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India and China have agreed to resume direct flights for the first time in five years, with services starting from October 26th.
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00:00Hello and welcome, I'm Geeta Mohan and you're watching India Today Global.
00:06Now, India and China have agreed to resume direct flights as both nations endeavor to
00:11normalize ties following five years of tensions after the Galwan clashes.
00:15Air India and Indigo both will resume services.
00:19Airline Indigo announced that it will resume the direct flights from October 26th.
00:24Indigo's announcement came shortly after External Affairs Ministry announced that the
00:29two countries have reached an agreement for the same.
00:33Flights were suspended in the aftermath of the Doklam crisis and further delayed due to
00:39the COVID-19 pandemic.
00:41The airline also added that it will introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou shortly.
00:51The U.S. impasse over shutdown doesn't seem to end soon as political leaders continue to
00:56blame each other. Fear over imminent layoffs looms large. The Republicans see it as an opportunity
01:03to pressure on Democrats and as President Trump said, it's also an opportunity to clear dead wood
01:10and waste. A report by Mahashweta Lala.
01:16The U.S. shutdown has entered the second day and there is no consensus to break the impasse.
01:23As fear of layoffs seems imminent, both Democrats and Republicans continue to blame each other.
01:30What they have done instead is to shut down the government because we won't give
01:34billions of dollars to healthcare funding for illegal aliens. That is what has actually happened
01:38to the American people who are watching. The reason your government is shut down at this very minute
01:43is because, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of congressional Republicans and even a few
01:49moderate Democrats supported opening the government, the Chuck Schumer AOC wing of the Democratic Party
01:54shut down the government because they said to us, we will open the government but only if you give
01:59billions of dollars of funding for healthcare for illegal aliens. That's a ridiculous proposition.
02:04They own this crisis. They own this shutdown. And instead, they want to use
02:13people as political pawns. Russ Vought wants to lay people off. He wants to fire people. He wants to use
02:20this shutdown to carry out the agenda that he has wanted all along. It's shameful and it's wrong.
02:31The shutdown began on Wednesday after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to agree on a new
02:37spending bill. After the first voting to end the shutdown failed, the second attempt will be made on
02:43Friday. The White House has moved to pause or cancel billions of dollars in funding for most of the
02:51Democratic states, including 18 billion in infrastructure projects in New York and $8 billion in climate-related
03:00projects in 16 states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. As both parties continue to blame
03:09each other, fear of imminent layoffs loom large. The move is also seen as an attempt to put pressure on
03:16Democrats. Everything that we can over the coming weeks, if the shutdown lasts that long, to ensure
03:23that people get the essential services that they need despite the fact that Chuck Schumer has shut down
03:28the federal government. It's not going to be perfect because we are in a government shutdown. We are going
03:33to have to lay some people off if the shutdown continues. We don't like that. We don't necessarily want to do it,
03:38but we're going to do what we have to to keep the American people's essential services continuing to run.
03:43Trump administration has been killing jobs. This is a job killing administration.
03:50Job creation is down, but you know what's up? Costs.
03:53President Trump in Truth Social posted that Republicans should use this opportunity to clear
03:59deadwood and waste, which will facilitate in saving billions of dollars and make America great again.
04:06According to the Congressional Budget Office, as many as 750,000 government workers are facing being
04:14furloughed. They will not be paid until the Congress appropriates funding and shutdown ends. Workers deemed
04:22to be essential will stay on the job, although they will also not be paid until a funding deal is reached.
04:30We're being joined live by Rohit Sharma, my colleague in Washington DC, or right now actually in Dallas,
04:43United States of America. Rohit, thank you so much for joining me. Day two of the shutdown, it seems like
04:49he's already starting to put the words to action from New York.
04:57Well, actually, you know what, at the end of the day, look, today is going to be a very important one,
05:03because it is political. I think people see through it, but it is interfering with lives of federal
05:09government employees who have been working for the government. But importantly, Gita, President Trump
05:16is meeting with Russ Waugh, who was the architect of Project 2025, and they are using this opportunity
05:23to tettin the Democrats that President would be ending up, you know, A, he could end up revamping the
05:30agencies and doing mass layoffs. So it's going to be very interesting how this all pans out. Look, we know for a
05:35fact, there will be another vote on Friday, which is tomorrow. The Democrats are under pressure. It's
05:40not a sticking point as far as most Democrats are concerned. But at the end of the day, you know,
05:46President Trump might use this an opportunity to basically go back to his agenda. And he famously,
05:53last year during the campaign, said he had nothing to do with Project 2025. And yet today, in crisis,
05:59when the government is shut down, he's meeting with Russ Waugh, who is the OMB director,
06:04to look at mass firings and revamping the agencies. So I think President Trump and
06:09administration is looking at using this as an opportunity to score some political points.
06:14Well, also, he's now weaponized funding. Over here, funding is stopped, government is shut down,
06:20but he's used the very same funding, weaponized it against the Democrats. So they are indeed feeling
06:25the pressure, because he starts with a democratic New York City.
06:29Absolutely. And that's something he's made it clear. You know, he would never do anything to
06:36upset his base, but he would do everything that he can to make sure that Democrats feel the pinch.
06:41So he would start with that, Gita, for 100%. But look, you know, some people on the ground believe
06:47that this is a pressure tactic. This is President Trump trying to negotiate and trying to make sure that
06:53the government is open. If the vote does, you know, happen in CR getting passed on Friday,
06:58we could see the government opening up soon after that. But this would not last beyond few more days,
07:04is what the sources are telling us.
07:05Okay, Rohit, stay on with us, because the story of United States of America and what's happening over
07:10there continues. President Donald Trump's administration has asked US colleges to sign
07:16a deal on some sweeping terms, ranging from foreign enrollment and diversity to ideological
07:22values of students and staff. This deal is meant to get preferential access to federal funds,
07:27according to a 10-point memo sent by the government. And according to Reuters,
07:33the memo demands that schools cap international undergrad enrollment at 15%, ban the use of
07:39race or sex in hiring and admissions, freeze tuition for five years, require that applicants take the
07:46SAT or a similar test and quell grade inflation. Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for
07:53universities over a range of issues such as pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's
07:59war in Gaza, transgender policies, climate initiatives, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
08:06That's DEI. Rights advocates have raised free speech and academic freedom concerns over actions that
08:14they say are aimed at aligning universities with Trump's political agenda. Trump alleges that
08:20universities harbor anti-American and anti-conservative values. Rohit, if I could come back to you.
08:28These are the terms and conditions for funds to keep flowing into universities.
08:32It began and the big war began with Harvard. But interestingly, Harvard has, even as this announcement comes,
08:39hired a guest professor in somebody who prides himself in being a representative of the queer community.
08:50Well, yeah, that hasn't stopped Harvard. But then look, you know, President Trump, what he's doing
08:55with this new 10-point memo is trying to make sure that the culture of the university, the hiring practices,
09:02you know, what is being taught at these universities. And in fact, admissions and international students,
09:07they're held to the standards that their administration wants to dictate. And it started with Harvard.
09:13Now you talk about nine more universities that are getting targeted, including the MIT, University of Texas,
09:19University of Southern California, Vanderbilt. So all these universities are being told that if you are not able to
09:25adhere to the policies of the White House, we are not going to cut your funding, but you may not get the
09:30preferential treatment. And this goes back to, you know, what President Trump had said last year,
09:35actually earlier this year about trying to correct or course correct what's being taught in the
09:40universities, the hiring practices, the DI initiative. So not really surprised here. I think this is
09:45President Trump doubling down on some of his policies. We'll have to wait and watch how many of these
09:50universities can actually fight it out or get a deal done, like we've seen that other universities have
09:56done in the US. Okay, we'll have to wait and see how that really pans out. But for now,
10:00President Trump has completely weaponized funding in the United States of America.
10:05Rohit Sharma, thank you so much for joining us.
10:08Several vessels of the Gaza aid flotilla, Gaza Sumud flotilla, have been stopped and their passengers
10:15are being transferred to an Israeli port. According to Israeli Foreign Ministry, Greta Thunberg and
10:22the Swedish climate campaigner and her friends are safe and healthy. The ministry posted a video that
10:27appeared to show Greta Thunberg and several masked and armed Israeli military personnel. The global
10:34Sumud flotilla, which consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians,
10:41lawyers and activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg,
10:46is trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back.
10:52And here's some good news.
11:02India's free trade pact with the European Free Trade Association is now in force.
11:08Promising $100 billion in investment, new jobs and easier market access,
11:26Swiss wines and watches may just get cheaper. How will this deal deliver
11:31transformative gains for India's economy? Here's a report by Farhan Khan.
11:44India has officially put into motion its free trade agreement with the European Free Trade
11:49Association, a four-nation bloc comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
11:58Signed in March 2024, the deal took effect yesterday, marking a pivotal moment in India's trade diplomacy.
12:05The free trade agreements giving access to Indian exporters, Indian industry, Indian service providers
12:14and providing millions of jobs for our young men. It's a great day today on the auspicious occasion of
12:22Navami on the eve of Dasera. It's a day of celebration. And truly grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership
12:33in helping India overcome the hesitations of history. Because for over two decades, India could not
12:43do a single agreement with any European country. And now we are on the verge of, within a span of two years,
12:51having all of European countries under our FTM debt.
12:56At its core, a free trade agreement is designed to lower or eliminate tariffs, reduce barriers to services
13:03and promote bilateral investment. But this pact goes far beyond duty cuts. It's a long-term bet on India's economic potential.
13:11In return for market access, the EFTA bloc has pledged a staggering 100 billion US dollars
13:17of investment into India over the next 15 years. This is not short-term speculative capital. But long-term
13:25investment aimed at capacity building and job creation expected to generate at least 1 million
13:31direct jobs in India. Strategically, this is a big win for New Delhi. Unlike many other FTAs,
13:37this agreement contains a safeguard clause. If EFTA members fail to deliver on their investment promises,
13:44India has the right to roll back tariff concessions. That makes it one of the most balanced trade deals
13:50India has ever signed, ensuring accountability from its partners. Switzerland alone has offered
13:56concessions covering nearly 100% of India's non-agricultural exports, while Iceland and Norway
14:02have opened up opportunities for food preparations, confectionery, rice, coffee and processed fruits.
14:11Indian goods will now find easier entry into high-value European markets. For EFTA, the benefits are
14:19equally significant. Swiss wines, watches, chocolates and Norwegian seafood are all set to become cheaper
14:26for Indian consumers. Duties on wines, for example, will be progressively reduced from 150% to as low as 25%
14:34over a decade. Medicines, dyes, iron and steel products and textiles from EFTA will also see tariffs
14:43slashed immediately or within a few years. The deal is also geopolitically significant. At a time
14:49when India is negotiating FTAs with the EU, the US, Oman and Israel, the EFTA pact strengthens
14:58India's credibility as a serious player in global trade negotiations. For EFTA nations, this is equally
15:04strategic. Partnering with one of the world's fastest growing major economies gives them a stake
15:09in India's growth story. This free trade agreement is more than a trade pact. It is a strategic bridge
15:15linking India to a high-income bloc, deepening its economic diplomacy and fueling its ambition
15:21to become a global manufacturing and services hub. With Farhan Khan, Bureau Report, India Today Global.
15:31Tesla CEO Elon Musk became the first person ever to achieve a net worth of nearly 500 billion dollars
15:37propelled by a rebound in the EV company's shares and surging valuations of the tech entrepreneurs
15:44other startups this year. His net worth stood at 500 billion dollars as of 4.15pm ET, according to
15:52Forbes Billionaires Index. Musk's fortunes are tied closely to Tesla, where he held more than 12.4%
16:01stake as of September 15. The stock has risen more than 14% so far this year and closed 3.3% higher,
16:10adding more than 6 billion dollars to Musk's net worth.
16:18And on Statecraft today, we discussed snapback sanctions on Iran after US withdrawal. Now Europe
16:24has activated the controversial snapback sanctions against Iran, reinstating UN restrictions. While this
16:30is a serious blow to the JCPOA nuclear deal, what are the implications of this decision by France,
16:36Germany and the UK going to be? Has diplomacy with Iran failed completely? And will Tehran retaliate?
16:43Watch an excerpt from my show available on India Today Global's YouTube channel.
16:55Priority starting with the nation of Iran.
16:59My position is very simple. The world's number one sponsor of terror can never be allowed to possess
17:07the most dangerous weapon.
17:13Europe has pulled the trigger on the so-called snapback sanctions against Iran. France, Germany
17:19and the United Kingdom activated the mechanism at midnight on Sunday. That single move automatically
17:26reinstated long-dormant UN sanctions. Sanctions suspended for nearly a decade.
17:33UN sanctions targeting Iranian proliferation will be reimposed.
17:38And we support the re-imposition of pre-2015 UN sanctions on Iran.
17:45The symbolism is impossible to miss. The landmark 2015 nuclear deal,
17:49Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the JCPOA is finished. So what does this mean for the future of
17:57diplomacy, West Asia and the global order? Hello and welcome. You're watching Statecraft with me Geeta Mohan.
18:04The word snapback sounds technical, but it is more than that. It refers to a clause built into the JCPOA.
18:20It allowed any signatory to re-impose UN sanctions if Iran broke its nuclear promises.
18:27The sanctions which were first applied between 2006 and 2010 were only suspended when Iran accepted
18:34strict limits in 2015. At the time, it was celebrated as a rare diplomatic victory. Today,
18:40that hard-won structure has collapsed. The move by Europeans is less about technical violations and
18:47more about one thing. Trust is gone. The trial. France, Germany and the UK say Iran has broken almost
18:56all of its commitments. In their words, they had no choice. But timing matters.
19:02Why now? And why just before Russia took over the Security Council presidency in October?
19:08The sanctions were set to expire permanently in mid-October. European diplomats acted in August to
19:14ensure snapback was complete before Moscow could shield Tehran from consequences. Iran's offences,
19:21according to Europe, range from blocking inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency or the IAEA,
19:28hiding over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium and showing no willingness to engage in genuine
19:34diplomacy. So what actually happens when sanctions snap back? This is not just diplomacy. It is economic
19:42warfare on a global stage. The sanctions ban weapons imports and exports. They freeze assets,
19:50block officials from travel, prevent technology transfers for missiles, and strike directly at the
19:56lifeline of the Iranian economy, oil and banking. Foreign Minister Araki went on the offensive. He
20:04called the snapback an abuse of process. He argued that UN resolutions underpinning the JCPOA had already
20:11expired in October. Legally irrelevant to Europe perhaps, but resonant with Iran's allies.
20:18Hardliners inside Iran almost welcomed the sanctions, calling nuclear deal a pure loss. Supreme Leader
20:26Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has shut the door firmly on any talks with the United States of America.
20:33But what about Russia and China, two permanent members of the Security Council who strongly oppose
20:38all this? Moscow is fuming. It insists the sanctions are null and void and accuses the West of manipulating
20:47global institutions. Days before snapback took effect, Russia and Iran signed a $25 billion deal to build
20:54nuclear reactors, sending an unmistakable message. China stays quieter, but its role is no less critical. It has
21:03long been Iran's vital oil customer, picking up cheap energy others will not touch. The key question now,
21:11will Moscow and Beijing openly defy sanctions or tread more carefully, keeping deals under the radar? For
21:18both powers, Iran represents more than nuclear politics. It is a central piece in their competition with the
21:25United States and with Europe. As pressure mounts, Iran grows more dependent on them, ironically,
21:32that may strengthen Iran in the long run. Yes, geopolitics dominates headlines. But daily life in Iran
21:41tells the real story. 40% inflation, scarcity of medicine, middle-class families sliding into poverty. The
21:49JCPOA once allowed a brief taste of hope. Now hope feels gone. Supporters argue sanctions could eventually
21:56change Iran's behavior. Critics counter sanctions punish ordinary citizens while strengthening dictatorships.
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