Under the recently announced India–US trade agreement, Washington has cut tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, down from as high as 50% previously, by rescinding punitive levies and revising reciprocal duties. This lower rate now stands below tariffs faced by regional competitors such as Pakistan (19%), Bangladesh and Vietnam (20%), and China (34%), giving Indian exporters a competitive edge in the US market. The deal is expected to boost “Made in India” exports, support economic growth, and deepen bilateral ties, although exact implementation details are still awaited. (PC: X)

OpenAI is reportedly dissatisfied with certain Nvidia AI chips, particularly for inference workloads — the process where models like ChatGPT generate responses — and has been exploring alternative hardware options since 2025, sources say. Nvidia still dominates chips for training large AI models, but inference performance has become a growing priority for OpenAI’s products, including coding tools. The company has discussed potential chip partnerships with startups like Cerebras and Groq to improve speed and efficiency, though Nvidia’s related licensing deals have complicated such efforts. OpenAI and Nvidia continue to publicly affirm their partnership even as the hardware landscape evolves. (PC: Reuters)

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a new massive batch of Jeffrey Epstein files, revealing over 3 million documents tied to the late financier’s sex-trafficking network. The files include allegations that Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell supplied victims to other men, with internal memos referencing encounters involving powerful figures such as Harvey Weinstein and financier Leon Black, though neither has been charged in relation to Epstein. Survivors’ lawyers argue the records support long-standing claims of broader complicity and criticize authorities for redacting perpetrator names while exposing victims’ stories. These disclosures are part of ongoing efforts to comply with mandatory transparency laws. (PC: AP)

Air India has grounded a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Flight AI132 from London to Bengaluru) after the left engine’s fuel control switch failed to remain in the ‘RUN’ position twice, moving instead to ‘CUTOFF’ during engine start-up — a mechanism that controls fuel flow to the engines. Aviation experts say such switches are spring-loaded and require deliberate action to move. The airline reported the issue to India’s aviation regulator DGCA and is working with Boeing to inspect the aircraft as a precautionary safety measure. This comes amid heightened scrutiny after a similar switch issue was linked to a deadly Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad in June 2025. (PC: NDTV)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee walked out of a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, accusing him of insulting, disrespecting and humiliating her and the Trinamool Congress delegation during discussions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls ahead of state elections. Banerjee, joined by party leaders and affected families, protested wearing black shawls and said the CEC’s conduct was “arrogant” and biased. The Election Commission defended its position, stressing that rule of law must prevail and warning against interference in the SIR process. (PC: ANI)

Communal tensions flared in Dutkaiyya village in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district after three men, recently released on bail in a temple vandalism case, allegedly assaulted local youths, triggering widespread unrest. An enraged mob entered the village Sunday evening, torched at least six houses and vehicles, and targeted homes of minority community members. Police rushed in, forming a protective cordon to shield about 20 residents and children, while stone-pelting by the mob injured several officers. Authorities arrested the three accused and deployed additional forces to restore order. A tense atmosphere persists as investigations continue. (PC: The Hindu)

India and the United States have announced a landmark trade agreement that cuts U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, a move expected to ease long-standing trade tensions and bolster Indian exports. U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the deal, which lowers barriers hit by previous high tariffs. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the pact will unlock unprecedented opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, entrepreneurs and skilled workers, support Make in India and Design in India initiatives, and help India access advanced U.S. technology. The deal aims to strengthen bilateral economic ties and boost global competitiveness. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to cut tariffs on Made in India goods to 18%. The earlier rate was 25%. The announcement followed a phone call between the two leaders. Modi called the conversation “wonderful” and thanked Trump for the tariff relief. He said the step would support Indian manufacturing and exporters. In his statement, Modi said cooperation between the two countries would unlock “immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.” He also said the partnership between the two large economies benefits their people. Modi added that he looks forward to working closely with Trump to deepen India–US trade ties. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump said a new trade pact with India has been agreed after his phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He announced that tariffs on Indian goods will drop from 50% to 18% with immediate effect. The White House and US envoy Sergio Gor also confirmed the lower tariff rate. Trump said India agreed to stop buying Russian oil and to purchase over $500 billion worth of US goods. India has confirmed the tariff cut but has not detailed other claims. Modi said he was “delighted” and thanked Trump for reducing duties on “Made in India products” to 18%. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, confirmed by American Ambassador Sergio Gor, who posted "STAY TUNED…" alongside a 2020 photograph of both leaders. This marks their first publicly confirmed conversation in 2026, following their December 11 discussion on bilateral relations and global peace. Trump simultaneously shared India Gate's image on Truth Social, calling it a "beautiful triumphal arch" amid his Washington DC monument plans, and posted an India Today magazine cover featuring both leaders as "The Mover & The Shaker." The call coincides with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's US visit for critical minerals discussions with Secretary Marco Rubio.