Overview

• At the SCO summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping announced agreement between Special Representatives on border management, the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar yatra, and plans to restore direct flights.
• The United States has levied steep duties equating to 50% on Indian imports, and the New York Times reports President Donald Trump has canceled a planned India/Quad visit, a claim not yet confirmed by either government.
• Indian government sources rebut U.S. allegations that Russian oil purchases fund Moscow’s war, saying refiners avoid dollar payments, comply with G7/EU price caps, and helped stabilize global energy markets.
• During Modi’s Tokyo visit, Japan pledged about ₹6 lakh crore of investment over the next decade and expanded cooperation to semiconductors, critical minerals, AI and pharmaceuticals, as both leaders jointly condemned the Pahalgam attack and urged swift justice and action against UN‑listed groups.
• Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh recorded 25 cloudbursts, nine landslides and about 122 deaths over 30 days, with the IMD warning of continued heavy rainfall and associated risks in the coming days.