US envoy signals rapprochement: active trade deal talks on a reciprocity basis and an invitation to join Pax Silica.
The ambassador announced active bilateral engagement to finalise a reciprocity-driven trade deal while acknowledging tariffs and immigration policy as key disputes shaping talks. He also invited India to join the US-led "Pax Silica" initiative on critical minerals and artificial intelligence, and proposed expanded cooperation across security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education, and health to reinvigorate the strategic partnership.

Websol's Rs 3,538 crore investment will build an 8 GW integrated solar manufacturing facility with tailored state incentives.
Approval under the AP Industrial Development Policy 2024-29 authorises Websol's 8 GW integrated solar manufacturing project at MPSEZ Naidupeta with phased commissioning in July 2027 and July 2028, expected to create about 2,000 direct jobs. The state extends tailored incentives including allotment of 123.45 acres at a concessional rate, a 48.5% fixed capital investment subsidy capped at Rs 1,552.97 crore payable over ten years, power tariff reimbursement of Rs 1 per unit capped at Rs 202.36 crore for ten years, electricity duty exemption for ten years, 75% industrial water charge subsidy, and stamp duty exemption, together with land facilitation for captive solar power to support low cost operations.

Stock markets fall nearly 1% on foreign fund outflows and trade-related tariff and geopolitical concerns.
Benchmark equity indices declined about one per cent amid sustained foreign institutional investor selling and investor concern over potential additional tariffs on exports and related trade friction, with DIIs partially offsetting sales and commentators attributing the weakness to combined tariff related risk and geopolitical developments that amplified market volatility.

Smuggled SUV sale prompts cheating probe of Delhi car dealer; investigation seeks agency assistance over illegal import practices.
Police registered an FIR for cheating after a buyer alleged a Delhi dealer sold a Toyota Land Cruiser smuggled from Bhutan and illegally re registered; Customs had seized the vehicle in a prior operation and returned it to the buyer, and police will seek Customs' assistance to investigate the importation, re registration, and sale network.

Modi and Merz to focus on boosting trade, critical-tech cooperation, defence procurement, and green hydrogen collaboration.
Bilateral discussions will prioritize deepening trade and investment ties, cooperation in critical technologies, and strengthened defence and security partnership. Economic context includes Germany as India's largest EU trading partner with significant services trade and cumulative FDI. Defence cooperation covers export-control easing, increased defence exports, deployment of a German Navy liaison officer to India's Integrated Fusion Centre (Indian Ocean Region), and negotiations for a Euro 5 billion, six-submarine procurement framed as a major domestic industrial participation project. Energy transition cooperation includes an Indo-German green hydrogen roadmap, alongside collaboration in education, skills, and technology.

Killing of Minnesota woman prompts calls for investigation, funding restrictions and possible impeachment of Homeland Security chief.
A fatal shooting by an ICE officer has triggered congressional demands for a full investigation and immediate policy reforms. Legislators are considering leveraging the DHS appropriations process to impose funding conditions, statutory limits on agents' authority, an unmasking requirement for enforcement officers, and restrictions on Border Patrol activity. Proposals span targeted funding restrictions, structural constraints on ICE operations, and calls for impeachment of the department head, reflecting sharp partisan division while citing prior agent-involved shootings as context for enhanced oversight.

Sansaar launches into the GCC through a B2B partnership, placing premium home-furnishing fabrics in regional trade outlets.
Sansaar has launched in the GCC through a strategic partnership with Bru Textiles' Fabric Library, using a B2B distribution model to place its premium home-furnishing fabric collections across select retail and trade counters, leveraging Fabric Library's regional presence and distribution expertise to enable phased international expansion.

Chhattisgarh rice mandi fee exemption extended for exporters for another year and to support processing and exports.
Chhattisgarh extended the mandi fee exemption for rice exporters for another year to promote exports and reduce exporter costs. The exemption, previously granted and due to lapse in December 2025, forms part of coordinated measures including a new industrial policy emphasising small-scale rice processing, procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal with a 21-quintal per acre cap, and establishment of a regional APEDA office to strengthen export capacity.

Sluggish hiring: only 50,000 jobs added in December amid tariff uncertainty, AI adoption, and sectoral losses.
December's report showed only 50,000 jobs added and unemployment at 4.4 percent, reflecting subdued hiring in 2025 amid employer reluctance, tariff-related uncertainty, inflation, and the spread of artificial intelligence. Revisions to prior months altered the employment picture. Gains were concentrated in Health Care and Leisure and Hospitality, while Manufacturing, Construction and Retail lost jobs. The labor market is characterized as ''low-hire, low-fire,'' with low layoffs but fewer openings; higher productivity and demographic shifts also reduce the need for strong job creation. Fed views remain split on policy responses.

EU-Mercosur trade deal gains Italy's support, enabling signature with farmer safeguards, food safety alignment, and an import emergency brake
Italy backed the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement contingent on protections for domestic agriculture, including an emergency import brake if imports undercut EU prices by 5% or more, mirroring of EU food safety regulations in Mercosur, and increased inspections of agrifood imports; the political accord clears the way for signature and requires European Parliament ratification, while critics cite limited GDP benefits and environmental risks.

India closely monitoring proposed US bill to impose 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian crude oil.
Proposed legislation would impose a 500 per cent tariff on the secondary purchase and reselling of Russian crude oil to deter purchases of discounted Russian supplies; India says it is closely following developments, defends purchases as market-driven to meet energy security needs, and has pursued diplomatic engagement seeking relief or clarification on tariff application.

National textile ministers' meet focuses on USD 100 billion export target and boosting sustainability, branding, and artisans' livelihoods.
Ministers agreed on a coordinated roadmap to develop the textile sector as a global hub by expanding exports, boosting competitiveness and branding "Textiles of India," while leveraging central flagship schemes for infrastructure, technology upgradation and sustainability. The conference also prioritised preserving traditional textiles, enhancing market access and value addition for artisans through scheme convergence, design innovation and digital platforms to increase incomes.

Silver and gold rose as safe haven demand and reports of steep tariffs and sanctions increased hedging activity in commodities markets.
Silver rebounded to Rs 2,50,000/kg and gold to Rs 1,41,700/10g on renewed safe haven demand and ETF inflows, with price support attributed to hedging amid geopolitical and policy uncertainty. Reports of potential steep tariffs and sanctions on buyers of Russian oil, and attendant US China trade tensions, were cited as reinforcing bullion's appeal by increasing perceived trade risk and hedging demand.

India-US trade negotiations: India rejects claim a missed Modi phone call stalled talks; tariff measures cited as complicating factor.
Disagreement exists over why bilateral trade negotiations stalled: India rejects claims that lack of a Prime Ministerial call prevented a deal, stressing multiple negotiation rounds and eight phone conversations in 2025 and continued interest in concluding a mutually beneficial trade deal. The talks were affected by substantive trade measures, notably a US-imposed 50 per cent tariff including an additional duty related to purchases of Russian crude, and broader policy divergences that complicated reaching agreement.

Proclaimed offender arrested in Rs. 58 lakh customs fraud after identity documents were altered and false duty drawback claims detected.
Arrest reported of a person declared a Proclaimed Offender for involvement in a Customs Department fraud where a partner in a firm filed a spurious duty drawback claim as part of a larger Rs. 58 lakh scheme; after being chargesheeted the accused absconded, was proclaimed, a reward declared, changed identity documents, and was ultimately apprehended following field verification and technical analysis.

Global economic growth seen at 2.7% in 2026, weighed by higher US tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty.
The United Nations projects global growth of 2.7% in 2026 and 2.9% in 2027, attributing downward pressure to higher US tariffs, economic and geopolitical uncertainty, and technological tensions, while noting resilience from consumer spending and easing inflation. Regionally, growth in Europe, Japan and the US is expected to remain subdued; East Asia and China will slow; some large developing economies sustain solid expansion; least developed countries show gradual improvement but remain vulnerable to debt, climate shocks and constrained exports.

Stock markets decline for a fifth straight day as Sensex and Nifty fall nearly 1% amid tariff and geopolitical concerns.
Equity benchmarks declined for a fifth straight session, with Sensex and Nifty falling about 1% amid concerns over potential US tariff increases and geopolitical tensions; major stocks drove the intraday falls and prior-day data showed foreign institutional net selling alongside domestic institutional net buying.

India focuses on generating skilled jobs and improving employment quality alongside tax and labour reforms.
India's short-term economic policy prioritises generation of skilled jobs and improved employment quality, addressing gig work, female and youth participation, and AI impacts; complementary social measures include education, health and nutrition. Medium- and long-term measures focus on raising investment and savings, export diversification, GST and income tax reform, labour codes, quality control orders, and enabling private sector participation in strategic infrastructure, with manufacturing promoted as essential to labour intensive employment and services expansion.

China's export controls on dual-use items and rare earths are disrupting Japanese shipments and straining trade ties.
China's export controls on dual-use items are defended as lawful national security measures after Japan sought retraction; Japan reports customs delays on exports and warns of supply chain impacts from rare earths restrictions while monitoring the situation and considering responses.

India-US trade deal stalled after Modi did not call Trump, complicating resolution of high tariffs on Indian goods.
The bilateral trade agreement failed because the Indian Prime Minister did not call the US President, a diplomatic step the US Commerce Secretary said was needed to close negotiations. Six rounds had addressed a framework to resolve the 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods entering the United States; timing differences led the US to conclude deals with other countries at higher tariff-related rates, affecting the commercial terms available to India.