Trump warns of ‘phase two, phase three’ sanctions on India over Russian oil purchases
Washington, D C: U S President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to India, cautioning that he has yet to impose “phase two” or “phase three” sanctions for its continued purchase of Russian oil, on Wednesday.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, speaking at a bilateral meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office, Trump rebuked at a reporter’s suggestion that he had shown disappointment toward Russian President Vladimir Putin but taken no real action.
“How do you know there’s no action? Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser outside of China, almost equal, is no action? That cost Russia hundreds of billions of dollars. You call that no action?” Trump retorted.
He further added, “And I haven’t done phase two or phase three yet. But when you say there is no action, I think you ought to get yourself a new job.”
Trump reminded reporters that just two weeks earlier he had warned, “If India buys, India’s got big problems.”
On August 27, Trump announced the imposition of 25% reciprocal tariffs on India, while also introducing an additional 25% duty on Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. Together, these measures effectively doubled the applicable tariff to 50%.
The White House later confirmed that Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, a development taking place under mounting pressure from European allies.
Asked about Putin’s recent appearance alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a military parade, Trump insisted he had already acted strongly and said “Well, I have already done that with regard to India and we are doing it with regard to other things.”
India has officially termed the U.S. tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable.”
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
