The Economic Times
Elections 2026Global Business / The Economic Times
Delhi government has approved a welfare initiative to provide a free LPG cooking gas cylinder to economically weaker households on Holi and Diwali. The decision, with a Rs 300 crore allocation, fulfills a BJP electoral promise. Beneficiaries will receive funds via Direct Benefit Transfer to their Aadhaar-linked accounts.
Bangladesh elections: A December opinion poll by the U.S.-based International Republican Institute ranked Jamaat as the most liked party and projected a tight race with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for the top spot in the February 12 election.
A senior manager at an LIC office in Madurai died in what was initially thought to be an accidental fire. Police now say an assistant officer murdered her. The manager was investigating document irregularities linked to the assistant officer. He allegedly set her on fire and locked her in a room.
Pakistan Cricket Board backs Bangladesh's stance on not playing T20 World Cup matches in India. This follows security concerns raised by Bangladesh. The International Cricket Council will decide on Bangladesh's participation. Bangladesh wants its matches shifted to Sri Lanka. Pakistan will play its matches in Sri Lanka. The issue began after a directive from the BCCI regarding a player.
Canada is bracing for another year of extreme heat, with 2026 predicted to be among the hottest on record. Global temperatures are expected to remain significantly above pre-industrial levels, marking the 13th consecutive year. This trend suggests the period from 2026 to 2030 will likely be the hottest five-year span ever recorded.
Basant Panchami 2026 shubh muhurat kab hai: Basant Panchami, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, will be celebrated on Friday, January 23, 2026, based on Udaya Tithi. This auspicious day marks the arrival of spring and is ideal for new beginnings, learning, and arts. Devotees worship the Goddess of wisdom, seeking blessings for creativity and clarity of thought.
A new European Twenty20 league is set to begin in August. Cricket boards from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands back the league. Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan is a founder. Glenn Maxwell co-owns the Belfast franchise. Steve Waugh is part of the ownership for the Amsterdam team. The league aims to boost cricket in Europe.
Singer Anup Jalota has sharply criticized composer AR Rahman's recent comments. Jalota suggested Rahman should reconvert to Hinduism if he believes his Muslim faith hinders his film career. Rahman had previously spoken about facing prejudice in Bollywood. He later issued an apology for any hurt caused by his statements. Rahman continues his work on upcoming projects.
A Japanese court handed down a life sentence to Tetsuya Yamagami for assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Yamagami confessed to the murder, stating his motive was to target a controversial church with alleged ties to Japan's ruling party. The shocking incident has spurred investigations into the church and prompted security reforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the people of Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura on their statehood days. He acknowledged their contributions to India's progress and development. The Prime Minister expressed confidence in the continued growth and prosperity of these states. He highlighted Manipur's dedication, Meghalaya's cultural vibrancy, and Tripura's blend of tradition and modernity.
Nome, Alaska, a remote Arctic town, is set to become the U.S.'s first deepwater Arctic port, a $548 million expansion aiming to boost trade and resources. While proponents see economic growth and self-sufficiency, residents and tribal members express concerns about population booms, infrastructure costs, and impacts on their traditional subsistence lifestyle.
Delhi's air quality saw a slight improvement on Wednesday morning, registering an AQI of 339, still in the very poor category. While better than Tuesday's 395, 30 stations reported very poor conditions, with Jahangirpuri at 390. The city experienced a minimum temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius with moderate fog expected.
The three-day enumeration drive is being carried out by the Chilika Wildlife Division in coordination with the Chilika Development Office to assess the current population, distribution, and habitat use of dolphins in Asia's largest brackish water lagoon.
Leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos voiced strong concerns over global trade and President Trump's actions. French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a ew colonial approach. California Governor Gavin Newsom urged leaders to stand tall and firm. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney advocated for middle powers to cooperate.
Sentenced to Be a Hero Episode 3 release date, time, schedule, what to expect and how to watch details the next chapter of the anime. The episode continues the tunnel mission, explores Demon Blight effects, and follows Xylos decision to rescue trapped miners while facing the system behind his sentence.
Since his inauguration in June, Lee has pushed for dialogue with the North without preconditions, a stark departure from the hawkish approach of his predecessor. But Pyongyang has not responded to his overtures and recently accused South Korea of flying a drone into the border city of Kaesong.
Garena Free Fire Max continues to engage players with tournaments and daily rewards, with redeem codes offering an easy way to acquire free items. These 12-character alphanumeric codes are time-sensitive and can only be used once, so prompt redemption is advised. Players can claim their rewards by visiting the official redemption site and logging in with their game-linked accounts.
Air Force One, carrying President Trump, made an unexpected return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after departing for Switzerland due to a minor electrical issue. The President will switch to another aircraft to continue his journey to the World Economic Forum in Davos. This incident highlights the aging fleet of presidential planes.
Gujarat's delegation is at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Led by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the delegation aims to explore new opportunities in sectors like Artificial Intelligence and defence.
Iran has warned former US President Donald Trump against taking any action against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with a top military spokesman saying any aggression would trigger severe retaliation. The warning followed Trumps call for an end to Khameneis nearly 40-year rule.
During the press conference, he again repeated the claim that he settled eight wars, including between India and Pakistan, Kosovo and Serbia, the Congo and Rwanda and others.
Why is silver price rising above $95.89 and will it increase further? Silver hits record highs due to geopolitical tensions, USEurope trade disputes, and safe-haven demand. Traders remain cautious amid Fed interest rate decisions. The price movement reflects global economic and political uncertainty, making Silver a sought-after asset.
Over the course of its 10-month deployment, INS Sudarshini will traverse approximately 22,000 nautical miles, visiting 18 ports in 13 countries, officials said.
A new report suggests OnePlus is being dismantled by parent company Oppo, with global shipments falling significantly and market share declining in key regions like India and China. Several product launches have reportedly been scrapped, raising concerns about the brand's future despite assurances of continued support for existing users.
Why is Gold price rising above $4,800 and will it continue to grow? Gold surged past $4,800 amid geopolitical tensions, a weaker dollar, and safe-haven demand. Market movements, US-EU trade disputes, and Fed policies are influencing investors. This explainer details the factors driving gold, silver, platinum, and palladium prices.
Operation Sindoor: Trump has again claimed he ended the conflict between India and Pakistan during his second term. He said this action, along with resolving eight other wars, saved millions of lives.
Vladimir Lenin, a pivotal Russian revolutionary, spearheaded the 1917 Bolshevik takeover, ending imperial rule. He championed a disciplined party to lead the working class and established socialist policies like land redistribution and nationalization in the nascent Soviet state. Lenin's leadership during the civil war cemented the Soviet political system, marking him as a monumental 20th-century figure.
Davos meeting: Carney delivered his stirring speech to political and financial elites at the World Economic Forum, a day before US President Donald Trump was set to address the gathering in Davos, Switzerland.
Apple Music down and when will it be back up? Users report problems accessing Apple Music and other Apple services on Jan. 20. Downdetector shows over 1,000 outage reports. Apple confirms issues with the App Store, Apple TV, iTunes, Maps, and more. The company is working to restore all services, but no timeline has been given.
Despite President Trump's push for territorial expansion, a new survey reveals most Americans aren't keen on annexing Canada or Greenland. A significant majority prefer these neighbors remain independent. While some Republicans show slight interest, there's no widespread public clamor for such ambitious moves, even with the White House framing it as national security.
$1.4 trillion wiped out from US stock market today? US stocks fell after President Trump threatened EU tariffs linked to Greenland. Major indexes dropped. Trade war fears rose. Bond yields climbed. Investors moved to safe assets as earnings season began.
Just hours after she was killed on Jan. 7, Trump falsely claimed that Good violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer and said that she had ehaved horribly. He later said Good, a poet and a mother of three, had a highly disrespectful attitude toward law enforcement and suggested that it justified her killing.
Earth is experiencing a severe solar radiation storm, the strongest in two decades. This event is disrupting satellite operations and high-frequency radio communications. Aviation routes, especially near polar regions, face potential issues. However, the storm is also bringing spectacular northern lights to areas not usually seeing them, offering a rare celestial display.
Why is Bitcoin and Ether falling drastically and will it slip further? Bitcoin and Ether prices fell sharply as liquidations increased, global markets dropped, and trade tensions rose. Bond stress, ETF outflows, and risk selling pushed crypto prices lower.
Trump Greenland tariff: Trump has intensified friction with long-standing allies, threatening new tariffs on European nations unless they agree to the US taking over Greenland. Trump also invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to a peace initiative for Gaza. European leaders are concerned about the future of NATO and the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Usha Vance: The couple said they were excited to share the news of their fourth child, who will join their other three young kids: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.
The crash in Catalonia in northeastern Spain came just two days after a separate deadly train collision killed at least 42 people in the country's south and injured dozens more.
India is considering revamping its permanent establishment tax framework, including formula-based profit attribution, to protect taxing rights, offer clarity to MNCs and digital firms, and reduce long-running tax disputes.
The government is planning double-digit increases in allocations for key rural schemes in Budget 202627 to boost growth and demand, with higher spending likely on rural jobs, housing and roads.
Usha Vance age, children, pregnancy and family details are here. Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, announced her fourth pregnancy. The couple expects a baby boy in July. Usha, 40, has three children. This story covers her age, children, pregnancy, family background, career, and her life with JD Vance.
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, believes AGI will revolutionize science and medicine, leading to radical abundance. He noted China's significant progress in AI, now trailing the West by only six to twelve months. However, Hassabis stated that groundbreaking innovations like AlphaGo have so far originated from US companies.
AI is driving the fourth Industrial Revolution, with $7 trillion already invested in infrastructure. Anuj Ranjan of Brookfield highlights emerging investment opportunities in India's manufacturing sector, moving away from traditional tech and services. He notes a significant surge in US manufacturing plant investments, indicating a growing need for capital.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Finale Episode 8 release time and how to watch details the premiere date, streaming platforms, subscription plans, free viewing options, episode title, cast list, recap of Episode 7, and what to expect in the final episode on Disney+ and Hulu.
The Rookie Season 8 Episode 3 release time and how to watch details when the new episode airs on ABC, when it streams on Hulu, cast details, plot points, schedule changes, and international availability for viewers waiting outside the United States.
Quote of the day by Merton Miller: Nobel laureate Merton Miller emphasized that outperforming the market requires significant investment in unique information, a costly endeavor. His insights highlight the difficulty of consistently earning above-average returns due to efficient markets. This underscores why diversified, passive strategies often prove more beneficial for most investors.

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