India-U.S. interim trade deal needs 'final touches': officials

With the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Jamieson Greer, set to visit India this week, two separate sources in the government have told The Hindu that an interim trade deal required only "final touches" and that the U.S. was keen on seeing a deal in place. "USTR Greer is scheduled to visit India on June 23 and 24," a senior Commerce Ministry official confirmed, adding that Mr. Greer would meet Mr. Goyal and that the discussions would be centred on "giving final touches to the framework deal".

Maritime sector a major engine of economic growth, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said no nation could emerge as a major power without strong maritime capabilities. He was speaking at an event here after commissioning three indigenously built naval ships - INS Dunagiri, an advanced stealth frigate; INS Sanshodhak, a survey vessel (large); and the INS Agray, an anti-sub-marine warfare shallow watercraft.

Opportunity to 'turn over a new leaf' with Iran, says Vance as two sides gather for talks in Switzerland

U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance said on Sunday that there was an opportunity to "turn over a new leaf" with Iran as the two sides launched talks aimed at building out the interim deal to end the war in Iran reached by the two sides last week.

End the free rein of junk food advertising in India

The Government of India's National Multisectoral Action Plan (NMAP) for Prevention and Control of Common Non-Communicable Diseases (2017-2022) envisaged the prohibition/restrictions on the advertising of HFSS foods. Many pre-packaged foods are highly processed, containing additives such as colours, flavours, emulsifiers and sweeteners, and are often HFSS. The issue has gained policy attention. In February 2026, the Supreme Court of India, in response to a PIL on warning labels for packaged foods, observed that front-of-pack labelling is necessary to protect the right to health.

Just truths

To protect children from the stigma of il-legitimacy, the erstwhile Indian Evidence Act 1872 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 place the burden of proof on the par-ty denying paternity rather than the party seeking confirmation. The Supreme Court of India first considered the challenges posed by DNA evidence in this regard, in Goutam Kundu (1993), where it held that DNA tests could not be ordered as a matter of routine and that courts must first assess whether a strong prima facie case had been made out. It reiterated this position in Shri Banarsi Dass (2005); both cases also reinforced the protection of legitimacy over any interest in forensic curiosity.

Changed reality 

India must reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz

Nations rise to power on the strength of their economies and, by extension, trade. Historically, countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States and China have combined economic prosperity with maritime dominance. India's weak shipping sector reflects its geopolitical position. Yet, its seafarers generate billions of dollars in foreign exchange while facing risks from piracy and geopolitical tensions.

Britain after Brexit, divided, uncertain and stagnant

Brexit was always a trade-off in a quest by some to acquire more control over trade, regulation and immigration, tinged undoubtedly by nostalgia for Britain's imperial past. The idea that Britain could successfully swap access to the €18 trillion European economy for trade deals based on the ties of Empire - and thrive - was always for the birds, but nostalgia is powerful and illogical. Brexit began as a civil war within the Conservative Party amongst those resisting the EU's project of 'ever closer union' and railing against a perceived overbearing and over-reaching Commission that set rules for others to follow. The rules, however, were the conditions under which Britain gained access to the trading partner that, even after Brexit, accounts for 41% of its exports and 50% of its imports.

Are footpaths more than safe spaces?

The court said the presence of a broad footpath is a reflection of civilisational advancement and respect for the freedom to walk.

The court has reasoned that broad footpaths, besides amplifying the beauty of cities, must also enable equitable access to all.

The judgment is not satisfied by merely declaring the right to walk safely on a wide and clearly demarcated footpath as a basic right, but recommends to the government to implement the fundamental right through a statutory law.

What is Google's Project Nimbus, and why are students protesting against it?

Project Nimbus is a technology contract between the Israeli government and Google and Amazon. It is worth over $1 billion. In May 2021, Google said the agreement would deliver cloud services to Israeli government entities, including ministries, authorities, and government-owned companies. The project was scheduled to run for an initial period of seven years, and the Israeli government could extend it for up to 23 years. A month later, Amazon said the Israeli government had selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its primary cloud provider, under the Nimbus contract for government ministries and its subsidiaries.

India-EU trade pact to be signed by December: Goyal

India and the 27-nation European Union will sign the free trade agreement (FTA) by December and are likely to implement the pact by February-March next year, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. On January 27 this year, India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the "mother of all deals".

Biochar offers a way to turn India's farm smoke into 'black gold'

Biochar is made by heating agricultural waste in low-oxygen conditions

Integrating biochar into the existing initiatives on natural farming, soil health management, and carbon farming can deliver environmental and economic benefits at scale

As droughts, heatwaves, and erratic rainfall become more frequent and more intense, improving soil health will be crucial to sustaining agricultural productivity

In India, however, biochar remains largely confined to research trials and pilot projects, and is very much alien to many farmers