Budget expectations 2026: Experts urge government to share data for India-focused AI models

Representative image (AI) Ahead of the Union Budget, EY India’s Rajnish Gupta said that the government should release more public data to support India’s push for sovereign artificial intelligence. He added that it is key to building AI models that reflect the country’s cultural and linguistic diversity.Gupta, Partner with EY India’s Tax and Economic Policy…

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UAE firm Al Habtoor plans legal action against Lebanon over $1.7 billion investment losses

A Dubai-based conglomerate has said it will initiate legal action against Lebanese authorities, alleging losses of more than $1.7 billion following years of economic crisis, banking restrictions and political instability in Lebanon.The Al Habtoor Group said on Monday that its investments in Lebanon have suffered “severe and sustained harm” due to measures imposed by Lebanese…

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After tax return data leak, US Treasury terminates consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton contracts

The US Treasury Department has terminated its contracts with consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton following the conviction of a former contractor linked to the company for leaking sensitive tax data of thousands of wealthy Americans, including President Donald Trump, to media organisations.The decision comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to act against entities…

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India and EU conclude long-pending free trade agreement, says commerce secretary

India and the European Union have successfully concluded negotiations for a long-pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA), commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday, PTI reported. Calling the agreement balanced and forward-looking from India’s perspective, Agrawal said the deal would deepen economic integration between India and the EU and give a boost to bilateral trade and…

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Budget expectations 2026: Deloitte pitches parity rules, compliance clarity to scale IFSC GIFT City as global BFSI hub

With global banks, broker-dealers and capital markets players weighing India as an offshore financial base, Deloitte has urged the government to use Budget 2026 to have parity rulesa among players, remove tax asymmetries and compliance frictions that are limiting the scale-up of IFSC GIFT City as a full-service international BFSI hub.According to Deloitte, the International…

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Budget 2026 expectations: Private space firms seek procurement push, critical infrastructure status for sector

Ahead of the Union Budget, India’s fast-growing private space industry has called on the government to step up public procurement of space products and services and formally recognise space assets as critical infrastructure to unlock financing and accelerate scale-up.Industry leaders said assured government demand, along with easier access to long-term capital, is essential for domestic…

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