FirstUp: India's chief negotiator joins India-US trade talks in Washington, and other news today

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6 days ago

India's Chief Negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agarwal, will be in Washington today to participate in the ongoing India-US trade talks. A court hearing on the release of the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, will take place in Tennessee's Nashville read more
It is set to be a busy Wednesday with several events lined up for the day.
Firstly, India's Chief Negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agarwal will be in Washington to participate in the India-US trade talks. Meanwhile, a court hearing on the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.
Suriname, a South American country, will be witnessing history being created today with the inauguration of its first female president. Foreign ministers of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine will meet today in Poland's Lubin, marking the fifth anniversary of the 'Lubin Triangle'.
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Today marks the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of the Mont-Blanc tunnel. In India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest in Kolkata against the targeting of migrants.
Here are some events set to take place across the world today.
India-US trade talks to take place in Washington
Rajesh Agrawal, India's chief negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, is set to join the Indian commerce ministry team in Washington, DC today. This visit is part of a crucial round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between India and the United States.
Rajesh Agrawal, India's chief negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce. File image/PTI
The Indian team has already commenced talks in Washington on Monday (July 14) and the discussions are scheduled to continue for four days, concluding on Thursday (July 17). Agrawal's arrival signifies the heightened importance and intensity of these ongoing negotiations.
The visit assumes significance as both sides have to iron out issues in sectors like agriculture and automobiles. It is also important as the US has further postponed the imposition of additional tariffs on several countries, including India, until August 1.
Hearing on the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
An important hearing on the case relating to the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia will take place in Tennessee's Nashville today. This hearing will address a request by federal prosecutors to revoke a previous order that granted him pretrial release, allowing him to remain in custody while he awaits trial on human smuggling charges.
Abrego Garcia's case has garnered significant national attention. He was in March 2025 by the Trump administration, despite a 2019 US immigration judge's order shielding him from deportation due to fears of gang violence. After intense pressure, including a Supreme Court order, he was returned to the US last month to face the smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop.
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Inauguration of Suriname's first woman president
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons is set to make history with her inauguration as Suriname's first woman president today in the capital city of Paramaribo. Geerlings-Simons' National Democratic Party (NDP) won 18 of the 51 seats in the National Assembly.
A physician and veteran politician, Geerlings-Simons led the National Democratic Party (NDP) to a narrow victory in the May 2025 general election. Following the inconclusive results, she successfully hammered out a coalition agreement with five other parties, securing the necessary two-thirds supermajority (34 out of 51 seats) in parliament to ensure her election unopposed. Her vice president will be Gregory Rusland, leader of the National Party of Suriname (NPS).
Foreign ministers meet of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine
The foreign ministers of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine are set to meet in Lublin, Poland, today, marking the fifth anniversary of the 'Lublin Triangle,' a trilateral regional cooperation platform established in July 2020.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting, stating that the foreign ministers Radoslaw Sikorski of Poland, Kestutis Budrys of Lithuania and Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will participate in the meeting. Sybiha will be standing in for Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who has been attending other engagements.
The agenda for the meeting will focus on strengthening political, economic, cultural, and social ties between the three nations, with a particular emphasis on coordinating efforts to counter Russian aggression and support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations.
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Inauguration of the Mont-Blanc tunnel's 60th anniversary
The iconic Mont-Blanc Tunnel will mark its 60th anniversary, commemorating six decades since its official inauguration in 1965. The tunnel stretches 7.2 miles (11.6 kilometres) through the Alps and at the time of its inauguration was a marvellous genius that connected Chamonix in France with Courmayeur in Italy. The tunnel drastically shortened travel times between the two nations.
An aerial view shows the French-side entrance to the Mont Blanc road tunnel which links France and Italy beneath the Alps. File image/Reuters
Construction on the tunnel began in 1957, taking eight arduous years to complete under incredibly challenging conditions. Workers faced extreme cold, high altitudes, and the dangers of drilling through solid granite, often encountering unpredictable geological formations and water intrusions. The project symbolized European cooperation and ambition, as it was a joint venture between France and Italy.
Mamata Banerjee to lead protest in Kolkata against targeting of migrants
Responding to what the Trinamool Congress calls 'continued targeting' of migrants from West Bengal in BJP-governed states, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest rally in Kolkata today. The rally is scheduled to begin at 1 pm from College Square and culminate at Dorina Crossing in central Kolkata. It is a strong assertion of ' Bengali pride" by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The protest comes amidst a series of incidents where Bengali-speaking individuals have reportedly faced discrimination, detention and even deportation attempts, with allegations of being labelled as 'Bangladeshis.'
With inputs from agencies