US Ambassador Sergio Gor, nicknamed "Mayor of Mar-a-Lago" for his proximity to President Trump, has emerged as the key figure behind the India-US trade deal within just one month of taking charge. The former DJ-turned-diplomat arrived in New Delhi on January 12 with a mission to restore warmth in bilateral ties. Gor maintained optimistic messaging, emphasized Trump-Modi friendship, and fast-tracked trade negotiations at the Chanakyapuri embassy complex. Analysts credit him for acting as a crucial bridge between Trump and India, helping reduce tariffs from 50% to 18%. His reputation as Trump's reliable foot soldier and trusted confidant proved instrumental in arresting the slide in relations. (PC: India Today)

India's agriculture and dairy sectors have been protected in the recent India-US trade deal, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced Tuesday. The agreement reduces tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, contingent on India stopping Russian oil purchases. Goyal called it "the best trade deal" compared to neighboring countries, opening opportunities for labor-intensive sectors including textiles, plastics, apparel, leather, gems, and jewellery. The minister emphasized the deal protects sensitive sectors while providing access to world-class technologies for India's growth. Final details are being worked out between negotiating teams, with a joint statement expected shortly. Goyal criticized opposition leaders for their negative response to the landmark agreement. (PC: Times Now)

Pakistan Cricket Board's attempt to gain international support for boycotting their February 15 T20 World Cup match against India has completely failed, with no cricket board backing their stance, NDTV reports. Despite Pakistan government's public announcement, PCB hasn't formally contacted ICC about the boycott, leaving them increasingly isolated. Other boards bluntly stated Pakistan has no legal standing, calling it a "manufactured crisis." Contradictions undermine Pakistan's position: their youth team recently played India without protest, and women's team will face India on the same boycott date. With the match scheduled in neutral Colombo, not India, security concerns don't apply. Pakistan now faces potential $38 million penalties and suspension. (PC: AFP)

India's Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the vandalism and theft of Mahatma Gandhi's statue from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne. The 426-kg bronze statue, gifted by India's ICCR and inaugurated by former PM Scott Morrison in 2021, was stolen by three unidentified individuals on January 12 at approximately 12:50 am. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed India has raised the matter strongly with Australian authorities, demanding immediate action to recover the statue and prosecute the culprits. Victoria Police's Knox Crime Investigation Unit is investigating the theft, captured partially on CCTV showing a white van and balaclava-clad perpetrators. Authorities have alerted scrap metal dealers to report suspicious activity.

India's Supreme Court issued a stern warning to Meta over WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy on Tuesday. Chief Justice Surya Kant told the tech giant to "leave India" if it cannot follow the Constitution, emphasizing that no citizen's privacy will be compromised. The court ordered WhatsApp to halt all user data sharing with Meta until the case concludes. The bench criticized the policy's complex language, noting ordinary users like street vendors cannot understand such terms. Concerns were raised about commercial exploitation of user data, including targeted advertising based on private chats. This hearing addresses appeals against a ₹213.14-crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India for abusing market dominance. (PC: X)

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India secured the “best possible” trade deal with the United States under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, outperforming agreements by neighbouring and competing economies. He described the deal as a major diplomatic success achieved through months of negotiations, strengthening India’s global economic position and benefiting sectors like agriculture, dairy, MSMEs, IT, textiles and leather. Goyal also sharply criticised the Opposition, especially Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, for creating disruptions in the Lok Sabha amid the debate on the deal. (PC: India Today)

According to IMF projections for 2026, India is now ahead of the United States among the top contributors to global real GDP growth—with 17%, compared to the US at 9.9%, while China leads at 26.6%. Together, India and China are expected to account for nearly 44% of world economic expansion. This shift highlights the rising economic influence of Asian economies. Tech billionaire Elon Musk reacted, saying “the balance of power is changing”, underscoring the evolving global economic landscape. (PC: Instagram)

The United Nations, alongside the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics organizers, has urged a 52-day pause in all global armed conflicts surrounding the Games, running from one week before the Feb. 6 opening until one week after the March 15 Paralympics conclude. Rooted in the ancient Olympic Truce tradition, the appeal seeks to symbolise peace, international cooperation, and respect for international law at a time of multiple ongoing wars, including in Ukraine and the Middle East. Although morally significant, past Olympic truces have often been broken, and no major belligerents have yet committed to halting hostilities. (PC: X)

India has secured a significant trade advantage over regional competitors like China, Bangladesh and Vietnam after the United States reduced tariffs on Indian goods to 18 % from much higher rates under a new India-US trade deal. This tariff reduction places India ahead of nations such as Bangladesh and Vietnam (around 20 %) and China (around 34 %) in terms of export competitiveness in the US market, potentially boosting Indian exports significantly. The move also strengthens India-US economic ties and enhances India’s position in South and Southeast Asia’s export landscape. (PC: PTI)

The Indian rupee strengthened significantly, rising to ₹90.4 per US dollar after India and the United States announced a major trade agreement that cut U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to around 18 %. This boosted investor confidence and triggered a sharp rally in Indian equities, with Sensex and Nifty surging amid renewed foreign capital inflows. The deal also improved export prospects and attracted foreign institutional investors back to Indian markets, reversing recent capital outflows. Analysts believe the strengthened currency and positive market momentum reflect improved economic cooperation and optimism about India’s growth outlook. (PC: X)