Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and the European Union can bring “stability to a global order in turmoil” as both sides move closer to a major free trade agreement. Speaking on January 27, Modi called the talks a “historic day” for the partnership. At a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, he said the pact is “not just a trade agreement.” Modi described it as a “blueprint for shared prosperity.” The proposed deal will include all 27 EU member states. Formal signing will take place after legal scrubbing is completed. (PC: India Today)

India and the European Union are set to announce a major free trade agreement at a summit in New Delhi on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Officials said the pact will cover trade, defence, security, climate action and worker mobility. The agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral ties and support manufacturing and services. A defence and security partnership and a framework on labour mobility are also likely outcomes. Negotiations for the trade deal began in 2007 and were revived in 2022. The EU is India’s largest trading partner in goods, with trade worth about $136 billion in 2024-25. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Hyderabad House on Tuesday during the 16th India-EU summit. The meeting comes as India and the European Union prepare to announce a long-awaited free trade agreement after nearly 20 years of negotiations. The leaders also discussed cooperation in security, clean energy and global supply chains. The EU leaders earlier paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Officials said the pact aims to deepen economic ties and strengthen the strategic partnership. The agreement will still require approval and ratification processes before it takes effect. (PC: X)

Border 2 continued its strong run at the box office on its fourth day, boosted by Republic Day collections. The Sunny Deol-led film earned ₹59 crore in India on Monday, taking its total domestic collection to about ₹180 crore, according to trade estimates. The film opened with ₹30 crore on Friday, followed by ₹36.5 crore on Saturday. Collections rose sharply on Sunday, helping the film cross the ₹100 crore mark within three days. Trade trackers said Monday was the film’s highest single-day earning so far. Border 2 stars Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan and Ahan Shetty, and is directed by Anurag Singh. (PC: NDTV)

India and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement after nearly two decades of talks. The pact is set to be announced at a high-level summit in New Delhi today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said talks have been successfully completed and legal review of the text is under way. The agreement covers trade in goods, services and investment. It is expected to reduce tariffs, boost exports and strengthen strategic ties. The deal will need approval in India and ratification by the European Parliament before it comes into force. (PC: X)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticised the EU–India trade deal and linked it to Russian oil sales. He said Europe is indirectly funding the Ukraine war. “The Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and the Europeans buy them,” Bessent said. “They are financing the war against themselves.”   His comments came as India and the European Union finalised talks on a free trade agreement, now under legal review. The US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods over Russian oil imports.   European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier called the pact the “mother of all deals,” saying it would deepen economic ties between India and Europe. (PC: Reuters)

Three notorious Malaysian fugitives engaged in a violent confrontation with security forces at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after being deported from the UK. Navindren Raj Cumarason, Sridharan Subramanian, and Pratifkumar Selvaraj key figures in Malaysia's "Ops Jack Sparrow" crackdown are now held under high-security in the airport's refusal room. The trio, linked to over 80 criminal incidents including murders and arson, had slipped through Malaysian borders and transited through Mumbai to reach Manchester, where British immigration refused them entry. They fought desperately with CISF personnel upon arrival, attempting to overpower officials. Malaysian elite police are expected within 48 hours to take custody, while investigations examine how they initially boarded the Manchester flight. (PC: NDTV)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Europe for "financing the war against themselves" by purchasing refined Russian oil products from India. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Bessent stated that Russian crude oil enters India, gets refined, and Europeans then buy these products. His comments came as European leaders concluded trade deal negotiations in New Delhi during India's 77th Republic Day celebrations, with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen calling the upcoming agreement the "mother of all deals." Bessent had previously claimed European allies refused to impose tariffs on India because they wanted to secure a major trade deal with New Delhi. EU leaders Antonio Costa and Von der Leyen attended Republic Day as chief guests. (PC: The Indian Express)

US President Donald Trump extended Republic Day greetings to India, highlighting the "historic bond" between the two nations as the world's oldest and largest democracies. On India's 77th Republic Day, Trump congratulated the government and people of India on behalf of Americans. US Ambassador Sergio Gor attended the Republic Day Parade for the first time, calling US-made aircraft flying in Indian skies a "powerful symbol" of growing strategic partnership. However, bilateral relations have faced challenges over the past year due to Trump's tariffs on Indian imports and threats of increased duties on Russian oil purchases. India has called these tariffs unjustified, vowing to protect its interests and economic security.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in early March, marking a significant reset in bilateral relations after tensions under predecessor Justin Trudeau. The visit will likely produce multiple agreements spanning uranium supply (a 10-year deal worth C$2.8 billion), oil and gas, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. Formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are set to begin in March, with completion anticipated within a year. This push comes as Carney prioritizes diversifying Canada's trade beyond the United States amid global uncertainty and Trump's tariff threats. India's National Security Advisor will visit Ottawa next month, while Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are expected to travel to Canada soon. (PC: X/@narendramodi)