The Economic Times

Word of the day: Language has a way of giving shape to ideas that extend beyond a single moment, and few words manage this as gracefully as palimpsest. Rooted in history yet rich in literary and philosophical resonance, the term has moved far beyond its original definition to serve as a potent metaphor for memory, cities, relationships and even politics.

The agreement cuts US tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 per cent in exchange for USD 250 billion in new investments in the US tech industry. It is comparable to deals with the European Union and Japan worked out after President Donald Trump proposed sweeping tariffs for many US trading partners.

Russia's oil product exports surged in December, showing a 17% increase from November. This rise was fueled by greater output and lower domestic consumption. Shipments from Baltic and Black Sea ports saw significant gains. However, overall exports for the year 2025 experienced a decline compared to 2024, impacted by disruptions.

Election officials made their way to Amartya Sen's residence in Bolpur to streamline the electoral roll revision process. They gathered essential documents such as his Aadhaar details, voter ID, and even the death certificate of his late mother. A letter that allows his cousin to attend hearings on his behalf was also included in the submission.

Justin Bieber, a Canadian pop sensation, began his musical journey as a hobby. He taught himself instruments and shared videos online for family. His first single 'One Time' became a hit, leading to a successful debut EP. Bieber became the first artist with seven songs from a debut record on the Billboard Hot 100.

Maruti Suzuki has commenced exports of its mid-size SUV, Victoris, to global markets, with over 450 vehicles already shipped. The SUV, to be sold internationally as 'Across', will reach approximately 100 countries. This move aligns with the company's 'Make in India, Make for the World' vision, bolstering its position as India's leading passenger vehicle exporter.

Bharat Forge's aerospace division has secured significant contracts worth approximately Rs 300 crore. These deals are for supplying drones to the Indian Army and Navy. The contracts cover indigenous unmanned systems, including ISR platforms and loitering munitions. Bharat Forge's drone platforms are developed to meet urgent operational needs across various terrains.

Goa's Chief Minister is launching a wide-ranging investigation into tourism establishments. This follows a devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub that claimed 25 lives. The probe will examine violations dating back to 1999. Authorities are cracking down on businesses operating without essential permits. No special treatment will be given to VIPs found to be in violation of rules.

U.S. Stock Market today is set to open in green as several pivotal factors are likely to drive S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq.

The Jharkhand High Court has deemed a recent police raid on the Enforcement Directorate office as preplanned. The court has ordered the Union Home Secretary to provide security to the ED office and its officers. The Ranchi SSP has been directed to ensure proper security. The court has also stayed the police investigation against ED officers.

Taking the ground that she is the legally wedded wife and a direct legal heir of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, Priya Kapur has moved the Supreme Court seeking certified copies of the complete records of the 2016 transfer petition arising out of Sunjay Kapur's divorce proceedings with actor Karisma Kapoor.

Bangladesh cricketers have ended their boycott of the BPL T20 matches. The Bangladesh Cricket Board and the players' welfare association reached an agreement. This consensus has allowed the scheduled BPL T20 matches to resume. The boycott began after senior players protested disparaging comments from a BCB director. The BCB removed the director from his finance committee post.

Quote of the day by Nikola Tesla remains strikingly relevant in a world grappling with rapid technological change and ethical uncertainty. Teslas insight, that virtues and failings are inseparable, offers a caution against simplistic narratives of success or failure.

iQoo has launched the Z11 Turbo in China, featuring a 6.59-inch 144Hz AMOLED display, a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, and a massive 7,600 mAh battery. This new device also boasts a groundbreaking 200MP main camera, making it a significant addition to the premium smartphone market. Sales commence January 15th in China.

Gold rate on Friday fell and gold futures price for February was also down.

Nashik Election 2026 Result: The Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP, is currently leading in the Nashik Civic body election results. Counting of votes for the Municipal Corporation elections, held after an eight-year delay, shows the alliance ahead in several seats. Early trends indicate a strong performance for the BJP and its allies.

India is set to make it easier for foreign firms to invest in its defence sector. The government plans to raise the foreign direct investment cap to 74% under the automatic route. This move aims to encourage global defence partners to take majority stakes in Indian ventures. Reforms could be enacted soon, boosting domestic manufacturing and defence exports.

The Supreme Court has given the Telangana Assembly speaker two weeks to provide a status report. This report concerns disqualification pleas against Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLAs who joined the Congress. The court previously issued a contempt notice for non-compliance. The speaker cited eye surgery for delays. The court warned of consequences if directions are not followed.

The Supreme Court has put a hold on the Calcutta High Court's decision to disqualify Mukul Roy as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Roy, a senior leader, had switched from the BJP to the TMC. The High Court's November 13, 2025 order is now stayed by the apex court. This marks a significant development in anti-defection law proceedings.

Sujoy Paul has taken oath as the new Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court. West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose administered the oath. Justice Paul was appointed a judge on July 18, 2025. He was previously serving as the Acting Chief Justice. This marks a significant transition for the high court.

Union Budget News: India's UPI digital payment system faces a crucial decision ahead of Budget 2026. While UPI has revolutionized transactions, its zero Merchant Discount Rate policy is straining payment companies and banks. Urgent action is needed to ensure the system's long-term viability and continued growth across the nation.

Bunnings Warehouse has transformed a $5.50 baseball cap into a viral fashion sensation, initially created for a partnership with The Block. The vintage-style accessory, now available nationwide in new maroon and chocolate brown variants, has garnered widespread praise for its affordability and style, proving simple items can capture public imagination.

The Bharatiya Janata Party will elect its new national president on January 20. Nominations for the post will be filed on January 19. Nitin Nabin is expected to be elected unopposed. He will likely succeed J P Nadda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are backing Nabin's candidature.

African Swine Fever has devastated Mizoram's pig population, causing over 9,700 deaths and a financial loss of Rs 114.64 crore in 2025 alone. Since its initial report in 2021, the disease has claimed over 72,000 pigs, impacting thousands of families and resulting in a staggering Rs 1,011.27 crore loss.

Defence Budget 2026: For India to become a global defence industrial power, increased capital expenditure and a significant boost to defence R&D are crucial. Bold tax incentives will encourage private sector and startup involvement in defence production and exports.

The World Bank has approved a USD 286 million loan to support a health system reform programme in West Bengal aimed at improving access to quality healthcare and raising life expectancy. The programme will focus on personalised care for people aged 30 and above through digital tracking of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, while also strengthening patient-centric services, outcome measurement and climate resilience of health facilities.

The Supreme Court recently expressed strong disapproval towards a petitioner who invoked Article 32 in an inappropriate manner. Originally intended as a safeguard for severe violations of fundamental rights, the court noted that the article was improperly employed to address trivial issues such as adjournments seen in High Courts.

Vote counting for the Thane Municipal Corporation elections is in progress. Early trends indicate the Mahayuti alliance is taking the lead. This election marks the first civic test for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS alliance. The results are crucial for all political parties involved. The outcome is expected later today.

A 17-year-old faces manslaughter charges in Prince George, British Columbia. This follows the overdose death of a 16-year-old girl. She was found unconscious at a College Heights home and later died in hospital. High levels of fentanyl were detected in her blood. Police responded to the incident on June 26, 2024. The BC Prosecution Service approved the charge.

Grasim Industries has appointed Sachin Sahay as the new CEO of its paints business, Birla Opus, effective February 16. This follows the unexpected departure of former CEO Rakshit Hargave. Sahay joins from ITC, where he was executive vice president of sales, as Birla Opus continues its aggressive expansion and market share pursuit.

Kriti Sanon stands out for fashion that feels easy yet impactful, never forced, always confident, and perfectly in tune with her personality.

Aamir Khan and his nephew Imran Khan will appear in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos. Aamir Khan is also producing the film. He has lost eighteen kilos for health reasons, which also helped reduce his migraines. This marks a rare comedy role for Aamir Khan. The film features Vir Das in the lead role and a strong supporting cast.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted from bats to humans and animals. The infection can spread through consumption of fruits or raw date palm sap contaminated with bat saliva or urine, as well as through close contact with infected individuals and their bodily fluids.

India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, hosted American lawmakers to acknowledge consistent bipartisan support for the deepening India-US partnership. Discussions covered trade, technology, defense, and counterterrorism, with the envoy highlighting India's strong economic growth. This meeting follows ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement.

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea by Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma challenging the Lok Sabha Speakers decision to admit a motion for his removal and the validity of a parliamentary panel probing corruption charges against him.

From courtroom drama to crime thrillers and light-hearted comedy, January 2026 brings fresh OTT releases across platforms, giving binge-watchers plenty of reasons to stay indoors.

Experienced lawyers are being fired from the Justice Department. This is happening as President Trump tests executive power. Many career employees have left. This includes those who worked on Jan 6 cases and civil rights enforcers. The department is losing centuries of combined experience. This impacts the rule of law. The firings are defined by Attorney General Pam Bondi's tenure.

A report by RRAG details the murder of at least 15 minority Hindus in Bangladesh between December 1, 2025, and January 15, 2026, with victims' assets targeted and some murders committed in a Taliban style. The Interim Government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is reportedly dismissing religious motives and framing attacks as disinformation, potentially hindering minority participation in upcoming elections.

Vote counting is underway for Maharashtra's 29 municipal corporations, with Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections drawing significant attention. Estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have united to challenge the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance for control of the BMC, a key to the Thackeray family's influence. Mumbai recorded a 52.94% voter turnout for the delayed civic polls.

Supporters of Shiv Sena nominee Meenakshi Shinde and rebel candidate Bhushan Bhoir clashed in Thane's Manpada area during civic polls, leading to police intervention. Accusations of armed persons and chilli powder attacks were exchanged. The situation escalated with ballot box interception, but police have since brought it under control.

BMC elections result 2026: Vote counting is underway for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The focus is on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti faces a significant challenge from the reunited Thackeray cousins. Polling for these elections concluded yesterday. The results will determine control of India's richest civic body. This marks a crucial political juncture for the state.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra praised Indian batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's current ODI form. While he noted Kohli is perhaps in the best ODI form of his life, he expressed his desire to see Rohit score a century in the India vs New Zealand series decider at Indore on Sunday.

The Chief Minister said that the Chief Ministers Rubber Mission was launched with the objective of transforming Mizoram into a major rubber-producing region.

Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed security and reaffirmed their partnership. The U.S. stated that incremental progress on border security is unacceptable, demanding concrete outcomes to dismantle narcoterrorist networks and reduce fentanyl trafficking.