Cabinet nod for bill to open up civil nuclear power for private players

NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet on Friday approved a bill which seeks to open the highly restricted nuclear power sector to private companies and also crucial for the country’s goal of achieving 100 gigawatt nuclear power capacity by 2047.The approval of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, paves…

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FDI reform push: Cabinet clears bill to raise foreign investment in insurance to 100%; key guardrails, LIC changes included

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a bill to raise the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, a major change aimed at deepening insurance penetration and accelerating sectoral growth, PTI reported citing sources.The proposed legislation — the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — is among 13 bills listed…

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Diamond market outlook: Russia’s miner ALROSA CEO says India will adapt to US tariffs; natural stones to stay resilient as synthetic prices plunge

Russia’s diamond miner ALROSA CEO-Chairman Pavel Maryinchev said diamond companies will need time to adjust to the US tariff hike but the long-term impact is unlikely to be severe, adding that India’s cutting and polishing sector should be able to “adapt and minimise the effect”.“According to GJEPC data, the amount of diamonds purchased by Indian…

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Gold price today: How much 22K, 24K costs in your city — Check rates for Delhi, Mumbai & other cities

Gold extended its rally on Friday, with February futures on the MCX trading at Rs 1,33,918 per 10 grams, a rise of more than 1% or Rs 1,449. The metal continued to gain after hitting a seven-and-a-half-week high, supported by the US Federal Reserve’s 25-basis-point rate cut. A day earlier, the February gold contract had…

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Trade impact: Mexico’s tariff hike to hit 75% of India’s exports; duties to rise up to 50% from Jan 2026

Mexico’s steep tariff increase on imports from countries without a free-trade agreement will significantly disrupt India’s exports from January 1, 2026, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has said, warning that nearly three-quarters of outbound shipments will come under sharply higher duties, ANI reported.Mexico has decided to impose duties of up to 50% on goods…

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US rental aid update: Section 8 landlord payments resume after shutdown delay; $1,500 checks begin rolling out

Americans are being advised to monitor their bank accounts as landlord subsidy payments of up to $1,500 under the Section 8 rental assistance programme begin to roll out, following delays triggered by the recent federal government shutdown, according to an ET report. The payments, formally known as Housing Assistance Payments, support low-income households, seniors and…

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US markets today: Wall Street holds firm, Lululemon jumps on CEO exit; AI stocks slip with Broadcom

Most US stocks rose on Friday even as artificial-intelligence names came under renewed pressure, keeping Wall Street’s benchmark indices near record highs, AP reported.The S&P 500 dipped 0.1% in early trade, retreating slightly from its all-time high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 103 points, or 0.2%. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.4% as selling…

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Coal policy reform: Cabinet okays CoalSETU window for auction-based linkages; new route to allow industrial use and export

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday approved a new policy framework called the CoalSETU window, creating an additional auction route for long-term coal linkages for any industrial use and exports, according to an official release.The decision modifies the existing Non-Regulated Sector (NRS) Linkage Auction Policy of 2016, which restricts linkages to specified end-use…

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