Latest news with #IndependenceDay
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Free PreCheck, separate lane for these families as TSA adds new perks
Military families have new perks at the airport, the Transportation Security Administration announced this month. Gold Star family members who have lost a loved one in U.S. military service can now enroll in TSA PreCheck, which offers expedited security screening, for free. Spouses of military and uniformed service members can also get a $25 discount on their enrollment fee. Those fees currently range from $76.75 to $85 depending on the enrollment provider travelers choose, according to TSA's website. Eligible travelers can find enrollment instructions on TSA's website. The agency also said military members 'at select airports near larger military installations' can get expedited access in PreCheck lanes. 'This Independence Day and beyond, TSA reaffirms its commitment to ease travel for the military community through its TSA PreCheck program by providing it free to Gold Star families, discounting it for military spouses and creating expedited lanes for service members,' TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said in an early July news release. 'By expanding access, easing enrollment and partnering with our TSA PreCheck enrollment providers and industry partners, we strive to honor those who serve and the families who stand beside them.' The following airports have military lanes: Those aren't the only changes TSA has made in recent weeks. The agency ended its shoe-removal policy in early July, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hinted days later that the agency may change its policy on liquids, which are largely restricted to 3.4 ounces per container in carry-ons.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India, UK set to ink free trade agreement during PM Modi's visit
New Delhi: Bolstering economic and security cooperation will be a common thread linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to Britain and the Maldives beginning on Wednesday, with the formal signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) set to be the highlight of the trip to the UK. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File Photo) Modi will first travel to the UK during July 23-24 for meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, and then to the Maldives during July 25-26 to be the guest of honour at the Indian Ocean archipelago's Independence Day celebrations. Both visits are opportunities to strengthen ties in a wide range of areas, especially trade, investment, defence and security, foreign secretary Vikram Misri told a media briefing on Tuesday. Starmer is expected to host Modi at Chequers, the country residence of the British prime minister located 50 km northwest of London, people familiar with the matter said. The commerce ministers of the two sides – Piyush Goyal and Jonathan Reynolds – are expected to sign the FTA that was finalised on May 6, the people said on condition of anonymity. The FTA is expected to increase two-way trade from the current level of almost $58 billion by $34 billion in the long run, according to a fact sheet from the UK. India will get tariff elimination on 99% of its tariff lines under the deal, covering nearly 100% of trade value. The UK will get reduced tariffs on 90% of British tariff lines, including the cutting of levies on whisky, automobiles, lamb and medical devices. Labour-intensive sectors such as Indian textiles and apparel will get a competitive advantage against countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam. Under the Double Contribution Convention, there will be an exemption for employers of Indian workers from paying social security contributions in the UK for three years, making it significantly easier to send workers on posting to Britain. Misri said that since the FTA was announced by Modi and Starmer on May 6, the two sides have engaged in the legal scrubbing of the deal. 'Last-minute work on that is continuing,' he said. The UK is the sixth largest investor in India, with cumulative investments of $36 billion. India's investments in the UK are close to $20 billion, and some 1,000 Indian companies operating in Britain provide employment to almost 100,000 people and have cumulative revenues of $91 billion. Technology, research, innovation and education have emerged as other key pillars of India-UK cooperation and the prime ministers will review cooperation in these fields, Misri said. The India-UK Technology Security Initiative, finalised last year, has driven collaboration in telecom, critical minerals, AI, biotechnology, semiconductors and quantum computing. Following the University of Southampton opening a campus in Gurugram last week, thus becoming the first foreign varsity to set up a campus under India's new education policy, several other British institutions are considering establishing campuses in the country. The British side perceives the FTA, finalised three years after negotiations began in January 2022, as part of a wider political reset and building on the bilateral roadmap 2030. The British side also expects the trade deal to lead to a wider relationship of trust between the two sides and to drive collaboration in key areas such as defence, especially with India set to spend a significant amount on its armed forces in the coming years. The British side is understood to have put in place extensive security arrangements to avert any attempt by pro-Khalistan elements to disrupt the visit or organise protests, including the sensitisation of security agencies to Indian concerns. Both sides are keen to avoid a repeat of an incident in March, when a pro-Khalistan protester breached the security of external affairs minister S Jaishankar in London and got close to his vehicle. Misri told the briefing that the presence of Khalistani extremists in the UK should be a matter of concern to the British side as such elements impact 'social cohesion and social order' in that country. Modi will travel from the UK to the Maldives, where he will be the first foreign head of government to be hosted by President Mohamed Muizzu. Modi's presence as guest of honour at the Maldivian Independence Day celebrations will mark a significant turnaround in bilateral ties that turned frosty because of the policies of Muizzu, who came to power on the back of an 'India Out' campaign in late 2023. Misri attributed the turnaround in ties to India's working hard on the relationship. 'There will always be events that will impact or try to intrude on the relationship. But I think this is testimony to the kind of attention that has been paid to the relationship, including attention at the highest levels…We've continued to work at it, and I think the result is there for you to see,' he said. The Maldives is a 'very important partner' in India's Neighborhood First policy MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, Misri said. 'We have always been the first on hand to respond to the needs of Maldives in times whenever it has faced has been a robust political relationship…bolstered by regular visits at high levels,' he said. The joint vision for a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership adopted during Muizzu's visit to India last October 2024 has become the 'guiding framework' for ties, and India is one of the largest trade partners of the Maldives, with two-way trade worth almost $500 million. Both sides are engaged in discussions for an FTA and an investment treaty and new areas of cooperation include renewable energy and fisheries. India is executing several development projects in the Maldives through a mix of concessional lines of credit and buyer's credit facilities, with the flagship project being the Greater Malé Connectivity Project, which will connect four islands. Misri said the Maldives has almost completely drawn a currency swap arrangement for $400 million provided as emergency financial assistance and is set to draw upon another currency swap arrangement of ₹30 billion. The State Bank of India has also continued to re-subscribe to Maldives treasury bills. The two sides also have robust defense and security cooperation, including naval exercises, and India continues to assist the Maldives by training its defence personnel. 'We've been helping the Maldives enhance its capacity for EEZ surveillance and maritime domain awareness through the provision of ships and assets,' he said.
The Print
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
India-Maldives open FTA talks as Modi set to visit island nation amidst diplomatic thaw
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Maldives in the second leg of a two-nation visit that is scheduled to begin 23 July. The Indian leader will travel to the United Kingdom, before travelling to the Maldives on 25 July. He will be the guest of honour at Maldives' 60th Independence Day celebrations. 'On the economic front, one recent development which I would like to share with you is that both countries [India and Maldives] are in discussions to negotiate a free trade agreement and an investment treaty as well, while new areas of cooperation, including renewable energy, and fisheries are also in the works,' Misri said at a special press briefing. New Delhi: India and the Maldives have begun preliminary discussions for a Free Trade Agreement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Tuesday. Malé has drawn most of the $400 million, which is the total amount covered by the first of the two currency swap agreements with India. This has helped the archipelago stave off difficult outcomes for its economy. The preliminary discussions for a FTA between India and Maldives comes after Malé's free trade agreement with China came into effect from 1 January 2025. At the time India had voiced serious concerns over the agreement, which was first signed in 2014 and agreed to by the Maldivian Parliament in 2017. However, following the change in government in 2018, with Ibrahim Solih assuming the presidency, the agreement between Maldives and China was suspended. Malé has also engaged with Turkey for discussions on an FTA. Modi's is set to be the first state visit to be hosted by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, since the latter assumed the presidency in November 2023. Ties have gone through a serious change in the last year, especially as Muizzu had swept to power on an 'India Out' campaign. However, the fragile state of the Maldivian economy has required New Delhi and Malé to deepen their economic engagement, with India first announcing the roll over of a $50 million loan in May 2024. New Delhi further withdrew its roughly 80 military troops from the island country and replaced them with a technical mission following negotiations with Malé during the first half of 2024. In the last decade, China has stepped up efforts to deepen ties with Malé, assisting with a number of infrastructure projects worth over a billion dollars. Muizzu made a state visit to China in January 2024, where over 20 agreements were signed between the two countries. Also read: Rajnath set to meet Maldivian defence minister, India keen to hear what Malé needs Diplomatic thaw amidst financial difficulties In June 2024, American ratings agency Fitch had downgraded the Maldivian economy to 'junk' status due to a potential liquidity crisis. In September 2024, India rolled over another $50 million loan to Maldives, which helped thaw the diplomatic chill that had set in during the first half of 2024. Muizzu eventually made it to India in October 2024 for a state visit. One of the outcomes of the visit were twin currency lines announced by New Delhi worth $400 million and Rs 3,000 crore respectively. On Tuesday, Misri said, 'We extended a considerable amount of emergency financial assistance to the Government of Maldives, including through instruments such as the twin currency swap arrangements that were done when President Muizzu was also here (New Delhi) for $400 million as well as 30 billion Indian rupees.' 'It is a fact that it [Maldives] has faced a stressful financial environment, and that is why we have been giving a helping hand to Maldives in order to stabilise the financial situation. Our recent assistance has led to accretions in the foreign exchange position of the Maldives, and it is this accretion, as a matter of fact, that has been cited by international financial organisations, including the IMF, as a positive factor that has helped Maldives stave off outcomes that would be difficult for it,' added the Indian Foreign Secretary. According to Misri, most of the $400 million swap line has been drawn by Malé and the Rs 3,000 crore swap line will soon be drawn upon, as Maldives looks to protect its economy. Over the years, India has assisted Maldives with over a billion dollars in development assistance, along with the emergency financing it has given in the last 10 months. Modi's third visit to the island nation is set to see new development projects announced, highlighted Misri, while discussions are ongoing for new consulates to be opened by the respective governments. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: China FTA won't benefit Maldives, hope India steps in to help avert debt default—ex-president Nasheed
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt has to sell A.P. to implement women's scheme, says Minister
Minister for Agriculture K. Atchannaidu on Tuesday stirred the hornets nest by saying that the government has to sell off Andhra Pradesh State if it wants to implement the 'Adabidda Nidhi' scheme one of the Super Six assurances given by the Telugu Desam Party prior to the 2024 general election. Mr. Atchannaidu made the sensational comments during a public meeting held at Mangalampalam in Kotthavalasa mandal of Vizianagaram on Tuesday. While participating in Suparipalana Toli Adugu programme organised to highlight the government's 'achievements' in the last one year, Mr. Atchannaidu said that it would be a herculean task for the government to provide financial assistance of ₹1,500 every month to all women above 18 years under the scheme. 'The government is left with no option except to sell the State to implement the Adabidda Nidhi, scheme. Despite the funding concerns, Mr. Atchannaidu announced that free bus travel for women will be rolled out from August 15, on Independence Day.
Muscat Daily
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
Hrithik Roshan & Jr. NTR face off in War 2 – trailer launches July 25
Mumbai – Yash Raj Films (YRF) has announced that the trailer for its highly anticipated action thriller War 2 will release on July 25, ahead of its theatrical debut on August 14, 2025, aligning with India's Independence Day weekend. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 brings back Hrithik Roshan as the iconic Agent Kabir Dhaliwal and introduces Jr NTR as Agent Vikram, adding fresh intensity to the YRF Spy Universe. Also starring Kiara Advani, the film marks her first screen appearance since embracing motherhood. The announcement was accompanied by a specially designed poster celebrating 25 years in the industry for both Roshan and Jr NTR—further heightening anticipation for what is expected to be one of the year's biggest blockbusters. Serving as the sixth installment in YRF's expanding Spy Universe, War 2 will be released in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, and will screen across more than 7,500 global theatres, including a dedicated three-week IMAX run. With high expectations from fans and industry insiders alike, War 2 promises a high-octane cinematic experience with its star-studded cast, large-scale action, and cross-language appeal.
