India US trade talks: ambassador hosts US lawmakers as negotiations address 50% tariffs and bipartisan support.
The Indian ambassador hosted bipartisan US lawmakers to reinforce legislative support for expanded India-US cooperation and to discuss ongoing bilateral trade negotiations-now in six rounds-which include a framework to address a roughly 50 percent tariff dispute on Indian goods entering the US, alongside dialogue on technology, defence, counterterrorism and the economic implications of India's projected growth.

Cyclone damage assessment by IMF may lead to resumption of Extended Fund Facility and $200 million recovery aid.
An IMF mission will assess post-Cyclone Ditwah damage to infrastructure, agriculture, livelihoods and economic stability to inform resumption of the Extended Fund Facility-supported programme, decisions on withheld tranches, and the tailoring of policy advice and technical assistance; an immediate USD 200 million recovery allocation has been made and further disbursements depend on the mission's findings.

RenewCred builds India's first digital carbon credit standard and registry, using continuous digital MRV to improve verification and trust.
RenewCred closed seed funding to build a technology-native carbon credit standard and registry using its Net Zero platform for continuous digital MRV, integrating live data, scientific models, and automated checks to accelerate verification, lower transaction costs, and improve auditability for non-nature-based methodologies.

Design-food collaboration at Palate by Design pairs Farah Agarwal's Rooted Modern aesthetics with Banng's bold Thai cuisine.
A collaborative design-culinary activation pairs Farah Agarwal's Rooted Modern design vocabulary with Banng's bold Thai culinary approach in a curated pop-up at Palate by Design, presented as part of a two-day Food x Design festival. The event assembles customised and luxury furnishings, lighting, artworks, textiles, and automation solutions from multiple design houses, staged within Signature Estates, a private 101-acre residential development by Ramky Signature One Pvt Ltd with masterplanning and design by Habitat Architects.

Palate by Design festival in Hyderabad pairs seven designers with seven restaurants for an exclusive two-day dining-design pop-up.
Palate by Design is a curated two-day Food x Design festival at Signature Estates, Hyderabad, pairing seven leading designers with seven restaurants to create seven themed, site-specific dining environments. The intimate pop-up hosts 25 guests per meal and showcases contemporary furniture, artworks, lighting, handcrafted textiles, and integrated culinary storytelling, foregrounding traditional materials and handmade processes reinterpreted in a modern design vocabulary.

Palate by Design: a two-day, ticketed Food x Design festival in a private luxury estate with curated designer-restaurant collaborations.
Palate by Design is a two-day, ticketed Food x Design festival at Signature Estates showcasing curated designer-restaurant collaborations with seating limited to 25 guests per meal; the press release is distributed under a commercial arrangement with a disclaimer that the news agency takes no editorial responsibility, identifying the communication as sponsored promotional material for a private, luxury event.

ACCA certification: Indian students access global finance roles faster through practical skills, IFRS competence and flexible study options.
ACCA enables Indian students to access global finance roles faster than many traditional degrees by aligning credentials with employer expectations, international accounting standards and practical workplace skills. Its combination of technical training, professional skill development and global recognition facilitates recruitment into roles such as financial analyst, auditor and finance manager across banking, insurance and consulting. Flexible modular study and exam scheduling permits concurrent work and study, shortening the gap between education and employment and increasing early earning potential.

ICSI organizes training on corporate governance for international delegates covering compliance, sustainability and risk management.
ICSI is conducting a two-week residential programme for international delegates focused on corporate governance, compliance, risk management and sustainability, covering the Indian legal system, engagement with key regulators, ICSI Secretarial Standards for meetings, ethical stewardship, Indian Labour Codes, and sessions on ESG governance and sustainability disclosure, supplemented by a regulatory study tour.

Norwegian Cruise Line launches "It's Different Out Here" brand platform spotlighting freedom, flexibility and personalised cruise experiences.
Norwegian Cruise Line reintroduces the tagline "It's Different Out Here" as a brand platform anchored in freedom and flexibility, developed with Arnold Worldwide, and delivered via a multimedia campaign emphasising guest point of view and personalised, less prescriptive experiences; the launch aligns with fleet and private island enhancements including the upcoming Norwegian Luna and upgrades to Great Stirrup Cay.

Farmaan Hasan Khan named to Forbes 30 Under 30 India 2026 for leading healthcare and education initiatives for underserved communities.
Farmaan Hasan Khan was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 India 2026 (Social Impact) for leading Jamaat Raza-e-Mustafa and the Aala Hazrat Tajushsharia Welfare Society in delivering medical camps offering major surgeries and cancer treatment to low-income patients, and in running education and skills training programs-including computer literacy and competitive-exam guidance-for youth, women and first-generation learners; his work has received national recognition including the Bharat Gaurav Ratna Award and government appreciation for the TB-Free India campaign.

Maharashtra municipal vote counting underway, Mumbai in focus as major alliances and reunited parties contest control.
Counting began for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including 227 BMC seats in Mumbai, covering 2,869 seats and about 15,931 candidates; statewide turnout was around 50 percent and Mumbai recorded 52.94 percent. These BMC polls, held after a four-year delay and the 2022 party split, involve major political realignments including reunited regional leaders and new local alliances, and concern administration of India's wealthiest civic body with an annual budget over Rs 74,400 crore.

Stock markets rally as Infosys raises FY26 revenue guidance, boosting Sensex and Nifty amid mixed sector movements.
Equity benchmarks opened higher driven principally by a sharp rise in a major IT company after it raised its FY26 revenue growth guidance, materially influencing early gains in the 30-share and 50-share indices; market breadth included selected large-cap gainers and laggards, while reported net foreign selling was offset by domestic institutional buying.

E commerce platforms penalised for listing walkie talkies without required approvals and proper frequency disclosures, with new compliance rules.
The CCPA found platforms listing Personal Mobile Radios operating outside the license exempt 446.0-446.2 MHz band without Equipment Type Approval or proper licensing disclosures, rejected intermediary immunity where platforms failed to exercise due diligence, imposed penalties for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices, and issued guidelines requiring pre listing ETA verification, frequency compliance checks, automated monitoring and mandatory self audits.

Postal shipments eligible for Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL incentives from 15 January 2026 to boost MSME e exports.
CBIC extended benefits under the Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL schemes to goods exported via the postal route in electronic form effective 15 January 2026, amending the Postal Export (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2022 and issuing Notification No. 07/2026 Customs (N.T.) and Circular No. 01/2026 Customs to prescribe operational modalities and claim procedures for postal exports.

Rupee falls to 90.44 as foreign outflows and a firm dollar pressure the currency despite oil and equity support.
The rupee weakened to 90.44 against the US dollar as persistent foreign institutional outflows and a firm dollar-anchored by reduced hopes for an immediate US rate cut following inflation data-pressed the currency, while lower crude prices and positive equity market sentiment limited the decline; a modest widening of India's trade deficit and large FII equity sell-offs further weighed on sentiment.

Quota for women lawyers and CCTV gaps prompt legal petitions and RTI appeals nationwide over public safety concerns
A petition seeks a women lawyers quota in state bar council executive committees while separate litigation concerns a money laundering prosecution. Suo motu matters raise deficiencies in police station CCTV coverage and night shelter conditions. Concurrently, RTI appeals seek disclosure of a bachelor's degree and enforcement actions involve raids and requests for a central investigative probe into police-conducted raids, highlighting issues of institutional representation, surveillance standards, and transparency.

Mumbai civic polls recorded 52.94% turnout, down from 55.53%, with ward 114 at 64.53% and ward 227 at 20.88%.
A municipal election in Mumbai recorded a voter turnout of 52.94%, down from 55.53% previously, with ward 114 at 64.53% and ward 227 at 20.88%. Over 1.03 crore eligible voters were eligible; polling ran from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and the civic body declared the final turnout before counting began at 25 designated centres.

Quota for women lawyers, a money laundering plea, and lack of police CCTV listed for hearing.
Three matters listed for hearing concern: a petition on a quota for women lawyers in state bar council executive committees; a lawyer's plea in a money laundering case; and a suo motu matter regarding lack of CCTV cameras in police stations and related surveillance compliance.

Venezuela's acting president urges foreign investment in state oil, vows oil revenue for public services while asserting sovereignty.
Acting President Delcy Rodri guez announced opening the state-run oil industry to greater foreign investment, urged diplomats to promote a new policy to investors, and framed oil revenue as funding for health services and infrastructure, while asserting national interests and relying on a constitutional provision allowing the vice president to serve as acting president for renewable 90-day periods.

US-Taiwan trade deal cuts tariffs to 15% for USD 250 billion investment and semiconductor reshoring.
The agreement lowers the tariff on Taiwanese goods to 15% in return for approximately USD 250 billion of Taiwanese investment into US semiconductor, AI application and energy industries, establishes an economic partnership to develop US based industrial parks to build domestic production, and provides exemptions for specified imports plus preferential tariff treatment for Taiwanese semiconductor producers that make qualifying US investments.