Santa Cruz del Norte faces power outages and fuel shortages after disrupted oil shipments and threatened import tariffs.
Persistent power outages and fuel shortages in Santa Cruz del Norte stem from disrupted oil shipments and threatened tariffs that have constrained imports. Residents rely on coal, firewood, improvised stoves and charged lanterns, face rising prices and broken household devices, and endure impacts on transport, hospitals, schools and food production. Government statements label the situation complex but provide no detailed reserve or supply plan; diplomatic contacts and pledged humanitarian aid are noted while many households remain unable to afford alternatives.

US announces $6M humanitarian aid to Cuba amid accusations of an energy blockade and worsening fuel shortages.
The United States announced USD 6 million in humanitarian aid for hurricane affected eastern Cuba, to be delivered by the Catholic Church and Caritas while US embassy personnel monitor distribution to prevent regime diversion. US officials fault Cuban resource misallocation for shortages and signalled potential further assistance if Cuba permits greater US support. Cuban leadership describes US threats to oil suppliers as an "energy blockade," cites fuel shortages and blackouts, and conditions dialogue on respect for Cuban sovereignty.

Amazon Q4 earnings disclosed EPS below estimates, AWS growth strong, and a planned $200B capital expenditure increase.
Amazon reported Q4 net income of USD 21.2 billion and revenue of USD 213.4 billion, with EPS of USD 1.95 below analyst estimates; AWS revenue rose 24% to USD 35.6 billion. The company announced an increase in planned capital expenditures to USD 200 billion from USD 125 billion to fund investments in AI, robotics, semiconductors, and satellites, and after-hours trading reflected an approximately nine percent share decline.

Wall Street plunges as tech stocks and bitcoin fall, job reports lower yields and raise rate-cut prospects.
Equity and crypto markets fell sharply as technology stocks and bitcoin dropped, coinciding with labor-market reports showing rising unemployment claims, increased layoffs and fewer job openings; these signals pushed Treasury yields lower and heightened discussion that weaker labor conditions could raise the likelihood of central-bank interest-rate easing, while commodities also swung sharply and corporate earnings produced mixed sectoral effects.

Homeland Security funding hangs on proposed statutory restraints on immigration enforcement including warrants, ID, and force limits.
DHS appropriations are stalled as Democrats condition funding on reforms to immigration enforcement, including judicial warrants, officer identification and no masks, standardized uniforms and equipment, stricter use-of-force standards, detention safeguards, prohibitions on racial profiling, and verification to prevent wrongful detention of citizens; Republicans counter that such demands must be negotiated within a funding bill and caution that splitting DHS funding or singling out agencies could effectively defund law enforcement, prompting proposals to fund certain DHS components separately to limit shutdown impacts.

DHS funding standoff threatens shutdown as parties clash over ICE reforms and enforcement limits and oversight.
A budget impasse threatens a DHS shutdown as Democrats condition passage of the homeland security spending bill on a suite of immigration enforcement reforms-including judicial warrant requirements, mandatory officer identification, standardized uniforms and equipment, stricter use of force standards, detention safeguards, verification before detention, bans on racial profiling, and limits on tracking protesters-while Republicans call the demands unrealistic, propose alternative conditions, and press for negotiation or partial funding of other DHS components.

Kisan Credit Cards: farmers access loans in five minutes via e KCC; agricultural credit target increased for fiscal 2026 27.
Digital governance measures have accelerated disbursal under the Kisan Credit Card mechanism, enabling loans within five minutes through e KCC instead of delays up to a month. The government has set an elevated agricultural credit target for 2026-27, increasing planned credit flow by 13 percent to Rs 3 lakh crore, and is emphasising integration of technologies including artificial intelligence into agricultural finance platforms.

Drug trafficking suspects arrested; heroin seized and a vehicle reported bought with illicit proceeds, financial probe and asset tracing underway.
Police arrested three family members after intercepting a vehicle in Khanyar and recovering heroin worth lakhs; the vehicle was seized and is reported to have been bought with proceeds of the alleged drug trade. A criminal case under narcotics provisions has been registered, and investigations aim to trace supply and distribution links while conducting a financial probe to identify and attach properties acquired through alleged proceeds of crime.

Drug de-addiction rules to be finalised; bill planned and CCTV mandated at medical and chemist shops.
Finalisation of de-addiction rules and a bill is planned to create a statutory framework; pharmacies and chemist shops are required to install CCTVs to curb unauthorised drug sales. The Health Department, alongside home, social welfare and education departments, is strengthening services under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: de-addiction OPD services exist in all 20 districts, nine medical colleges offer psychiatrist oversight, and 11 ATFs in Kashmir and nine in Jammu are functional, with no new government centres under consideration.

Rapido-linked motorbikes seized for operating without trade licence; company ordered to stop bike-taxi bookings and explain noncompliance.
Authorities seized twelve motorbikes linked to a ride-hailing platform for operating bike taxis without a required trade licence, issued a notice directing immediate cessation of bike-taxi bookings through the app, and demanded an explanation under threat of unilateral legal enforcement; police assistance was sought after prior notices to app providers could not be operationally enforced.

Retired medical officer duped of Rs 4.62 crore after impersonation scam led to transfers into mule bank accounts.
A retired medical officer was defrauded of Rs 4.62 crore after impersonators claiming Aadhaar misuse and a Central investigative agency money laundering case threatened arrest; she transferred funds into bank accounts supplied by intermediaries. Police registered cheating by impersonation and Information Technology Act offences and, upon tracing the money trail, arrested two suspects who had opened multiple accounts, accepted deposits, withdrawn funds, and handed them to cybercriminals for a commission; further investigation continues.

Mata Vaishno Devi medical college: call to grant minority status so it can resume operations and preserve private investment.
The Medical Assessment and Rating Board withdrew SMVDIME's letter of permission for non compliance, halting operations and dispersing the initial cohort. The chief minister urged designation of the college as a minority institution to resume operations, preserve significant private investment, reconcile merit based NEET admissions with concerns about student composition, and ensure continued production of doctors for public service.

Interim budget focuses on urban infrastructure: road widening, encroachment regulation, corridors, MSME parks and a global trade centre.
Interim budget prioritises infrastructure-led growth via district town modernisation, road widening and encroachment regulation to unlock corridor development, continued investment in industrial and economic corridors, logistics connectivity and MSME parks, and the proposed global trade centre supported by public private collaboration to develop sustainable, people friendly cities.

West Bengal pre-poll budget increases women's Lakshmir Bhandar and proposes Rs 1,500 monthly youth stipend.
The interim Rs 4.06 lakh crore vote-on-account prioritises welfare: Lakshmir Bhandar payments rise by Rs 500 (to Rs 1,500/1,700 for general/SC-ST women) with an additional Rs 15,000 crore allocation and immediate disbursement from February; Banglar Yuva Sathi proposes Rs 1,500 monthly for unemployed youth (21-40) for up to five years subject to rollout from August 15 if the incumbent is returned, with Rs 5,000 crore earmarked. The opposition contends many promises are election-oriented and may be restricted by the Model Code of Conduct.

India Malaysia visit advances semiconductor cooperation, defence partnerships, trade reviews and renewed extradition request for Zakir Naik.
India and Malaysia will formalise cooperation including an anticipated agreement on semiconductor cooperation, prioritise trade and investment facilitation and review bilateral economic instruments under ASEAN frameworks; they will explore defence sales and technical cooperation on maintenance and upgrades (Dornier aircraft, Scorpene naval mid life upgrades, Su 30 fleet support) and will renew India's diplomatic request for extradition while engaging with industry leaders and the diaspora under the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

Karnataka Congress leadership: Shivakumar expects high command to call him when a political decision is taken.
Internal party leadership dynamics center on the expectation that the national party high command will intervene to resolve a leadership tussle in Karnataka by summoning state leaders when it takes a political decision. D K Shivakumar expressed confidence he will be called to New Delhi for such determinations, while allied MLAs and ministers urged an early resolution to prevent damage to party unity and electoral prospects.

Prime Minister Modi condemns parliamentary disruptions, says opposition cannot "dig his grave" and highlights government achievements.
Prime Minister addressed the Rajya Sabha during the Motion of Thanks, condemning Opposition interruptions as insults to the President's office and the Constitution, and asserting that electoral defeats and personal attacks will not unseat him because of broad popular support. He criticised a principal opposition party for corruption, double standards and derogatory remarks, accused regional parties of protecting illegal entrants harming tribal and youth interests, and reiterated government achievements-security operations, economic performance, startup promotion and recent trade deals-as proof of governance and progress toward national development goals.

Punjab-Canada economic cooperation explores investment, technology collaboration and alignment of Invest Punjab operations to boost sustainable growth.
A Punjab delegation and a Canadian delegation led by Alberta's Indigenous Relations minister discussed strengthening economic ties, with Punjab presenting its industrial ecosystem, investment opportunities, an industry-friendly ease of doing business approach, and the operational framework of Invest Punjab; technology and innovation were identified as priority sectors for collaboration.

Himachal geothermal energy: state signs MoU with Geotropy to begin exploration with no state cost.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Himachal Pradesh government and GEOTROPY ehf./Geotropy India establishes immediate commencement of geothermal exploration to assess and harness the state's geothermal potential as a continuous renewable energy source, with the state confirming that exploration will not impose financial liability on it.

Haryana agriculture: State targets Rs3.67 lakh crore priority sector credit and promotes tech-driven rural development.
Haryana's strategy pairs innovation and institutional finance to tackle agricultural challenges by prioritising infrastructure and productivity intensification. NABARD's State Focus Paper 2026-27 sets the state's priority sector credit potential at Rs 3.67 lakh crore-Rs 1.32 lakh crore for agriculture and Rs 2.11 lakh crore for MSMEs-while RIDF sanctions support roads, irrigation, storage, renewable energy and social infrastructure. The plan also focuses on Smart Agriculture Zones, crop diversification, micro irrigation, FPO strengthening, cooperative reform, timely bank credit and measures to improve farm to market linkages.