US visa revocations surged in 2025 under continuous vetting, targeting alleged criminality and tightening H 1B/H 4 screening.
The State Department revoked over 100,000 visas in 2025-including about 8,000 student and 2,500 specialised-worker visas-under an expanded enforcement policy using a new Continuous Vetting program to review roughly 55 million foreign nationals for criminal activity and other threats to public safety or national security. The initiative also introduced enhanced pre-issuance screening for H-1B and H-4 applicants, including social media checks, and emphasised that visas are a privilege subject to withdrawal when vetting identifies inadmissibility.

India's exports to Iran face uncertainty whether humanitarian food and pharma shipments will trigger a proposed 25% tariff.
Proposed extra-territorial trade restriction would impose a 25 per cent tariff on countries doing business with Iran, creating uncertainty whether consignments characterized as humanitarian trade-notably food and pharmaceuticals exported from India-would be covered; the announcement currently lacks a formal Executive Order or implementing notification defining its scope, exemptions, or operational treatment.

Air France flight diverted to Turkmenistan after engine issue; passengers delayed and a replacement flight arranged.
Flight AF191A from Bengaluru to Paris diverted to Ashgabat due to a technical incident with one engine; the crew followed company and manufacturer procedures. Disembarkation was delayed by Turkmenistan entry requirements, passengers were assisted by airport staff and provided hotel accommodation, and Air France dispatched a special flight (AF386V) to continue to Paris.

Iran protests: activists report at least 2,000 dead amid communications blackout, mass detentions, and heavy security operations.
Reported nationwide unrest in Iran left at least 2,000 dead, with activists attributing most fatalities to protesters and reporting over 10,700 detentions. Heavy security deployments, burnings of state property and searches for satellite terminals were described. An effective Internet Shutdown and restrictions on external communications impeded independent verification. Uniformed and plainclothes forces, including volunteer paramilitary units, were reported to employ firearms and crowd-control weapons, while government statements warned against foreign intervention and private diplomatic communications with the United States continued.

Income tax collections rose about 8.8% to Rs. 18.38 lakh crore, driven by higher corporate receipts and slower refunds.
Net Direct Tax Collection rose about 8.82% to over Rs 18.38 lakh crore year to date through January 11, driven by slower refunds and stronger corporate tax mop up; net corporate tax receipts grew 12.4% to over Rs 8.63 lakh crore and taxes from non corporates rose 6.39% to about Rs 9.30 lakh crore.

US tariffs on countries trading with Iran may disrupt global trade; China warns retaliation and visa revocations reported.
The United States announced a 25% tariff on imports from any country trading with Iran, a trade restrictive measure prompting warnings of countermeasures from China and concern for major partners such as India and the UAE; related reports noted large scale US visa revocations and intensified UK enforcement against illegal working, framing the tariff within broader immigration, security, and supply chain resilience concerns.

Reduction in import duty on New Zealand apples risks local growers; Himachal CM will press central government for protective measures.
The Chief Minister will press the Union finance and commerce ministries to protect local growers from tariff reductions in recent trade negotiations that reduce apple duties from 50% to 25%, set pears at 16.5% and kiwis at zero, arguing these tariff reductions under the Free Trade Agreement will allow cheaper imports to flood the market and threaten livelihoods, and growers may pursue coordinated marches and political measures if exclusions or remedies are not secured.

Industry-state MoU to promote investment, facilitate investors, and structure industry-government engagement for ease of doing business.
A Memorandum of Understanding creates a two-year framework for industry-state cooperation to promote the jurisdiction as an investment destination, facilitate investor interactions, organise reciprocal business and ministerial delegations, and provide structured industry-government engagement on regulatory processes, infrastructure and ease of doing business initiatives.

World Economic Forum annual meeting draws global leaders including US President Trump and a large India delegation.
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos will gather an extensive cohort of global political and business leaders, led by US President Donald Trump and a strong Indian delegation. At least 64 heads of state or government and major G 7 representation are expected. The agenda prioritises geopolitical and economic issues-specifically Ukraine, Gaza and Latin America-with participation from numerous foreign, finance and trade ministers, a large bipartisan US delegation, and notable technology sector leadership.

Natural farming data to be linked with Him Parivar Portal by Jan 20 to create a block-level database.
The Chief Minister directed the Agriculture Department to link detailed data of farmers practising natural farming with the Him Parivar Portal by January 20, 2026, to create a block-level database. The government reviewed procurement and DBT disbursements for naturally grown maize, wheat and raw turmeric, instructed clear display of expiry dates and nutritional information on branded flour and turmeric packaging, and ordered formation of a special unit to assess nutritional content; a support price of Rs 90 per kg for naturally grown raw turmeric was noted.

Fight against Naxalism advances with a mission-mode three-year Bastar development plan prioritising infrastructure and public services.
The government states the campaign against Naxalism is in a decisive phase and mandates a mission-mode, three-year action plan for Bastar focused on preventing ideological resurgence by coordinating all departments, conducting regular reviews, and strengthening public trust through dialogue and accelerated development. Key operational priorities include expansion of education, healthcare, employment, roads, drinking water (including fluoride-affected area solutions), electrification, communications, full Aadhaar coverage for children, and tourism-linked livelihoods under Swadesh Darshan.

Democratic structure and people's voice are under attack, institutions threatened, alleges political leader, calling for youth to defend pluralism.
Alleges the nation's democratic structure and the people's voice are under attack by those running the central government, with institutions including the Election Commission threatened; urges youth to be brave and question attempts to silence dissent, insists on respect for linguistic, cultural and religious pluralism and condemns targeting individuals for language or religion.

US 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran risks China's cheap oil imports and prompts retaliation threats.
The 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran is a unilateral trade measure with extraterritorial effect that China says threatens its lower cost oil imports and outbound investments, prompting warnings of countermeasures and a strategic reassessment of energy procurement, investment protection and trade relations.

Vande Bharat Sleeper will impose a 400 km minimum fare and issue only confirmed tickets, with digital payment refunds.
The circular fixes flat fares for journeys up to 400 km (AC 1: Rs 1,520; AC 2: Rs 1,240; AC 3: Rs 960) and per kilometre charges beyond 400 km (AC 1: Rs 3.20; AC 2: Rs 3.10; AC 3: Rs 2.40), with GST levied separately and a minimum chargeable distance of 400 km. Only confirmed tickets will be issued; RAC, waitlist and partial confirmations are disallowed. Reservation quotas are limited to Ladies, PwD, Senior Citizens and Duty Pass. Lower-berth allocation is prioritized for children without separate berths and older passengers as specified. Digital payments are required to enable refund initiation within 24 hours, with window purchases to prefer digital payment.

Profiling of mosques and madrassas seeks detailed financial, identity and digital data, raising religious freedom and privacy concerns.
Authorities have initiated a profiling exercise of mosques, madrassas and associated personnel to build a database focused on financial disclosures, sectarian affiliation, governance details and any past alleged terrorist involvement. The proforma requires extensive personal and digital identifiers-Aadhaar, bank and property details, passport and travel history, SIM and IMEI data, and social media handles-framed by officials as a risk-assessment after suspected radicalisation links; political and religious bodies contend the exercise infringes freedom of religion and the right to privacy.

Raw jute seizures under control order aim to secure equitable supply, but industry warns of tighter availability and delays.
Approximately 10,000 quintals of raw jute were seized under the Jute and Jute Textiles Control Order, 2016 for exceeding statutory stock limits; complaints were lodged with enforcement authorities and seizure reports forwarded to district magistrates empowered to confiscate, with the regulatory aim of ensuring equitable supply to mills and protecting workers' livelihoods.

US 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran may not affect Russia but could trigger wider trade tensions.
The United States has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on any country doing business with Iran, effective immediately, as an economic coercive measure to pressure Iran by penalising its trade partners. A Russian economist says Russia will be largely unaffected due to negligible US-Russia trade, while major partners such as China, India and the UAE may face increased costs, reduced direct supplies, and rerouting of trade through third countries, potentially fuelling renewed trade tensions.

Quick commerce platforms removed the 10 minute delivery promise after labour ministry intervention to protect gig worker safety and conditions.
The Union Labour Ministry persuaded a major quick commerce operator to remove the "10 minute delivery" promise from its branding to prioritise safety and working conditions for delivery workers, addressing concerns that time bound consumer guarantees and algorithmic targets create harmful pressure. Worker industrial action and union complaints alleging risks to health, safety and income prompted regulatory engagement and calls for stakeholder adoption of worker centred systems; other platforms are likely to follow, while industry representatives contend the consumer promise does not translate into app timers for riders.

Adoption of chain-based IIP methodology proposed, inviting stakeholder comments on annual weight updating and methodology.
The Ministry proposes adopting a chain-based method for compiling the Index of Industrial Production to allow annual updating of sector and industry weights, improving accuracy as production structures change; MoSPI invites comments from stakeholders on Discussion Paper 2.0 setting out the proposed chain-linking methodology and data source revisions.

PFRDA outreach to MSMEs promotes NPS enrollment for retirement security and financial inclusion of employees.
PFRDA promoted the National Pension System to MSMEs at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference, emphasizing NPS attributes-cost-effectiveness, flexible contributions, tax efficiency, portability, no minimum employee threshold-and recent reforms such as higher equity exposure, greater withdrawal flexibility, raised maximum account age, and NPS Vatsalya. Through PwC and PoP representatives and an exhibition stall, PFRDA explained the NPS Corporate Sector Model that allows employers to provide structured old age social security with combined employer and employee contributions and supported on site awareness and enrolment efforts.