The Times of India

Former US President Donald Trump launched his Board of Peace initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos. India received an invitation to join this effort aimed at resolving global conflicts. However, India was not present on the stage during the unveiling. Several countries, including some from the Middle East and Asia, were listed as participants in the initiative.

Addressing the National MGNREGA Workers Convention organised by the Rachnatmak Congress, Rahul Gandhi said PM Modi wants to finish the concept of Panchayati Raj and alleged that the ruling BJP wants an India where the King decides everything. With the new law, the Centre will decide the work and allocation of funds with BJP-ruled governments always getting precedence, he said.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a business imperative for Indian enterprises, moving beyond ethical intent to a strategic priority linked with trust, governance, and long-term value creation, according to Nasscom's State of Responsible AI in India 2025 report.

Former IMF deputy managing director Gita Gopinath highlighted pollution as a greater threat to India's economic growth than trade tariffs. She emphasized its significant human and economic costs, citing millions of deaths annually and a substantial impact on GDP. Gopinath urged for 'war footing' action to address pollution, stressing its importance for investor confidence and national development.

Indian silver ETFs experienced a significant sell-off, dropping up to 20% as investors exited amid precious metal volatility. This correction erased previous premiums, with funds trading below net asset values. The sharp decline in ETFs contrasted with more modest price drops in global and domestic silver markets.

Trump sanctions impact: Indian refiners are diversifying crude imports to offset reduced Russian supplies hit by US sanctions, stepping up purchases from Saudi Arabia and sourcing cargoes from Guyana after a two-year gap.

The Supreme Court has permitted Hindu prayers at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque from sunrise to sunset on Basant Panchami, while Muslims can offer namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm. The court also mandated sharing the ASI's expert report on the site's religious character with both communities.

Indian equity benchmarks opened higher on Thursday, tracking positive global cues after US President Donald Trump rolled back tariff threats against European nations. Optimism around a potential India-US trade deal also supported early gains, with broader markets and several sectors showing strong performance.

Housing policy has traditionally focused on economically weaker sections and lower-income groupsand rightly so. However, the middle-income segment increasingly finds itself without support, despite facing intense affordability stress in urban markets.

Asian markets surged Thursday, mirroring a US rally after President Trump rescinded threats of tariffs on European nations regarding Greenland. Tech stocks, particularly in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, led the gains, fueled by optimism surrounding massive AI infrastructure investments. Gold and silver prices, however, continued their decline.

Financial author Robert Kiyosaki declared silver superior to gold in the Technology Age, calling it an economic structural metal. He highlighted its price surge and predicted it would hit $200 an ounce in 2026. This comes as silver and gold reach record highs globally due to safe-haven demand, supply tightness, and geopolitical risks.

US President Donald Trump has voiced confidence in the future of IndiaUS trade relations, signalling optimism about concluding a trade deal. Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a close friend, Trump said he has great respect for him

President Trump announced the US expects to receive around $600 billion in tariff revenue this year, with more anticipated next year. He linked this to increased investments, citing Apple's $650 billion commitment and Toyota's plans, attributing the surge to election clarity and his administration's protective tariff policy.

Gold and silver price prediction today: Abhilash Koikkara of Nuvama Professional Clients Group is of the view that gold and silver prices may continue to trend upwards, with the possibility of gold touching Rs 1.75 lakh per 10 grams in the coming sessions.

The rupee recovered 15 paise on Thursday, opening at 91.50 against the US dollar, rebounding from its all-time low of 91.58 hit the previous day. This modest recovery followed a sharp fall amid heightened global uncertainty, strong dollar demand, and persistent foreign portfolio outflows.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticized Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis' Davos visit as a 'picnic,' questioning the WEF's relevance for India and suggesting agreements could be made in Mumbai. CM's wife Amruta Fadnavis dismissed the remarks as baseless, highlighting the summit's importance for investment and employment.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmarks, rallied strongly in opening trade on Thursday as Donald Trumps remarks on Greenland and withdrawal of tariff threat on EU eased investors fears. While Nifty50 went above 25,300, BSE Sensex was up over 560 points.

US natural gas prices have skyrocketed, driven by unexpected cold snaps boosting heating demand. With already low storage and robust exports, supply is tight. This surge is forcing power plants to reconsider fuel choices, while AI data centers add to electricity demand, creating significant inflation risks in the energy sector.

Budget 2026 income tax expectations: As the government prepares for the landmark shift to the new Income-tax Act in April 2026, the Union Budget presents an opportunity to address a few longstanding demands of individual taxpayers.

Top stock market recommendations: Aakash K Hindocha of Nuvama Professional Clients Group recommends buying Swiggy, Godrej Consumer Products, while GAIL is a sell call.

How to avoid jumbos? And how does one obtain proof of residence from someone who doesnt have any? During Bengals SIR, involving more than 7 crore voters, election officials came up with novel solutions to solve problems faced by, among others, monks, tea garden labourers and sex workers

Rani Kapur has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court seeking the cancellation of the Rani Kapur Family Trust. She alleges the trust, which holds a stake in Sona Comstar, was created and operated without her knowledge or consent while she was medically unwell.

Following a Supreme Court directive, the Election Commission has instructed the Bengal CEO to display names of electors with 'logical discrepancies' and 'unmapped' status by January 24. People in these categories can submit documents via authorized representatives, with authorities ensuring smooth proceedings and no law and order issues.

India and Spain have pledged to strengthen international cooperation against terrorism, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasizing a zero tolerance approach. The two nations reviewed bilateral ties, including trade, defense, and culture, and discussed regional developments. Spain also acceded to India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw challenged the notion of India being a secondary AI power, asserting its front-rank status by emphasizing large-scale deployment over massive models. He highlighted the country's focus on practical AI applications and a shared compute facility to drive economic value and ROI, rather than solely on building frontier models.

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to decide the fate of Haryana's proposed mega Aravali Zoo Safari Project. The court will await the CEC's report on the project's environmental and ecological feasibility, continuing the interim stay on work.

The Supreme Court has summoned responses from the Haryana government and Mahira Buildwell concerning allegations of cheating homebuyers in an affordable housing project under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Homebuyers claim the developer used fraudulent means, including forged bank guarantees, and has completed minimal construction, siphoning off funds.

The Supreme Court will order an expedited hearing for lawyer-activist Surendra Gadling in the 2016 Surajgarh arson case, acknowledging his seven-year incarceration without trial. The court will also address the appointment of a judge to the special court and the transfer of evidence from the NIA court.

The Supreme Court has ordered Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan to halt illegal mining in the Aravali hills, citing irreversible ecological damage. A new expert body will be formed to conduct a scientific examination of the ranges to ensure their structural and ecological integrity, with states tasked to stop all illicit mining until then.

The draft National Electricity Policy 2026 proposes annual tariff resets, including automatic index-linked revisions, to ensure the financial health of power utilities. It aims to limit cross-subsidies for manufacturing and railways, while promoting competition in distribution and phasing out monopolies. The policy also emphasizes renewable energy, storage, and cybersecurity.

Habitual traffic offenders face a new penalty as the road transport ministry has amended rules to disqualify driving licenses for five or more offenses in a year. This provision, effective January 1, aims to curb errant drivers, though experts raise concerns about enforcement and potential challenges to recorded offenses.

A recent IIT-Kanpur student suicide highlights a disturbing mental health crisis across premier Indian technical institutes, with over a dozen student deaths annually for five years. Alumni and student bodies point to intense academic pressure, isolation, and exclusion as key factors.

Outward remittances by resident Indians under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme saw a significant drop in November 2025, reaching a two-year low. This decline was attributed to a decrease in education-related travel and seasonal factors. Total outflows fell by approximately 18% from October, with travel expenses easing considerably.

Gold and silver prices are surging to all-time highs, driven by geopolitical uncertainties, trade disruptions, and a global supply-demand imbalance for silver. The weakening rupee further fuels these gains in the domestic market, with gold exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh/10gm and silver surpassing Rs 3.2 lakh/kg.

India's Tax Collected at Source (TCS) has evolved from an anti-evasion measure to a real-time monitoring tool, now impacting everyday taxpayers. Recent changes aim to ease cash flow for salaried individuals by allowing TCS adjustment against monthly deductions, while others await refunds or adjust against advance tax.

Beauty giant L'Oreal is establishing its inaugural AI-powered global beauty tech innovation hub in Hyderabad, investing 350 million euros by 2030. This first-of-its-kind facility will focus on next-generation AI beauty innovations, creating approximately 2,000 advanced tech jobs and integrating with L'Oreal's global tech network.