India E-commerce Crackdown: India’s Department of Consumer Affairs tightened e-commerce rules from 1 Jan 2027, forcing platforms to link with the National Consumer Helpline, share complaint copies, flag sponsored listings, show “prior” vs discounted prices, and comply with dark-pattern curbs—aimed squarely at consumer protection. EV Readiness Watch: HERE-SBD EV Index 2026 puts Telangana top for EV readiness (charging and data improvements), while Delhi slips to 17th, underlining uneven infrastructure progress across states. Energy Storage Push: Premier Energies and RCT India plan a 12 GWh BESS manufacturing JV in Telangana (first 6 GWh phase), targeting utility-scale demand and export markets. Retail & Payments: Amazon India’s push into quick commerce and pharmacy is framed as the next big growth bet, while Mindgate and J.P. Morgan Payments expand UPI infrastructure for real-time collections and payouts. China Consumer Tech & Chips: China’s regulators are using cost accounting to curb “low-price disorderly competition,” and memory maker CXMT is reported to be topping global margins—both signals of how pricing and chips are reshaping consumer-facing supply chains. BRICS Summit Context: BRICS opens in New Delhi with a focus on resilience, digital transformation and clean energy—setting the backdrop for trade and supply-chain decisions that will ripple into consumer goods. Fitness Brand Fallout: Singapore’s True Fitness/True Yoga abruptly closed, leaving members worried about refunds and access to paid memberships.