Non-resident Indians can now invest directly in Indian shares through the Portfolio Investment Scheme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Union Budget 2026 speech. The scheme lets overseas investors buy and sell stocks using a special RBI-approved bank account. It also defines limits and compliance rules for each transaction. The individual investment cap for persons resident outside India has been raised from 5% to 10%, while the overall company limit goes up from 10% to 24%. Investments made under this route can be repatriated. The government will also review FEMA rules for non-debt instruments to simplify overseas investment flows. (PC: NDTV)

Records released by the US Justice Department from Jeffrey Epstein’s seized devices show message exchanges with businessman Anil Ambani between 2017 and 2019, according to a report by The Wire. The messages refer to requests for help on US political access and discussions linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priorities. A May 2019 New York meeting is described in Epstein’s texts as involving a Modi “representative”. The report says Ambani attended a meeting at Epstein’s residence that day. It adds that the claim about a Modi representative is not independently confirmed. India’s external affairs ministry has earlier dismissed similar Epstein-linked references as unreliable. (PC: X)

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art will return three ancient bronze sculptures to India after research confirmed they were taken illegally from temples in Tamil Nadu in the 1950s. The idols include Shiva Nataraja, Somaskanda, and Saint Sundarar with Paravai from the Chola and Vijayanagar periods. Museum researchers traced old temple photographs from 1956 to 1959 with support from the French Institute of Pondicherry. The Archaeological Survey of India verified that the removals violated Indian law. One sculpture will later be displayed on long-term loan to explain its history and return. The museum said the decision follows a detailed provenance review. (PC: The Indian Express)

Newly released Epstein files mention filmmaker Mira Nair, the mother of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. An email from 2009 shows Nair attended an afterparty for her film Amelia at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell. The email was sent by publicist Peggy Siegal to Jeffrey Epstein. It said guests had a “tepid” response to the film. The party was also attended by Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos. The United States Department of Justice has released millions of Epstein-related records. (PC: AFP)

Newly released US Justice Department files have triggered fresh claims involving Bill Gates, based on alleged emails written by late financier Jeffrey Epstein. British tabloids reported that Epstein accused Gates of hiding a sexually transmitted disease and seeking antibiotics for his former wife Melinda Gates. The reports say the emails were drafts and remain unverified. Gates strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and absurd. He said the documents only show Epstein’s anger after their ties ended. The United States Department of Justice has begun releasing millions of Epstein-related records. (PC: AP)

India and the United States are close to finishing their trade talks, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday. He said there are no “sticky issues” left and talks can now move towards closure. Goyal said India’s trade approach has changed over the years. The country is no longer hesitant and now negotiates with confidence. He stressed that a developed India must work closely with developed nations. “No country can live in isolation,” he said. The minister added that exports are growing and new markets and sectors are opening up. Talks with the United States are ongoing and positive. (PC: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a significant call Friday with Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, agreeing to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, pharmaceuticals, and digital technology. Rodríguez was sworn in January 5 following Nicolás Maduro's removal via US military operation, creating a power vacuum. The former Vice President since 2018 has pivoted toward "reform and opening up," overhauling energy laws to permit oil sector privatization and foreign investment. For India, Venezuela's stabilization holds strategic energy importance as the nation possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves. Modi described the conversation as taking ties to "new heights" as Venezuela emerges from economic contraction, hyperinflation, and humanitarian crisis after a turbulent decade.

Indian-origin billionaire Vinod Khosla intensified his public feud with Elon Musk, criticizing the Tesla CEO for "seemingly racist" statements and invoking family to defend himself. Khosla urged Musk to acknowledge he's not establishing a white society or supporting "WAGA" (White America Great Again). The clash stems from Musk's 2025 post about white people being a "rapidly diminishing minority globally." Musk defended himself by referencing his half-Indian partner Shivon Zilis and their son named after Nobel laureate Chandrasekhar, calling Khosla a "pompous a**hole." Khosla responded Thursday admitting no proof against Musk's insults while praising his entrepreneurial skills. He also defended his California beach access dispute as protecting private property principles against "communism." 

An Indian woman named Akanksha sparked online discussion after sarcastically describing moving to Australia as a "trap" in a viral Instagram video. She humorously details unexpected lifestyle changes: waking at 6am for gym sessions, 10-kilometer hikes for enjoyment, and genuine work-life balance. Akanksha notes what seemed luxurious in India like clean air, safe streets, actual weekends, supportive work culture, financial stability has become ordinary daily life in Australia. She describes walking freely at night, no weekend work guilt, no sick-day explanations, and constant stress-free living. Calling it "addictive," she jokingly rates the experience "10 out of 10 trap" and says she doesn't know how to return from this lifestyle. Viewers largely agreed, calling it "the best kind of trap."

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced the EU-India FTA will be implemented this year, benefiting labor-intensive sectors. In a Hindu interview, Goyal emphasized India only negotiates FTAs with developed economies complementing its growth, contrasting this with the UPA-era RCEP negotiations with ASEAN countries. He ruled out reconsidering RCEP, stating PM Modi's government exclusively pursues agreements with developed nations. While the EU framed the FTA as a political message to the U.S., Goyal clarified India's sole message is its growth story. He credited the deal's swift completion to Modi's "confidence and guidance," highlighting the strategic shift from previous administrations toward partnerships with complementary developed economies rather than emerging market blocs. (PC: X)