The Times of India News

Nvidia is set to introduce a pioneering location verification tool for its AI chips, an initiative influenced by US calls to restrict advanced technology sales to certain countries. This optional software update, utilizing state-of-the-art confidential computing, will monitor chip activity and location through the analysis of communication delays.

India and the US are actively pursuing a bilateral trade agreement, with a US delegation currently in Delhi for crucial discussions. Both nations aim to finalize the initial phase of the deal, addressing tariff challenges for Indian exporters. This progress follows recent talks and underscores the commitment to boosting bilateral trade significantly.

Forty-four former judges have condemned a campaign against Chief Justice of India Surya Kant over his Rohingya migrant case comments. They stated critics twisted a routine judicial query about legal status into accusations of bias, distorting the court's affirmation of human dignity and rejection of torture.

Nearly 24 lakh households now have rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The scheme aims for one crore installations by FY 2026-27, with over 19 lakh systems already commissioned. Strict quality checks, including vendor maintenance and third-party assessments, are in place to ensure reliability.

Forget quick tips; a decade-long investment requires a structured approach. The article outlines a five-step checklist, starting with fund category based on goals and risk tolerance. It emphasizes long-term track records, consistent performance, behavior during market downturns, and finally, costs and fund hygiene.

IndiGo faces potential competition law investigation following thousands of flight cancellations due to crew shortages. India's competition watchdog is considering probing the airline for misusing its dominant market position.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor declined the Veer Savarkar Award, calling organizers irresponsible for announcing his name without consent. He learned of the award through media reports and stated he neither knew about nor accepted it. HRDS India, however, claims they notified Tharoor and visited him to extend the invitation.

In a bid to streamline the rollout of solar initiatives, a parliamentary committee has recommended the establishment of a 'single-window clearance' system aimed at reducing land acquisition bottlenecks. To tackle regional disparities, the committee suggests tailored awareness drives in each state, along with support from central authorities for those trailing behind.

SpiceJet is significantly boosting its winter operations, adding up to 100 daily flights to meet surging demand amid IndiGo's widespread cancellations. This expansion, supported by reactivated aircraft, aims to capitalize on market gaps. IndiGo's pilot shortage led to over 5,000 flight cancellations and a government-mandated schedule reduction, creating an opportunity for competitors and potentially rebalancing market share.

The Delhi high court questioned the Centre's failure to prevent IndiGo's flight cancellations and soaring airfares, demanding to know immediate measures taken for stranded passengers. The court also sought explanations on arrangements made to manage travellers and prevent harassment, as hundreds of flights were scrapped, leaving lakhs stranded nationwide.

Singapore's former Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean spoke in Delhi about the deep historical ties between Singapore and India. He mentioned Singapore's name originates from Sanskrit, reflecting India's early influence. The Indian diaspora has significantly shaped Singapore's economy and culture. He also praised India's sustainable development vision. Diplomatic relations were established in 1965.

Despite recent operational disruptions and flight cancellations, HSBC maintains a 'Buy' rating on InterGlobe Aviation, citing the airline's strong fundamentals and cost advantage over rivals. While acknowledging increased expenses and temporary reputational damage, the brokerage believes the airline's long-term prospects remain intact, with no structural damage to its competitive position.

Deepavali has been inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, marking the 16th Indian tradition to receive this honor. This recognition occurred during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, hosted by India in New Delhi. The committee is reviewing 67 nominations from 79 countries.

Goa police are pursuing nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled to Thailand after a fire killed 25. Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice, and India's extradition treaty with Thailand is now central to bringing the brothers to justice. The treaty obligates both nations to surrender individuals wanted for serious offenses.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly tore up new MGNREGA norms, accusing the Centre of imposing 'valueless' conditions and withholding funds. She highlighted her state's Karmashree scheme as an alternative, vowing to increase workdays and asserting Bengal's fight for dignity and federal rights amidst upcoming elections.

Amazon has pledged a massive $35 billion investment in India by 2030, building on its existing $40 billion. This significant capital infusion will focus on AI-driven digitization, boosting exports to $80 billion, and creating one million new jobs. The move follows Microsoft's substantial AI investment announcement, signaling a major tech push in the country.

E-commerce platform Meesho debuted on Dalal Street after a Rs 5,421.20 crore IPO, which saw an overall subscription of 79 times. The company reported strong revenue growth and narrowing EBITDA losses in FY25, with significant user expansion outside major cities. Despite positive operational metrics, risks related to cash-on-delivery and competition persist.

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are expected to trade sideways as analysts anticipate a Federal Reserve rate cut already priced in. Silver, however, shows a positive bias, nearing all-time highs driven by industrial demand and tightening inventories. Investors are closely watching the Fed meeting for potential volatility, while China continues to boost its gold reserves.

Asian markets declined, mirroring Wall Street's sluggishness, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's policy decision. While a rate cut is expected, focus is on the Fed's statement and future projections. Tech earnings from Oracle and Broadcom are also under scrutiny amid AI bubble concerns.

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Wednesday. While Nifty50 was above 25,850, BSE Sensex was up over 100 points.

Miami has a new mayor, Eileen Higgins. She is the city's first female leader and the first Democrat in nearly thirty years. Higgins, a former county commissioner, defeated Republican Emilio Gonzalez. Her victory marks a significant shift in Miami's political landscape. She pledged ethical leadership and delivering results for residents.

The data reveals a shifting landscape where private banks and digital channels draw the most customer ire, while territories like Chandigarh and Delhi report disproportionately high complaint loads per lakh accounts.

BJP criticizes Rahul Gandhi's upcoming Germany visit, calling him 'Videsh Nayak' and 'leader of paryatan' as it coincides with Parliament's Winter Session. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, is scheduled to meet German lawmakers and the Indian community in Berlin. This trip follows his previous overseas visits where he raised concerns about India's democracy.

President Trump asserted that consumer prices are significantly decreasing, dismissing concerns as a 'hoax' while campaigning. Simultaneously, he voiced alarm over a potential Supreme Court ruling that could curb his authority to impose tariffs, warning of dire national security and financial consequences for the United States.

The government is launching a pilot project to link subsidized fertilizer allocation to farmers' land size, aiming to curb diversion and pilferage. This initiative comes as India faces high chemical nutrient use impacting soil health. Meanwhile, fertilizer imports are projected to rise significantly due to increased domestic demand.

Stock market recommendations: Anand Rathi's Mehul Kothari highlights three top stock picks for investors: Hindustan Copper, Hindustan Petroleum, and Shaily. These selections are based on technical analysis, including breakout retests and strong structural formations, suggesting potential for significant gains over the coming months and up to a year.

India's IPO market is set to hit a record $23-$25 billion this year, driven by new-age tech companies. These startups, along with healthcare and consumer firms, are expected to dominate the market next year. Early investors are seeing significant exits, with domestic capital playing a crucial role in this robust IPO surge.

BlackRock is injecting Rs 3,000 crore into Aditya Birla Group's renewable energy arm, Grasim, valuing the business at Rs 14,600 crore. This significant investment, made through BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners, signals strong investor confidence in India's clean energy sector. The group aims to expand its renewable capacity to over 10GW, leveraging this partnership for accelerated growth.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pledging the chip giant's support for India's Semiconductor Mission. Tan lauded the government's comprehensive policy for semiconductor design and manufacturing. Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that Intel's involvement will foster an innovation-driven future for India's youth, creating a robust electronic component ecosystem.

Singapore's Temasek, a global investment firm, has committed $50 billion to India and plans significant expansion in the coming years. Chairman Teo Chee Hean met with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, outlining focus areas including financial services, consumer markets, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and renewables. Discussions covered broad investment opportunities across India.

Over 100 opposition MPs have submitted a notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking the removal of Madras High Court Justice GR Swaminathan. They accuse him of misconduct and bias in a recent order concerning a lamp lighting at a temple near a dargah in Tamil Nadu.

The Supreme Court clarified that while the Election Commission cannot definitively determine citizenship, it can inquire about it if doubts arise regarding voters. The apex court emphasized that Indian citizenship is a constitutional prerequisite for voting, not merely a matter of residence and age. This ruling supports the EC's stance on verifying voter eligibility.

A nationwide school survey reveals alarming drug experimentation among Indian children, with initiation as early as 11 and an average age of 12.9. One in seven students has tried psychoactive substances, with opioids and cannabis prevalent. Experts warn of easy access and emotional distress driving this trend, urging early intervention and parental vigilance.

A government panel has proposed a 'hybrid model' for AI firms, granting them a blanket license to use copyrighted works for training AI systems. This framework mandates royalty payments to intellectual property rights holders, who cannot opt out. A centralized, non-profit entity will manage these payments, simplifying access for developers and ensuring fair compensation for creators.

Microsoft is injecting a massive $17.5 billion into India, its largest investment in Asia, to bolster cloud and AI infrastructure. This significant commitment, alongside Google's plans, underscores India's growing importance as a global AI hub. The investment aims to enhance skilling and operations, positioning India as a frontier AI nation ready for transformative growth.

The government has doubled IndiGo's flight cuts to 10% following operational failures and crew norm non-compliance. This punitive action aims to stabilize the airline's services and reduce passenger disruptions. IndiGo's CEO was summoned to explain the mismanagement, with further reviews planned. Other airlines saw minor adjustments to their winter schedules.

Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu has apologized for the IndiGo passenger disruptions and vowed strict action, potentially including the CEO's removal. The probe will scrutinize the airline's operations and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) oversight. The minister acknowledged passenger distress, including exorbitant surge pricing, and assured accountability.

Holiday travel plans for countless domestic flyers face disruption as IndiGo slashes 200-400 flights daily. This significant capacity cut by India's largest airline is creating a sharp demand-supply gap, making new bookings difficult and potentially leading to cancellations for existing Yuletide travel. Other airlines are operating at maximum capacity, unable to fill the void quickly.

CBI has registered an FIR against Jai Anmol Ambani in a Rs 228 crore bank fraud case linked to Reliance Housing Finance. Searches were conducted at his residence. The agency is investigating allegations of cheating and criminal conspiracy causing wrongful loss to Union Bank of India. A second FIR targets RCFL and its officials for a Rs 57.

The Congress-led coalition of opposition parties is making strong demands for the reinstatement of ballot papers alongside a transformed collegium responsible for appointing election commissioners. Their criticisms target the Election Commission, claiming it has lost credibility, especially regarding electoral roll updates and those pesky model code infringements.

Key NDA allies JDU and TDP slammed the opposition for 'double standards' on EVMs, questioning why machines are deemed faulty only after electoral losses. Shiv Sena (Shinde) pushed for lowering the voting age to 18, advocating for remote voting for migrants and simultaneous polls. Allies emphasized voter maturity and dismissed manipulation claims.

US President Trump's threat of new rice tariffs is unlikely to significantly impact India, as exports to the US are a small fraction of global sales and already face high duties. Experts suggest this is a negotiation tactic amid ongoing trade deal talks, with India aiming to lift existing US tariffs.

The Supreme Court has mandated all states to provide robust security for booth-level officers during voter enumeration, warning of severe action against any threats or obstructions. The court emphasized that non-cooperation with the Election Commission's work is a serious matter, extending beyond West Bengal to all states, and stressed the need for BLOs' safety to prevent anarchy.

A crucial meeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi set to select the next Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners. The Central Information Commission has been operating with a significantly reduced staff since September, with eight commissioner posts vacant. This selection process is vital for the functioning of the CIC.

India is boosting its European ties, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz set to visit New Delhi soon. This engagement follows President Putin's visit and precedes the India-EU summit. Discussions will focus on trade, technology, and sustainable development, building on existing partnerships. Germany's support for Ukraine and shared concerns over the Indo-Pacific will also be key topics.