January 2, 2026

US Slashes Tariffs on Italian Pasta After Companies Address Concerns

The US has cut proposed tariffs on Italian pasta from nearly 92% to as low as 2.26%. This move prevents big price hikes for US buyers and comes after Italian firms cooperated with US officials.

January 2, 2026

China Starts Taxing Condoms to Boost Falling Birth Rates

China has begun taxing condoms and contraceptives for the first time in 30 years to tackle its declining population. The government also offers child subsidies but birth rates keep falling amid high costs and aging.

January 2, 2026

Australian Privacy Watchdog Targets Businesses Over Customer Data Misuse

Australia’s privacy regulator has launched a major sweep targeting real estate agencies, car dealerships, and pubs for mishandling personal data. Firms risk fines up to $66,000 if they fail to protect customer information or keep it too long. Sixty businesses across six sectors face scrutiny in January.

January 2, 2026

Andhra Pradesh Approves New Greenfield Port and Mega Shipbuilding Cluster at Dugarajapatnam

Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board gets go-ahead to build a greenfield port and mega shipbuilding cluster at Dugarajapatnam. The project aims to boost India's shipbuilding under Maritime India Vision 2030.

January 2, 2026

KSEB Adds Thermal Fuel Surcharge on January Electricity Bills to Cover Extra Power Costs

Kerala State Electricity Board will charge a thermal fuel surcharge of 7 paise per unit for bimonthly consumers and 8 paise for monthly consumers in January. The fee recovers ₹18.45 crore spent on higher fuel costs for power in November 2025, as per KSEB and State Electricity Regulatory Commission rules.