EU Anti-Coercion Instrument enables targeted trade and investment restrictions to deter third country economic coercion, activation takes six months.
The European Union's Anti Coercion Instrument authorises targeted trade and investment measures-including curtailing exports and imports, excluding countries or companies from EU public procurement, and limiting foreign direct investment-to deter third country economic pressure on Member States or corporations. Adopted in 2021 after coercive action against a Member State, the Instrument is designed for deterrence and requires at least six months to activate.

Bengaluru promoted as India's investment gateway, highlighting tech, AI, semiconductors, infrastructure and tax distribution concerns.
Karnataka is promoted as a premier investment destination with Bengaluru as the gateway, highlighting opportunities in technology, AI, semiconductors, startups, and health care alongside major infrastructure and state mobility projects; the piece also flags a fiscal concern that Karnataka contributes a high share of central taxes yet receives a smaller proportion back, framing tax distribution as a policy issue affecting the state's economic competitiveness.

Senior citizen duped into transferring Rs 16.5 lakh after 'digital arrest' impersonation via Signal video call.
Callers impersonating anti-terror and national investigation officers placed a 75-year-old under a digital arrest allegation, instructed him to download Signal, and during a video call claimed his linked bank account had received laundered funds; they coerced him to transfer Rs 16.50 lakh for verification before blocking his number, after which he lodged a complaint and cyber police registered a case against unidentified persons.

CPDL switches to monthly electricity billing with tech upgrades and mobile access to duplicate bills for consumers.
CPDL transitioned from a bi monthly to a monthly billing cycle for all domestic and non residential consumers, effective January 19, 2026, pursuant to Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission directions, with supporting meter reading modernisation, technology upgrades, and mobile access to duplicate bills at no extra cost to improve billing accuracy, transparency, and operational efficiency.

India-US trade: Trump praises PM Modi and says they will secure a good deal at Davos.
US President Donald Trump expressed personal regard for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and indicated an intention to conclude a favourable bilateral trade deal, stating this in a brief reply about the India-US trade agreement at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

India's economic role shifts to pivotal, driven by digital public infrastructure, inclusion, innovation and scale.
India is reframed as pivotal to the global economy, driven by scale, institutional trust and resilience. This transition is credited to the creation of digital public infrastructure-digital identity, real-time payments and consent-based data sharing-that lowers transaction costs, formalises entrepreneurs and enterprises, enables inclusive growth by design, and supports innovation, manufacturing expansion and AI adoption; these combined factors position India as essential to global value chains rather than merely an emerging market.

Critical mineral recycling incentives link investment and recovery-quality benchmarks to build domestic recycling capacity for supply chain security.
The Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme under the National Critical Mineral Mission provides investment-linked incentives-up to Rs 50 crore for large recyclers and up to Rs 25 crore for smaller recyclers-tied to plant and machinery investment and technology and recovery quality benchmarks to build 2.7 lakh metric tonnes of domestic recycling capacity and enhance supply chain security.

Senco Gold to acquire 68% of August Jewellery for Rs 68 crore, making AJPL a subsidiary and requiring no regulatory approvals.
Senco Gold will make a primary investment to acquire 68% of August Jewellery Private Limited for Rs 68 crore, after which AJPL will become a subsidiary. The consideration exceeds AJPL's FY25 turnover of about Rs 33.24 crore. The filing frames the purchase as strategic for digital and omnichannel expansion and synergy creation, states the deal is not a related party transaction, records no regulatory approvals are required, and anticipates completion by April 30, 2026.

Telangana Police rehabilitation programme for surrendered Maoists offers identity documents, direct reward payments, housing support and medical care.
Telangana Police implemented a rehabilitation programme offering expedited Aadhaar, PAN and bank accounts, direct deposit of rewards (Rs 1 lakh-Rs 25 lakh), housing site allocation where possible, and medical treatment for surrendered CPI (Maoist) cadre, with all programmes directly monitored by the Special Intelligence Branch and ongoing outreach to remaining active cadres.

KPMG opens a Kolkata tax hub to centralise technology-enabled tax compliance, transfer pricing and global mobility services.
KPMG Global Services Delivery Platform opened a new Kolkata tax office to centralise technology-enabled delivery of specialised tax services. The facility will handle tax compliance and reporting, indirect tax, transfer pricing, global mobility services and expatriate taxation for global clients, and will expand hiring across experience levels as part of KPMG's India-anchored global tax delivery model.

Karnataka Governor refuses to deliver legislative address over objections to 11 paragraphs about MGNREGA repeal and fund devolution.
Governor refused to deliver the Cabinet-prepared address to the joint legislative session unless 11 paragraphs were deleted; those paragraphs criticised the repeal of MGNREGA and raised funding and relief grievances. The government asserts the address is the Cabinet's declaration of policy and invokes Article 176(1) as mandating that the Governor read the speech prepared by the Cabinet, while indicating willingness to amend objectionable language but not to accept complete deletions.

Indore SEZ exports rose 8% to Rs 10,573 crore; pharmaceuticals make up 70% with the US a major market.
Indore's Special Economic Zone posted a 8.26% rise in exports to Rs 10,573 crore for April-December 2025 (vs Rs 9,766 crore previously). The SEZ covers 572 hectares in Pithampur, hosts 59 plants including 22 pharmaceutical units, and derives about 70% of its exports from pharmaceuticals, with the US a principal market.

Ukraine war: President says parties are reasonably close to a settlement and will pursue direct talks to halt hostilities.
The President stated he believes Russia and Ukraine are "reasonably close" to a settlement, will meet Ukraine's leader to pursue a deal, and positioned third-party mediation-including personal brokering and the UN's role-as central to ending hostilities to prevent mass casualties and de-escalate international security risks.

Andhra rooftop solar rollout targeted for two lakh installations by May with strict monitoring and accountability measures.
The state directed accelerated rooftop solar deployment under the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana, targeting two lakh connections by May (1.5 lakh by March), mandating immediate meter installations, strict timelines and accountability for engineers, and fast-tracking feeder solarisation, EV charging infrastructure, civil and electrical works. Officials reported feeder solar projects over 1,160 MW under PM-KUSUM Component-C at about Rs 3.09 per unit and noted around 416 MWp rooftop capacity benefiting over two lakh SC/ST households.

US demand to acquire Greenland tied to tariff threats, urging negotiations while asserting no use of force.
President Trump urged acquisition of Greenland, calling for "immediate negotiations" for transfer of title while asserting he would not use force. He concurrently threatened graduated tariffs on Denmark and seven allies-10 percent initially, rising to 25 percent-unless they negotiated the transfer, using trade measures as leverage. EU leaders rejected tariff coercion and warned of a united, proportional response that could undermine an existing US-EU trade framework, raising concerns about economic fallout and investor confidence.

Trump's Davos speech pressed for US control of Greenland for strategic security while denying intent to use force.
President Trump's Davos speech pressed for US control of Greenland as a strategic asset, framed acquisition demands in security terms while denying intent to use force, and criticised allied defence spending and gratitude. The remarks emphasised leveraging defence spending expectations within NATO and public diplomatic pressure on Denmark and other partners, linking territorial aims to national security but did not set out legal mechanisms for transfer of sovereignty.

Tata Group expresses interest in Telangana projects: Musi Riverfront, AI data centres, semiconductors, EV manufacturing, and hospitality.
Telangana invites private-sector association to advance the Musi Riverfront redevelopment and related urban revitalisation, with the Tata Group expressing interest in supporting river rejuvenation. The engagement also contemplates private investment in AI data centres, semiconductor and electric-vehicle manufacturing, hospitality expansion in temple towns, and collaboration on public sports infrastructure under the state's long-term development vision, to be pursued through partnership frameworks and project-level negotiations.

Greenland: US will not use force but seeks negotiations to acquire it, claiming sole capacity to protect the island.
President Trump declared the United States will not use force to take Greenland but asserted that only the US can protect the strategically located island and called for immediate negotiations to acquire it from Denmark, framing the interest as strategic rather than mineral.

US markets rise after Trump renounces force for Greenland; tariff plans and earnings shape volatility and bond moves.
President Trump's renunciation of using force to take Greenland, coupled with his call for immediate negotiations and announced plans to impose 10 per cent tariffs on several European and Nordic countries (above a prospective 15 per cent EU-linked tariff), coincided with a partial recovery in US equities, stabilisation of Treasury yields and the dollar, and continued price gains in gold and natural gas amid residual risk sentiment and demand expectations.

Rupee plunges to record low amid foreign capital outflows and geopolitical risk, pressuring central bank intervention capacity.
The currency reached a record low of 91.65 against the US dollar due to persistent foreign capital outflows, geopolitical tensions, and negative domestic market trends; equity sell offs and delayed trade negotiations with the US worsened investor sentiment. Although central bank foreign exchange reserves and intermittent interventions have provided mitigation, they have struggled to stop aggressive depreciation, leaving the currency vulnerable to ongoing external shocks while potentially improving export competitiveness via real effective exchange rate adjustment.