The Times of India News

Amid concerns on the nominal GDP growth remaining low, Sanjay Malhotra said the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) actions are dictated by the real GDP arrived at after subtracting the inflation levels.

Wall Street's major indexes retreated slightly on Tuesday, as worries over valuations of artificial intelligence stocks lingered in the final days of 2025. Major tech players saw declines early Tuesday as well, with shares in Nvidia and Palantir Technologies dipping.

Turkish police detained 357 individuals suspected of Islamic State (IS) links in nationwide raids following a deadly encounter. The operations, targeting operatives planning attacks during holiday celebrations, involved simultaneous actions across 21 provinces. Recovered digital materials and suspected financial channeling connect detainees to IS fighters in conflict zones.

Vande Bharat sleeper train has touched the 180 kmph speed mark during speed trials by the Commissioner Railway Safety. The new train set is a sleeper variant of the popular Vande Bharat chair car service and is set to be launched soon.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Zia's significant contributions to Bangladesh's development and India-Bangladesh relations, recalling a warm meeting in 2015. Zia, a pivotal figure in restoring democracy, passed away at 80 after a long political career.

Kansas City Chiefs fans experienced an unfamiliar season of losses and missed playoffs in 2025, a stark contrast to years of dominance. Veteran Travis Kelce expressed deep disappointment, feeling he let down coach Andy Reid, highlighting their strong bond and his unwavering sense of responsibility to the team and his mentor.

The economic impact will be driven by AI adoption across sectors including healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, education, governance, and climate services, where automation and data-driven decision-making are already improving productivity and service delivery.

Despite vast deserts, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours rely on imported construction-grade sand to meet the demands of mega-projects like NEOM and the Burj Khalifa. Desert sands smooth grains are unsuitable for concrete, making riverbed and marine sand essential. This reliance highlights a global sand crisis, environmental pressures, and the urgent need for sustainable alternatives and innovation in construction materials.

Chinese state media, Global Times, has criticized Salman Khan's upcoming film 'Battle of Galwan,' accusing it of distorting facts about the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. The movie, inspired by the deadly confrontation, features Khan as an Indian Army officer. Despite the film's portrayal, the PLA remains resolute in defending China's territory, according to the publication.

The Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has extended significant financial assistance to the state of Uttarakhand. For the financial year 2025-26, a special assistance of Rs 200 crore (loan) has been approved for Uttarakhand under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) to support reforms in the mining sector, the Chief Minister's Office said in a press release.

India has emerged as the worlds fourth-largest economy, overtaking Japan, and is projected to challenge Germany for the third spot within the next three years. The government remains confident about sustaining growth momentum despite global trade uncertainties.

Union minister Ramdas Athawale expressed his disappointment, calling the RPI(A)'s exclusion from the BJP-Shiv Sena seat-sharing for BMC polls a etrayal of trust. Despite this, his party will contest 38 seats independently to uphold worker dignity and Ambedkarite community participation in governance, while still supporting the broader Mahayuti alliance on other seats.

Budget 2026: The Centres dividend receipts from CPSEs and minority-held entities are on track to surpass budgeted levels for a fifth straight year in 2025-26, building on record collections in the previous fiscal.

India's 2025 witnessed a 'big bang' of reforms, including tax relief, simplified GST, and liberalized FDI in insurance and pensions. These sweeping changes, aimed at boosting 'ease of living' and 'doing business,' seek to counter global headwinds and attract investment. The ambitious push signals a strategic reset for sustained growth and India's developed economy goal.

Gold, silver rally: Looking for a historical parallel to todays surge in precious metals, the current rally closely echoes the boom of the 1970s a period defined by intense geopolitical tensions, runaway inflation, and the emergence of a new monetary and financial order following the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971.

PAN-Aadhaar linking: The Income Tax Department allows PANAadhaar linking through multiple online options and urges taxpayers to confirm their linking status to keep their PAN active. Failure to complete the process before the deadline could render PAN inoperative from January 1, 2026.

India's economy is experiencing a 'Goldilocks moment' with robust growth and low inflation, concluding 2025 on a high note. Real GDP surged by 8.2% in Q2 FY26, driven by strong domestic demand and buoyant industrial and services sectors.

Amidst severe fog and low visibility impacting North India's flight operations, the Civil Aviation Ministry has directed airlines to strictly adhere to passenger facilitation norms. Passengers are urged to check flight statuses and allow extra travel time as 118 flights were cancelled and 16 diverted at Delhi airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. He acknowledged her significant contributions to Bangladesh's development and the strengthening of India-Bangladesh relations, recalling a warm meeting in 2015. Zia, a towering political figure and the first woman PM of Bangladesh, died at 80 after a prolonged illness.

The Indian rupee edged higher by 3 paise to 89.95 against the US dollar in early trade, buoyed by a weaker greenback and robust industrial output data. However, foreign fund outflows and a weak start in domestic equities capped sharper gains for the local currency.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, opened in red on Tuesday on weak global cues. While Nifty50 went below 25,950, BSE Sensex was down over 120 points.

Asian markets mirrored Wall Street's tech slump, with shares dipping slightly. Precious metals like silver and gold saw a sharp correction after a parabolic rally, though they steadied. Despite the pullback, Asian equities remain on track for significant annual gains. Oil prices eased, while Bitcoin stabilized after a turbulent period.

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The RBI is intensifying efforts to combat financial fraud and bolster customer protection. Banks are directed to expedite KYC updates, especially in rural areas, and avoid arbitrary rejections. New guidelines are forthcoming to tackle mis-selling, while advanced technologies like MuleHunter.ai are being deployed to counter sophisticated cyber threats and enhance digital financial literacy.