Foreign news roundup: US lawmakers push for lower Indian pulse tariffs and China reduces US debt holdings.
A foreign-news roundup emphasizes trade and security developments: US lawmakers urging tariff reductions on Indian pulses as a trade priority for American producers; enforcement action in the US for illegal export of controlled aviation parts to Russia; China's reduction of US Treasury holdings in favor of gold and overseas equities; and parallel items on a US presidential claim regarding India-Pakistan hostilities, appointment to a Gaza redevelopment board, an Indian naval port call in Singapore, communal violence in Bangladesh, and Pakistani counterterror operations in Balochistan.

Wings India 2026 at Hyderabad's Begumpet Airport will showcase aviation manufacturing, services, innovation and sustainable solutions.
Wings India 2026 will be a four-day exhibition at Hyderabad's Begumpet Airport beginning January 28, featuring an international exhibition, static and flying displays, aerobatic shows, a high-level international conference, CEO roundtables, B2B/B2G meetings, an aviation job fair and awards ceremony to promote India's aviation manufacturing, services, innovation, safety and sustainability. Ministerial-level foreign delegations and official delegations from over 20 countries will attend, and the conference will run 13 thematic sessions plus a Global CEOs Forum and Ministerial Plenary on topics including airports, aircraft leasing, helicopters, airlines, women in aviation and MRO.

Gen Z mental health crisis: digital overstimulation, identity loss, and meditation as a path to inner balance.
Mental health crisis among Generation Z manifests as increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress illnesses and identity confusion driven by academic and economic pressures, excessive screen exposure, and social media based external validation. Performative online identities impair authentic selfhood while lifestyle factors - disrupted sleep, sedentary routines, poor diet, and chronic mental fatigue - create a mind-body disconnect. Professor Amod Sachan recommends meditation and emotional awareness to restore inner balance, strengthen resilience, and prioritize inner fulfilment over external markers of success.

Focus Netralaya empanelment enables cashless eye care for ECHS beneficiaries in Moradabad and Bareilly divisions.
Focus Netralaya has been empanelled with the Regional Centre of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), enabling cashless eye care and eye surgery for ECHS beneficiaries in the Moradabad and Bareilly divisions in accordance with government rules. The NABH-accredited super-specialty hospital provides cataract, glaucoma, retina, dry eye and laser treatments, uses AI-based diagnostic and surgical technology, and is already empanelled under several government and insurance schemes.

Manush Shah wins WTT Feeder Vadodara, rises to world singles No. 58 and secures historic mixed doubles qualification.
Manush Shah won the WTT Feeder event in Vadodara, achieved a career-best world singles ranking of 58, and, alongside Diya Chitale, became part of the first Indian mixed doubles pair to qualify for the World Table Tennis Finals; he also won the Senior National Championship and holds world rankings of 58 in singles, 9 in mixed doubles, and 6 in men's doubles.

Al Falah University accused of using "on paper" medical hires and false accreditation to funnel illicit tuition fees.
The chargesheet alleges the university promoter and controlling trust generated illicit funds by deceiving students on accreditation and recognition, employed medical faculty "on paper" to manipulate regulatory inspections and expand seats, and appointed certain doctors without police verification. The agency quantifies alleged proceeds at Rs 493.24 crore, provisionally attached campus property worth about Rs 140 crore, and attributes a central controlling role in employment and regulatory dealings to the promoter under the PMLA investigation.

Anthology 'When Gods Don't Matter' unveiled, exploring belief, doubt, identity through contemporary poetry at Jaipur LitFest 2026.
An anthology, 'When Gods Don't Matter' by Jagdeep Singh, was unveiled at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2026, foregrounding themes of belief and doubt, identity, vulnerability, and the evolving human condition; the author framed the collection as born of lived experience and introspection, using poetry to pose questions rather than deliver answers, and recited selections that emphasised nostalgia, compassion, and meaning beyond traditional belief structures.

Rajya Sabha pending bills: 19 government Bills remain pending, oldest on population control from 1992.
Nineteen government Bills remain pending in the Rajya Sabha, the oldest dating to 1992; because the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House with staggered membership, a Bill pending there does not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Pending measures cover population-control amendments (promoting a small-family norm and potential disqualification for elected representatives with more than two children), rent-law modernisation, seed-quality regulation, migrant workmen protections, construction workers' laws, employment-exchange notifications, readjustment of representation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, tribal-autonomy enhancements, registration of non-resident marriages, and pesticide management.

China reduces US Treasury holdings and increases gold reserves amid strategic reserve diversification toward overseas equity investments.
China reduced its US Treasury holdings to USD 682.6 billion in November 2025, the lowest since 2008, as part of a deliberate strategy to optimise reserve safety by lowering exposure to US debt risks and reallocating assets toward gold and overseas equity investments; the People's Bank of China reported gold reserves of 74.15 million ounces at the end of December 2025, marking a fourteenth consecutive monthly increase.

UCO Bank posts 15.8% quarterly net profit rise; asset quality improves and capital adequacy strengthens.
UCO Bank posted a 15.76% quarterly rise in net profit to Rs 739.51 crore, with operating profit increasing to Rs 1,680.24 crore and provisions falling to Rs 525.12 crore. Gross NPAs declined to 2.41% (Rs 5,867.25 crore) and net NPAs to 0.36% (Rs 852.55 crore), while the capital adequacy ratio improved to 17.43%, reflecting strengthened asset quality and regulatory capital.

Maharashtra cabinet approves toll extension, MUTP-2 funding, EV bus procurement, large irrigation, housing and market projects.
The cabinet extended the toll concession at Atal Setu for one year, approved revised costs and the state's share for MUTP-2, waived a premium on a plot at Ulwe, and authorised land provision for a multi-modal fruits and vegetables hub. It restructured and renamed the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, revised staffing for several administrative bodies, approved a major river irrigation project and village rehabilitation measures, and cleared a procurement framework for 1,000 electric buses via direct debit mandates from municipal corporations.

Apple imports: ban during July-November and 100% off-season duty urged to protect domestic growers and prices.
The Chief Minister requested a ban on apple imports from July to November and proposed raising the import duty to 100% in off-season months to protect about 2.5 lakh growers. He noted a 2.5-fold rise in imports over ten years, that New Zealand apples enter April-August at 25% tariff while other months face 50% duty, and warned that free trade agreements and increased imports could depress prices for cold-stored and off-season apples.

SBI terminates GMU Kolkata lease; civil society urges RBI not to permit closure without regulatory approval.
SBI has terminated the lease for floors housing its GMU in Kolkata and issued a one-month vacate notice as part of consolidating treasury and forex operations in Mumbai. A civil society group has asked the Reserve Bank not to permit surrender of the GMU's banking licence or allow closure without explicit regulatory approval, arguing such administrative action would pre-empt the regulator and risk loss of specialised functions and regional financial activity.

Tech-finance entrepreneur Shravan Gupta focuses on scalable, sustainable, user-centric financial technology solutions and ethical ecosystem leadership.
Shravan Gupta integrates technology and finance to create scalable, practical financial solutions by treating technology as an enabler within product design and business strategy. He prioritises digital platforms, automation, and data-driven systems while aligning innovation with investment logic and operational sustainability. His operational principles require simplifying complex financial processes, designing for sustainable scalable growth, and ensuring user-centric security and accessibility. Leadership through interdisciplinary collaboration and emphasis on ethical business practices guide governance, risk alignment, and ecosystem contribution.

HDFC Bank profit rises 12% to Rs 19,807 crore; new labour codes added Rs 800 crore in expenses.
HDFC Bank reported consolidated net profit of Rs 19,807 crore for the October-December quarter (up 12.17% year on year) and standalone profit of Rs 18,653.75 crore (up 11.46%). Core net interest income was Rs 32,600 crore, non interest income Rs 13,250 crore, and overall net interest margin 3.35%. Implementation of the new labour codes increased expenses by Rs 800 crore in the quarter.

Ganja seizure at IGI Airport: 8.77 kg seized and two passengers arrested under NDPS Act.
Customs officers diverted two arriving passengers from the Green Channel for X-ray screening and detailed baggage examination, recovered nine polythene pouches containing a green narcotic substance weighing 8.77 kg, conducted a diagnostic field test that prima facie indicated ganja/marijuana, seized the substance and packaging, assessed its international market value at about Rs 8.771 crore, and arrested the passengers under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

SBI Life Spell Bee Season 15 crowns Avik Agrawal national winner, awarded cash prize and trip.
SBI Life Spell Bee Season 15 concluded with Avik Agrawal declared national winner, awarded a cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip. The competition advanced through school, city, regional and national rounds, culminating in a televised Grand Finale that recognised top finalists for spelling accuracy, vocabulary and composure under pressure.

Public Directory of Personal Finance Professionals enables consumers to quickly find verified, licensed, qualified advisors.
The Directory creates a neutral, searchable public platform listing personal finance professionals who meet Network FP's verification and licensing standards - including regulatory registrations and recognised qualifications - permitting consumers to compare advisers by city, expertise, products, services and credentials. Paired with a consumer guidebook on holistic financial wellbeing and adviser engagement, the initiative addresses the lack of a neutral evaluation mechanism and aims to institutionalise trust and improve long-term financial outcomes for families.

Merchandise exports face headwinds from a stalled trade deal and US tariff measures, with tea and basmati rice notably exposed.
Merchandise exports face downside risks from a stalled US India trade deal and potential US levies tied to Russian crude purchases; tea and basmati rice are particularly exposed to a 25 percent US tariff on countries trading with Iran. CRISIL projects the current account will remain manageable-supported by a services surplus, remittances, and softer oil-despite a widening merchandise trade deficit as export growth lags imports and exports to the US slow, with export concentration in items like smartphones noted.

Vande Bharat Sleeper train catering contract awarded to a Guwahati hospitality firm to supply regional overnight menus onboard.
A Guwahati hospitality firm has been contracted by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation to serve as the official caterer for the Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, supplying curated vegetarian menus focused on regional West Bengal and Assam dishes, seasonal locally sourced ingredients, and service adapted to overnight premium rail operations for a train with 16 AC sleeper coaches and capacity for around 823 passengers.