Next round of talks on trade agreement with Chile-Peru in August, India eyes minerals:

News Topical, Digital Desk : The next round of talks on proposed comprehensive free trade agreements between India and two South American countries, Chile and Peru, are scheduled in August. Negotiations are underway separately with the two countries.

India-Chile to hold second round of talks

India-Chile will hold the second round of talks while India-Peru will hold the eighth round, an official said. India and Chile held the first round of talks on the proposed comprehensive free trade agreement in May. India is in discussions with Chile and Peru to secure critical minerals as part of the free trade agreement talks.

The two countries signed a trade agreement in 2006 and are now negotiating to expand its scope to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Chile is India's fifth largest trading partner among South American countries.

Peru emerges as India's third largest trading partner

On the other hand, Peru has emerged as India's third largest trading partner in the South American and Caribbean regions. During 2024-25, India's exports to Peru grew by nearly nine percent to one billion dollars. While imports grew by 60 percent to $ 4.98 billion.

US deports illegal immigrants from Jamaica, Cuba and other countries to Eswatini

The US has deported five illegal immigrants to the African country of Eswatini. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, they have been considered brutal criminals. This is an extension of the Trump administration's secretive third country deportation program.

The US has already deported eight people to another African country, South Sudan, after the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on sending people to countries they have no ties to. The South Sudanese government has refused to identify the people detained nearly two weeks ago.

The five people sent to Eswatini arrived by a plane

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said the five people sent to Eswatini arrived on a plane but did not say when or where they arrived. They are citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos. She said they were all convicted criminals and had committed crimes so brutal that their home countries refused to take them back.