently during Modi&rsquo;s meetings. Israeli officials have signaled that discussions will include deeper defense integration, with media reports citing proposals for a multi-billion-dollar package covering advanced air defense and missile systems.&nbsp;For Netanyahu, the visit is being framed as part of a broader regional security vision that links Israel more closely with India and select European partners.&nbsp;Political backlashInside India, the visit has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures, who say Modi is abandoning India&rsquo;s long-standing position on Palestine.&nbsp;Senior Congress Party leader Priyanka Gandhi wrote on social media that she hoped Modi would mention the killing of &ldquo;thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza&rdquo; during his Knesset address.&nbsp;The criticism reflects wider unease over India&rsquo;s increasingly close alignment with Israel during the war in Gaza, which has drawn global condemnation.&nbsp;India has also faced scrutiny for its growing military ties with Israel. New Delhi used Israeli military drone technology during its May 2025 clash with Pakistan, while Indian arms firms supplied military equipment to Israel during its 2024 Gaza offensive.&nbsp;Wider regional stakesThe visit unfolds amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and the United States, and as India seeks to maintain parallel relationships with Israel, Gulf Arab states, and Tehran.&nbsp;India, home to around 1.4 billion people, includes an estimated 220 million Muslims. Critics argue that Modi&rsquo;s embrace of Israel under Netanyahu sends a stark signal about India&rsquo;s shifting foreign policy priorities.&nbsp;Full diplomatic relations between India and Israel were established in 1992, but ties accelerated sharply after Modi, a Hindu nationalist leader, took office in 2014. Modi last visited Israel in 2017, with Netanyahu returning the visit in 2018. Both leaders have publicly referred to each other as a &ldquo;friend.&rdquo;&nbsp;As Modi prepares to address Israel&rsquo;s parliament, observers say the visit will be judged as much by what is left unsaid, particularly on Gaza, as by the promises of deeper strategic cooperation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel for a two-day visit as Israeli opposition parties plan to boycott his Knesset address, highlighting political divisions amid deepening India–Israel strategic ties

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