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US President Donald Trump on Thursday offered to sell state-of-the-art fighter jets to India as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to ramp up trade, rekindling a bond that defies the new US administration's punitive approach to much of the world.

Modi, only the fourth world leader to visit the White House since Trump's return, described the fellow nationalist as a friend and told him he was adopting a take on his "Make America Great Again" slogan.

Trump said that he found a "special bond" with Modi and India and, in an uncharacteristic if ironic show of humility, complimented Modi as being a "much tougher negotiator" than he is.

Successive US administrations have seen India as a key partner with like-minded interests in the face of a rising China, and Trump announced that the new administration was ready to sell one of the top US military prizes -- F-35s.

"Starting this year, we'll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars," Trump told a joint news conference with Modi.

"We're also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters," Trump said.

India would join an elite club of countries that include NATO allies, Israel and Japan that would be allowed to buy the F-35, which can operate without detection at supersonic speeds.

India currently relies on an ageing fleet of Russian fighter jets as well as a small number of French-made Rafale aircraft.

India's arch rival and neighbour, Pakistan, however said it was "deeply concerned" about the sales.

"Such steps accentuate military imbalances in the region and undermine strategic stability. They remain unhelpful in achieving the objectives of durable peace in the region," said Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Continuing a push from his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump said that the two countries also planned investment in ports, railways and underseas cable to "build one of the greatest trade routes in all of history," running from India to Israel to Europe and beyond.

Trump has dueled with both friends and foes on economic issues. Hours before meeting, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on all countries, including India.

Speaking next to Modi, Trump called India's "unfair, very strong tariffs" a "big problem" but said that the two countries would hold negotiations to close a trade deficit in India's favor.

Modi said that the world's largest and fifth-largest economies would work on a "mutually beneficial trade agreement" to be sealed "very soon," with a focus on oil and gas.

Joining Trump's meeting with Modi was SpaceX and Tesla tycoon Elon Musk, who has launched an aggressive effort as Trump's right-hand man to overhaul the US bureaucracy.

Modi also met one-on-one with Musk, raising questions over whether the world's richest man was meeting the Indian leader in an official or business capacity.

The Indian premier posted pictures of himself shaking hands with the beaming Musk, with several children on Musk's side of the room, and Indian officials on the other.

Modi offered quick tariff concessions ahead of his visit, with New Delhi slashing duties on high-end motorcycles -- a boost to Harley-Davidson, the iconic US manufacturer whose struggles in India have irked Trump.

India has already accepted a US military flight carrying 100 shackled migrants last week as part of Trump's immigration crackdown. The treatment drew protests from India's opposition which accused Modi of sacrificing the dignity of citizens to please Trump.

Trump in turn announced the United States would extradite to India a suspect in the bloody 2008 siege of Mumbai, whom he called "one of the very evil people in the world."

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin who was based in Chicago, was convicted in 2011 and later sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Modi and Trump share much in common, with both campaigning on promises to promote majority communities over minorities and both doggedly quashing dissent.

In 2020, Modi delighted Trump by inviting him before a cheering crowd of more than 100,000 people to inaugurate the world's largest cricket stadium in his home state of Gujarat.

Trump could visit India later this year for a summit of the Quad -- a four-way grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States. AFP 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 7. 26 points to close at 2, 678. 47 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 52 points to close at 449. 88 points.

A total of 15,875,152-unit shares of 302 companies were traded for Rs 7. 92 billion.

Meanwhile, Matribhumi Lagubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MATRI) and Kumari Sabal Yojana (KSY) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Nyadi Hydropower Limited (NYADI)​​​​​​​ was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 44 trillion.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, has stressed the need to institutionalize the achievements secured in the country following the system transformation.

Speaking at a meeting with Nepali Congress (NC) cadres in Hetauda today, the party leader Singh highlighted the need for economic prosperity as a means to protect political achievements.

He added that the stability of the new system would be ensured if citizens experienced economic progress and prosperity.

He further stressed that the government should create an environment where citizens can easily exercise their constitutional rights.

According to DPM Shrestha, politics will find the right path provided that citizens' needs and aspirations are properly addressed.

The NC, according to him, must focus its efforts on advancing this cause.

Stating that job opportunities and development are the current priorities of the citizens, Singh argued that the incumbent government has taken steps to meet these aspirations along with guarantee of political stability.

Furthermore, NC leaders underlined the need of maintaining coordination and collaboration within the party to strengthen its organization and promote broader unity among the cadres.

The event, chaired by NC Makwanpur President Buddha Lama, was attended by NC central member and Bagmati Province Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Kundan Raj Kafle, and NC Bagmati Province President Indra Bahadur Lama

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 1. 86 points to close at 2, 685. 73 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0. 25 points to close at 450. 40 points.

A total of 15,520,559-unit shares of 307  companies were traded for Rs 8. 71 billion.

Meanwhile, Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI)​​​​​​​ was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 99 percent.

Likewise, Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) and Super Madi Hydropower Limited (SMHL)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ were the top losers as their price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 45 trillion.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 2, 700 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday. 

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 167, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 170, 200 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 930 per tola today.

Number of birds has increased in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve this year.

The birds count recently undertaken in and around the Reserve has revealed the rise in the number of birds this year.

According to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Office, a total of 9,250 birds of 76 species have been found in the count conducted under the Midwinter Water Word Census 2025.

Last year, 5,527 birds of 53 species were found.

During the census, the highest number of 1,068 birds of the Chakhewa species and the lowest number of white eagles, panichaha, chitrangada and tiktike were found this year, said Senior Conservation Officer at the Reserve, Ramdev Chaudhary.

Chief of the National Trust for Conservation of Nature Koshi Conservation Center, Birendra Gautam said that the number of birds visiting the wetlands will increase with arrangement of safe habitats, adequate food, conservation of wetlands and reducing human movement.

He said that the trend of tourist birds coming from other places to the wetlands continues from mid-September to mid-December.

The birds normally return after mid-April.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve located in Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur has become the prime habitat of birds. 

Nepali Congress lawmaker Deepak Giri has requested the government to immediately provide justice to agitating Swargadwari Guthi victim farmers.

Speaking in an emergency hour of today's meeting of the House of Representatives, Giri shared, "Swargadwari is one of the major pilgrimage sites of the country. The government should pay attention for its protection and promotion."

Swargadwari Guthi victims have been staging protest for the past few days, citing the government did not implement the agreement signed with them.

Similarly, Hitraj Pandey of the CPN (Maoist Center) mentioned that the government has ignored the overall activities of the parliament and not wanted to listen the voices of people's representatives, saying the issues determined for the discussion in the meeting are removed from the agenda time and again.

Mahesh Bartaula of the CPN-UML expressed the view that there was no reason to object on it as the Regulations of the Parliament has the provision for making changes on agendas.

Likewise, Shishir Khanal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party raised question why the police did not carryout investigation of All Nepal National Free Students' Union ASCOL College involved in manhandling police and why Ashika Tamang was kept in custody for 15 days with handcuffs.

Lawmakers—Ganesh Parajuli, Sita Mijar, Sushila Sirpali Thakuri and Dikpal Kumar Shahi also expressed their views on contemporary issues in emergency hour. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 6. 54 points to close at 2, 683. 86 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0. 50 points to close at 450. 15 points.

A total of 13,968,258-unit shares of 299 companies were traded for Rs 7. 24 billion.

Meanwhile, Sikles Hydropower Limited (SIKLES), Bhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited (BGWT) and Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Company Limited (RHPL) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Bhugol Energy Development Company Limited (BEDC) was the top loser as its price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 45 trillion.