The Seattle skyline flared in new colors on Friday as the Indian Tricolor was hoisted atop the city’s iconic Space Needle for the very first time, marking India’s 79th Independence Day.

Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson participated in a ceremony at the Vedic Cultural Centre in the GTA township of Markham as the guest of honour

India’s defense ties with Washington remain on track with a US delegation set to visit New Delhi this month, even as the South Asian nation grapples with President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to build a “self-reliant India” and announced tax and regulatory reforms to benefit businesspeople and the middle class in his first major speech since the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on the country.

"We've put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up," Mr Bessent told Bloombe