India and the European Union have completed talks on a proposed Free Trade Agreement, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday. He said the deal is balanced and aims to boost trade and investment on both sides. Legal review of the text is underway and may take five to six months. The agreement is expected to be signed after that and take effect next year. The pact was fast-tracked after talks resumed in 2022 following a long pause. Leaders from India and the EU met in New Delhi during the Republic Day celebrations and the India-EU Summit. (PC: X)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely to visit India in early March as both countries work to reset relations and expand trade. Agreements are expected in energy, uranium supply, critical minerals and new technologies, according to officials quoted by Reuters. Talks may also cover oil, gas, nuclear cooperation, education and culture. Relations have improved since Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Carney at the G7 last year. Formal talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are expected to begin in March after a long pause. The visit comes as Canada looks to diversify trade beyond the United States amid global uncertainty. (PC: India Today)

Former UK home secretary Suella Braverman has quit the Conservative Party and joined the anti-immigration Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage. Speaking at a London event, Braverman said she was ending her 30-year association with the Conservatives over what she called failure to control immigration. The British-Indian MP said public services were under strain and people felt unsafe. Farage welcomed her move, calling it long overdue. Braverman is the latest senior Conservative figure to defect after Robert Jenrick and Nadhim Zahawi, taking the total number of defections to eight. The Conservatives later amended an initial statement that drew criticism. (PC: NDTV)

Britain will expand the use of AI and facial recognition as part of major police reforms, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced. The government will invest £140 million to modernise policing in England and Wales. AI tools will help analyse CCTV, phone footage and digital evidence, and cut paperwork. (PC: PA)   Live facial recognition vans will increase from 10 to 50 to help catch wanted criminals. The plan aims to free up police time and put more officers on the streets.   Reforms also include merging police forces, creating a national FBI-style service, and stricter standards for officers. Police leaders welcomed the changes, but critics warned of too much power being centralised.

7 people were killed after a private jet crashed during a snowstorm in the US state of Maine, officials said. The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down while taking off from Bangor International Airport on Sunday night. One crew member survived with serious injuries.   The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft flipped over and caught fire on the airfield. An air traffic controller was heard saying the aircraft was “upside down.”   The airport was closed after the crash and will remain shut until Wednesday. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation. The crash happened as a major winter storm hit large parts of the United States, disrupting flights and roads. (PC: X/@WCNorbit)

China has launched an investigation into General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, over allegations of leaking "core technical data" from China's nuclear weapons program to the United States. The 75-year-old general, considered a loyal Xi Jinping ally and Politburo member, faces additional accusations including accepting bribes for promotions, forming political cliques, and overseeing corrupt military procurement practices. The Wall Street Journal reports internal briefings detailed these charges before the public announcement. While Chinese authorities confirmed the probe for "serious violations of discipline and law," they haven't officially confirmed the nuclear leak allegations. This investigation is part of a broader crackdown that has targeted over 50 senior military officers since 2023. (PC: India Today)

Israel said it has recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. The body was identified as Master Sgt Ran Gvili, who was abducted on October 7, 2023. The military had been searching for him since the ceasefire with Hamas began in October.   Under the truce, all hostages were to be returned within 72 hours. Others were handed over earlier, but Gvili’s body had not been located. Israel had delayed further steps until he was found.   The Israel Defense Forces said Gvili died in battle on October 7. With his return, Israel said all Gaza hostages are now accounted for. The move allows talks to advance to the next phase of the peace plan proposed by Donald Trump. (PC: Courtesy of Bring Them Home Now/Handout via REUTERS)

A growing number of Republican senators are urging a full investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, U.S. officials and news reports say. Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, died on January 24 during an operation by Border Patrol agents amid protests against federal immigration enforcement. Critics including Senators Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy want a comprehensive probe of the incident and greater cooperation with local authorities. President Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal his administration is “reviewing everything” and may withdraw agents from the area. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti approached agents with a semi-automatic handgun. (PC: BBC)

India plans to sharply reduce import duties on cars from the European Union as part of a proposed free trade agreement, a Reuters report said. Tariffs could be cut to 40% from current levels of up to 110% for a limited number of vehicles priced above 15,000 euros. The duty may fall further to 10% over time. The move would improve access for European carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Sources told Reuters that electric vehicles will be excluded from the cuts for the first five years. Officials from India and the EU declined to comment. Talks on the trade pact are close to conclusion, the report added. (PC: NDTV)

An audio recording of US Senator Ted Cruz has revealed internal criticism of President Donald Trump’s trade policy and claims about a stalled India-US trade deal. In the recording, reported by Axios, Cruz said Trump’s tariff push faced resistance from some Republicans and hurt negotiations with India. He blamed Vice President JD Vance, White House adviser Peter Navarro and, at times, Trump himself for blocking the agreement. The audio, recorded in 2025 during private donor meetings, also captured Cruz describing tense calls with Trump over tariffs. Cruz warned that high tariffs could damage the economy and affect election outcomes. The White House has not commented on the claims. (PC: NDTV)