US Russian Oil Sanctions Bill, 100% Tariff Threat For India And Leverage On China

The US House of Representatives has passed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 262 to 159, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for final approval. The legislation targets Russia's energy sector and leadership, authorising tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, placing major buyers like India and China at risk. Countries importing under 15% of Russia's gas exports while actively cutting purchases may seek exemptions. The bill further permits up to a 500% tariff on Russian goods entering the United States. With India importing nearly 85% of its oil requirement and navigating supply bottlenecks amid Middle East tensions, the move adds new friction to India-US trade talks as New Delhi evaluates long-term import diversification.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 76, celebrations and public service programmes are taking place across India, from Delhi to Gujarat and his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi. The Prime Minister is launching the fifth edition of the SEMICON India event in the national capital, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has initiated the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and urged citizens to light an Ashirwad ka Diya. Key political leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Democratic Alliance allies, participate in major events such as the Vadnagar to Varanasi bike yatra and cleanliness drives. The broadcast highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in public life since assuming office as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001, tracing landmark governance milestones from welfare schemes and Make in India to digital infrastructure expansion and the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap.

Two terrorists were killed in a major encounter operation in the Sohan area of Majilta in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation following intelligence inputs regarding the suspicious movement of individuals in the region. The engagement started overnight after forces tracked down terrorist movements under a heightened counter-terror grid. While two terrorists have been neutralized, search operations continue in the area as authorities monitor for any further movement.

A Russian airstrike on Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv, has left at least 10 people injured, according to reports from local authorities. The incident marks a fresh escalation in the ongoing conflict, accompanied by reports of multiple explosions across the city. The attack follows legislative moves in the United States, where the House of Representatives introduced a bill proposing 100 per cent tariffs on countries continuing trade with Russia.