The Times of India News

Gold prices experienced a slight dip on Wednesday as investors engaged in profit-booking following recent strong gains. The focus has now shifted to upcoming US economic data. Both domestic and international gold futures saw declines, with silver also trading lower after touching near-record highs.

Experience-led tourism is gaining momentum among India's Gen Z, as a survey done by travel portal Airbnb reveals that over 62 per cent of the country's Gen Z plans to travel for concerts and music festivals in 2026.

Meesho's shares dipped 5% on Wednesday following the end of a one-month lock-in period, making 110 million shares available for trading. Despite the decline, major brokerages like UBS and Choice Institutional Equities maintain a positive outlook, citing strong growth potential and a leveraged position on mass-market users.

India's silver imports saw a significant jump in 2025. This surge reflects the metal's growing importance for industries like electronics and solar power. Supply challenges and global uncertainties are driving this trend. Experts urge India to treat silver as a strategic industrial metal, not just a commodity. Securing future supply is now a key focus for the nation.

If you use equity funds mainly for long-term goals of 10 years or more, combine them with the right amount of debt for stability, and behave sensibly during bad years, then yeshistorically they have outpaced FDs by a wide margin more often than not.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has invited public comments on the draft Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Norms on Dividend and Remittance of Profit) Directions, 2026, proposing a revised framework for declaration of dividends and remittance of profits by banks.

Gold price prediction today: Gold and silver prices may see volatility with some consolidative bias in the coming days, says Maneesh Sharma, AVP - Commodities & Currencies, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers. He shares his outlook for gold and silver prices in the coming days:

An amount of $45 billion in IPO lock-in periods are expiring between January 6 and April 30, impacting 96 newly listed companies. This will allow pre-IPO shareholders to sell their shares, potentially leading to short-term price fluctuations. Investors are advised to monitor these expiry dates closely for possible stock movements.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed zero enthusiasm for leading a public company, despite acknowledging an IPO is likely necessary for capital and growth. While he finds public market participation in value creation appealing, he anticipates the process will be 'annoying.' The AI giant, valued at potentially $1 trillion, is reportedly preparing for a 2026 or 2027 listing.

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Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in red on Wednesday. While Nifty50 went below 26,150, BSE Sensex was down over 100 points.

Quiet firing describes a subtle but damaging workplace practice where employees are slowly pushed out through silence, exclusion, and shrinking responsibilities rather than formal termination. Often mistaken for a passing trend, it reflects deeper leadership failures and risk avoidance. The practice thrives in disengaged, remote workplaces, carrying serious psychological costs for employees and long-term consequences for organisations.

The National Medical Commission has withdrawn the Letter of Permission for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence to run an MBBS course due to serious violations of minimum standards found during a surprise inspection. Students admitted for the 2025-26 academic year will be shifted to other medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir as supernumerary seats.

Stock market recommendations: According to Mehul Kothari, DVP - Technical Research, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers, the top stocks to buy today (January 7, 2026) are Varun Beverages Ltd, Havells, and IREDA. Lets take a look:

A salon worker received a 10-year sentence for abducting and raping a woman with intellectual disability. The court, citing Supreme Court observations, deemed her testimony credible despite her challenges. This conviction under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act highlights a rare legal victory, emphasizing sensitivity towards victims with disabilities.

Despite the Supreme Court's Vishaka judgment mandating mechanisms against workplace sexual harassment, many high courts and district courts remain non-compliant. This lack of a gender-sensitized redressal structure violates women's constitutional rights and discourages their participation in the justice delivery process. The Supreme Court has now sought status reports from defaulting high courts and bar associations.

Madhya Pradesh government disbursed 2 lakh compensation to 18 families in Indore following a diarrhoea outbreak. While six deaths are confirmed due to contaminated water, the administration provided aid to all grieving families, prioritizing sensitivity. This support follows Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's directive for financial assistance and free medical care to those affected by the outbreak.

The Supreme Court has presented conflicting views on bail, asserting that while delay in trial and long incarceration aren't sole grounds for relief, the fundamental right to a speedy trial, irrespective of offense nature, can justify bail. This was highlighted when granting bail to a former chairperson after 16 months, contrasting with a recent rejection for activists.

Uttar Pradesh's draft voter rolls reveal nearly 3 crore deletions, with 18.7% of electors removed. Over 1.3 crore voters were identified as having permanently shifted, while others were untraceable or deceased. Citizens have until February 6 to file claims and objections to reinstate their names before final rolls are published on March 6.

The Supreme Court, led by CJI Surya Kant, asserted that the rich and influential cannot bypass judicial tiers to approach the SC directly. The bench refused to hear a plea challenging a PMLA provision, stating that influential individuals must face trial like ordinary citizens. The court indicated that similar pending pleas challenging the PMLA's validity would be heard together.

A primary school on Kolkata's outskirts, which received a Rs 12 lakh grant from Venezuela during Hugo Chavez's presidency, held a special prayer for peace in the South American nation. The funds, received in 2007, were used to construct new rooms and improve safety at the Bagu Junior Basic School.

The National Green Tribunal has ordered criminal proceedings against the administration of a Bhandara ordnance factory following a deadly blast that killed nine workers. The tribunal found Munitions India Ltd accountable for serious safety norm violations, citing a clear contravention of the Factories Act. The Bhandara collector is directed to initiate proceedings, pending central government approval.

Bihar's panchayati raj minister Deepak Prakash faces an uncertain future as his father Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) appears poised for a split. Three of the four RLM legislators are reportedly unhappy with Kushwaha's decision to make his son a minister, potentially impacting Kushwaha's own Rajya Sabha prospects.

Uttar Pradesh's cabinet has approved a significant concession for intra-family property transfers. Commercial and industrial properties can now be transferred via gift deeds with a concessional stamp duty capped at Rs 5,000. This relief, previously limited to agricultural and residential properties, aims to make these transfers more affordable and streamlined.

A Delhi court has permitted a forensic examination of the Unnao rape survivor's voice sample. This comes after an accused's lawyer argued that the survivor denied her voice in recorded conversations crucial to the trial. The recordings allegedly suggest she left her home voluntarily.

Lalu Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya posted a picture with a gun, stating she can discern right from wrong with a perfect aim. This follows a public spat with her brother Tejashwi Yadav after the Bihar assembly election results, where she alleged mistreatment and quit politics.

In a surprising political development, the BJP and Congress have formed an alliance in Ambernath, joining forces with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to control the municipal council. This coalition, named Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, excludes the Shiv Sena, which emerged as the single-largest party but failed to secure the municipal president's post.

The Supreme Court expressed surprise at the sheer volume of interlocutory applications filed in the stray dogs case, noting it exceeds typical human-related cases. A special bench is scheduled to hear the matter on Wednesday, addressing the alarming rise in dog bites within institutional areas and the relocation of stray canines.

The Supreme Court questioned Haryana's delay in granting sanction for Professor Mahmudabad's prosecution, noting the chargesheet was filed last year. The bench urged the state to consider magnanimity while warning the professor against irresponsible statements. An SIT was previously formed to probe his allegedly objectionable remarks.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is preparing for her ninth consecutive budget with a team featuring a blend of experienced and new officials. For the first time in recent years, the budget exercise will be coordinated by Anuradha Thakur, as there is no finance secretary.