Washington, DC – According to the US Embassy in India, the administration of US President Donald Trump has suspended and denied visa applications for some Indian business executives over alleged fentanyl component trade.
The Embassy’s announcement on Thursday regarding the revocation of visas did not identify the individuals targeted or provide information about the nature of their business.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
The US Embassy in New Delhi revoked and subsequently denied visas for some business executives and corporate leaders because of their involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl precursors, according to the Trump Administration.
tranquilizers and other substances used in the production of the dangerous drug are included in the fentanyl precursors.
Washington and New Delhi are at heightened frictions over trade and the importation of Russian oil, according to the announcement.
Trump’s decision to impose tariffs of 50% on Indian imports was rejected by New Delhi, which demonstrated that Washington’s European allies have continued to purchase Russian energy products.
Washington and New Delhi held discussions this week, which increased the likelihood of a deal.
Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were in India on Tuesday when US trade officials shook hands.
Trump remarked in a social media post that “we just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
“I wished him a very Happy Birthday!” He is a fantastic worker. Thank you, Narendra, for your assistance in putting an end to the Russian-Ukraine War.
The Trump administration later announced to the US Congress that India was one of the 23 “major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries” in a statement.
The US Embassy’s statement on Thursday about the revoking and disqualifying visas for Indian business leaders suggested that the two nations are collaborating to combat the drug trade.
Our Indian counterparts in the government of India have been very helpful in tackling this common issue, the statement read.
Our two governments can address this transnational threat and protect both of our citizens from illicit drugs only by co-operating.
In the US over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of people have died from overdoses of the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
According to government estimates, there were 391 overdose deaths in the US last year, more than half of which occurred from fentanyl. In 2023, fentanyl alone killed 76, 282 people.
Trump has been waging a ‘war on drugs’ against the government.
According to Israel’s national ambulance service, an assailant attacked two Israeli men at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank.
The service said in a statement that the men, between the ages of 20 and 60, were hurt at the Israel-controlled crossing on Thursday and later declared dead.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
The attacker started shooting as he approached a truck carrying aid from Jordan, according to Israel’s military. The assailant was “neutralized” by security forces, the military added. After his gun failed, according to Israeli media reports, the killer may have stabbed the victims with a knife.
No organization has accepted responsibility for the attack.
Israeli forces searched the area after the attack and “circumcised” Jericho, a nearby West Bank town, according to the military.
Authorities in the kingdom were looking into reports of the attack, according to Mohammad Momani, a spokesman for the Jordanian government, and would release any findings as soon as possible.
After the crossing’s closure from the other side, according to Jordan’s government-run Petra news agency, passenger traffic had been suspended there.
An attack occurred on the Jordan-Israel trade route’s King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge in September of this year, when three Israeli border workers were killed by a Jordanian gunman. After that, the crossing was only open for two days.
According to Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, who is based in Doha, the crossing is “highly secured,” and it raises questions about how an armed assailant managed to pass through “unnoticed.”
At the Together for Palestine concert at London’s Wembley Arena, activists and performers united to show their solidarity with Palestinians and raise money for aid projects in Gaza.
Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets across France against budget cuts proposed by the government under President Emmanuel Macron as the nation battles a high deficit and debt.
More than a dozen trade unions joined forces on Thursday, went on strike and rallied people in large cities, including Paris, Lyon, Lille and Marseille, to express anger against the economic plans.
The unrest followed Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s resignation last week after a vote of no confidence and a popular backlash against his government’s fiscal policies. Macron’s selection of a close ally, Sebastien Lecornu, as the new prime minister has further incited anger among many people across the country.
Thursday’s strikes also follow the Block Everything antigovernment protests that took place last week. Hundreds of protesters were arrested as part of the nationwide movement, which saw 175,000 people take part and large police deployments in response. Angry mobs set fires to block highways and petrol stations across the country, erected barricades, and caused damage that halted train and vehicular traffic, officials said.
Here’s what’s we know about Thursday’s protests and why they are happening:
What happened on Thursday?
Protesters gathered early in cities across France, including in Paris, to mount roadblocks across streets and highways. Several tourist attractions, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre in Paris as well as some metro stations were shut down or were partially open as a result of the strike.
With one-third of teachers expected to strike, many schools were also closed. Some businesses and most pharmacies were not operating.
In Paris, protesters clashed with police as officials tried to clear barricades. In the southeastern city of Chambery, dozens cycled on the streets to disrupt traffic. Students in Paris, Marseille and Rennes in the northwest also took part and blocked school entrances. Some held up banners that read, “Tax the rich”.
🔴 CHAMBÉRY I Ils sont de retour ! Les cyclistes de la ville s’élancent sur les ronds-points de la ville, pour faire entendre leurs revendications, en ralentissant la circulation #18septembre2025. pic.twitter.com/NEyPgmbQ09
Across the country, Palestinian flags were visible as some protesters also stood in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during Israel’s war on the strip. Protesters blocked the Eurolinks arms factory in Marseille, which is believed to supply equipment to Israel, while holding a large banner that read: “Shut down the genocidal factory.”
The French national rail company SNCF said in a statement early on Thursday that while “a few disruptions” were expected on high-speed trains in France and Europe, most were expected to function as usual.
However, regional rail lines, as well as the Paris Metro and commuter trains, were expected to be more seriously disrupted after 91 percent of drivers in the capital city had put in strike notices. Air traffic disruptions were minimal as related unions postponed strike plans to October.
Utility company EDF reduced nuclear energy production by 1.1 gigawatts, according to reporting by state-owned broadcaster France 24, as workers lowered output as part of the strike.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau earlier warned of possible disturbances by leftist groups. The government deployed about 80,000 police and gendarmes, supported by drones, armoured vehicles and water cannon, to keep order.
Demonstrators march during a protest called by trade unions to oppose budget cuts in Nantes in western France on September 18, 2025 [Mathieu Pattier/AP]
Why are unions protesting?
The protests and strike were organised by several trade unions, mainly in response to budget cuts proposed by the government for 2026.
Bayrou initially proposed the cuts in July to tackle what he said was a “life-threatening” debt burden in France. He aimed to cut public spending by 44 billion euros ($52bn) in 2026.
Bayrou’s measures included: a freeze on pensions; higher healthcare costs and the scrapping of two public holidays to generate more economic activity.
However, the proposals met strong opposition in parliament as well as on the streets. Far-left parties and the far right banded together to vote against Bayrou, ending his nine-month run and rejecting the budget proposals. Analysts called it a blow to Macron’s centrist Renaissance party as Bayrou was the fourth prime minister ousted in less than two years.
Lecornu, the former defence minister who was appointed prime minister the same day, has promised to scrap lifelong privileges enjoyed by prime ministers and abandon the public holiday cuts. However, many voters remain unconvinced, and Thursday’s protests were aimed as a warning to Lecornu, analysts said.
“We feel that our colleagues were not fooled by the appointment of Sebastien Lecornu,” said Sophie Venetitay, general secretary of SNES-FSU. the largest union for middle and high school teachers.
Anger was already mounting against the Macron government in general over higher fuel taxes imposed in 2018 – and later scrapped after large-scale protests. In April 2023, Macron again angered many when he forced through pension reforms that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 to generate more economic activity. That policy was not reversed despite large protests also led by trade unions.
What are the protesters’ demands?
Trade unions are demanding a reversal of the budget cuts and have urged Lecornu to abandon the current budget plans, warning that they would negatively affect wages, job security and access to public services.
They argued that the plans are unfair and the rich and corporations should be taxed more to close the budget gaps.
In a statement in August before Lecornu was appointed, eight trade unions described the proposed measures as ones that targeted workers, those in precarious employment, retirees and the sick, who they said would be made to “pay the price” to reduce the debt.
The unions also blamed the current debt crisis on Macron’s tax relief for businesses after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the unions have continued to call on Macron to undo the pension reforms he earlier forced through.
On Thursday, some protesters also called for Macron to resign. The president, who faces low approval ratings, is due to leave office in May 2027.
🔴 “Macron démission !” Une manifestation immense au Vieux-Port à Marseille pour l’acte 2 de la mobilisation septembriste.@EmmanuelMacron, il est temps de s’en aller. Le peuple le demande. pic.twitter.com/b6Yx53SGEz
What happened at Block Everything protests?
During the Block Everything protests, a leaderless, citizen movement, about 175,000 people protested on September 10, also against Bayrou’s budget measures. The demonstrations were largely endorsed by leftist political parties.
Protesters blocked highways and mounted barricades across the country. More than 540 people were arrested.
The movement started online as young people on social media called for a nationwide shutdown. They began circulating hashtags like #boycott, #disobedience and #solidarity on social media sites in July and August. The Block Everything movement has been compared to the widespread Yellow Vest protests held from November 2018 to June 2019 when protesters marched against higher fuel costs imposed by Macron’s government in weekly demonstrations.
Protestors demonstrate in Strasbourg, eastern France on September 18, 2025, during a day of nationwide strikes and protests called by unions over France’s national budget [Frederick Florin/AFP]
What next?
Trade unions said they would not back down unless changes are made and the austerity measures are thrown out.
Meanwhile, Lecornu met with some opposition parties on Wednesday to rally support for his budget.
After Lecornu’s meeting with the leftist Socialist Party, which has 66 members in parliament, party head Olivier Faure said the prime minister had been vague about his intentions. The party had earlier proposed an alternative budget that would see business subsidies cut and wealthier households taxed more.
“The prime minister gives the impression that he doesn’t know which direction he wants to go,” Faure told local broadcaster TFI. “If we were to vote today, we would vote for no confidence.”
Lecornu is also lobbying for support from the 210 centre-right lawmakers, who form part of a so-called central bloc.
According to the defense ministers of the nations, Ukraine has agreed to provide training for Polish soldiers and engineers in drone defense.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated at a press conference in Kyiv that Poland would sign a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and that the training would take place in Lipa, a small town in southern Poland, on Thursday.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
As Kosiniak-Kamysz sat next to him, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said, “We are talking about training engineers and soldiers who will stand up to and defend the air domain.”
This is only the tip of what allows us to defend our sky together, Shmyhal continued. “We are not only talking about interceptor drones.”
More than 20 drones were shot down by Polish and NATO forces in violation of Ukrainian airspace during a Russian airstrike on neighboring Ukraine a week prior to the announcement.
To defeat those drones, fighter jets launched missiles, which is much more expensive than Russia’s purchase of and production of cheap, mass-produced drones.
Russia claimed that its forces were attacking Ukraine at the time of the drone strike and that they had no intention of hitting Polish targets.
Ukraine claims to be the only country in the world that can safely defend itself from large-scale Russian drone attacks using a multilayered system of interceptor drones, heavy machineguns, and electronic warfare.
Poland can see what might be heading its way because Ukraine, according to Shmyhal, will also grant access to some of its surveillance systems for Russian aerial targets.
Polish forces would have to learn the “ecosystem” of how to intercept unmanned enemy aerial vehicles, from tracking them to jamming them with interceptor drones, he said.
![Protestors demonstrate in Strasbourg, eastern France during a day of nationwide strikes and protests [FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP]](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AFP__20250918__74YC9Z6__v1__HighRes__FrancePoliticsSocialProtest-1758203264.jpg?w=696&ssl=1)
