Switzerland has ratified a trade agreement with India and four other nations in EFTA, set to take effect in October. The deal is expected to bring in $100 billion in investments and create one million jobs, with tariff concessions in 92.2% of lines. However, India's trade deficit with EFTA remains a concern.
Indian-origin woman found dead in Toronto, police suspect intimate partner violence. The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed shock over her alleged killing and is providing assistance to her family. The victim, Himanshi Khurana, was a Toronto-based digital creator. The suspect, Abdul Ghafoori, is being searched nationwide.
Motilal Oswal has issued 'Buy' ratings on three stocks - Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company, Hero MotoCorp, and Kajaria Ceramics, with an upside potential of up to 19% from current levels. The report highlights the positive outlook on each company, including strong management response to allegations, steady growth trajectory, and potential for exports and volume growth.
Newly released US Justice Department documents have revealed that former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley and former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers were once named as executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate.
Billionbrains Garage Ventures (Groww) and Lenskart Solutions will be added to BSE Large Cap index on January 06, 2026. Tata Motors will also be included in BSE Allcap, BSE LargeCap, BSE LargeMidCap, and BSE Industrials. Groww's share price has risen 23% since listing in November, while Lenskart's has risen 16%. Both companies had successful IPOs.
Stranger Things Season 5, the final season of the hit sci-fi show, has gained immense popularity and shattered records since its premiere in 2016. As it prepares for its New Year's Eve finale, the show has created thousands of jobs and boosted the US economy by $1.4 billion. The final episodes will also be shown in movie theatres, showcasing the show's widespread impact beyond Netflix.
Variety has released a list of the 120 most powerful production houses in Hollywood, featuring executives from Netflix, Apple, and Disney. Netflix's Co-CEO Ted Sarandos tops the list, followed by NBC's Donna Langley and Paramount's David Ellison. Other notable names include YouTube's Neal Mohan, Disney's Dana Walden and Bob Iger, and Comcast's Brian Roberts.
James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash has been a huge hit, earning over Rs 85 crore in India and breaking records worldwide. Despite tough competition from Dhurandhar, the IMAX 3D film continues to dominate the box office, becoming the second-biggest opening for Cameron and the highest in many countries. Disney also sets a new record with a projected $6.6 billion in global box office.
IndiGo continues to face flight cancellations today, with Mumbai being the worst affected. Delhi, Kolkata, and Pune also saw multiple cancellations. Delhi Airport experienced 19% delayed arrivals and an average departure delay of 22 minutes. Visibility at Delhi Airport was at 1,000 meters and over 2,000 meters on Runway 28.
An NRI has returned to India after 8 years in New York and praised the country's “amazing energy”. Founder of WeekendInvesting and IIT Delhi graduate, Alok Jain, shares his friend's perspective on social media. He added that his friend also mentioned the high cost of medical care, transportation, and internet in India compared to New York.
Coal India's stock is rising as it plans to list two subsidiaries, Mahanadi Coalfields and South Eastern Coalfields, as part of the government's divestment plan. This has sparked concerns about the company's business and stock. The board has given in-principle approval, but multiple regulatory approvals are needed.
Indian equity indices opened Wednesday’s trading session on a lower note as the NSE Nifty 50, BSE Sensex, and Bank Nifty all opened in the red. Small and mid-cap stocks also opened lower. Technical analysis suggests that the market may remain range-bound with key support levels at 26,100 and 26,050. Early gainers included Coal India, Shriram Finance, and Hindalco Industries.
Chicken Biryani has emerged as the undisputed king of Indian food, with 57.7 million orders and the highest number of repeat orders. Biryani has been the top-ordered dish on Swiggy for 10 consecutive years, beating burgers and pizza. Other popular dishes included veg dosa, chai-samosa combo, and coffee.
For years, getting an H-1B visa has come down to luck. A computer lottery decided who got in and who didn’t, no matter the skill, salary, or seniority of the worker. Now, that system is on its way out. The US government has proposed a new rule that changes how H-1B visas will be selected.
The Libyan army's chief of staff died in a plane crash in Ankara, Turkey, along with four others. The cause is still unknown and an investigation is underway. The Libyan government has declared three days of mourning and sent a team to Ankara. The crash occurred a day after Turkey extended the mandate of Turkish soldiers in Libya.
The Trump administration will start taking money directly from the paychecks of some student loan borrowers beginning in January, the US Department of Education has said. This applies to people who have not paid their federal student loans for a long time and are officially in default.
It started with a teenage boy in India reading about a young chip company called Intel and wondering why innovation seemed to happen so far from home. That curiosity slowly turned into ambition, and ambition brought him to the US.
HCLSoftware, a subsidiary of HCLTech, has acquired Jaspersoft from Cloud Software Group for $240 million to strengthen its data and AI software portfolio. This will enhance Actian's offerings and broaden its reach among developers. The acquisition will also support Actian's agentic BI roadmap and add embedded analytics capabilities.
CII President Rajiv Memani discussed the industry body's budget agenda, impact of rupee depreciation, progress on trade deals with US and EU, and outlook on key economic indicators. CII recommends strengthening manufacturing in high-growth sectors and reducing tax disputes to boost economic growth.
Tuticorin is seeing a rise in return migration due to investments in electric vehicles, shipbuilding, solar cells, and space technology. VinFast's $2-billion electric vehicle facility has given locals like Arjun Selvam and Senthamizh Selvi better job opportunities.
As per NSE's December Market Pulse report, retail investors have withdrawn Rs 8,461 crore from equities in 2025, the highest outflows since 2019. Meanwhile, FPIs saw the highest-ever outflows of Rs 1.58 lakh crore, while DIIs infused a record Rs 7.61 lakh crore. The number of registered investors reached 124 million, a 13.9% increase from last year. However, new registrations have slowed down
Indian telecom sector to see tariff hike in first quarter of 2026, led by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Vodafone Idea to focus on restructuring, while pricing power, enterprise demand, and network readiness will drive growth for other operators. Industry moving towards premiumisation and digital services, with 5G playing a key role in enterprise deployments.
Belrise Industries and Plasan Sasa have teamed up to tap into the Indian military market with their ATEMM systems. This collaboration will not only help Plasan expand their presence in India, but also provide the Indian defence sector with advanced solutions through the ATEMM Series Vehicle.
Central Bank of India's MD and CEO Kalyan Kumar has implemented successful initiatives, such as credit outreach programs for retail, agriculture, and MSME sectors, resulting in a 20% year-on-year growth in retail credit. The bank has a promising outlook with a pipeline of Rs 85,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore for corporate loans, thanks to GST cuts and other positive developments.
India pledges USD 450 million in aid to rebuild Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assures commitment to reconstruction and offers concessional lines of credit, grants, and assistance for affected sectors. Relief material and medical aid delivered, with plans to boost tourism and foreign investment in Sri Lanka.
Bank of India has successfully raised Rs. 10,000 crore through the issue of long-term infrastructure bonds at 7.23% per annum. The base issue size was Rs. 5,000 crore with a green shoe option of Rs. 5,000 crore. The bank received a total of 83 bids amounting to Rs. 15,305 crore and accepted 37 bids.
Tata Motors to invest Rs 16,000-18,000 crore in EV business by FY30, launch 5 new models under Avinya brand, expand charging infrastructure to maintain 45-50% share of EV passenger vehicle market. Confident in sustaining market share despite competition, expects EVs to make up 15-20% of overall passenger vehicle industry by 2030.
The US embassy has praised India's new SHANTI Bill, which permits private players to engage in the nuclear sector and limits civil nuclear liability. The bill covers key activities like mineral exploration and fuel fabrication and aims to reach a capacity of 100 GW by 2047.
Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager, has received approval from the Competition Commission of India to acquire a 9.99% stake in Federal Bank. The acquisition, to be done through Blackstone's arm Asia II Topco XIII Pte. Ltd., will allow them to nominate a director on the bank's board.
The government has launched the National Mission on Edible Oils to reduce import dependence on cooking oils, which currently stands at 57%, by 2032. Measures such as promoting cultivation of oilseeds as summer crops, providing new seed varieties, and setting up processing units have been initiated. The mission aims to increase oilseed production to 69.7 MT and reduce imports to 28% by 2031-32.
Shriram Finance, a top NBFC, and Japan's MUFG have formed a strategic partnership where MUFG will invest Rs 40,000 crore. This will boost capital, reduce borrowing costs, and aid expansion plans. After a two-year search, MUFG was chosen for its retail lending expertise and long-term vision. Shriram Finance has now revised its growth strategy with this partnership in place.
Reliance Industries and Axis Energy Ventures India Private Limited were top bidders in the central government's coal block auctions, showing keen interest in coal gasification and downstream value-added applications. They also formed consortium bids, indicating their focus on securing feedstock for large-scale gasification.
The CBDT has launched the NUDGE campaign to encourage taxpayers to review their ITRs for AY 2025-26 and correct any ineligible claims for deductions or exemptions. The Income Tax Department has identified cases of bogus donations and incorrect PANs through advanced data analytics.
The income-tax department is taking strict action against undisclosed foreign assets and income by sending reminders to employees of multinational companies. Those who fail to report by December 31 may face penalties and prosecution. The department is using data from overseas tax authorities to identify cases of non-disclosure.
India and New Zealand have agreed to deepen economic partnership through a Financial Services Annex as part of the finalized Free Trade Agreement. The annex focuses on banking, insurance, fintech, and digital payments, and aims to promote bilateral investments and service delivery.
Jemimah Rodrigues has been named as the captain of Delhi Capitals for the 2026 season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). The franchise has been runners-up in all three editions, with Rodrigues playing a key role. She was also instrumental in India's ICC Women's World Cup win.
Adani Ports & SEZ completes acquisition of NQXT Australia, adding a critical export gateway with a capacity of 50 MTPA to its international portfolio. The 100% stake was acquired from Carmichael Rail and Port Singapore Holdings Pte Ltd through the issuance of 14,38,20,153 equity shares. NQXT has a long remaining lease of 85 years and reported an EBITDA of 228 million Australian dollars in FY25
The RBI's November Bulletin highlights the state government's back-loaded expenditure pattern, which peaks in February and March due to project execution and clearing pending bills. This surge in spending, especially in capital expenditure, creates liquidity pressures and leads to reliance on short-term borrowing.
IRB Infrastructure Trust wins bid for NHAI highway stretch in Odisha worth Rs 3087 crore, marking their second win in the past five weeks. The stretch is part of Toll Operate Transfer (ToT) Bundle 18 and adds to the company's expansion in 13 states, with a total asset base of approximately Rs 94,000 crore. The NHAI aims to raise Rs 40,000 crore through asset monetisation by 2025-26, with more To
Generali Central Insurance plans to increase its gross written premium to ₹10,000 crore by 2030 through its current product strategy and stake acquisition by Central Bank of India. CEO Anup Rau sees potential in the Insurance Amendment Bill and higher FDI limit, but the lack of a composite licence has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The Suzuki Fronx, manufactured in India, has received a one-star safety rating in crash tests due to a rear seatbelt failure. ANCAP has expressed concerns about passenger safety and notified regulators in Australia and New Zealand. The low rating highlights flaws in the vehicle's structure and restraint systems, posing a risk to adult and child occupants.
Tata Motors Ltd. has announced a Rs16,000–18,000 crore investment plan for its electric vehicle business, with a focus on scaling products, platforms, and infrastructure. The company also announced crossing a milestone of 2,50,000 cumulative EV sales in India and plans to launch five new EVs by FY30.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra and his wife Himani Mor at his official residence in New Delhi on Tuesday (December 23). This marks Neeraj's first personal interaction outside of official engagements.
Tata Motors Finance, a subsidiary of Tata Capital, settled a case with SEBI by paying Rs 32 lakh for alleged violations in issuing non-convertible debentures. The case involved five issuances of NCDs, which were sold to over 200 investors within six months, violating regulations. TMFL filed a revised settlement after a suo-motu application.
Bajaj Auto's domestic motorcycle business is facing tough competition from Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor Company, resulting in a decline in market share, particularly in the 125cc and 150-250cc categories. TVS Motor is steadily gaining ground, while Hero MotoCorp remains the leader. To combat this, Bajaj Auto is implementing various strategies, but the situation remains challenging.
Ola Electric Mobility Ltd. has opened Hyperservice Centres in Bengaluru to improve customer experience and address declining sales. These centres will provide same-day service and access to spare parts and training for independent garages. The company plans to expand nationwide and compete with Hero Vida, which has surpassed them in monthly electric two-wheeler sales.
Waaree Transpower, a subsidiary of Waaree Group, has received a Rs 100 crore order for 1.27 GW transformers from a solar EPC company. This is a major achievement for the company, which recently acquired Kotsons Private Limited and renamed it Waaree Transpower. The transformers will be used for Utility-Scale Projects and are designed to handle high-frequency, high-voltage transmissions.
Deepti Sharma and Laura Wolvaardt have reclaimed the top spots in the latest ICC Women's player rankings, with Deepti becoming the top-ranked T20I bowler for the first time and Wolvaardt becoming the number 1 ranked batter in ODIs. Smriti Mandhana lost her top spot in ODIs to Wolvaardt, while Jemimah Rodrigues climbed five places in the T20I rankings.
The first trailer for Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey has finally dropped — and the internet can’t agree on what it’s seeing. While longtime Nolan loyalists are hailing the film as a future classic, others have criticised its muted visuals, costumes and storytelling, calling it one of the most underwhelming trailers of the year.
India aim to extend their lead in the T20I series against Sri Lanka in the second game at Visakhapatnam. Despite being the favoured team, India need to work on their fielding. The spotlight will be on Vaishnavi Sharma and Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu, who has the highest strike rate among their batters.
