Mexico imposed tariffs of 5-50% on over 1,400 products from non-preferential trade partners including India, China, and Thailand, effective January 1, 2026. The move threatens India's $5.75 billion annual exports to Mexico, particularly $1 billion in automobile shipments from Maruti Suzuki, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Nissan. Passenger vehicle duties rise from 20% to 50%. Engineering goods dominate India's exports at 61% ($3.5 billion), with automobiles comprising one-third. Mexico is India's third-largest car export market after South Africa and Saudi Arabia. FIEO called the timing "wrong" as exporters already struggle with 50% US tariffs. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers urged maintaining status quo in November.(PC: HT)

Shubman Gill's golden duck dismissal in the 2nd T20I against South Africa sparked severe criticism of head coach Gautam Gambhir and selector Ajit Agarkar for alleged favoritism. Lungi Ngidi dismissed Gill first over with a 135 km/h seaming delivery caught at first slip by Reeza Hendricks. Fans demanded Yashasvi Jaiswal's inclusion, noting he was the T20 World Cup backup opener now sidelined. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also struggled, scoring five off four balls before Marco Jansen dismissed him via review. Suryakumar has managed only 227 runs at 13.35 average across his last 23 innings, with a top score of 47 not out against Pakistan.(PC: India Today)

Squadron Leader Shivangi Singh, India's first woman Rafale pilot, has transitioned to the Hawk advanced jet trainer fleet to train future IAF aviators. The Varanasi native, commissioned in 2017 as part of the second women fighter pilot batch, flew MiG-21 Bison before becoming the only woman trained on Rafale during her induction phase. She recently completed the rigorous Flying Instructor Course at Air Force Station Tambaram and was photographed with President Droupadi Murmu during the President's Rafale sortie. During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan falsely claimed she was captured after a Rafale shootdown debunked by CNN-News18. She now serves at an IAF training establishment, mentoring trainee pilots with her frontline operational experience.(PC: X)

Karnataka discovered one of India's richest mineral deposits, gold grading 12-14 grams per tonne in Koppal's Amrapur block (4-7× commercially viable levels) and lithium-bearing pegmatites in Raichur's Amareshwara block but cannot mine them due to protected forest reserve restrictions. The November 2025 findings from a 6-lakh-hectare survey across 65 blocks also revealed copper, cobalt, rare earth elements, bauxite, and chromium. Mining requires Stage-I forest clearance from MoEFCC under the Forest Conservation Act 1980, currently not granted due to wildlife corridors, tribal settlements, and environmental concerns. Armed guards now protect sites from illegal prospecting. Commercial mining realistically requires 5-8 years, while India imports 99% of gold and needs 125,000 tonnes lithium by 2030. (PC: Gold Market & Mint)

A new photograph shows Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra at Thailand's Phuket Immigration Control Centre, surrounded by Thai officials after being detained from their hotel room following India's extradition request. The Delhi-based restaurateurs will be transported to Bangkok tomorrow for legal formalities before being handed over to Indian authorities. The brothers are wanted in connection with a Goa nightclub fire tragedy that killed 25 people. They fled India anticipating arrest and sought anticipatory bail, arguing they weren't present during the incident. After courts refused to stay their arrest, Indian authorities suspended their passports under Section 10A of the Passport Act, creating immigration complications that led to their detention in Thailand.

India made a dramatic late comeback in the 2nd T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur. After South Africa's blazing start, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel struck crucial blows, dismissing Quinton de Kock (90 off 46) and Dewald Brevis (14 off 10) in consecutive overs. De Kock was brilliantly run out by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma's lightning-quick reflexes, missing his century by ten runs. Axar dismissed Brevis caught by Tilak Varma at long-on. However, Jasprit Bumrah struggled, conceding three boundaries to David Miller in the 18th over through full tosses, swinging momentum back to South Africa. At 18 overs, South Africa stood at 179/4 with Miller (12*) and Donovan Ferreira (7*) batting.

UK companies expanded their Indian footprint with Rs 5,693 billion turnover and 552,902 employees, according to Grant Thornton Bharat and CII's 'Britain Meets India' 2025 report. The study identified 794 UK-owned companies operating in India, up from 667 last year, with 146 high-performers achieving 49% average growth. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed during PM Modi's July UK visit, aims to enhance the 44.1-billion-pound bilateral partnership pending British Parliament ratification. Business services lead at 19%, followed by industrial products (18%) and financial services (14%). Maharashtra and Delhi NCR host 67% of high-growth UK firms. Vedanta Limited tops UK companies with Rs 1,463 billion revenue and 97,015 employees. (PC: X) 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation Thursday amid ongoing trade negotiations between both nations. Modi stated they reviewed bilateral progress and discussed regional and global developments, emphasizing continued cooperation for "global peace, stability and prosperity." The call followed US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling India "a difficult nut to crack" while acknowledging receipt of India's "best ever" trade proposal during two-day talks in New Delhi. Key disagreements persist over farm imports, particularly US crops like corn and soybeans, with India protecting small farmers from foreign competition. Trump recently threatened new tariffs on Indian rice over alleged dumping, adding to existing 50% tariffs, America's highest on any country.

The Delhi High Court criticized the Centre over the IndiGo crisis involving hundreds of flight cancellations, questioning how airlines increased fares to Rs 40,000. Justice Gedela asked why other carriers were allowed to exploit the chaos, with Mumbai-Delhi economy tickets reaching Rs 35,000, normally Rs 20,000 round-trip. The court questioned why the situation arose and why pilots were overworked. While DGCA issued show-cause notices to IndiGo, which apologized profusely, the court emphasized concerns about lakhs of stranded passengers and economic impact. The Centre reduced IndiGo's winter schedule by 5%, cutting 110 daily flights from their 2,200-flight operation. Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu assured strict action, stating safety is "non-negotiable." (PC: X & The Hindu) 

The Indian government informed Parliament that global air quality rankings by organizations like IQAir, WHO, Environmental Performance Index, and Global Burden of Disease metrics are unofficial, conducted by no recognized authority. Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh clarified that WHO air quality guidelines serve only as advisory values, not binding standards, helping countries establish their own norms based on geography, environmental conditions, and national circumstances. India has notified National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 pollutants to protect public health and environment. The government conducts its own annual Swachh Vayu Survekshan, ranking 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme based on air quality improvement measures, with awards presented on National Swachh Vayu Diwas (September 7). (PC: X)