In Bijnor, a man named Pramod Kumar was found dead inside a porcupine burrow 36 hours after he went missing. Farmers discovered his body face down with his legs sticking out. Police suspect he might have tried to catch a porcupine, got stuck, and suffocated. The postmortem report is awaited.

US President Joe Biden warned Wednesday that the soul of America is still at stake, as he prepared to deliver his farewell address to the nation before the return of Donald Trump. I ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake.

Donald Trump's viral MAGA garbage truck from US Presidential campaign will feature in inauguration parade on Monday. During the US Presidential campaign, Trump got into a white truck decked with American flag and campaign logo to draw attention to Biden's comments that seemed to compare Trump's supporters to 'garbage'. Trump said the garbage truck is the honour of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

A 21-member international delegation from 10 countries invited by the Indian government will partake in the Maha Kumbh, taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. They will tour the Mela area, experience a heritage walk, and enjoy an aerial view of the event while staying at Tent City.

A psychologist in Nagpur was arrested for exploiting and sexually abusing girl students for over a decade. He took explicit pictures and videos to blackmail them. He lured parents with academic performance improvements and conducted late-night therapy sessions. The accused's wife and accomplice are on the run. Survivors face challenges in lodging complaints due to social stigma.

The Centre has allowed its employees to travel on Tejas, Vande Bharat, and Humsafar trains under Leave Travel Concession. This decision follows numerous requests for clarification on premium train eligibility. The new order includes these trains along with Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto. Employees get reimbursement for tickets and paid leave during LTC.

With a potential TikTok ban looming, various alternative social media apps like Xiaohongshu, Lemon8, Instagram, and YouTube may benefit. The Supreme Court's decision on the fate of TikTok is pending, and ByteDance's future in the U.S. market is uncertain.

Germany's economy, the largest in Europe, contracted for the second consecutive year in 2024, with a GDP decline of 0.2%. External shocks, domestic issues like regulatory red tape and skilled labor shortages, and a collapsed government coalition have intensified economic challenges, prompting an early election on February 23.

The Supreme Court postponed its hearing to March 2025 on the Shahi Idgah mosque committee's plea in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute. The committee argues the lawsuits violate the Places of Worship Act, which prohibits changes to religious character post-Independence. Allahabad High Court had rejected the committee's plea, stating the religious character needed determination.

Meta is seeking to overturn an antitrust directive in India. The directive bans WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta for advertising. Meta argues this impacts their ability to offer personalized ads. The directive includes a $24.5 million fine and a five-year ban on data sharing. Meta's appeal will be heard this week.

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The Reserve Bank of India, under new Governor Sanjay Malhotra, is loosening its tight control over the rupee, aligning it with regional currencies while still intervening to prevent excessive volatility. This shift aims to bolster exports and prioritize inflation control amid global economic challenges.

The government should aim for Rs 11 lakh crore capital spending in the Budget for next fiscal and provide inflation-adjusted personal income tax relief to boost consumer spending, says ICRA. The agency highlights steady GDP growth and the importance of realistic capex numbers while maintaining fiscal discipline.

Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump acknowledge that resolving the Ukraine war will take months, contrary to Trump's campaign promise of an immediate peace deal. Despite Trump's optimistic initial timeline, experts consider even a 100-day resolution overly optimistic. Trump's allies are grappling with complex diplomatic realities and mixed signals from Russia.

Elon Musk once told his first wife Justine Musk that if she were his employee, he would have fired her. Elon and Justin met at Queen's University in Canada and got married in 2000. The couple parted ways in 2008, the same year Musk became Tesla CEO. Justine Musk wrote an essay during their messy divorce proceedings in 2008.

Bengaluru's Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) introduces an online e-khata system to streamline property registration and enhance tax compliance. This initiative targets properties outside the tax bracket, ensuring transparency and legality in transactions, and simplifying the process for new property khatas online.

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The Supreme Court declined to review a plea by BRS leader K T Rama Rao regarding an FIR in the Formula E race case. Rao is accused of unauthorized payments totaling Rs 55 crore, directing funds without necessary approvals, leading to an investigation for alleged misappropriation. The high court maintained the FIR, removing Rao's protection from arrest.

The Karnataka High Court permitted the Lokayukta to keep investigating MUDA site allocation irregularities involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The court requested the Inspector General of Police, Lokayukta, to supervise the probe. The Lokayukta must submit detailed investigation records by January 27.

December goods exports fell 0.99% to $38.01 billion year-on-year, and Indias trade deficit was revised to $32.84 billion after gold import estimates for November were cut by $5 billion. US President-elect Donald Trumps plans for high tariffs could impact India, though Indian officials hope to negotiate and ease import duties on US goods.

North Korean soldiers are helping Russia in the war against Ukraine. Evidence suggests they resort to self-detonation and suicide to avoid being captured. Ukrainian forces found a North Korean soldier detonate a grenade on himself. There are reports of North Korean soldiers being instructed to commit suicide to avoid capture by Ukrainian troops.

A United Airlines flight from Amsterdam to New York was diverted to Dublin after an intoxicated passenger urinated on his seat and caused a disturbance. Zachary Greear received a suspended sentence and agreed to pay 10,000 in damages, apologizing for the inconvenience caused.

Meta India apologised for Mark Zuckerberg's inaccurate remark stating that the Indian government lost power in the 2024 elections, which was factually incorrect. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw corrected the misinformation by highlighting PM Modi's leadership and election victory, emphasizing India's democratic integrity.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the BJP, RSS, and the Indian state have captured all institutions, stressing that the fight is uneven. He expressed concerns about the Election Commission's refusal to provide transparency in Maharashtra's voter list, highlighting major issues in the electoral process.

NARCL has emerged as the sole bidder for Jaiprakash Associates Ltd after no competing bids were received by the deadline. The government-backed bad loan aggregator's offer of Rs 12,000 crore is now the only one on the table.

Kearney has appointed Siddharth Jain as the new managing partner and country head for its India business effective January 1, 2025. Jain succeeds Kaushika Madhavan and will focus on enhancing Kearneys market position, client impact, and growth in India. Jain brings over 16 years of experience in strategic operations and business transformations.

Chips have evolved from a British working-class staple to being embraced by fine dining. They now feature in various innovative forms at high-end restaurants. Top chefs have refined and reimagined them with unique recipes and designer potatoes.

Euler Motors has secured up to USD 20 million in debt from responsAbility Investments AG to enhance production, distribution, and R&D capabilities. This funding will boost Euler's efforts in the commercial EV segment, particularly supporting the growth of their Storm EV for logistics and e-commerce. The capital will also aid in advancing technology and improving after-sales services.

India launched a submarine, a destroyer, and a frigate to boost its naval strength amid rising Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean. The developments mark a significant step in India's defense manufacturing and maritime security efforts. The INS Vagsheer submarine completes the Kalvari-class series, with plans for more submarines to follow.

Minda Corporation, an auto components manufacturer, will buy 49 per cent equity stake in Flash Electronics for Rs 1,372 crore. This partnership aims to enhance the product offerings of both companies. Minda Corporation and Flash Electronics will leverage their portfolios to create a comprehensive range of EV solutions.

Arvind Kejriwal, contesting from the New Delhi seat, faces tough competition from BJP's Parvesh Singh Verma and Congress' Sandeep Dikshit in the upcoming assembly polls. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also sanctioned the Enforcement Directorate to prosecute Kejriwal in the excise policy case, adding to his challenges.

The Delhi High Court has asked the Election Commission to consider removing duplicate names from the voter list. The court suggested using technological tools to address the issue. The Election Commission has been directed to review these suggestions at an appropriate stage, especially before the Delhi assembly elections.

Mayawati, the chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), urges Delhi voters to carefully consider their votes, warning against being influenced by the unfulfilled promises of Congress, BJP, and Aam Aadmi Party. She emphasizes BSP's commitment to public welfare and calls for a free and fair election free from hate speech and manipulations.

Keerthy Suresh reflected on her life after marrying Antony Thattil in December 2024. Adjusting to blended families has been the major change. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Phuket and celebrated their first Pongal at Jagdish Palaniswami's office with friends. Their relationship, beginning in Keerthy's 12th grade, overcame long-distance challenges before settling close together.

An illegal four-storey apartment in south Kolkata collapsed during repairs to correct its tilt. It fell onto a neighboring one-storey house. No injuries occurred as residents had already moved out. The building will be demolished for safety. Subhas Roy, the developer, is on the run and an FIR has been filed against him and other flat owners.

Hosachiguru launches Unnati, a farm-themed residential project in Chikballapur, Karnataka, targeting Rs 130 crore revenue. Spread over 40 acres, the project offers 170 units with an average size of 5,400 square feet, aiming for completion by 2027. The pre-launch price starts from Rs 81 lakhs.

The upcoming Union Budget is anticipated to introduce transformative policies aimed at simplifying the tax system, encouraging investments, and enhancing the economic environment. Key expectations include streamlining tax regulations, easing corporate restructuring, reducing compliance complexity, protecting business interests, modernizing indirect taxes, and bolstering domestic manufacturing.

The Indian Army showcased robotic mules at the Army Day parade in Pune on January 15, 2025. These mules, known as Multi-Utility Legged Equipment, aim to enhance soldier safety and efficiency. The event also displayed advanced military technology and honored soldiers. This was the first time the Army Day parade was held in Pune.

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Rahul Gandhi criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that India gained rue independence after the Ram temple consecration, calling it treason and an insult to every Indian. He also attacked the BJP and RSS for capturing institutions and using investigative agencies against opposition leaders.

Several renowned Indian batters, including Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, are returning to the Ranji Trophy to regain form after recent failures. Rohit Sharma is training with the Mumbai squad, while other players like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are also set to participate in upcoming matches. India's next test series is scheduled for June in England.

The demand for cement in India is predicted to grow at 7-8% CAGR over FY25E-27E, driven by infrastructure development, construction activities, and industry changes. A brief slowdown is expected in FY25E, but long-term profitability improves with cost optimization and strategic expansions.

REA Group appointed Vikas Wadhawan as Chief Operating Officer of REA Cyber City in India. He will manage operations, finance, and people, fostering innovation and excellence. REA Cyber City aims to develop innovative products for Australias property market. The team includes 50 employees and seeks to attract top talent in AI and cyber security.