India

Traditional ritual marks the lock-in of Budget officials as Finance Minister prepares to present her ninth consecutive Budget amid 7.6% GDP growth expectations and global headwinds

PM Narendra Modi invited global investors to India’s energy sector, highlighting a USD 500 billion opportunity. He outlined plans to expand refining capacity, LNG infrastructure, city gas distribution, and oil exploration, aiming for USD 100 billion investment by 2030

Patna police found 76-year-old British national Ajay Kumar Sharma dead in a Jakkanpur hotel room. Staying since January 18, he showed no external injuries. Forensic teams collected evidence, and the body was sent for post-mortem; family informed in London

Singapore will recognise medical degrees from eight additional overseas universities, including Manipal Academy in India, to meet growing healthcare demand from its ageing population. The move increases registrable foreign medical schools to 120, ensuring high standards through SMC supervision

Two tribal minors were allegedly gang-raped by a group of unidentified men in Jharkhand's Giridih district while returning from a village fair. Police have launched an investigation and ongoing raids

An all-party meeting in New Delhi, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is underway to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament’s upcoming Budget session. The session begins Wednesday with the President’s address, with the Union Budget scheduled for February 1

Madras High Court set aside a single judge’s order directing CBFC to certify actor Vijay’s film *Jana Nayagan*, citing lack of opportunity for CBFC to respond. The decision revives uncertainty over the film’s release, reportedly Vijay’s last before entering politics

Public sector bank services may be disrupted Tuesday as employee unions launched a nationwide strike demanding a five-day work week. SBI, PNB and Bank of Baroda could be affected, while private banks and digital services are expected to function normally

Gold and silver surged to record highs on Tuesday amid a weaker dollar, geopolitical tensions and expectations of US Fed rate cuts. Safe-haven demand and central-bank buying lifted MCX gold and silver, while analysts see further upside despite possible near-term consolidation

Sensex and Nifty rebounded from early losses to trade higher Tuesday, aided by firm global cues and buying in bank stocks. Axis Bank surged after Q3 results, while Kotak Bank fell; investors tracked FII-DII flows and crude prices overseas markets

Rupee rebounded 10 paise to 91.80 per dollar Tuesday after retreat in dollar index. Recovery followed record lows amid global uncertainty, FII outflows and weak equities, while traders cited undervaluation, rising reserves and pending US trade deal as stabilising factors

Kidnapped Jamshedpur businessman’s son Kairav Gandhi was rescued safely after 14 days, police said Tuesday. Recovered near Hazaribagh-Gaya region, he returned home early morning. Investigations continue to trace kidnappers and determine circumstances behind his release

Heavy snowfall in Kashmir forced cancellation of 50 flights at Srinagar International Airport on Tuesday, disrupting inbound and outbound operations. Adverse weather stranded hundreds of tourists after the Republic Day weekend, with airlines advising passengers to seek updates and alternatives

Fear has spread across Yadadri and Turkapally mandals following repeated cattle attacks and sightings of an elusive tiger, prompting villagers to stay indoors as forest officials intensify surveillance using drones and camera traps

A Cisco report revealed that 97 per cent of Indian firms have expanded privacy frameworks to support responsible AI use. While businesses see benefits like innovation and customer trust, challenges remain in data governance and cross-border data flows

Suryakumar Yadav struck back-to-back fifties against New Zealand, rediscovering his touch ahead of the T20 World Cup. Experts Sunil Gavaskar and Aakash Chopra hailed his confidence and adaptability, noting his ability to handle pacers and spinners with calculated aggression

Sanju Samson’s T20I struggles continue, with recent failures against New Zealand highlighting his inconsistency. Experts WV Raman and Zubin Bharucha believe his issues are both technical and mental, stressing adjustments in bat-speed and clarity of mindset to unlock his potential

World Champion D Gukesh defeated Vladimir Fedoseev to bounce back at the Tata Steel Masters. Anish Giri beat leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov, while Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa held draws. Abdusattorov still leads with 5.5 points after eight rounds

Young Indian shuttlers including Priyanshu Rajawat, Kiran George, Tharun Mannepalli and Anmol Kharb will begin their campaigns at the Thailand Masters Super 300 in Bangkok. Several players face seeded opponents in a crucial early-season test on the BWF World Tour

Nat Sciver-Brunt scored the first-ever century in Women’s Premier League history as Mumbai Indians beat RCB by 15 runs. Richa Ghosh’s explosive 90 kept Bengaluru in the hunt, but Hayley Matthews’ all-round brilliance sealed Mumbai’s crucial win

India and the European Union have concluded official-level negotiations for a long-pending free trade agreement, paving the way for expanded trade, duty-free access for key sectors and deeper economic integration, with a formal announcement expected at the India-EU Summit

Strategic patience, backed by calibrated leverage, remains India’s best option for navigating the Bangladesh crisis

High female STEM enrolment contrasts with low career entry, reflecting persistent cultural and systemic barriers that push women out of India’s technology workforce

Public sector bank services are set to be disrupted nationwide as the United Forum of Bank Unions goes on strike seeking implementation of a five-day work week, with branch-level operations affected while digital services continue