Foreign news schedule highlights a US India deal to boost American farm exports and related geopolitical developments.
Foreign news schedule emphasizes a US India agreement to increase American agricultural exports framed as countering Russian aggression, and lists related international reporting on the Jeffrey Epstein files, US-Iran tensions, the Russia-Ukraine war, and developments in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.

Supreme Court pleas on pharmaceutical marketing code, Kerala HC service display rules, acid attack compensation delays, and bail policy.
Petitions before the Supreme Court seek a uniform code of pharmaceutical marketing practices and challenge a Kerala High Court order requiring clinical establishments to prominently display services and package rates; separate petitions address delays in compensation to acid attack victims, and a suo motu matter concerns policy strategy for grant of bail. At the appellate level, an appeal by Kuldeep Sengar against conviction in the Unnao-related death is listed.

Trade deal: US-India reciprocal tariffs reduced to 18%; and PM links self-confidence to national development.
Prime Minister framed self-confidence, discipline, skill, and righteous conduct as ethical foundations for national progress, and the government announced a bilateral trade understanding with the United States to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent, representing an executive adjustment in tariff policy aimed at affecting market access for exports.

Coal India upgrades executive pay scales retroactive to 2017 with Rs 3,400 crore impact through 2026.
Pay scale upgradation for executives up to mid-level is notionally effective from January 1, 2017, with cash consequences payable prospectively from August 23, 2023, and an estimated aggregate financial impact of approximately Rs 3,400 crore through December 31, 2026 as disclosed in the company's regulatory filing.

Partial government shutdown: President urges House to pass his short-term funding deal to reopen agencies quickly.
A partial appropriations lapse left multiple agencies with expired funding and potential furloughs; the President urged House passage of a Senate-brokered funding package that provides temporary funding for Homeland Security while Congress debates immigration enforcement changes, amid Democratic demands for additional restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (unmasking, judicial warrants, end to roving patrols) and Republican calls for fuller Homeland Security funding and other policy riders.

US markets rise as gold and silver tumble amid shifting Fed chair expectations and delayed unemployment data.
Precious metals plunged mainly due to deleveraging after prior rallies and shifting expectations about US monetary policy following a presidential nomination to lead the Federal Reserve; these changes in perceived rate direction influenced demand for safe-haven assets and interest-rate-sensitive pricing, while Treasury yields rose on stronger manufacturing data and the government shutdown delayed the key unemployment report.

Cuban government open to dialogue with the United States if conditions met, but core national structures remain off limits.
Cuba says it has no formal dialogue with the United States but is open to informal dialogue if certain criteria are respected; it distinguishes dialogue from negotiation and excludes constitution, economy and socialist system from negotiation. The statement responds to US tariffs, sanctions and disruptions to oil supplies, notes external offers of support, and emphasizes Cuba's resilience and intent to discuss many bilateral issues while protecting core national structures.

Trump and Petro meet at White House to seek pragmatic cooperation on curbing drug trafficking and easing bilateral tensions.
The White House meeting seeks to move bilateral relations from a period of sanctions, threatened tariffs and halted aid toward pragmatic cooperation on curbing drug trafficking. Core issues are divergent anti-drug strategies-U.S. eradication and supply-side control versus Colombia's interdiction and demand-reduction model-and the operational aim of coordinating actions against trafficking networks and armed groups that profit from the cocaine trade, with resumed repatriation flights evidencing a thaw enabling security collaboration.

M3M land fraud case alleges induced land exchange, defaulted payment, unlawful mutation and licence applications.
Court took cognisance of a chargesheet alleging promoters induced a land exchange, defaulted on payment, and despite dishonoured cheques caused mutation, partitioned over 31 acres, applied for development licences and created third party interests; prima facie grounds were found under criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal conspiracy and common intention.

Haryana allows nursing homes on licensed residential plots for qualified doctors, subject to zonal conversion charges and site conditions.
The government permits nursing homes on licensed residential plots owned by practising allopathic or AYUSH doctors with valid council and IMA registration, subject to an affidavit and payment of zonal conversion charges. Sites must be on service roads in colonies with internal services completed and completion or part completion certificates issued. Limits include a maximum of four nursing homes per sector and minimum plot sizes of 350 sq yards (hyper/high zones) or 250 sq yards (medium/low zones). Zonal fees per square yard are prescribed and no other fees, including EDC, apply.

Rail budget allocates Rs 1,086 crore to Jammu and Kashmir and advances projects to improve connectivity.
Centre allocated approximately Rs 1,086 crore to Jammu and Kashmir in the rail budget and is advancing infrastructure work: Baramulla-Uri preparation is in the approval pipeline, Jammu-Rajouri survey and DPR work is progressing, while proposals for additional lines on Baramulla-Srinagar are on hold due to concerns about damage to apple orchards.

BJP petitions suspension of Congress MLC Naseer Ahmed over alleged derogatory remarks against the prime minister.
A BJP delegation petitioned the Council Chairman seeking immediate suspension of a Congress MLC for alleged derogatory remarks against the prime minister during proceedings; the Chairman expunged the remarks from the record, BJP members protested and demanded an apology, and the motion of thanks to the Governor's address was put to vote and adopted amid din before the House was adjourned.

Trump-Modi phone call prompts Congress to accuse government of learning diplomatic moves from US announcements.
Congress criticised the government after the US ambassador confirmed a telephonic conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, saying India appears to learn of its government's diplomatic actions from US sources; the call coincided with India's External Affairs Minister beginning a three-day Washington visit and came amid efforts to address bilateral strains and finalise a proposed trade deal.

Punjab government denies jailed MP Amritpal Singh's request to attend Parliament's budget session under the National Security Act.
The Punjab government refused temporary release under Section 15 of the National Security Act, citing security and public order, official objections, and the absence of any legally enforceable right for a detained member to attend Parliament; it considered the full detention record, gravity of grounds and conduct, and deemed continuous detention for the statutory maximum necessary in the interest of state security and maintenance of public order.

Air India grounded a Boeing 787-8 after a pilot reported the left engine fuel control switch slipping from RUN to CUT OFF.
A Boeing 787-8 was grounded after a pilot reported the left engine fuel control switch slipped from RUN to CUT OFF and would not lock; Air India involved the Original Equipment Manufacturer and notified the regulator, noting earlier fleet checks had shown no issues, while pilot and safety groups urged further electrical and fuel-switch inspections in light of a prior 787-8 crash where fuel supply was cut off.

Stocks, gold and silver steadied after volatile swings driven by Fed chair nomination and metals liquidations.
Markets steadied after extreme volatility: U.S. equities rose on sector-specific profit beats and lower oil, while gold and silver swung sharply. Metals' collapse reflected changing expectations about the Fed chair nomination and leveraged traders' liquidations rather than a wholesale drop in demand. Monetary-policy signals and geopolitical developments influenced oil prices and Treasury yields, affecting travel and broader market sentiment.

India-US relations strain over doubled tariffs and immigration policy amid trade talks and ministerial supply-chain consultations.
Diplomatic contact between US and Indian leaders occurred amid efforts to address strained relations caused by US tariff increases-raising import duties on Indian goods to a 50 per cent combined rate, including a 25 per cent additional duty tied to Russian crude purchases-and by changes in US immigration policy. Simultaneously, ministerial-level consultations aim to progress a proposed bilateral trade deal and collaborate on critical minerals supply chains as part of negotiations to reduce regulatory friction.

Meghalaya tax devolution of Rs 9,631 crore for 2026 27 increases untied resources for capital and infrastructure.
Union Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 9,631 crore to Meghalaya as tax devolution to increase untied fiscal resources for capital expenditure and infrastructure; central transfers and grants have risen over 2014-2024, and capital investment is further supported by SASCI interest free loans (50 year tenure) of Rs 6,523 crore to Meghalaya for 2020-21 to 2025-26, facilitating highways and welfare scheme implementation.

Vedanta Aluminium land allotment enables 3 MTPA smelter and 4,900 MW captive power project in Odisha.
Vedanta Aluminium received government land allotment of about 1,447 acres in Dhenkanal, Odisha, handed over at a state summit with senior officials present, enabling site authorisation for its planned 3 MTPA aluminium smelter and 4,900 MW captive power plant; the project, estimated at Rs 1.28 lakh crore, had earlier obtained high-level clearance authority approval and is presented as proceeding from regulatory clearances toward implementation.

Union Budget emphasizes growth and jobs, boosting Goa via tax devolution, tourism upgrades, fisheries and MSME support.
The Budget prioritises growth and jobs while maintaining fiscal discipline, providing Goa a devolved tax share and preserving 41% vertical devolution with Finance Commission grants. It advances tourism and hospitality through an upgraded National Institute of Hospitality, a 12 week guide upskilling programme with IIM collaboration, and a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid; supports the blue economy via fisheries value chain strengthening, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and coastal cargo promotion; and improves financing and infrastructure participation through higher public capital expenditure, an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund, SME Growth Fund, Self Reliant India Fund top up and measures to deepen TReDS.