United States Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, expressed optimism on Thursday regarding the finalisation of a proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two nations within the coming months. Speaking at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, Gor highlighted that the agreement is expected to expand market access, reduce trade barriers, and provide greater certainty for businesses in both countries.
Gor elaborated that the proposed deal would strengthen supply chains, encourage fresh investments, and support sustained inclusive economic growth. He noted that while India's free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union took nearly 19 years, the India-US trade pact could be concluded within about one-and-a-half years from the start of negotiations.
Referring to President Donald Trump's vision, Gor stated that the administration aims to promote bilateral trade in a way that creates new opportunities for American businesses and workers. The envoy's remarks came amid a series of developments in India-US relations, including discussions on tariff reductions and market access.
Trump Rolls Back Biden-Era Restrictions on Greenhouse Gases
In a separate development, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday the easing of restrictions on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a group of potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners. Trump criticised the regulations introduced under former President Joe Biden, calling them 'ridiculous', unnecessary, and expensive.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said he was 'officially terminating the Biden administration's ridiculous regulations imposing costly requirements on refrigerators and air conditioners'. He argued that the rollback would help reduce costs for American consumers and claimed the rules made cooling equipment less effective.
Russia and Belarus Conclude Joint Nuclear Drills
Russia and neighbouring Belarus carried out the final stage of their joint nuclear drills on Thursday, with missile convoys moving through forest roads, nuclear-powered submarines departing Arctic and Pacific ports, and military crews mobilising strategic warplanes. Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the exercises in a video call with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
'The use of nuclear weapons is an extreme, exceptional measure for ensuring the national security of our states,' Putin said. Earlier, Lukashenko inspected Russian Iskander short-range ballistic missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads and remarked, 'I dreamed about this machine a long time ago.' The three-day drills, which began on Tuesday, come amid an increase in Ukrainian drone attacks, including strikes near Moscow that killed three people and damaged buildings and industrial facilities.
Punjab Man Arrested for Allegedly Spying for Pakistan
A man from Punjab's Pathankot district has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan-based handlers, police said on Thursday. According to investigators, Baljit Singh, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village, allegedly installed an internet-enabled CCTV camera at a shop near a bridge on National Highway-44 to monitor the movement of army and paramilitary personnel. Police said the live footage was being transmitted to handlers based in Pakistan.
During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted to installing the camera on the Pathankot-Jammu highway in January. Investigators also claimed he was receiving instructions from an unidentified person based in Dubai and had been paid Rs 40,000. The CCTV camera has been recovered from his possession, police added.
Two Killed in Firing Incident in Maharashtra's Ulhasnagar
Two people were shot dead and another critically injured after unidentified attackers opened fire in Maharashtra's Ulhasnagar township in Thane district on Thursday night, police said. The incident occurred around 8:30 pm in Kailash Colony, sparking panic among local residents. According to the Ulhasnagar police control room, the assailants allegedly fired around 15 rounds before fleeing the scene.
Police said two victims died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds, while a third person sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Thane for emergency treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination, officials added.
Drunk Driver Crashes into Car in West Delhi, Three Injured
Three people were injured after an allegedly drunk driver rammed his SUV into another vehicle in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area early on Thursday, police said. The crash occurred around 3:15 am on Shivaji Road when a black Scorpio SUV with a Haryana registration allegedly broke through the central verge grill and collided with a Delhi-registered car, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar.
The injured victims were identified as Harbir Singh, Gurdeep Singh, and Sukhvinder Singh. Police said a case has been registered at Moti Nagar police station under sections related to rash driving and endangering public safety under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. During the investigation, officers identified the SUV driver as 22-year-old Kanishk Yadav, a resident of Khyala village, along with three associates — Aryan Malik, Priyansh Lamba, and Jagdish. Police said all four were found to be under the influence of alcohol after medical examination.
