The Economic Times

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has refused to deliver his address at the state assembly's joint sitting. He objects to specific paragraphs in the government-prepared speech concerning MGNREGA and fund devolution. Minister HK Patil met the Governor, but no resolution was reached.

The All India Congress Committee will hold a convention on Thursday. Workers and activists linked to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act will attend. The party is protesting the Centre's move to replace MGNREGA with the G RAM G employment scheme. Leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are expected to be present.

The Supreme Court is forming an expert committee to study the Aravalli hills definition and mining issues. Farmers have opposed new mining leases. Lawyers are suggesting names for the committee. The court wants to stop illegal mining. Mountain ranges cannot have a strict definition, one lawyer argued. The government assured no illegal mining will occur.

Congress has raised concerns with the Chief Electoral Officer in Assam. The party alleges thousands of Form 7 applications for voter deletion were submitted in bulk. These forms reportedly lack proper details and verification. Congress seeks urgent intervention and a compiled list of all submitted forms.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is promoting young leaders across its organization. New age limits are being set for national and state youth wing chiefs. This move aligns with the new party president Nitin Nabin's age profile. The party is also preparing for upcoming state elections. Focus will be on communication, cadre strength, and government coordination.

The BBC has announced a significant deal with YouTube. This partnership will bring British storytelling and news to a wider audience. New content will be produced specifically for YouTube's younger viewers. This move aims to connect the BBC with audiences in new ways. The collaboration will also focus on investing in new programming and supporting emerging British creators.

A Reddit post about an employee fired after a paycheck overpayment has sparked anger online. The worker says they did not notice the extra pay while on vacation and offered to return it. The company accused them of dishonesty and fired them. Many people believe the firing was unfair and extreme.

Maharashtra politics sees a new alliance. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena has joined hands with Raj Thackeray's MNS in Kalyan Dombivli. This move aims to isolate the BJP. The Shiv Sena and BJP had enough numbers to control the civic body. However, the Sena seeks MNS support to reduce BJP's influence.

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Kraft Heinz KHC stock: Kraft Heinz shares fell sharply after Berkshire Hathaway indicated it might sell its large stake. Warren Buffett's firm helped create Kraft Heinz. New CEO Greg Abel's leadership may bring changes. Investors are watching to see if this signals a shift in Berkshire's strategy. A sale could be a significant move for the company.

India is set to implement the SHANTI Act and its accompanying rulebook for nuclear energy within three months, aiming to transform the sector by opening it to private and non-government entities. Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted growing international interest, including from the US, and emphasized cautious implementation to balance expanded participation with essential safeguards.

Russia and China are traditionally strong supporters of the United Nations, and both are veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council.

Israel launched fresh strikes on what it said were Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon after raids earlier Wednesday killed two people, the latest violence despite a year-old ceasefire with the militant group. The November 2024 truce sought to end more than a year of hostilities, but Israel accuses Hezbollah of rearming, while the militant group has rejected calls to surrender its weapons. burs-str/lg/jfx

Autopay lets you pay bills automatically using credit or debit cards. Credit cards give rewards, improve credit, and help if bills come before payday, but can cause interest and late fees. Debit cards are safer, show real money, and avoid debt, but may offer fewer rewards. Choosing the right card saves money, avoids fees, and keeps payments simple.

Nagaland now requires birth certificates for school admissions and government jobs. This new rule applies to all official services. The Nagaland Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2024, are now in effect. Birth certificates will serve as the only proof of identity for various purposes. Citizens must ensure timely registration of births.

The 2026 Oscar nominations will be announced, broadcast, and livestreamed on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. EST / 5:30 a.m. PST. ABC will broadcast the nominations on Good Morning America, while audiences can also stream on Hulu, Disney+, ABC News Live, Oscar.com, Oscar.org, and the Academys social media pages. Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman will present nominees across 24 categories, which also includes the new Best Casting award.

Indian ministers Harsh Sanghavi and K Rammohan Naidu declared India has transitioned from an emerging economy to a pivotal force in global growth. They highlighted India's role in resilient supply chains, democratic stability, innovation, and sustainability, driven by its digital public infrastructure and inclusive development model.

Donald Trump confused Greenland with Iceland during an incoherent speech at the World Economic Forum, reiterating his desire to acquire the Danish territory. He likened the potential annexation to European colonial history and threatened unstoppable force, despite existing treaties granting U.S. military access. His fixation has strained relations with European allies.

Meanwhile, the ECI simultaneously released a detailed guideline and directed the West Bengal CEOs office to display the names of persons with Logical Discrepancies and unmapped by January 24, as per the SC order.

President Trumps primary Air Force One jet turned back over the Atlantic on January 20, 2026, due to a minor electrical failure. The aging Boeing VC-25A safely returned to Maryland after lights flickered mid-flight. Trump quickly switched to a backup C-32A, landing in Zurich for the Davos summit.

Kyiv faces severe power and heating outages affecting thousands of buildings as Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Amidst freezing temperatures, President Zelenskyy is focused on restoring services, while international efforts for peace talks, including a planned meeting with President Trump, are underway.

The renewed scheme offers free treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year, an increase from the earlier cap of Rs 3 lakh, Balagopal said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron wore sunglasses indoors at the World Economic Forum due to a medical issue, a subconjunctival hemorrhage in his right eye. This condition, though harmless and temporary, sparked speculation and comparisons to fashion statements and political messaging, with some viewing it as a tough stance against global instability.

Ashton Kutcher has addressed persistent rumors about his and wife Mila Kunis's hygiene. Kutcher stated he showers regularly, especially after workouts. The couple previously joked about not bathing children daily, sparking widespread discussion. They later humorously reenacted the misunderstanding in a TikTok video. Kutcher confirmed his personal showering routine, dispelling the viral notion.

Norway has chosen to step back from US President Donald Trump's proposed 'Board of Peace', citing the need for more dialogue surrounding the American initiative. Consequently, the Norwegian delegation will not be present at the signing ceremony in Davos.

A Delhi court is set to deliver its verdict in a case linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar is the accused. The court reserved its order after final arguments concluded. Two FIRs were registered against Kumar concerning violence in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri areas of Delhi.

Ulta Beauty World 2026 is set to make its comeback on April 16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This highly awaited beauty convention promises exclusive experiences, from master classes and skill-building workshops to live demonstrations by the Ulta Beauty Pro Team. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet brand founders, sample premier products, and delve into curated offerings in an extensive 7-million-square-foot venue.

A developer warned Noida Authority about a dangerous water-filled pit in Sector 150. Software engineer Yuvraj Mehta drowned there after his car plunged in. Despite prior alerts from the developer, irrigation department, and locals, the site remained unsecured. Authorities have now installed barricades and taken administrative action. The incident underscores a critical failure in ensuring public safety.

The European Parliament has halted progress on a trade deal with the United States. This decision comes in response to President Donald Trump's demands regarding Greenland and his threats of tariffs. The parliament was set to vote on proposals to reduce EU import duties on US goods. This move could potentially escalate tensions and lead to higher US tariffs.

India challenges the IMF's view of its AI standing. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw argues India is a top AI power, not second tier. He highlights progress across five AI layers: application, model, chip, infrastructure, and energy. India focuses on practical AI applications and diverse models for economic impact. This approach prioritizes widespread adoption and measurable results.

Delhi government is building a new wholesale fruit and vegetable market. This new facility will be located in Tikri Khampur. It aims to ease congestion at Azadpur Mandi, Asia's largest market. The project will be developed through a public-private partnership.

India is yet to decide on President Trump's Board of Peace invitation, aimed at resolving global conflicts and bringing peace to Gaza. The initiative, unveiled during a Gaza ceasefire, will be detailed at Davos. India is carefully considering the sensitive aspects of this new international body.

Credit Card interest rate: Donald Trump, under pressure to address voters' cost-of-living concerns ahead of this year's congressional elections, called for the cap earlier this month, without detailing how the plan would be implemented.

US stock market bounced back strongly today. All major indexes closed in the green. The Dow jumped 337 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbed over 0.70%. Equities rose after Trump ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland. This eased Sell America fears and stabilized the dollar. Bank stocks gained despite proposed credit card rate caps. However, gold surged to $4,856 as trade tensions with Europe remain a long-term risk.

United States President Donald Trump has predicted a swift economic revival for Venezuela. He stated the South American nation will earn significantly more in the coming six months than it has in the past six years. Trump emphasized that the US is actively assisting Venezuela's recovery. This comes after what he described as years of self-inflicted mismanagement by the country.

Taylor Swifts newly unsealed texts have ignited social media as they shed light on her role in the ongoing legal conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The documents indicate that Swift provided guidance and support to Lively, placing her as more than a passive observer in the battle. The revelations emphasize the dynamics of friendship, trust, and behind-the-scenes coordination amid a high-profile courtroom concern.

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US President Donald Trump mocked Emmanuel Macron at Davos Wednesday, taking aim at sunglasses his French counterpart wore a day earlier for health issues and accusing him of playing tough over pharmaceutical price negotiations. But I watched him sort of be tough over his hesitation to raise drug prices to be more in line with US rates, Trump said in an address to the economic forum.

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken center stage at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos. His mission? To attract investments in transformative sectors like green energy, hydropower, and cutting-edge semiconductors.

US natural gas futures have skyrocketed 60% in three days, hitting nearly $5.00/MMBtu. An intense Arctic blast is driving record heating demand across the Midwest and Northeast. Supply is tightening as extreme cold causes wellhead freeze-offs in Texas. This sudden shift forced bearish traders into a massive short squeeze. While this spike fuels immediate inflation concerns, record domestic production may eventually stabilize the market.

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to postpone a personal hearing for Caf Coffee Day executives, originally scheduled for January 30. This decision follows a plea by the coffee chain challenging the ED's FEMA proceedings initiated in 2022. The court granted interim relief, deferring the proceedings until further orders.

Allowing a criminal original petition filed by Malviya, the BJP's IT Cell chief, seeking to quash the first information report, Justice S Srimathy said continuation of the case would amount to abuse of process of law. Hence, the impugned FIR filed by Tiruchirappalli city police is quashed.