Trump vs Xi- The Asia Showdown | Delhi’s Gov’s plan to Make It Rain | India’s ₹79,000 Crore Defense Gamble

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. California Tragedy Sparks National Debate: Dashcam footage captured the terrifying moment a semi-truck slammed into stopped traffic on California’s I-10 — killing three, injuring four, and igniting a firestorm over how commercial licenses are issued. The driver, 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, an undocumented immigrant allegedly high on drugs, had somehow obtained a California CDL. Federal officials are calling it a “systemic failure,” while Washington froze $40 million in funding over weak language standards for truckers. Singh faces manslaughter and DUI charges. Trump’s High-Stakes Asia Trip: President Trump heads to Asia for his first meeting with Xi Jinping since returning to office — and it’s make-or-break. After months of tariff threats and China’s rare-earth export curbs, Trump’s opening line to Xi will be about fentanyl. Washington blames Beijing for chemical flows fueling America’s drug crisis. The outcome could reset U.S.-China trade — or reignite tensions. India’s Big Defense Push: India approved ₹79,000 crore in new defense buys — missiles, warships, and AI-powered air systems — part of a wider push for self-reliance after Operation Sindoor. The move boosts combat readiness across all forces while backing Indian defense tech. Delhi Bets on Artificial Rain: Delhi may finally make it rain — literally. Using IIT Kanpur’s cloud seeding tech, the city plans its first artificial rainfall by October 29 to fight smog. Five trials are planned — science versus pollution. India-Canada Thaw Begins: After a year of diplomatic frost, India and Canada are talking again. Ottawa can now send back diplomats under a “reciprocal” staffing deal — a cautious reset after Trudeau’s explosive 2023 accusation over Hardeep Nijjar’s death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. Modi Skips ASEAN Summit as Trump Heads to Malaysia Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ASEAN Summit virtually, skipping what’s being billed as the largest gathering of world leaders in ASEAN history. The decision, officially linked to Chhath Puja, comes as US President Donald Trump lands in Kuala Lumpur in person. Over 30 leaders, including China’s Li Qiang and Brazil’s Lula, are attending. With India-US ties strained by Trump’s steep 50% tariffs on Indian goods, Modi’s absence avoids an awkward meet without a trade breakthrough. Talks to reduce tariffs to 15–16% are ongoing, but India is treading carefully amid delicate diplomacy — balancing QUAD and BRICS ties at once. Kuala Lumpur, meanwhile, is under lockdown with 16,000 officers on duty. Siddaramaiah’s Son Upsets Karnataka’s Succession Equation Yathindra Siddaramaiah has thrown a curveball into Karnataka politics by backing minister Satish Jarkiholi as his father’s successor — sidelining Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. With the Congress government hitting its halfway mark, talk of a “November revolution” is gaining traction. For Shivakumar, once seen as next in line, the message is clear: the race is no longer his alone. Indian Army Goes Tech-First India’s Army is arming up for the future — signing a ₹2,770-crore deal with Bharat Forge and Adani’s PLR Systems for 4.25 lakh modern carbines. New drone platoons and elite commando battalions are rolling out, while US-made Javelin missiles are being added. The shift marks a major leap from manpower-heavy to AI-driven combat readiness. Meta Cuts 600 Jobs in AI Reality Check Meta’s AI dream just hit turbulence — 600 layoffs at its AI Superintelligence Labs. Despite a $14 billion spree to hire top AI talent, several big names have already quit. CEO Alexandr Wang says “leaner is faster,” but the move reveals internal tension between expensive new hires and a thinning support base. Trump Slaps Russia with Oil Sanctions, Eyes India Next President Trump has sanctioned Russia’s oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, warning Putin to end the Ukraine war. The move also turns the heat on India, with Trump insisting Modi promised to cut Russian oil imports — claims New Delhi hasn’t confirmed. The message from Washington: stop buying Russian oil or face crushing tariffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. Politics and diplomacy are both running hot today — from Gandhinagar to Washington, and beyond. In Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has hit the reset button — all 16 ministers resigned, giving him a clean slate to rebuild his cabinet. BJP insiders call it a strategic reset ahead of the 2027 polls. The new team, to be sworn in at Mahatma Mandir, could nearly double in size. Amit Shah and JP Nadda are flying in, underscoring how high the stakes are for the BJP’s strongest state. Across the world, Donald Trump’s back in the headlines — twice over. First, he claimed PM Modi promised to stop Russian oil imports. India flatly denied it, saying its energy policy serves its own people, not foreign politics. Then, Trump revealed plans to meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest to “end the Ukraine war,” right as Zelensky lands in Washington. It’s diplomacy — Trump-style — loud, unpredictable, and headline-hungry. Back in South Asia, India has clearly chosen sides in the Afghanistan–Pakistan border fight — and it’s not Islamabad. Delhi slammed Pakistan for “sponsoring terrorism,” backing Kabul after deadly cross-border strikes. The timing is sharp — just as a Taliban minister visits India. And finally, a milestone worth celebrating — India’s housing mission just crossed one million approvals under PM Awas Yojana 2.0, with half reserved for women. A quiet, inclusive success amid all the noise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. India’s global playbook just got a shake-up. First, President Trump dropped a bombshell from the Oval Office—Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil. After months of U.S. pressure and hefty 50% tariffs on Indian goods, Modi reportedly told Trump the shift will happen “within a short period.” If India follows through, it could hit Moscow’s war chest hard—India’s been one of Russia’s biggest crude buyers since the Ukraine war began. Trump called Modi “a great man,” even as he hinted next on his list is China. Next, India pitched its homegrown Akash missile system to Brazil. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met Brazilian leaders in New Delhi, offering co-development deals and training exchanges. The move underlines India’s growing defense confidence—transitioning from an importer to a serious exporter of indigenous tech. Meanwhile, Washington was stunned when Ashley Tellis, a top U.S.-India relations expert, was arrested for allegedly leaking classified defense documents and meeting Chinese officials. Tellis, a key figure behind the landmark U.S.-India nuclear deal, now faces up to 10 years in prison. Back home, Tamil Nadu debunked viral claims of a “Hindi ban.” The government called it “completely false,” reinforcing the DMK’s long-standing pro-Tamil stance amid renewed language politics. And in Delhi, the Supreme Court gave a cautious nod to Diwali celebrations—allowing only green firecrackers from Oct 18–20 under strict monitoring. It’s a delicate balance between tradition and air quality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. First up, China’s rare earth chokehold just tightened. Beijing has slapped export bans on companies linked to foreign militaries — a blow to the US, whose fighter jets and missiles rely on these critical minerals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says allies like India and Europe are rallying to build alternative supply chains. Washington’s betting on India’s new Strategic Mineral Recovery plan to extract rare earths and lithium from heavy industries. The race to break China’s monopoly has officially begun. In South Asia, India quietly revealed Operation Sindoor’s real score — over 100 Pakistani soldiers killed during May’s LoC clashes, far higher than known. Pakistan inadvertently confirmed it through its own awards list. For India, this marked a new era of “controlled yet decisive” military action that forced a quick ceasefire. Meanwhile, India and Mongolia deepened their bond with 10 new pacts covering uranium, oil refining, and defense. A $1.7 billion Indian-funded refinery will anchor Mongolia’s energy security by 2028, while New Delhi eyes its vast uranium and copper reserves. Back home, Google’s $15 billion bet on India made waves. Its new AI hub in Visakhapatnam will be the largest outside the US, built with Adani and Airtel. A subsea cable and mega data network aim to power India’s digital future. And finally, India’s exporters are on the brink of a windfall — duty-free access to Europe’s $25 trillion market. With the EU free trade deal nearly done, apparel exports could more than double. India’s trade game is shifting from America to Europe, one handshake at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. 1. Trump’s “Peace Talk” Moment Gets Awkward At the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt, Donald Trump had a classic off-script moment. While praising PM Modi, he turned around to ask Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif if India and Pakistan will “live very nicely together.” Sharif smiled, and the cameras loved it. Trump has been claiming he stopped a war between India and Pakistan last May by threatening massive tariffs. India denies any US mediation, saying peace came through direct talks. But Sharif played along, even crediting Trump and backing his Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Modi skipped the summit but praised Trump’s “sincere efforts.” What’s clear is Trump’s pushing his global peacemaker image—facts aside. #Trump #Modi #Sharif #IndiaPakistan #GazaPeaceSummit #USPolitics #Diplomacy 2. Tharoor Questions India’s Low-Key Presence at Peace Summit Congress leader Shashi Tharoor took a jab at India’s choice of sending a junior minister, Kirti Vardhan Singh, to a summit that saw 27 heads of state. He asked if it was “strategic restraint or a missed opportunity.” His point: when others send leaders, showing up with lower representation limits influence. The government says it was about maintaining strategic balance. Singh met Egypt’s President and reaffirmed India’s “commitment to peace.” #Tharoor #IndiaDiplomacy #GazaSummit #ForeignPolicy #MEAIndia 3. India–Canada Relations Hit Reset After two frosty years, India and Canada are thawing ties. Canadian FM Anita Anand met PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar, marking the first high-level visit since Trudeau’s 2023 accusation linking India to a Khalistani activist’s killing. Now, both sides unveiled a roadmap for trade, tech, clean energy, and AI. Canada’s move to designate the Bishnoi gang as terrorists helped rebuild trust. Analysts call this a pragmatic reset—choosing progress over politics. #IndiaCanada #AnitaAnand #Modi #Jaishankar #TradeTalks #Diplomacy 4. ‘Fare Se Fursat’: Fixed Airfares Take Off No more fare shocks. Alliance Air’s new scheme offers fixed prices regardless of when you book. Valid till Dec 2025, it’s part of India’s plan to make flying affordable. Minister Rammohan Naidu says it fits the UDAN vision—connecting smaller towns and making travel predictable. #FareSeFursat #AllianceAir #UDAN #AffordableFlying #IndiaAviation 5. India’s ₹6.4 Trillion Hydro Power Push India is going big on clean energy—tapping the Brahmaputra River to generate 76 GW by 2047. With China building dams upstream, this is as much about energy as it is about strategy. Arunachal leads with 52 GW potential. Two phases, massive spend, and a green target in sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. Donald Trump just made a dramatic claim aboard Air Force One: “The war in Gaza is over.” The US President is flying to the Middle East, first stopping in Israel to address parliament, then co-hosting a peace summit in Egypt with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. His peace deal’s first step — Hamas frees all Israeli hostages from the October 7 attack, while Israel releases 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and allows aid into Gaza. Netanyahu called it a “victory,” though he warned the fight isn’t done. World leaders, including Modi’s envoy Kirti Vardhan Singh, will join the summit, signaling a potential end to one of the deadliest modern conflicts that’s killed over 67,000 in Gaza. Meanwhile, diplomacy’s getting a reboot elsewhere. Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand landed in New Delhi to “hit reset” on strained India-Canada ties. This marks the first official visit under new PM Mark Carney. She’ll meet Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, and key business leaders in Mumbai before heading to China and Singapore — part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific push to rebuild strategic partnerships. In Kabul’s shadow, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi faced tough questions from women journalists after earlier barring them. His response — it was a “technical issue” — didn’t land well. The optics? A regime still struggling to convince the world it respects women’s rights. And in markets, gold and silver are on fire. Silver neared $51 an ounce, gold hit $4,060, and traders are literally flying silver bars across the Atlantic. A mix of short squeezes, Fed cuts, and US-China tensions has sent precious metals soaring up to 80% this year. Hashtags: #Trump #GazaCeasefire #MiddleEastPeace #IndiaCanada #AnitaAnand #Modi #Taliban #Afghanistan #GoldPrices #SilverRally #USChinaTensions #GlobalMarkets #PeaceSummit #Netanyahu #BreakingNews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. India Fortifies Its Partnerships India and Australia signed three major defense agreements in Canberra on Thursday, covering intelligence sharing, submarine rescue cooperation, and joint military staff talks. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles as part of the inaugural Defense Ministers' Dialogue, marking five years of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Singh was blunt about Pakistan: "Terror and talks cannot go together." But the real focus is the Indo-Pacific, where both nations, alongside the US and Japan through the Quad, are countering China's expanding military footprint. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai with a £350 million ($468 million) missile deal for India. The lightweight multirole systems, made in Belfast, will boost Indian Army air defenses. Britain also signed a £250 million deal for electric propulsion systems for Indian warships. Starmer announced Lancaster and Surrey universities received approval to open Indian campuses. With nine UK universities now operating in India, Britain has the biggest higher education footprint in the country. India needs 70 million university places by 2035 – it currently has 40 million students. Modi's Middle East Diplomacy Prime Minister Modi called Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on the Gaza ceasefire deal. Netanyahu paused his security cabinet meeting to take the call. Modi welcomed the hostage release and humanitarian assistance, reaffirming that "terrorism in any form is unacceptable." Putin's Apology Ten months after Russian air defense mistakenly downed an Azerbaijani passenger plane killing 38 people, Vladimir Putin pledged compensation. Meeting Ilham Aliyev in Tajikistan, Putin explicitly acknowledged Russia's role for the first time, saying missiles detonated near the December 2024 flight after Ukrainian drones entered Russian airspace. SEO Hashtags: #GlobalNews #IndiaAustralia #UKIndia #DefenseDeals #ModiNetanyahu #GazaPeace #PutinApology #AzerbaijanPlaneCrash #QuadSecurity #IndoPacific #BritishUniversities #MissileDefense #InternationalRelations #GeopoliticalNews #WorldAffairs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. 1. Trump’s Gaza Gamble: A Ceasefire on Paper After over a year of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire — brokered by Donald Trump. Hostages will be freed, troops pulled back, and prisoners exchanged. Netanyahu called it “a great day for Israel,” while Hamas urged guarantees of compliance. Talks in Egypt, with Qatar and Turkey mediating, sealed the deal. Trump may visit Israel soon, marking his first trip since moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. For now, the guns are quiet — but whether this peace holds is anyone’s guess. 2. Taliban in Delhi: India’s Risky Diplomatic Bet In a first since 2021, Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is visiting India. Meetings with S Jaishankar and Ajit Doval are on the cards, along with a symbolic stop at Darul Uloom Deoband and the Taj Mahal. India hasn’t recognized the Taliban regime but is opening channels anyway — focused on security, counter-terror, and trade. The visit needed a UN waiver, which New Delhi quietly secured. 3. America’s New Face in Delhi The US finally has a new ambassador to India — Sergio Gor, confirmed alongside Paul Kapur for the South Asia desk. Both are Trump allies. But the relationship they inherit is tricky: tariffs, Russian energy tensions, and trade friction remain sore points. Still, for New Delhi, having a point of contact again brings relief — and clarity. 4. Mumbai’s Sky Leap: The New Digital Airport PM Modi just opened Phase 1 of the ₹19,650-crore Navi Mumbai International Airport — India’s first fully digital airport. AI-driven terminals, online baggage drop, and even a water taxi link make it a tech marvel. Set to handle 90 million passengers, it’s Mumbai’s fix for chronic air congestion. 5. Mahindra’s Big Split: SUVs vs Tractors Mahindra & Mahindra may demerge its SUV, truck, and tractor divisions — and the numbers make the case. Profits have jumped sevenfold since FY21, with SUVs now driving 57% of revenue. From tractors to trailblazing SUVs, M&M’s evolution could unlock major investor value. #TrumpCeasefire #GazaPeaceDeal #TalibanIndiaVisit #USIndiaRelations #NaviMumbaiAirport #MahindraSplit #IndiaNews #GlobalPolitics #TopOfTheMorning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories. 1. Starmer’s India Pitch: Eastward Bound British PM Keir Starmer touched down in Mumbai with a 125-company strong business entourage, marking his first India visit. After clinching a landmark trade deal in July, he’s here to turn paperwork into partnership. “It’s a launchpad for growth,” he said, ahead of talks with PM Modi. With Trump’s tariffs reshaping global trade, Britain’s clearly betting on India — the world’s fastest-growing major economy — to anchor its post-Brexit growth story. 2. Bihar’s Battle Royale: Modi vs Rahul All eyes on Bihar — India’s political pressure cooker. Modi’s seventh visit this year signals a “development blitz,” launching projects worth thousands of crores. Rahul Gandhi’s counter? Social justice, unemployment, and inflation. It’s a classic clash — Modi’s record versus Rahul’s promise. And Bihar’s voters are right in the middle of it. 3. Canada vs Trump: Trade Chess in Washington Canadian PM Mark Carney’s first White House meet with Trump had both tension and intent. Trump wants tougher auto trade terms, while Carney’s dangling $1 trillion in potential investment. Tariffs are up, tempers are high — but both sides know a new deal could redefine North America’s economic playbook. 4. BP Bets Big on India’s Energy Future BP’s pouring $4 billion into India’s oil and gas sector, teaming up with Reliance and ONGC to boost local production. With India importing 85% of its energy, the move aims at fuel independence. “We need to do as much as we can,” says BP India chief Kartikeya Dube. 5. India’s ₹24,634-Crore Rail Push Four mega railway projects just got the green light — adding 894 km of track across four states by 2031. Expect smoother freight flow, cleaner energy use, and better rural connectivity for 8.5 million people. A logistical and environmental win rolled into one. #KeirStarmer #IndiaUKTrade #ModiVsRahul #CanadaUSDeal #BPIndia #IndianRailways #GlobalTrade #EnergySecurity #BiharElections #MintTopOfTheMorning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices