NSS-SNDP unity talks focus on resolved reservation differences and preserving Sabarimala traditions via legal avenues.
NSS is considering unity with the SNDP after reservation-related differences were said to have been resolved; a decision awaits an internal meeting. The NSS stresses political equidistance and organisational autonomy, denies partisan motives, and affirms procedural permission requirements for access to the founder's samadhi. The society also defends efforts to preserve traditional temple practices, citing protests and a pending Supreme Court challenge described as Temple Entry Litigation to uphold traditions at Sabarimala.

Defence policy targets 50% private-sector production and increased ammunition exports while strengthening R&D and industrial base.
Policy emphasises strengthening the defence industrial base by expanding private-sector participation through simplified policies, prioritising R&D and technology-driven production, and setting an operational goal of at least 50 percent private-sector share in defence manufacturing to scale domestic production and exports and achieve self-reliance.

US tariffs on eight countries over Greenland raise legal questions on emergency powers and risk harming transatlantic ties.
The United States announced a 10% tariff on eight European countries to pressure negotiations over Greenland; implementation raises legal and practical questions because the EU operates as a single economic zone and the administration may rely on emergency economic powers that face a Supreme Court challenge. The announcement prompted EU consultations, unified political criticism, and concerns that tariffs could harm transatlantic relations and complicate NATO-related Arctic security cooperation.

West Bengal: TMC alleges Centre blocked funds and misused agencies, vows to resist electoral roll deletions and harassment.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged the Centre withheld funds for West Bengal and misused central agencies to harass the party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, asserting political intimidation through financial pressure and enforcement action. He further alleged the SIR found 54 lakh unmapped voters and warned of plans to delete over one crore names from electoral rolls, pledging TMC opposition to any mass deletions and criticising documentation demands on long resident citizens and selective enforcement against cultural figures and events.

Ponnani shipyard to be developed under PPP model; phased investments, training institute and alternative fish-drying facilities planned.
A shipbuilding yard will be developed at Ponnani port under a public-private partnership; the tender is complete and the agreement with the private partner is expected shortly. The project will occupy about 29 acres of coastal land under the Kerala Maritime Board, begin with small-vessel construction and a wharf, and expand in a second phase to large-vessel building with phased investments of approximately Rs 200 crore initially and Rs 1,000 crore thereafter.

CPI leader Raja accuses Prime Minister Modi of succumbing to US pressure over tariffs and oil purchases.
CPI General Secretary D Raja accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of yielding to US pressure on higher tariffs and on buying oil from Russia, arguing this surrender undermines India's sovereign economic choices and international standing and that continued acquiescence would forfeit Modi's right to remain Prime Minister.

India promotes investment and partnerships at WEF with pavilions, state delegations and an AI-focused industry push.
India's WEF outreach uses a national pavilion, industry pavilions and state exhibits to promote investment and commercial partnerships under the theme "Partner with Bharat," with Indian industry-especially IT firms-emphasising artificial intelligence as a core offering and government and state delegations pursuing bilateral investor engagements.

Maharashtra civic polls show BJP's tactic: ally with smaller parties, then marginalise them, warns Kapil Sibal.
BJP's electoral pattern is to ally with smaller parties where it is weak, win power, then marginalise those allies; recent Maharashtra municipal results-showing BJP seat gains and declines for Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP and MNS-are presented as evidence. The piece warns smaller parties that alignment with the BJP risks sidelining, cites defections and factional disputes as illustrations, and provides final seat tallies across numerous municipal corporations to support this strategic assessment.

Government delegation to Davos will seek global investment, technology partnerships and promote industrial development and GIFT City.
The Gujarat government delegation will present the Developed Gujarat @2047 roadmap at the World Economic Forum, pursue one to one meetings with global corporate leaders to attract investment and technology across priority sectors, and advance GIFT City's international banking, fund management, fintech, leasing and sustainable finance initiatives to facilitate capital flows and multinational engagement.

Prime Minister accuses regional party of aiding infiltrators; reports cover crypto hawala terror funding, security incidents, and RTI ruling.
Prime Minister accused a regional party of facilitating infiltration for electoral advantage and announced development projects; reporting also highlights a "crypto hawala" terror funding network, an inflight bomb threat prompting emergency landing, law enforcement actions in violence hit districts, and a Central Information Commission ruling that advocates cannot use the RTI Act to obtain information about clients' cases.

UK tariff dispute and EU Mercosur free trade agreement highlight rising trade tensions and efforts to deepen commercial ties.
Additional US tariff threats over a Greenland dispute drew a direct rebuke from the British Prime Minister as completely wrong, reflecting unilateral tariff pressure within current trade policy debates; separately, the European Union and Mercosur signed a long sought free trade agreement designed to deepen commercial ties and address rising protectionism.

Advantage Vidarbha 2026 expo promotes trade and investment with international delegations, hundreds of stalls, and a patent gallery.
Advantage Vidarbha 2026 is a three-day industrial exposition aimed at positioning eastern Maharashtra as a growth hub, hosting ambassadors and trade representatives from about 20 countries, over 350 stalls including 100 MSME and 40 district stalls, participation from defence PSUs and major financial institutions, sectoral exhibits across multiple industries, a dedicated patent gallery, more than 25 sessions with 225 expert speakers and around 5,500 delegates, and over 20 bilateral trade meetings to promote trade and investment under the theme "Empowering Growth."

Maharashtra civic poll results boost Congress bargaining power and force MVA partners to reassess alliances and organisational strategy.
Municipal election outcomes across 29 corporations in Maharashtra have elevated the Congress's bargaining position while weakening NCP (SP) and shrinking Shiv Sena (UBT) influence outside Mumbai, prompting likely demands by Congress for a larger alliance share and forcing MVA partners to reassess seat sharing, organisational renewal and strategy to avoid vote splitting that benefits the ruling alliance.

Kelachandra Coffee scales Liberica plantings to meet speciality demand and climate resilience, securing forward contracts and eyeing exports.
Kelachandra Coffee is scaling Liberica cultivation across its estates with phased annual plantings, projecting first-phase yields after multi-year maturation, and has forward contracts covering about 35% of expected output. The company will assess agronomic adaptability, processing suitability, and cup quality across microclimates before pursuing export opportunities; Liberica and the Excelsa sub variety are noted for disease tolerance, higher caffeine, distinct flavour profiles, taller growth habit, and specialised harvesting requirements.

Assam land and infiltration: PM says Congress enabled illegal encroachment; BJP pursues evictions and protective infrastructure.
The Prime Minister accused a prior national government of enabling illegal land encroachment by immigrants in Assam, framing encroachment as a threat to forests, tribal lands, culture and national security and endorsing an eviction and protection policy. He announced the Rs 6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor and new rail services to protect wildlife movement while improving connectivity, cited strengthened anti-poaching measures and forest resources, and linked increased railway investment to regional development, tourism and livelihoods in the northeast.

Crypto hawala networks siphon untraceable foreign funds into Jammu and Kashmir, bypassing regulated exchanges and AML checks.
A covert crypto hawala network directs foreign handlers to fund private crypto wallets-often created via VPNs-then converts those holdings into untraceable cash through unregulated peer to peer traders and layered mule accounts, severing the financial trail and enabling foreign sourced funds to enter the local economy while evading anti money laundering obligations.

Greenland tariffs: European leaders condemn threatened US duties as coercive and harmful to sovereignty and transatlantic relations.
European leaders rejected threatened US tariffs tied to a prospective American takeover of Greenland as coercive and inconsistent with the view that Greenland's status is a matter for Greenlanders and Denmark under international law. The British Prime Minister condemned proposed 10-25% import duties on allied states as improper leverage against NATO security cooperation, warned of damage to transatlantic relations, and signalled direct diplomatic engagement and coordinated European consultations in response.

Neville Tata appointment meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum; trustees reconsider amid trust governance changes.
A Sir Ratan Tata Trust board meeting to appoint Neville Tata was cancelled due to lack of quorum, delaying induction and prompting further trustee discussion; this occurs against an amendment limiting lifetime trustees and mandating fixed terms where trust deeds are silent, which has already prompted review of a recent lifetime appointment.

Vijay's branding, issue-focused films and fan mobilisation formed a pathway from stardom to organised political mobilisation.
The piece identifies how Vijay's deliberate branding, politically charged film themes, public interventions, and mobilisation of fan networks (Vijay Makkal Iyakkam) coalesced into an organised political vehicle (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam), showing that cinematic prominence, targeted issue engagement, and grassroots organisation together create a pathway toward formal political mobilisation.

BCCL IPO's strong subscription spurs Coal India to advance subsidiary listings, emphasizing valuation and market timing.
BCCL's IPO was rapidly and overwhelmingly subscribed, prompting Coal India to pursue subsidiary listings subject to market valuation and timing. CMPDI has filed a draft red herring prospectus for an offer for sale of up to 7.14 crore shares (a 10% stake divestment), and CIL has granted in-principle approval for listings of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd and South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, with listings targeted in the 2026-27 financial year; ministerial directive, board approval, offer-for-sale structure, and market conditions are central to the divestment process.