FM Sitharaman pushes for early India-US trade deal

IANS | October 16, 2026 10:30 AM

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday called for an early conclusion of the proposed India-United States Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and said its finalisation would be in the interest of both global trade and bilateral economic ties.

Rose Bowl introduced Australia-New Zealand women's T20Is

IANS | October 16, 2026 10:30 AM

Chirstchurch, Oct 16 (IANS) The Rose Bowl, which has been awarded to the winner of the ODI series between the Australia and New Zealand women's teams, will be up for grabs every time two teams meet in a bilateral series, as it has been introduced to the T20Is as well.

Asian American caucus blames Trump administration for anti-South Asianhate

IANS | October 16, 2026 10:06 AM

Washington, Oct 16 (IANS) The leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) blamed the Trump administration’s rhetoric and appointments for fuelling anti-South Asian hate, after a foiled white-supremacist plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois.

SC seeks explanation from Sanjay Raut over conduct in plea challenging SIR

IANS | October 16, 2026 10:04 AM

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Sanjay Raut over his conduct while provisionally entertaining his petition as part of a plea filed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Microsoft’s Brad Smith hits back at Vance over H-1B, green-card curbs

IANS | October 16, 2026 10:02 AM

Washington, Oct 16 (IANS) Microsoft President Brad Smith has rejected Vice President JD Vance’s charge that the company abuses the H-1B visa programme as “completely off base”, and warned that blocking skilled immigrants’ path to green cards could cripple the US technology sector for more than a generation.