Briefly

UNITED STATES

Columbia University to pay government $220m

Columbia University said on Wednesday it will pay $200 million to the US government after President Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding over what he said was its unwillingness to protect Jewish students. In a sweeping deal that will restore the prestigious New York institution's federal monies, Columbia has pledged to obey rules that bar it from taking race into consideration in admissions or hiring, among other concessions. The university will also pay $21 million to settle investigations brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a statement said.

UNITED KINGDOM

Starmer, India's Modi sign major trade deal

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the country's "unique bonds "with India as he and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi formally signed the recently announced UK-India trade deal during talks on Thursday. The leaders announced in May that they had reached a free trade agreement that the British government says will eventually add 4.8 billion pounds ($6.5 billion) a year to the UK economy. The accord slashes tariffs on imports of UK goods into India, including whiskey, cosmetics and medical devices.

Agencies via Xinhua