The Times of India

Sunny Deol's 'Border 2' has released to a grand opening, with advance bookings reaching Rs 17.5 crore. The film is projected to earn close to Rs 35 crore on its opening day and is expected to cross Rs 125 crore over the Republic Day long weekend, potentially becoming one of Indian cinema's biggest earners.

The government will soon mandate mechanized covering for trucks carrying loose materials to prevent items from falling onto roads. This update to the Truck Body Code, aimed at improving safety and compliance with Supreme Court orders, will also include requirements for AC driver cabins and advanced driver assistance systems.

Republic Day parade features a unique contingent of 'animal soldiers' including Bactrian camels and Zanskar ponies. For the first time, the S-400 air defence system and drone shakti will be showcased. The event highlights indigenous military might, women's participation, and a flypast celebrating recent victories.

Over 300 dog carcasses were discovered in a pit in Jagtial district, Telangana, following alleged mass killings. This incident brings the total number of deceased dogs in the state this month to nearly 900. Animal rights activists claim the killings were ordered by the village sarpanch, leading to an FIR against local officials.

An FIR has been registered in Moradabad against five minor Muslim girls. They are accused of making their 16-year-old Hindu friend wear a burqa. The incident occurred on December 12, 2025. Police are investigating the matter following a complaint. The law carries a severe punishment for religious conversion by force or fraud.

Abandoned slippers and a broken wall in a forested ridge led police to crack a sexual assault case involving a 10-year-old girl. Investigators identified a red e-rickshaw with a white roof from CCTV footage, ultimately leading to the arrest of the 25-year-old suspect, Durgesh.

India's first final assembly line for commercial fixed-wing aircraft is being considered for Gujarat's Dholera or Andhra's Bhogapuram. Adani Group's joint venture with Embraer is being courted by both states, with a formal announcement expected soon. This facility, similar to the Airbus-Tata venture, could be operational in 4-5 years.

West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer has directed district officials to immediately file FIRs against any destruction of public property or attacks on staff during SIR-related hearings. Hearings will be adjourned if violence persists, requiring CEO approval to resume. This directive follows an incident in Murshidabad where an MLA was not named in an FIR despite alleged vandalism and hate speech.

Rahul Gandhi criticized US tariffs for severely impacting India's textile sector, leading to job losses and factory shutdowns. He urged Prime Minister Modi to demonstrate accountability and negotiate a favorable trade deal with the US, emphasizing the stakes for millions of jobs and businesses.

The Supreme Court has ordered the CBI and ED to share their investigation findings on alleged financial fraud by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. Noting no appearance from Anil Ambani or ADAG despite notice, the court issued fresh summons, emphasizing a forensic audit revealed fund siphoning.

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and Tamil Nadu government to respond to a plea seeking ASI control of Thirupparankundram Lord Murugan temple. The petition also requests the permanent lighting of a lamp atop a stone pillar for 24 hours daily.

Tarique Rahman's return as BNP chairman is viewed critically, citing his exile and alleged corruption. The article questions the legitimacy of upcoming elections due to the ban on the Awami League, attributing it to fear of their popularity. It also highlights the government's failure to protect minorities and its appeasement of extremist forces, impacting India-Bangladesh relations.

A proposed anti-corruption bill faces criticism from legal experts who warn that linking the removal of PMs, CMs, or ministers to 30 days of arrest on serious charges could be politically misused. Concerns were raised that this provision might override popular will, with some suggesting framing of charges as a more appropriate threshold for removal.

Mphasis CEO Nitin Rakesh assured investors that Blackstone's stake sale is a standard part of its investment cycle, not a reflection of poor performance. Blackstone, holding over 60% since 2016, plans to sell up to 1.8 crore shares via open market transactions, subject to market conditions. This move signals a natural exit strategy for the private equity firm.

Ashok Leyland's MD highlights the urgent need for a robust vehicle scrappage policy to modernize India's truck fleet. This initiative is crucial for reducing pollution and logistics expenses, as the average age of trucks has significantly increased, impacting operational efficiency and costs.

Textile Minister Giriraj Singh anticipates a trade deal with the EU within four days, highlighting stable garment export growth despite global economic challenges. He attributed this resilience to market diversification, with exports reaching Rs 1,01,000 crore in April-December 2025. Singh also refuted claims by Rahul Gandhi regarding US tariffs crippling the sector.

Indian apparel exporters face US tariff challenges, with some like Shishir Kapoor unaffected due to their premium clientele. Others, however, are pivoting to Europe and the UK, seeking new trade agreements and diversifying markets. Despite geopolitical hurdles, companies are adapting by focusing on new product lines and exploring emerging markets like Russia and Australia.

The Centre has approved a Rs 11,640-crore payout for employees of public sector general insurers, RBI, and Nabard, covering wage and pension resets. State-owned general insurers will receive the largest share of Rs 8,170 crore. This comes as three PSU insurers face solvency concerns, potentially leading to budgetary capital infusion and speculation about consolidation or stake sales.

Mumbai-based payments infrastructure startup Juspay has achieved unicorn status, securing $50 million from WestBridge Capital at a $1.2 billion valuation. This funding round, including a secondary component for early investors and employees, marks the company's significant growth. Juspay, powering global merchants and banks, processes over 300 million daily transactions, underscoring its robust business model and market traction.

Market watchdog Sebi is probing alleged insider trading in Yes Bank shares during a $1.1 billion deal in July 2022. Notices have been issued to executives from PwC, EY, Carlyle Group, and Advent International, along with their relatives and a former Yes Bank board member. Investigations reveal potential misuse of unpublished price-sensitive information for illegal gains.

The rupee hit a new low against the dollar, prompting the RBI to intervene by selling dollars. Simultaneously, the central bank injected liquidity into the banking system and conducted a dollar-rupee swap, which boosted forex reserves to over $700 billion. These actions demonstrate a delicate balancing act by policymakers.

Dalal Street witnessed a significant downturn on Friday as the Sensex plunged 770 points and the Nifty slid 241 points. Investor sentiment was dampened by a weakening rupee and substantial foreign fund selling, driven by geopolitical concerns. This selling pressure resulted in a loss of Rs 6.9 lakh crore for investors.

Silver reached an unprecedented $100 per ounce for the first time, while gold neared $5,000 per ounce. This surge is driven by geopolitical uncertainties, a declining dollar, and strong industrial demand for silver, particularly from EV, semiconductor, and solar sectors. Analysts also cite a historic short squeeze in silver and China's export controls as contributing factors.

Security forces neutralized a top Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist, Usman, in Kathua's Billawar during Operation Trashi-I. This operation, now in its sixth day, has seen intense combing operations and the discovery of a terrorist hideout. The ongoing hunt for more militants continues despite challenging conditions, marking a significant breakthrough for security forces.

Jammu and Kashmir was battered by heavy snowfall and fierce winds reaching 155kmph, causing widespread disruption. Highways were blocked, flights cancelled, schools shut, and power supply severely impacted. The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage was suspended as snow blanketed the Trikuta Hills. Authorities are bracing for further weather challenges.

Qantas has launched a special 'New Year, New Zealand' sale for Indian travellers, offering economy return flights from Bengaluru to popular New Zealand cities like Auckland and Queenstown. Bookings are open until January 31, 2026, for travel between March and November 2026, with fares starting around Rs 65,300.

Silver prices soared to an unprecedented all-time high of $100 an ounce on Friday, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amidst US policy uncertainty. The precious metal's surge is also attributed to its industrial applications and tight supply, with gold also trading near record levels.

Families of Hyderabad youths are pleading with the government for help, claiming their sons were lured to Thailand with fake job offers and are now held captive and tortured near the Myanmar border. These individuals were reportedly forced into long working hours, denied basic necessities, and beaten for attempting to leave.

It needs to be seen if SEBI, having generally recognised that family trust transfers made purely for succession purposes do not undermine investor protection, codifies the position by including in-laws

US stocks edged lower on Friday, concluding a turbulent week marked by tariff threats and reversals. Investors adopted a cautious stance amid limited clarity on trade and geopolitical signals. Markets were on track to end a second straight week with modest losses after sharp swings earlier in the week.

The Indian rupee hit an all-time low of 92 against the US dollar on Friday, pressured by foreign fund selling, weak domestic equities, and global risk aversion. It recovered slightly to close at 91.88, reflecting persistent FII outflows and global uncertainties. Rising crude oil prices and US treasury yields also contributed to the decline.

Stock market crash: Sensex and Nifty have fallen nearly 1% on Friday amid broad-based selling, a record-low rupee and persistent foreign outflows, dragging market sentiment despite supportive global cues.

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'double engine' government pitch, asserting the state has achieved growth independently. Stalin accused the BJP of betraying Tamil Nadu and highlighted the growth in non-'double engine' states. Modi, in turn, criticized the DMK government as 'Corruption, Mafia, Crime' and accused them of misgovernance and vote-bank politics.

Indian Oil Corporation is buying more crude oil from countries like Brazil. This move reduces dependence on Russian oil. Refiners are sourcing from the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. This diversification strategy expands supplier options. India aims to secure diverse oil supplies for its needs.

In the backdrop of Donald Trump's tariff threats, uncertainty over India-US trade deal and rising geopolitical tensions, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamans Union Budget 2026 assumes significance. What are the risks to Indias robust and resilient growth story, and what can Budget 2026 do to mitigate them? We ask economists:

RBI is not among the largest holders of US government debt, with its exposure at about a quarter of Chinas nearly $683 billion holdings. Even so, Indias selling has added fresh momentum to discussions about the place of US sovereign bonds in global investment portfolios.

Gold and silver futures reached record highs on Friday, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets. A weaker US dollar and anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts further fueled the rally. Geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty also contributed to the surge in bullion prices.