Canada-India trade talks to restart quickly, aiming to double bilateral trade and resume comprehensive negotiations.
Canada and India will promptly resume suspended trade negotiations after strained relations stemming from allegations tied to a 2023 assassination. Diplomatic steps-restoring envoys and high level meetings-have paved the way for expeditious talks aimed at reducing U.S. trade dependence and doubling bilateral trade to USD50 billion by 2030, while criminal prosecutions related to the assassination proceed separately.

India-EU free trade agreement, defence framework and strategic agenda to be finalised at January summit.
The January 27 summit will focus on concluding a free trade agreement described as a "living document" (12 chapters closed, eight remaining), finalising a defence framework agreement prioritising maritime security, cyber defence and counterterrorism, and adopting a joint strategic agenda covering security and defence, connectivity, prosperity, sustainability, and technology and innovation; unresolved FTA issues include steel, cars, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and regulatory convergence.

Indore SEZ exports rose 32% to Rs 8,127.67 crore driven by pharmaceutical orders and US demand.
Indore Special Economic Zone exports rose 32 per cent to Rs 8,127.67 crore for April-October, led by pharmaceuticals which constitute about 70 per cent of SEZ exports and count the United States among top importers; this compares with Rs 6,157.11 crore in the same period last year. The SEZ covers 572 hectares in Pithampur and houses 59 manufacturing units, 22 of which are pharmaceutical.

Electricity tariffs: Chief Minister denies any proposal to increase charges and reiterates budget commitment against hikes.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah denied any proposal to raise electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir, refuting reports of a 20 percent peak-hour surcharge and affirming the budget contains no hike. He also announced the e-auction of seven limestone blocks under MMDR Act reforms, with central ministry assistance to ensure transparent allotment and plans to start mining and encourage nearby cement industry development to create local jobs.

India-Canada FTA talks to resume, aiming to double bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.
India and Canada will resume negotiations for a high-ambition Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at raising bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030, using standard FTA mechanisms-tariff reduction, services liberalisation and investment facilitation. Recent ministerial dialogue and planned reactivation of the CEO forum in Q1 2026 are intended to produce a sectoral roadmap, measurable outcomes, and actionable negotiation milestones, with priority areas including critical minerals, nuclear supply, AI and other new-age technologies, aerospace, defence and manufacturing.

Garden Cafe plans a Bulgaria probiotic snack plant to reduce shipping delays and boost European exports.
Garden Cafe plans a food-grade manufacturing unit in Bulgaria to anchor its export strategy for Jiggies probiotic chips and roasted makhana, addressing shelf-life loss during shipping by producing locally. The unit will be dedicated to niche, premium probiotic products; test-marketing through small consignments informs market entry. European production costs are estimated at roughly three times Indian costs, with expected gross margins near 25% due to higher selling prices.

Chandigarh bill would let the President make regulations and appoint an administrator for the Union territory.
A Constitution Amendment bill would place Chandigarh under Article 240, permitting the President to make regulations, legislate directly for the Union territory, and appoint an independent administrator; political opposition highlights concerns about presidential regulatory scope and effects on territorial governance.

India's Russian oil imports face sharp near-term declines as US sanctions on major exporters constrain supply and trade channels.
US designation of major Russian oil exporters has converted crude tied to those firms into a "sanctioned molecule," constraining India's supply channels and prompting refiners to halt some imports, reroute pre-committed cargoes, and shift product lines to non-Russian feedstock. Because sanctions target specific entities rather than all Russian oil, purchases from non-designated producers remain legally possible provided no designated party, vessel, bank, or service provider is involved. Short-term flows are expected to decline markedly while market participants deploy intermediaries, alternative sellers, and modified payment and shipping arrangements.

India-Israel FTA to be implemented in two phases, focusing on tariff cuts, customs simplification and investment facilitation.
Negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Israel plan a two-phase implementation to secure early benefits, with Terms of Reference targeting market access via elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers, investment facilitation, customs simplification, innovation and technology transfer, and eased trade in services, while prioritising low-hanging fruit and avoiding sensitive issues in the initial phase.

Power tariffs unchanged for FY2025-26; distribution loss trajectory and PAN collection for TDS on security deposit interest introduced.
Tariffs remain unchanged for FY 2025-26 under the multi-year tariff regulations (2025), preserving the existing tariff structure; a distribution loss trajectory requires reduction from 13.78% in FY 24-25 to 10.74% by FY 29-30; Green Energy Tariff benefits apply to all consumers; subsidies for lifeline, rural metered households and private tubewells continue; DISCOMs must collect PANs for TDS certificates on security deposit interest; a consultation paper will address billing and transparency issues in multi-storey buildings and townships.

Brazil's former president Bolsonaro arrested preemptively over alleged escape plot before starting 27 year sentence for leading coup attempt.
A Supreme Court justice ordered preemptive detention of former President Jair Bolsonaro after an alleged ankle monitor breach and evidence of plans by associates to create demonstrations that could facilitate his escape before beginning a 27 year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt, citing flight risk, potential asylum seeking, and communications by allies as indicia of an organised effort to obstruct lawful commencement of custody.

200-year-old Hindu paintings barred from export; UK seeks buyer to keep the complete 56-piece series.
The UK government imposed an export bar on a near-complete 56 painting Devi series from Kangra (c.1810), finding it of outstanding significance for the study of Pahari painting, devotional practice and colonial collecting; a buyer is sought at a recommended price during a deferral period, with a 15 day consideration window and a subsequent three month deferral following an Option Agreement to permit acquisition negotiations.

Jair Bolsonaro arrested days before starting a 27-year sentence for leading a coup attempt.
Bolsonaro was taken into federal custody on a judicial request days before he was due to start a 27 year sentence for leading a coup attempt, after exhausting appeals; convictions include leading an armed criminal organisation and attempting the violent abolition of democratic rule, and Brazilian law requires convicts to commence sentences in prison.

Alleged horse trading of MLAs amid a party power tussle and claims of administrative collapse and false import figures.
Allegations describe horse trading of party legislators driven by an intra-party power struggle, including efforts to secure jailed members' support, and assert that resulting political instability has caused misadministration in addressing infrastructure, disaster response, and public safety. The statement also disputes reported import figures for a staple commodity, claiming the published numbers are false and that exports, not large-scale imports, characterize current trade flows.

Merchandise exports fell 11.8% to USD 34.38bn in October, driven by higher US tariffs and broad sectoral weakness.
Merchandise exports fell 11.8% year on year to USD 34.38 billion in October, driven by a 50% increase in US tariffs and broad declines across petroleum products, gems and jewellery, and core sectors; exports to the US fell 8.6% to USD 6.3 billion while non US markets dropped 12.5%. The report notes a US tariff cut on 254 food items that may aid some agricultural exports and projects a manageable current account deficit supported by services trade, remittances and softer crude prices, with merchandise imports stable at USD 76.06 billion.

SEZ policy: Ministry to review SEZ DTA transaction rules, import duty parity, connectivity and monitoring issues.
Industry raised operational and policy issues affecting SEZ units: SEZ-DTA transactions, duty foregone administration, ICEGATE connectivity and import monitoring constraints, reverse job work challenges, vacant built-up area classification, LoA renewal timelines, divergent procurement attestation, lack of parity under concessional import duty and duty drawback schemes, Procurement Certificate inefficiencies, countervailing duty impacts, and need to review QCO applicability. The Commerce Secretary committed to detailed examination, requested structured data from industry, and pledged reviews of connectivity and monitoring to strengthen the SEZ framework.

Maize imports asked to be halted and central procurement started to stabilise collapsing maize prices and aid farmers.
The state urges immediate central procurement under the Price Support Scheme and temporary restriction on maize imports to stabilise prices below the Minimum Support Price, directs state procurement centres for direct purchases, seeks allocation of procured maize for public distribution and ethanol, requests crop-loss compensation, and asks for a one-time relaxation of Fair Average Quality norms for slightly damaged pulses.

US reaffirms support for Japan amid China's countermeasures over remarks on a possible response to a Taiwan contingency.
Diplomatic tensions arose after a Japanese leader's remarks on a potential military response regarding Taiwan, leading China to impose measures such as seafood import bans and travel advisories, and to protest Japan's export of Patriot interceptor missiles; the United States condemned China's actions as economic coercion and reaffirmed steadfast support for the US-Japan alliance and Japan's defence, including the Senkaku islets.

World stocks fell as AI-sector losses and stronger US jobs data raised odds of delayed rate cuts, prompting broad market reversals.
Global equity markets fell as AI-sector weakness and stronger US jobs data raised the prospect of delayed interest-rate cuts, prompting broad reversals in US indices and heavy selling in technology and semiconductor stocks. Regional reactions included pressure on Japan's yen and long-term yields after a large stimulus package and export shifts, sharp declines across South Korea, Taiwan and Chinese markets amid geopolitical friction, and retreating crude and currency moves consistent with risk-off sentiment.

India-Afghanistan trade: appointment of commercial attache s and activation of Kabul-Delhi cargo corridors to boost bilateral commerce.
India and Afghanistan will appoint dedicated commercial attache s to oversee bilateral trade, activate air freight corridors on the Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar routes, and reactivate joint working groups on trade, commerce and investment. Measures include operationalising the Chabahar Port route, simplifying customs and banking procedures, strengthening air cargo links and banking channels, faster business visa issuance, development of dry ports in Nimruz, and promotion of joint investments across pharmaceuticals, cold storage, fruit processing, industrial parks, SMEs and export processing zones.