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Pakistan Police Arrest Tribal Chief, 13 Others Over Balochistan ‘Honour Killing’
Police in southwestern Pakistan have arrested 14 people, including a tribal chief, over the alleged honour killing of a couple accused of having an affair, officials said on Monday.
The killings in Pakistan’s Balochistan province last month came to attention after a video showing the couple being shot went viral on social media.
The man who shot and killed the woman was her brother, acting on behalf of her family and tribe, provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari told Reuters in an update on the case.
The chief of the tribe, Sher Baz Satakzai, had ordered the killing, he said.
The tribal chief was among those detained, provincial chief minister Sarfraz Bugti told a news conference in Quetta, the provincial capital.
“We will make sure that they all will be prosecuted,” he said.
It was unclear if the brother was among those detained.
Couple’s ‘Honour Killing’
The man and woman, accused of having an affair out of wedlock, both had several children from separate marriages, Bugti said. Authorities had initially said the couple were killed for marrying against the wishes of their families.
“No one has a right, no matter what, to kill someone in such a painful and disgusting way, and then video shoot it,” said Bugti. “It is a crime. It is a murder.”
The video that was circulating widely on social media on Sunday shows a man shooting the woman in the back at close range, and later a bloodied man lying close to the woman’s body.
Men are then shown shooting at both bodies.
Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
A local court on Monday ordered police to exhume the bodies for an autopsy.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that in 2024, there were at least 405 “honour killings”, criticising the authorities for failing to stamp out these crimes.
Most victims are women, and the killings are usually carried out by relatives professing to defend their family’s reputation, human rights groups say.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Tropical Storm Wipha Hits Vietnam As Monsoon Rains Continue To Batter Philippines
Tropical Storm Wipha made landfall in northern Vietnam on Tuesday and weakened soon after, but authorities remained on high alert due to ongoing heavy rains that could trigger floods and landslides. Meanwhile, the Philippines continued to be battered by monsoon downpours that have persisted since last week.
Wipha hit the northern provinces of Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa early on Tuesday afternoon with wind speeds of up to 74 kph (46 mph), slowing from around 100 kph on its approach, the national weather forecasting agency said.
With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that are often deadly and Wipha is the first major storm to hit this year.
High Alert
Heavy rains of up to 50 cm (20 inches) were forecast to continue until Wednesday morning, and authorities warned people to watch out for landslides in mountainous areas and flooding in urban areas. Around 350,000 soldiers were put on standby.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had put coastal provinces on emergency footing as Wipha neared, with residents nervous after the devastation of Typhoon Yagi, which last year killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion of damage.
“I have learnt from last year’s mistakes, when we underestimated Yagi,” Ngo Van Thuong, a 40-year-old warehouse manager in Ha Long City, said as the storm neared.
“Doorways and roofs are places that need more attention, and, since yesterday, I have also put sandbags on top of the roof,” Thuong said.
A fishing boat in Quang Ninh province capsized early on Tuesday, but all nine of the fishermen on board were saved, the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported.
Airlines cancelled and rescheduled dozens of flights, and some airport, port and train services were suspended, though state media reported that airports in Quang Ninh and Haiphong had resumed operations on Tuesday afternoon.
Photos on state media showed empty streets in the capital in Hanoi, where many workplaces were closed on Tuesday, including the U.S. embassy.
“We haven’t forgotten about Yagi, and have taken extra measures to cope with Wipha,” said a resident of Cat Ba Island in Haiphong.
Flooding, Closures In Philippines
In the Philippines, Wipha has intensified already torrential monsoon rains, triggering knee- to waist-deep flooding across parts of the country and forcing a second day of school closures, flight cancellations and the suspension of government work.
Thousands of families remain in evacuation centres as relentless rains, which swept through the country’s north last week, continue to batter the country.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., currently on an official visit to the United States, said government agencies had been mobilised to provide assistance.
“Relief goods are ready and are being delivered to affected areas, along with medical teams,” Marcos said in a recorded message. “We’re ensuring transport, electricity, and water supplies are stable for those affected.”
On Sunday, Wipha, then at full typhoon strength, barrelled across Hong Kong and southern China. As the storm passed Hong Kong, more than 110 mm of rain fell within three hours and maximum wind gusts exceeded 167 kph at some points, prompting authorities to issue their highest storm warning.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Syrian Committee Reports 1,426 Deaths In March Clashes, Finds No Orders For Revenge Attacks
A Syrian fact-finding committee reported on Tuesday that 1,426 people were killed in March during attacks on security forces and retaliatory massacres targeting Alawites, but concluded that military commanders had not issued orders for the revenge killings.
The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad last year.
The fact-finding committee’s work is seen as an important test of the new leadership, made up mainly of former anti-Assad rebel fighters, who are facing new unrest this month involving other minority groups in the southwest.
No Orders For Revenge
The committee concluded that Syrian commanders did not give orders to commit violations and, in fact, gave orders to halt them.
It came up with a list of 298 suspects involved in violations against Alawites and 265 involved in the initial attack on security forces, committee head Jumaa Al-Anzi said.
The names are not being released publicly for now and have been referred to courts for further investigations, spokesperson Yasser Farhan said. He added that 31 people who committed violations against civilians had been arrested, as well as six people he referred to as “remnants” of the former regime.
A Reuters investigation last month identified 1,479 Syrian Alawites killed and dozens who were missing from 40 distinct sites of revenge killings, and found a chain of command leading from the attackers directly to men who serve alongside Syria’s new leaders in Damascus.
Syria’s new leadership, which has roots in the insurgency led by Sunni Muslim Islamist groups against Assad, a member of the Alawite minority sect, has long sought to reassure minorities that they will be safe.
Safety of minorities has become a major issue again this month with hundreds of people killed in clashes between government security forces, Sunni Bedouin fighters and militants from the Druze sect in the southern province of Sweida. The authorities have set up a new fact-finding committee in response.
‘Widespread But Not Organised’
The violence in March began on March 6 with attacks on Syrian security forces stationed in the region. It put hospitals and other state institutions out of operation and caused wide areas to fall out of government control, Farhan said.
The committee found that 238 members of the security forces were killed in these attacks, perpetrated by forces aligned with the former Assad government, Farhan said.
In response, around 200,000 armed men mobilised from across Syria, pouring into the coastal region, he said.
‘Widespread, But Not Organised’
This led to violations including killings, theft and sectarian incitement that the committee found were “widespread but not organised,” Farhan said.
Farhan said the committee members had full cooperation from government forces as they undertook their months of work, and it was now up to President Ahmed al-Sharaa whether to release their report in full.
Diana Semaan, Syria researcher at Amnesty International, called for the full findings to be released and for perpetrators to face prosecution.
“In terms of the fact-finding committee, acknowledging that atrocities against Alawite civilians happened is an important step towards justice,” she told Reuters.
“[But] without the proper prosecution of perpetrators, then we have impunity. It won’t be the justice and accountability that the victims deserve.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
US, China To Hold Talks In Stockholm On Possible Tariff Deadline Extension: Bessent
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that he plans to meet with his Chinese counterpart in Stockholm next week to discuss what is expected to be an extension of the August 12 deadline for reaching a deal to avoid steep tariff increases.
Bessent told Fox Business Network’s Mornings With Maria program that trade with China was in “a very good place” and the meetings in Stockholm would take place next Monday and Tuesday.
“I think we’ve actually moved to a new level with China, where it’s very constructive and… we’re going to be able to get a lot of things done now that trade has kind of settled in at a good level,” Bessent said.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed in a post on X that Sweden will host the U.S.-China trade talks early next week.
“It is positive that both countries wish to meet in Sweden to seek mutual understanding,” Kristersson said.
China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment to confirm the planned meetings and Chinese participants.
Trade Truce
Since mid-May, Bessent has met twice with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva and London to work out and refine a temporary trade truce that dialed back dueling triple-digit retaliatory tariffs that threatened to cut off all trade between the world’s two largest economies.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and chief trade negotiator Li Chenggang also participated in those talks.
In talks so far, China has agreed to end its export ban on rare earth metals and magnets to the U.S., while the U.S. agreed to restart shipments of semiconductor design software and production materials, as well as commercial aircraft engines and other goods to China.
But the two sides set a 90-day deadline to resolve deeper issues, including U.S. complaints about China’s state-led and subsidized export-driven economic model that has created excess manufacturing capacity in China that is flooding world markets with cheap goods. China denies that it subsidizes its industries and attributes their export success to innovation.
Tariffs could snap back to 145% on the U.S. side and 125% on the Chinese side without a deal or negotiating extension.
We’ll be working out what is likely an extension” at the Stockholm talks, Bessent said, adding that U.S. officials would discuss other issues, including reducing China’s over-reliance on manufacturing and exports.
“Hopefully we can see the Chinese pull back on some of this glut of manufacturing that they’re doing and concentrate on building a consumer economy,” Bessent said.
Russian Oil Sanctions
He said he also wants to issue warnings to China about continuing to buy sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil and China’s efforts to aid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Bessent said that there was bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for legislation aimed at imposing tariffs of 100% on goods from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, namely China and India.
“I’m going to be in touch with my European counterparts. The Europeans that have talked a big game about sanctioning Russia, and it’ll be very important for the Europeans to also be willing to put on these high level of secondary tariffs for sanctioned Russian oil.”
He said that the U.S. was poised to announce “a rash of trade deals” with other countries, and Japan could be among these despite an election setback for Japan’s ruling party and difficult negotiations.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we aren’t able to iron out something with Japan pretty quickly,” Bessent said.
Nonetheless, he said that for most countries, tariffs would “boomerang” back towards April 2 levels from the current 10%, but negotiations on trade deals could continue.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Trump’s Golden Dome Explores Alternatives To Musk’s SpaceX
The Trump administration is broadening its search for partners to develop the Golden Dome missile defence system, engaging Amazon.com’s Project Kuiper and major defence firms as rising tensions with Elon Musk jeopardise SpaceX’s leading role in the programme, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.
The shift marks a strategic pivot away from reliance on Musk’s SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have become central to U.S. military communications.
It comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Trump and Musk, which culminated in a public falling-out on June 5. Even before the spat, officials at the Pentagon and White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX, wary of over-reliance on a single partner for huge portions of the ambitious, $175 billion space-based defence shield, two of the sources said.
Musk and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. After Reuters reported initially that SpaceX was a frontrunner to build parts of the Golden Dome, Musk said on X that the company had “not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars.”
Due to its size, track record of launching more than 9,000 of its own Starlink satellites, and experience in government procurement, SpaceX still has the inside track to assist with major portions of the Golden Dome, especially launch contracts, sources say.
Project Kuiper
Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signalling the administration’s openness to integrating commercial tech firms into national defence infrastructure and going beyond traditional defence players.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s executive chairman, told Reuters in January that Kuiper would be “primarily commercial,” but acknowledged “there will be defence uses for these [low-earth orbit] constellations, no doubt.”
A spokesperson for Project Kuiper declined to comment for this story. The Pentagon declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Golden Dome’s ambitions mirror those of Israel’s Iron Dome – a homeland missile defence shield – but a larger, more complex layered defence system requires a vast network of orbiting satellites covering more territory.
In the search for more vendors for the satellite layers of Golden Dome, “Kuiper is a big one,” a U.S. official said.
While SpaceX remains a frontrunner due to its unmatched launch capabilities, its share of the program could shrink, two of the people said. Officials have reached out to new entrants like rocket companies Stoke Space and Rocket Lab are gaining traction and will be able to bid on individual launches as the program matures, according to the U.S. official.
Later in the development of Golden Dome, “each individual launch is going to get bid, and we have to actually give bids to other people,” besides SpaceX, the official said.
Need For Satellites
There is an urgent need for more satellite production. Last year, Congress gave Space Force a $13 billion mandate – up from $900 million – to buy satellite-based communication services in what was widely seen as one of many efforts to stimulate private sector satellite production.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a $10 billion initiative led by former Starlink managers dismissed by Musk for slow progress, Reuters has reported, has lagged behind SpaceX in deployment. But its potential defence applications – such as communications that could aid missile tracking – have drawn renewed interest as the administration prepares to allocate the first $25 billion tranche of funding authorised under Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill.
Traditional defence giants Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris are also in talks to support Golden Dome. L3Harris CFO Kenneth Bedingfield told Reuters in an interview that the company has seen a surge in interest in its missile warning and tracking technologies, which are expected to play a key role in the system.
Northrop, meanwhile, is pursuing several efforts, including a space-based interceptor, a component that would enable missile strikes from orbit, Robert Fleming, the head of the company’s space business, told Reuters in an interview.
“Lockheed Martin is ready to support Golden Dome for America as a proven mission partner,” Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space, said in a statement.
Golden Dome’s initial outreach this spring invited smaller, newer Silicon Valley firms seen as nimbler, more sophisticated and potentially less expensive alternatives to the big defence firms to the table – but that was before the Musk-Trump feud upended that calculus.
Several with close ties to Trump, aside from SpaceX, including Palantir and Anduril, were considered early frontrunners to win big pieces of the $175 billion project.
But the Musk-Trump feud has reshaped the competitive landscape. Musk recently launched the “America Party,” a tech-centric, centrist political movement aimed at defeating Republicans who backed Trump’s tax-and-spend agenda.
Rapid Timeframe
Trump launched the Golden Dome initiative just a week into his second term, pushing for rapid deployment. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, confirmed by the Senate on July 17, is set to lead the program with sweeping authority.
Under a previously unreported directive from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Guetlein has 30 days from confirmation to build a team, 60 days to deliver an initial system design, and 120 days to present a full implementation plan, including satellite and ground station details, two people briefed on the memo said.
The inclusion of commercial platforms like Kuiper raises security concerns. Its satellites would need to be hardened against cyberattacks and electronic warfare, a challenge that has plagued even SpaceX’s Starlink network. In May 2024, Elon Musk said SpaceX was spending “significant resources combating Russian jamming efforts. This is a tough problem.”
Beyond the technical and political challenges, Golden Dome could reshape global security dynamics. A fully operational space-based missile shield may prompt adversaries to develop new offensive capabilities or accelerate the militarisation of space.
Still, established defence players like Lockheed and RTX, formerly Raytheon, will likely be at the front of the line for contracts. Executives at RTX, maker of the Patriot missile defence system, said on Tuesday they believe the system is going to be integral to Golden Dome, “especially if you want to make a significant impact over the next 2 to 3 years.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
US Startup xLight Gets $40M To Tackle China In Chip Race
Aiming to boost US leadership in chipmaking, Silicon Valley startup xLight has raised $40 million to develop a prototype of a next-generation laser that could disrupt the global semiconductor industry, where China is rapidly expanding its presence.
The company’s laser – based on the same technologies as massive particle accelerators used by US national labs in cutting-edge physics research – will sit at the heart of what are known as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines. EUV machines are the tools primarily responsible for the creation of smaller, faster chips.
Helping Fabs
In a world where advances in fields such as AI are determined by how many chips Nvidia and other chip companies can supply, xLight is aiming to help chip factories, called “fabs” in the industry, turn out more of the dinner-plate-sized silicon “wafers” that contain advanced chips more quickly and cheaply.
“This is the most expensive tool in the fab. It’s what drives the cost of the wafer more than any other tool in the fab, and it’s what drives capacity more than any other tool in the fab,” Nicholas Kelez, CEO of xLight, said at the company’s Palo Alto headquarters.
XLight declined to disclose its valuation. It expects to have an operational prototype in 2028.
‘Terrible Mistake’
The EUV machines themselves took the chip industry decades to develop, and Europe’s ASML, which xLight is partnering with on its prototype, is currently the world’s only supplier.
The US government has worked across multiple presidential administrations to stop EUV machines from being sent to China, with one official calling it the “single most important export control” held by the US and Europe.
China has responded by pouring resources into the field, with a close manufacturing partner of national champion Huawei Technologies claiming breakthroughs in developing its own EUV laser and more than a dozen research papers appearing at international conferences chasing the same technological path as xLight.
A US-based firm named Cymer perfected the first EUV laser technology and was scooped up by ASML more than a decade ago for $2.5 billion, helping create ASML’s dominant position in the market.
“There was a terrible mistake made giving Cymer the ability to become a European-owned and controlled company,” said Pat Gelsinger, former CEO of Intel, who now serves as executive chairman of xLight’s board and is a general partner at Playground Global, one of xLight’s investors.
Many of xLight’s prototype components will come from US national labs as xLight works to build a supply chain in the US and allied countries.
“We can build that here, or it can be built elsewhere. China is investing heavily in this space. There’s an extraordinary backstory here that says, ‘Let’s get this one right’,” Gelsinger said.
The financing round was led by Playground Global and joined by Boardman Bay Capital Management. Morpheus Ventures, Marvel Capital, and IAG Capital Partners also joined the round.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Mamdani’s Mayoral Rise Splits New York Business Leaders On Strategy
New York City’s business community is in disarray over whom to back in the upcoming mayoral race, with many urging either Andrew Cuomo or Mayor Eric Adams to step aside so the other can mount a stronger challenge against surprise Democratic primary winner Zohran Mamdani.
Following Cuomo’s announcement that he would stay in the race as an independent after losing to Mamdani, New York-based CEOs have yet to coalesce behind either the former governor or incumbent Adams in their bid to defeat Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who won the primary in June.
Several business leaders who would only speak under the condition of anonymity said they would support Cuomo, while others were backing Adams, a former police captain who was elected mayor as a Democrat in 2021 but this year decided to run as an independent, as less sure of the former governor’s chances. Many leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach — though others believe that could be a bad move, keeping another candidate from gaining momentum.
Mamdani won the June 24 primary with 56% of the vote, bolstered by young voters drawn to his social media presence and messaging focused on solving the city’s affordability crisis. Polling suggests he would prevail over a fractured field of Cuomo, Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, but some polls suggest Cuomo would win a head-to-head matchup against Mamdani in heavily Democratic New York.
Fears Of Capital Flight
Business owners are concerned that Mamdani’s proposals, which include rent freezes, free city buses and city-owned grocery stores, would add to residents’ tax burden and cause an exodus of capital.
Mamdani says his plans, which also include free childcare, would be paid for by raising corporate taxes and imposing an additional 2% income tax on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million a year.
“I can only vote for one candidate in November, and that decision won’t be made until closer to Election Day,” said Jared Epstein, president of real-estate owner and developer Aurora Capital Associates, in an email. “Until then, like nearly every one of the 20,000 contacts in my phone, my position is simple: ABZ – ‘Anyone But Zohran.'”
Mamdani has raised about $820,000 since the primary through July 21, according to the city’s campaign finance board. Few prominent business leaders have publicly come out in support of Mamdani, who has received endorsements from unions that previously backed Cuomo. In recent days, Mamdani met with executives in a meeting organised by the nonprofit Partnership for New York City.
“He did a pretty good job of making the case that he was open to conversations, discussion and learning, and that he wanted to build a coalition that would represent all New Yorkers,” said Kathy Wylde, president and chief executive officer of the group.
Cuomo has said he would drop out by September if he isn’t the clear favourite and has urged others to do the same, though by state law his name would remain on the ballot. He has raised just $64,000 since June 10.
Adams Gains Elite Backing
Adams has raised roughly $1.5 million since June 10. Maria and Kenneth Fishel, who own a luxury real estate company, Renaissance Properties, hosted a fundraiser for Adams in Long Island’s Hamptons over the 4th of July weekend. Adams has also received support on social media from hedge-fund managers Bill Ackman and Daniel Loeb. He has been endorsed by 13 police unions.
Hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who ran in this year’s Democratic mayoral primary, receiving just 0.8% of the vote, said in an email that once the election is one month away, “it will hopefully be clear who’s better positioned to beat Mamdani and ONLY THEN should the other guy drop.”
Neither Cuomo nor Mamdani’s campaigns responded to a request for comment.
Todd Shapiro, spokesperson for Adams, said Adams made New York stronger after the pandemic and will continue to deliver results for the business community in New York.
Sliwa, who is polling behind both Mamdani and Cuomo, said he is not planning on dropping out; Sliwa, as the Republican candidate in the 2021 mayoral general election, won 27.8% of the vote.
(With inputs from Reuters)
All Options Open If Israel Fails On Gaza Aid Promises: EU
All options will remain on the table if Israel fails to fulfil its commitments to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, the European Union’s (EU) top diplomat said on Tuesday, emphasising that the situation remains critical and that the international community expects concrete action, not just promises.
“The killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote in a post on X, adding that she spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar “to recall our understanding on aid flow and made clear that IDF must stop killing people at distribution points.”
EU’s Threat
Earlier this month, Kallas said Israel had agreed to expand humanitarian access to Gaza, including increasing the number of aid trucks, crossing points and routes to distribution hubs.
“All options remain on the table if Israel doesn’t deliver on its pledges,” Kallas said.
On Monday, nearly two dozen Western countries jointly urged Israel to bring an immediate end to its ongoing war in Gaza. They strongly criticised what they described as the “inhumane killing” of Palestinians, expressing deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation.
The governments said it was “horrifying” that more than 800 civilians, including women and children, had lost their lives while trying to access aid, calling such incidents unacceptable and in violation of international humanitarian principles. The statement added that urgent steps must be taken to protect innocent lives and ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
‘Disconnected From Reality’
Israel’s foreign ministry called Monday’s statement “disconnected from reality” and said it would send the wrong message to Hamas.
Gaza health officials have said more than 59,000 Palestinians have died during the 21-month conflict in Gaza.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
(With inputs from Reuters)
From Khalistani Extremism To Signing FTA, Modi Has Crowded UK Agenda
India will make a strong pitch against Khalistani activists when Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds talks with his UK counterpart Keir Starmer on Wednesday. Modi will also seek extradition of key Indian fugitives sheltering in that country.
But the focus is expected to be on the landmark and long pending India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the signing of which will mark a diplomatic milestone in bilateral relations.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a special media briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, said the visit offers an opportunity to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Khalistani Extremism
But Khalistani extremism is a major concern in Delhi, also given the freedom with which they operate in the UK.
“The issue of the presence of Khalistani extremists, bodies close to these people, is something that we have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK. We will continue to do so,” Misri said. “This is a matter of concern not only to us but should be a matter of concern to our partners as well, because this impacts social cohesion and social order in these countries.”
India has long accused the UK of not doing enough to curb pro-Khalistan propaganda and the vandalism of Indian diplomatic premises in London, including the storming of the Indian High Commission by extremists in 2023.
Extradition of Fugitives
Misri confirmed that the extradition of Indian fugitives, including economic offenders, remains an unresolved issue and will feature in the leaders’ discussions.
“There are a few questions related to fugitives from Indian law and justice in the UK. These have been a matter of discussion between both sides,” he said, adding that India continues to press for their return. “Obviously, there is a legal process that such requests go through, and we continue to follow up very closely.”
Notable names in this context include Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and other individuals wanted in India on charges ranging from financial fraud to terrorism.
Free Trade Agreement
Perhaps the most anticipated outcome of the visit is the signing of the India–UK FTA in the making since January 2022. The final text was concluded in May after 14 rounds of negotiations, and the agreement is expected to be formally signed in London on July 24, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal accompanying PM Modi for the occasion.
“The two sides have been in very close touch following the conclusion of FTA negotiations on May 6,” Misri said. “We will update you on the final details at the appropriate time.”
The FTA aims to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030, eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, and significantly boost Indian access to the UK services sector.
Key Indian gains could include:
- Tariff elimination on textiles, garments, seafood, gems, and jewellery
- Market access for Indian IT, engineering, and educational services
- Work mobility for Indian professionals, including chefs, yoga instructors, and engineers.
- Commitments on digitally delivered services and mutual recognition of professional qualifications
For the UK, the deal opens opportunities to export whisky, gin, and automobiles under relaxed tariff regimes, with phased reductions from over 100% to 10% on automotive imports. UK companies like Tata-JLR stand to benefit under the automotive quota provisions.
Energy Security and Global Standards
Misri also touched upon the broader geopolitical discussions expected during the visit, particularly around energy security and climate finance. He reiterated India’s stand for balanced global frameworks.
“We have been very clear that energy security is a top priority for the Government of India… It is important not to have double standards and to have a clear-eyed perception of what the global situation is,” he said, subtly alluding to Western pressure on India over Russian oil purchases amid the Ukraine conflict.
Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Modi’s visit, at the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, comes as both countries look to expand cooperation in defence, infrastructure financing, education, and innovation.
- The UK–India Infrastructure Financing Bridge, coordinated between NITI Aayog and the City of London, is helping fund green infrastructure projects in India.
- In education, the University of Southampton has opened a campus in Gurugram under India’s New Education Policy, and other UK universities may soon follow suit.
- Bilateral trade reached $55 billion in 2023–24.
- The UK is India’s 6th largest foreign investor with cumulative investments of $36 billion, while India has invested over $20 billion in the UK.
What’s Pending?
While the FTA and Social Security Agreement (or Double Contribution Convention) are ready for signing, the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) remains under negotiation. Originally intended to be concluded alongside the FTA, differences in investment protection clauses have delayed its finalisation.
However, officials say the visit marks a significant reset in India-UK ties.
“This visit, though short, will give both leaders the opportunity to review the entire gamut of the bilateral relationship,” Misri said.
PM Modi will also call on King Charles III and interact with leading UK and Indian business figures during his two-day visit.
OpenAI, Oracle Boost AI Race With 4.5 GW Data Centre Plan
OpenAI and Oracle are set to jointly develop an additional 4.5 gigawatts of data centre capacity, strengthening their partnership that aims to channel hundreds of billions of dollars into infrastructure to help the US stay ahead in the global artificial intelligence race.
The ChatGPT maker did not disclose the locations or funding details for the new facilities in Tuesday’s announcement.
Move Part Of Stargate
The move builds on the Stargate initiative, an up to $500 billion and 10 gigawatt project that also includes Japanese technology investor SoftBank Group and is setting up its first AI data center in Abilene, Texas.
OpenAI, as well as its backer Microsoft, are among the technology companies pouring billions of dollars on data centers to power generative AI services such as ChatGPT and Copilot that require huge amounts of computing power.
The growing use of AI in sensitive sectors such as defence, as well as China’s push to catch up, has made the nascent technology a top priority for US President Donald Trump, who unveiled Stargate at the White House in January.
The new data centers will bring Stargate’s total capacity under development to more than 5 gigawatts, which will run on over 2 million chips, OpenAI said in a blog post, adding that the tie-up now expects to exceed its initial commitment.
Oracle and SoftBank did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The White House also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Modest Goals
Analysts have raised doubts about the venture’s ability to secure the funding, including $100 billion for immediate deployment. In January, xAI owner Elon Musk, dismissed the group, saying “they don’t actually have the money”.
OpenAI and SoftBank will each commit $19 billion to fund Stargate, reports said in January. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday the two companies have been at odds with each other and Stargate is now setting a more modest goal of building a small data center at end-2025, likely in Ohio.
(With inputs from Reuters)