The Economic Times

One of Scotlands greatest artists had sketched the countrys most revered poet, only for the artwork to go missing for centuries

A new India-EU trade deal opens doors for EU banks in India. EU banks can now establish 15 branches over four years. India also permits 100% foreign direct investment in its insurance sector. In return, Indian professionals will benefit from a more stable visa regime. This agreement boosts financial services for both regions.

Bharti Airtel is providing free access to Adobe Express Premium for one year to its 360 million mobile and broadband customers. This offer, valued at Rs 4,000, is available to all Airtel users. Customers can activate the subscription through the AirtelThanks App without needing a credit card.

Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi went through a tough phase early in their marriage when Parmeets business shut down and Archana became the only earning member. While the financial imbalance caused some resentment at times. Read on to know how the couple worked through it.

A fire in Kolkata's Anandapur area on January 26 claimed three lives, including two employees of a food chain. The company stated the fire spread from a neighboring warehouse due to unauthorized cooking. The food chain offered compensation and support to the victims' families. BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized the West Bengal government's response and called for a SIT probe.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin welcomed new UGC equity regulations. He stressed the need to strengthen and revise these rules to address discrimination in higher education. Stalin highlighted a rise in student suicides, particularly among SC and ST students, since the BJP came to power.

Tesla is phasing out its Model S and Model X electric cars. Production is expected to end soon. This move frees up factory space for Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot. Elon Musk believes robots will become the company's main business. Customers interested in these models should order now. Owners will still receive support.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in Beijing to foster a stronger relationship with China. He met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss global stability and climate change. Starmer aims to boost opportunities for British businesses amid a slow domestic economy. This visit marks a significant step in improving UK-China ties after years of strain.

Defying family tradition valuing job security, chartered accountant Meenal Goel embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. Despite initial fears and lack of support, she persevered through early struggles, proving that drive, not inheritance, fuels business success. Her story highlights the courage to pursue personal growth over conventional stability, eventually earning her family's acceptance.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has instructed BJP workers to file numerous Form 7 complaints against 'Miyas' during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. He stated this action aims to identify potential foreigners, asserting that the party is against their presence in the state.

Zerodha founders Nithin and Nikhil Kamath learned chess from Niranjan Sarja. Their mother, Revathi Kamath, intentionally exposed her sons to various activities. Despite academic struggles, she supported them without judgment. Sarja, now a corporate trainer, reflects the impact of early mentorship. This story highlights the formative influences on successful individuals.

Wonder Man ends with Simon Williams feeling betrayed after learning that Trevor Slattery shared information with the DoDC. To save Simon, Trevor takes the blame and gives up his freedom. Simon goes on to finish his film, but later breaks Trevor out of prison. Read on to know what happened in the end and OTT details.

Ahead of the Feb. 1 Budget, PM Modis government is expected to boost infrastructure spending and improve ease of doing business while maintaining fiscal discipline. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may simplify import duties and ease compliance for small businesses, aiming to support growth amid muted private investment and global risks, including punitive US tariffs.

The Trump administration is withdrawing from plans to set minimum prices for critical minerals projects. This decision stems from a lack of congressional funding and the challenges of market pricing. Officials have informed industry executives that projects must be financially independent. This marks a shift from previous commitments and could differentiate the U.S. from G7 partners discussing price support measures.

The Reserve Bank of India will maintain its key interest rate at 5.25% until 2026. Economists polled by Reuters expect the central bank to hold steady. This decision comes as the RBI assesses previous rate cuts and observes robust economic growth. Inflation remains below target. The focus is on ensuring policy transmission across the economy.

This weeks OTT releases offer something for everyone. Ranveer Singh returns in the action-packed thriller Dhurandhar. Bridgerton Season 4 shifts focus to Benedict Bridgerton and his new love story. Daldal is a crime thriller led by Bhumi Pednekar. Music lovers can enjoy the Take That documentary. Nivin Pauly stars in the supernatural comedy Sarvam Maya, while Devkhel is a Marathi psychological crime thriller. Read on to know when and where to watch them online.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu met with delegations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the Dominican Republic at Wings India 2026. India is becoming a global aviation hub, attracting partnerships and collaborations. The minister emphasized manufacturing, skills development, and sustainability. India aims to be a global exporter in civil aviation within a decade.

Federal immigration operations persist in Minneapolis and St Paul. President Trump made conciliatory remarks after speaking with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey. However, enforcement actions continued on city streets. Journalists faced obstruction while covering these operations. A man confronted Representative Ilhan Omar at a town hall. Federal courts are reviewing lawsuits challenging the crackdown.

Gold price biggest one-day dollar gain: Gold experienced its largest one-day dollar jump in history, soaring $235 an ounce as investors fled the tumbling US dollar for hard assets. This historic rally saw gold futures settle above $5,300, driven by a weak dollar, central bank demand, and market uncertainty. Silver also saw significant gains, reaching its second-highest settlement on record.

Delhi, Noida, Gurugram weather today: The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Delhi on Thursday and the temperature in the national capital is likely to plunge. Delhi may see partly cloudy sky and moderate fog during the morning hours today. Noida and Gurugram are also likely to see similar weather conditions. From February 1, the Delhi-NCR region may see light rainfall.

Federal troops sent to six US cities by the Trump administration have cost taxpayers nearly $500 million. Continued deployment could surpass $1 billion. Senator Jeff Merkley highlighted the significant expenditure. The White House claims these efforts have reduced crime. Legal challenges have arisen regarding the deployments. Costs for future deployments are also estimated.

Border 2 is a major box office success in early 2026, driven by its Republic Day release and patriotic theme. Starring Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan, the war drama has garnered significant audience interest, with strong opening day collections and impressive weekday earnings. Read on to know how much it earned on day 6.

The European Union is set to exempt major gas suppliers including the United States and Qatar from new checks. This comes as the bloc finalizes its plan to ban Russian gas imports by late 2027. Countries like Norway, Britain, Algeria, and Nigeria will also receive this exemption.

US stock market today: US stock markets saw a mixed close as the US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, citing solid economic expansion. Chip stocks surged on strong AI-driven earnings, with Seagate Technology and ASML showing significant gains. Investors now await key tech earnings from Microsoft, Meta, and Apple, while gold prices experienced a remarkable rally.

Reliance Industries and Capri Global will acquire Mumbais 1,500-bed SevenHills Hospital, ending an eight-year impasse. The hospital will be converted into a not-for-profit entity, with funds infused via equity support.

IBM stock price today: IBM shares surged over 7% after the tech giant announced robust fourth-quarter earnings, surpassing Wall Street's expectations. The impressive performance was fueled by a significant uptick in demand for its software services, particularly those leveraging artificial intelligence. This surge highlights IBM's strategic focus on AI as a key growth engine.

A fatal Learjet crash in Baramati, killing Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, has exposed the concerning safety lapses among non-scheduled aviation operators. Experts point to widespread violations, including using expired components and falsifying records, driven by cost-cutting pressures. Many charter operators, unlike commercial airlines, operate with lean safety teams and often fly to remote airports with limited facilities, increasing risks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address at the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026, focusing on India's expanding global footprint and its path to becoming the world's third-largest economy by 2030. The summit, themed 'A Decade of Disruption, A Century of Change,' will explore India's role as an innovation capital, building on its manufacturing and technology advancements.

India and the European Union have finalized a free trade agreement. Key sectors like mass market cars and farm produce are protected. Duty concessions will be introduced for specific EU vehicles over time. Indian apples will gain access to the EU market. This pact aims to boost trade between the two regions.

The government is considering a significant increase in the EPFO wage ceiling to Rs 25,000 from Rs 15,000, aiming to extend social security to more workers. This move, prompted by a Supreme Court directive, could boost the EPFO corpus but will reduce employees' take-home pay and increase employer costs.

India's industrial output surged to a 26-month high of 7.8% in December, propelled by robust manufacturing activity, GST rationalization, and a low-base effect. This strong performance, particularly in manufacturing, electricity, and mining, is expected to significantly boost upcoming GDP figures for the third quarter.

Is silver price dream run over and will it start to fall now? Spot silver remained stable after hitting record highs. Gold, platinum, and palladium also rose as geopolitical tensions and Federal Reserve policy influenced global precious metal markets. Investors track future moves for silver and gold.

The Pitt Season 2 Episode 4 release time, schedule and how to watch explains when the new episode airs, where to stream it, full season schedule, global timings, story update, and viewing options for HBO Max subscribers.

Recent graduates with tech degrees are facing unexpected job market struggles, with one user detailing over 500 applications leading to only two interviews and a return to restaurant work. This experience resonates with many, highlighting a perceived collapse in job opportunities despite strong academic backgrounds and internships.

A sudden all-hands meeting worried employees after a Sunday night email from the CEO. The meeting later revealed the company was acquired, raising fears of job cuts. Workers noticed unclear messages from leadership and mixed signals on job safety. Many employees, especially new hires, are now seeking advice on what to do next.

Senior care facilities operate under a patchwork of state lawsmany adapted from hospital, mental health or social welfare frameworks not designed for long-term elder care.

The government is looking to control the sale of Pregabalin. This common medicine is being misused. The government wants to make sure it is only sold with a doctor's prescription. This move follows concerns raised by authorities. Pregabalin is used for pain and seizures. Stricter rules are being considered to prevent its misuse.

These companies are also shifting from all-year round buying and instead acquiring raw materials in bulk during harvest seasons to reduce costs. High prices of wheat, edible oil, sugar, pulses, and other agri-commodities had squeezed margins at these companies last fiscal year.

A fatal Learjet 45 crash near Pune, killing five, is expected to trigger insurance claims of approximately 50 crore. The aircraft, insured by ICICI Lombard, was attempting to land when it crashed. This follows another aviation insurance claim of 18 crore earlier this month.

Celebrity brand endorsements saw a significant 22% decline in 2025, marking the steepest drop. Companies are shifting budgets from expensive celebrities to influencers, including nano-influencers, to connect with GenZ consumers and achieve better campaign measurement. While celebrities remain important in some categories, the trend favors community-focused advertising.

Indian private banks increased loan write-offs by over 22% in the December quarter. This move aims to clean balance sheets. Despite low reported bad loan ratios, underlying stress persists, especially in retail and unsecured lending. Banks are proactively managing credit costs. This trend highlights ongoing asset quality pressures that observers are watching closely.

PNB Housing Finance aims to balance growth and margins under a new leader with a five-year tenure, following frequent leadership changes. The company is shifting focus to higher-yielding affordable and mid-market housing loans, targeting a 45-50% share by FY28. This strategy, coupled with funding new developers, seeks to improve profitability and address investor concerns.

INOX Clean Energy is securing a 3,400 crore, 20-year loan from NaBFID to refinance debt post-acquisition of Macquarie's Vibrant Energy. This loan, priced between 8-8.50%, will be secured by seven solar, wind, and hybrid projects with long-term PPAs. The move aims to retire expensive debt and reduce the company's equity component.

Hindustan Unilever is restructuring its marketing leadership, appointing new heads across segments to bolster brand building amidst intensifying competition. This strategic shift aims to sharpen brand focus, accelerate decision-making, and adapt to evolving consumer preferences in India's dynamic market.

Data analyst career struggle: A Reddit post detailing a data analyst's struggles with job retention has gone viral, sparking discussions about career misalignment and potential focus issues. Users suggested ADHD evaluations and alternative career paths like project management or logistics, emphasizing the importance of understanding data fundamentals and coping strategies.

When will Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores close down and will Amazon.com grocery delivery still work or stop? Amazon will shut 72 physical grocery stores by February 1. California stores will close later. Amazon Fresh online and grocery delivery from Amazon.com will continue without interruption.

Under the EU-Turkey Customs Union, Turkiye has to match the EU's common external tariff. So, when the EU lowers its tariffs for an FTA partner such as India, Turkiye would have to extend the same benefit to India.