In this special report, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri detail the outcomes of the 16th India-EU Summit held in New Delhi. Goyal described the newly concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the 'mother of all deals', noting it covers 25 per cent of global trade and will provide duty-free access for Indian labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems, and jewellery.
The summit, co-chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa, also saw the signing of a first-of-its-kind Security and Defence Partnership.
Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted that the agreements include a roadmap toward a 2030 Strategic Agenda and an MOU on mobility to facilitate the movement of professionals and students. The leaders emphasised that this partnership between the world's second and fourth largest economies creates a market of two billion people, fostering shared prosperity and global supply chain resilience.
Speaking to India Today Global, EU Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stressed the need to “build partnerships with those countries who believe in free trade,” underscoring the strategic message behind the newly concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
This news report focuses on the massive winter storm currently sweeping across much of the United States of America. The severe weather conditions have led to significant disruptions in power supplies and air travel, prompting several states to declare emergencies. According to the report, 'Washington, D.C. was blanketed with over 20 centimeters of snow in nearly 20 hours of snowfall' as the region grapples with the intense winter system. The capital is expected to remain snowbound for an extended period as temperatures are projected to plunge to minus 10 degrees Celsius. The visuals highlight the scale of the snowfall and the resulting impact on infrastructure and daily life across the country. The bulletin emphasizes the severity of the plummeting temperatures and the ongoing challenges faced by residents in the affected regions as the storm continues to impact the United States.
In this special report on Newstrack, Marya Shakil moderates a fiery debate over the University Grants Commission’s proposed 2026 equity regulations. The guidelines, intended to address and reduce discrimination on campuses, have triggered protests in several parts of the country.
This edition of The News Today with Rajdeep Sardesai focuses on the landmark free trade agreement between India and the European Union. Finalised after nearly two decades of negotiations, the pact seeks to open up a combined market of two billion people by cutting import duties on key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles.
