The Economic Times

BJP leader Prakash Reddy has reacted to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's statement regarding Singareni Collieries. Reddy condemned personal attacks involving a woman IAS officer. He suggested internal Congress conflicts are fueling the controversy. The Chief Minister had earlier dismissed media reports of irregularities as baseless propaganda. He asserted there is no place for corruption in his government.

2026 Basant Panchami: Basant Panchami, marking the arrival of spring and dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, will be observed on January 23, 2026. This spiritually significant festival celebrates knowledge, wisdom, and creativity, with devotees seeking blessings for success in education and arts. Celebrations include vibrant decorations, traditional offerings, and regional customs like kite flying.

A devastating train crash in southern Spain has claimed at least 21 lives. A high-speed train derailed late Sunday, striking another train. The accident occurred in Adamuz, Cordoba province. Hundreds of passengers were on board the trains. Emergency crews are continuing their search. An investigation into the cause has begun.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to elect its new National President today, with Nitin Nabin widely expected to be chosen unopposed. This significant leadership transition, potentially making Nabin the youngest to hold the post at 45, is being viewed as a generational shift as the party prepares for upcoming elections.

India is on the cusp of sealing a transformative free trade agreement with the European Union, marking the largest of its kind for the country. This landmark deal encompasses a wide range of goods and services, paving the way for enhanced economic collaboration. Nevertheless, ongoing discussions are needed regarding climate taxes and the mobility of services.

Ex-Wipro CEO Azim Premji is known for how he transformed the company under his leadership and vision. Despite his vast personal wealth, Premji continued to be recognized for his modesty, lack of extravagance, and charity. In one of his quotes, he says if your dreams feel comfortable and universally accepted, they may not push you far enough. You should aim for extraordinary as it brings out the best in you, he says.

Irans biggest risk to global oil supply may not be war, but labour unrest in its oil industry. While fears of US military action have eased, economic stress has raised the risk of strikes, which markets often overlook but have historically caused major production disruptions.

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh stated that the Union government has provided substantial funds for West Bengal's development, but accountability for their spending is lacking. This comes after TMC's Abhishek Banerjee accused the Centre of withholding funds, while PM Modi asserted West Bengal is ready for change and an end to jungle raj under the TMC.

Nestle's CEO has apologized after certain infant formula batches were recalled in over 50 countries. The recall is due to a possible quality issue with an ingredient. Health warnings were issued across continents. Nestle confirmed that recalled products are not sold in India. All infant formula brands in India are manufactured locally.

President Trump criticized the establishment of a New York Stock Exchange in Dallas, calling it detrimental to New York. Intercontinental Exchange, NYSE's owner, added Texas as a secondary listing venue last year. NYSE Texas, opened in early 2025, has already seen companies like Halliburton and Trump Media dual list.

Margaret Thatcher's 1965 quote, If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman, highlights women's proactive nature. The former British Prime Minister, known as the Iron Lady, led Britain through significant reforms and international challenges, embodying the principle of turning ideas into results through decisive action and responsibility.

Nepal's election campaign is intensifying. Three parties have named their prime ministerial candidates. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) nominated K.P. Sharma Oli. The Nepali Congress and Rastriya Swotantra Party put forward younger leaders. A key contest features Oli against Balendra Shah, a popular youth leader, in the Jhapa-5 constituency.

World Economic Forum 2026: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is heading to Davos for the key annual summit. He anticipates productive discussions and agreements to boost Assam's growth. The state aims to attract investment, launch new projects like semiconductor initiatives, and create jobs. Sarma will participate in over 17 meetings and sign several MoUs, focusing on future-ready workforces, tourism, and healthcare.

An Indian Supreme Court ruling requiring Tiger Global to pay capital gains tax on its Flipkart stake sale has wide implications for private equity and trading firms using offshore structures. The court overturned a lower court decision and held that Tiger Global cannot claim tax treaty benefits through Mauritius because key decisions were made in the US, not the island nation.

Garena Free Fire Max players can get free items using redeem codes. These codes are released regularly. Players must use them quickly as they expire. The article provides codes for January 19, 2026. It also explains how to redeem these codes on the official Garena website. Players can log in and enter the codes to claim their rewards.

In a tragic incident, Noida techie Yuvraj Mehta died after he remained standing atop his partially submerged car for nearly two hours. He drowned in a nearly 70-foot-deep drain in Noidas Sector 150 early Saturday, triggering outrage among the residents. Yuvraj clung onto the car's roof, dialled his father, shared his location, and kept calling for help but his cries went in vain.

American tennis player Michael Zheng's impressive Australian Open run faces a hurdle as US college rules limit prize money earnings to $10,000 annually. The 21-year-old, still a student at Columbia University, may have to return a significant portion of his winnings. Zheng is seeking clarification on potential exemptions before returning to finish his degree.

A software engineer tragically died after his SUV plunged into a deep, water-filled pit in Greater Noida's Sector 150 on a foggy night. Despite desperate pleas for help and a father's helpless proximity, rescue efforts were hampered by dense fog and the pit's depth, raising serious safety lapse concerns.

AR Rahman addressed controversy over his comments about reduced Hindi film industry presence, emphasizing his deep connection to India and commitment to uplifting society through music. He highlighted diverse projects, including nurturing young musicians and collaborating with Hans Zimmer on the Ramayana adaptation, reaffirming his dedication to the nation's evolving music ecosystem.

State-owned Nalco is exploring entry into rare earth element (REE) mining as part of its diversification beyond bauxite and alumina, with a bid advisor conducting due diligence on domestic auctions for REEs, magnesium and chromite blocks. The move aligns with Indias push to reduce import dependence and curb Chinas dominance in critical minerals used in electronics, defence, renewables and electric vehicles.

Many fear they have missed their wealth-building opportunity. CA Nitin Kaushik clarifies it is never too late to start investing. Consistent, disciplined investing, not market timing, builds wealth. Even modest monthly investments can grow significantly over two decades. Market fluctuations are normal. Those who act with discipline accumulate wealth. Starting now, with a simple plan, is key to financial growth.

Syria-Kurdish deal: The terms of the deal appeared to be a major blow for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which ran a semi-autonomous region in Syria's northeast for more than a decade.

Chinas population fell for the fourth straight year in 2025, dropping by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion, faster than in 2024. Births fell to 7.92 million, the lowest in decades, while deaths rose to 11.31 million, widening the natural population decline.

Magha Gupt Navratri, a secretive Hindu festival dedicated to Maa Durga, commences on January 19, 2026. This nine-day observance emphasises silent worship, intense sadhana, and strict rituals, primarily practiced by devotees, sadhaks, and tantriks away from public gatherings. The festival is considered particularly potent for spiritual discipline and inner strength.

Quote of the day by Queen Elizabeth I focuses on the line, The past can not be cured. The quote reflects history, leadership, and responsibility. This explainer shares the quote meaning, Queen Elizabeth Is life, her childhood, education, rule, and other quotes that shaped public memory.

Entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo shares his journey from wanting to show off success to building true wealth. He explains that in his 20s, he focused on earning and spending visibly. Now, he prioritizes sustainable financial freedom. Warikoo believes real wealth allows repeated enjoyment without stress, a lesson learned over two decades. This shift offers genuine liberation.

Music composer AR Rahman has issued a clarification after he claimed possible instances of 'communal discrimination' for the last few years in Bollywood. Actor-politician Paresh Rawal has reacted to the controversy and backed AR Rahman, calling him 'our pride'. We love you, sir. You are our pride, wrote Paresh Rawal.

The world's second-largest economy showed remarkable resilience in 2025, helped by smaller-than-expected U.S. tariff hikes and exporters' push to diversify away from the United States, allowing policymakers to keep stimulus to modest levels.

Legendary singer Celine Dion shared a profound thought on achieving balance. She emphasized that true equilibrium comes from within, not external achievements. Dion, known for her global hits, stressed self-awareness and emotional connection. This message resonates universally, reminding everyone to pause and nurture inner peace. Her journey from Quebec to international stardom highlights this enduring wisdom.

Maryam Nawaz is facing the backlash of social media users in Pakistan for her outfit choice at her son Junaid Safdar's second marriage. Netizens have accused the Punjab Chief Minister of overshadowing the bride saying that she dressed like a dulhan. On the other hand, the bride Shanzay Ali Rohail also faced the ire of netizens for opting the dresses by Indian designers Sabyasachi Tarun Tahiliani for her wedding and nikah ceremony.

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, taught that true wisdom lies within the heart, urging a move beyond material desires to find infinite truth. His verses, preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, advocate for equality, compassion, and truthful living. A profound quote encourages transforming worldly attachments into timeless wisdom, emphasizing inner reflection and spiritual awakening for a life of purpose.

Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi is leading a delegation to the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos to attract investments. The team aims to secure funding in key sectors like defence, semiconductors, and renewable energy, showcasing Gujarat's vision for development by 2047 and its growing appeal as an investment hub.

India's economy is projected to grow at 7.4%, yet Prime Minister Modi faces a critical decision between continued infrastructure spending and fiscal restraint. Despite strong headline growth, low private investment and a ballooning debt-to-GDP ratio of 81% signal what may be an unsustainable model.

Senegal clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title by defeating hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time. The final saw dramatic scenes as Senegal protested a late penalty awarded to Morocco. Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, and Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in the 94th minute.

Quote of the day by Epictetus shares a Stoic view on how events come with purpose. The quote explains acceptance, control, and responsibility. It also reflects Epictetus life, teachings, and views on ethics, will, and human conduct.

Greenland tariffs: Trump vowed on Saturday to implement a wave of increasing tariffs from February 1 on EU members Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, along with Britain and Norway, until the U.S. is allowed to buy Greenland, a step major EU states decried as blackmail.

While each of the more than 10 equity fund categories offered by Sebi have their use cases, all of them are not required by most investors. Given that each category has 15-30 individual schemes to pick from, this confusion gets amplified.

If you are confused by personal finance terms, jargon and calculations, heres a series to simplify and deconstruct these for you. In the 86th part of this series, Riju Mehta explains what this term means and why it should be considered while buying a health policy.

Stability and strong fundamentals supported large caps, whereas micro caps underperformed amid investor caution in 2025. By Sameer Bhardwaj.

The scheme can now help build an education corpus, but the mandatory 20% annuitisation is a drawback.

Being abroad shouldnt mean losing sleep over property. NRIs are finding ways to stay in control.

If any tax policy changes are announced in Budget 2026, legislative logic dictates they will have to be made directly in the 2025 Act, rather than retrofitted into a repealed framework. The new Act already exists on the statute book; only its enforcement is deferred.

Lower oil prices reshape profits across refining, marketing and upstream.

These can increase your tax liability and also result in penalties, fines and notices from the tax department.

Conservative and moderate investors should typically allocate around 15% of their investment portfolio to gold; for aggressive profiles seeking stronger hedging against higher equity exposure, it should be slightly higher.