As preparations intensify for the Union Budget 2026-27, businesses and investors are closely watching potential changes to customs duties, tax deduction at source (TDS), and the broader direct and indirect tax framework. With economic growth moderating amid global uncertainty, stakeholders expect policy measures that balance fiscal discipline with growth stimulus. Industry bodies are seeking rationalized customs structures to support manufacturing, simplification of TDS provisions to ease compliance, and targeted tax relief to boost consumption and investment.

India’s crude oil import landscape is undergoing a notable realignment as Reliance Industries Ltd., the country’s largest private refiner, reduces its intake of Russian oil, while state-owned refiners expand their purchases. The shift reflects a complex interplay of commercial strategy, geopolitical risk management, refining economics, and evolving global energy markets. While Russian crude had offered deep discounts amid Western sanctions, changing price dynamics, compliance considerations, and refining margins are reshaping buying decisions.

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that would allow group administrators to decide whether newly added members can view earlier conversations. The experiment reflects the platform’s ongoing effort to balance usability with privacy, particularly as group chats grow larger and more complex. By giving admins granular control over chat history visibility, WhatsApp aims to make groups more welcoming for newcomers while protecting sensitive discussions.

Samsung is reportedly preparing to elevate smartphone privacy with the Galaxy S26 Ultra by integrating an advanced “privacy display” feature. Early industry chatter suggests the technology is designed to limit on-screen visibility from side angles, reducing the risk of visual hacking in public spaces. If implemented, the feature would mark a notable evolution in display engineering, blending premium hardware with heightened user security.

Google has announced the end of Chrome browser support for macOS 12 Monterey, marking a significant transition for users operating older Apple systems. The move reflects Google’s broader strategy to prioritize security, performance, and compatibility with newer operating systems. While Chrome will continue to function on Monterey, it will no longer receive updates, security patches, or feature enhancements.

Scientists have identified one of the largest and most significant collections of dinosaur footprints ever recorded in Western Australia, offering rare insight into the movement and behavior of prehistoric giants. The newly documented trackways, preserved along a remote stretch of coastline, date back more than 140 million years to the early Cretaceous period. Researchers say the footprints belong to multiple dinosaur species, including massive long-necked sauropods.

Scientists are advancing efforts to understand how essential nutrients could reach the vast subsurface ocean believed to exist beneath the icy crust of Europa, one of Jupiter’s most intriguing moons. New research focuses on geological and chemical processes that may transport surface materials, including salts and oxidants, into the concealed ocean below. These findings strengthen Europa’s standing as a prime candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Skywatchers are set for a rare celestial spectacle as six planets align in the evening sky, offering one of the most striking astronomical displays of the year. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus will appear along the same arc shortly after sunset, visible either to the naked eye or with basic optical aids. While planetary alignments are not uncommon, the visibility of so many planets at once is unusual and scientifically intriguing.

Scientists have unveiled an innovative technique to track space debris using seismic sensors, marking a potential turning point in the global effort to manage orbital congestion. By analyzing faint vibrations generated when space junk re-enters Earth’s atmosphere or impacts the planet’s surface, researchers believe they can supplement existing radar- and telescope-based monitoring systems. The approach promises broader coverage, lower costs, and improved detection of smaller debris that often evades conventional tracking tools.

SpaceX has successfully launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, reinforcing its rapid push to expand global broadband coverage. The mission placed 25 satellites into low Earth orbit, marking another step in the company’s high-frequency launch strategy aimed at strengthening network capacity and reducing latency. The launch highlights SpaceX’s operational efficiency, reuse-driven cost discipline, and growing dominance in the commercial space sector.