Business Standard's brand film emphasizes insight over imitation, promoting depth and context in news consumption.
Business Standard's brand film conveys that value in news comes from depth, context and attentive interpretation rather than outward signs; a boy's imitation of a gesture is corrected when a guard explains that understanding the newspaper's content grants entry. The release notes the film's launch on Business Standard's YouTube channel and links the message to the publisher's wider platforms-print editions, digital services, social media, video and podcast offerings-and its editorial emphasis on independent, analytical journalism.

World University Leaders Forum launches to unite global universities to advance sustainable development and strengthen academic collaboration.
The World University Leaders Forum establishes a permanent global platform for university leadership to promote cross border academic linkages and collaborative initiatives that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals through teaching, research, policy engagement, community outreach and partnerships, with a focus on inclusive interaction between Global North and Global South institutions and mechanisms-dialogue, convenings and partnership building-to translate shared commitments into coordinated action across higher education.

CEPT University launches MBA in Real Estate and notes government recognition and endowment support at 20th convocation conferring 589 degrees.
CEPT University, established by statute and holding government recognitions including Centre of Excellence status and DSIR research recognition, announced at its 20th convocation the launch of an MBA in Real Estate. The university conferred 589 degrees, awarded 45 proficiency prizes, and granted two Honorary Doctorates, while identifying the new MBA as a market-facing programme leveraging strengths in architecture, planning, engineering and urban management.

Stock markets fell early as Reliance and ICICI Bank weakness, FII outflows and tariff fears weighed.
Early trading declines in Indian benchmarks were led by Reliance and ICICI Bank after muted quarterly results; ICICI Bank's profit contraction reflected an RBI-mandated provision for agricultural loans wrongly classified as priority sector advances, and Reliance's flat profit stemmed from reduced gas production and weaker retail. Sustained foreign institutional outflows, domestic institutional buying dynamics, announced tariff increases and geopolitical concerns further constrained market sentiment and increased volatility.

LIC urged to align its capital and digital strategy with national growth priorities while expanding insurance coverage.
LIC's designation as a Domestic Systemically Important Insurer (D-SII) carries responsibility for financial stability; the Secretary urged using LIC's consolidated AUM and strong solvency to align investments with national priorities such as green energy, infrastructure, startups and alternate investment funds, while improving persistency. Operational measures include Project DIVE for end-to-end digital transformation, a strategic product shift to high-growth non-participating and customizable products to attract younger customers, and strengthening distribution via Jeevan Samarth and the Bima Sakhis programme to expand rural coverage.

Rupee gains to 90.66 against dollar amid dollar retreat, but foreign outflows and oil keep markets cautious.
The rupee gained 12 paise to 90.66 against the US dollar in early trade after opening at 90.68, aided by a weaker dollar. Persistent foreign institutional investor outflows from domestic equities and higher Brent crude prices amid geopolitical volatility restrained gains, while domestic equity indices declined and FIIs recorded substantial net selling.

China's economy grew 5% in 2025, driven by strong exports and a record trade surplus despite tariffs.
China's 2025 GDP grew 5% driven mainly by strong exports that offset weak consumer spending and investment; growth slowed to 4.5% in the final quarter, and strong external demand produced a record USD 1.2 trillion trade surplus despite US tariffs.

Political empowerment through reservations enables marginalised representation and demands protection of civic freedoms and transparency measures.
Oxfam's report presents political reservations in India as a mechanism enabling marginalised communities to obtain legislative representation and pursue redistributive policies, and cites participatory budgeting in Brazil as a model of direct citizen control over public resources. It calls on governments to guarantee civic space, protect freedom of expression, assembly and association (including online), ensure transparency and accountability in these protections, and provide access to resources and information for meaningful participation.

Billionaire wealth surge links concentrated wealth to political power and calls for taxation and firewalls between wealth and politics.
The report links a sharp 2025 surge in billionaire wealth to concentrated economic and political power: billionaires now hold record wealth that roughly equals the bottom half of humanity, are estimated to be 4,000 times more likely to hold political office, and use ownership of major media and social platforms and favourable policy shifts to translate wealth into political influence. It calls for National Inequality Reduction Plans, taxation of the super rich, legal firewalls between wealth and politics, and stronger protections for civil liberties and civil society.

Tariff hikes and levy increases alleged to burden citizens, with unpaid reimbursements and denied MSP worsening agrarian distress.
Allegations that tariff and levy increases-including higher liquor prices and stamp duty-have financially burdened citizens, coupled with claims that farmers were denied minimum support prices, urea shortages persist, and the government owes about Rs 5,600 crore in fee reimbursements; the statement also alleges a deterioration in law and order with reported killings of returnees and no response from the ruling coalition.

Holistic Agriculture Development Programme drives 92,000+ agricultural units, generating revenue, profit and rural employment for farmers.
HADP, funded at Rs 5,013 crore across 29 projects, targets transition to income-generating agriculture; over 3.7 lakh farmers registered, nearly four lakh applications approved and more than 92,000 productive units established, with 86,000+ digitally tracked. DakshKisan delivered structured skilling to 3.5 lakh farmers. Digitally tracked units reported ~Rs 350 crore revenue, ~Rs 125 crore profit and 1.9 crore person-days of employment, yielding about Rs 2 revenue and Re 1 profit per rupee of subsidy and prompting referrals to financial institutions to support enterprise financing.

Foreign news roundup: trade tensions over AI and tariffs, India at WEF, regional incidents and tourism trends.
A foreign-news roundup focuses on trade policy friction-U.S. criticism of American funding of foreign AI and protest against threatened additional tariffs-alongside India's active participation at a global economic forum and regional incidents including a Pakistan invitation to a Gaza board, a communal killing in Bangladesh, a deadly Karachi mall fire under investigation, and Sri Lanka tourism figures led by Indian visitors.

US tariff threat over Greenland risks sparking a transatlantic crisis and prompting coordinated European diplomatic and economic response.
A threatened 10% US tariff on eight European countries over troop deployments to Greenland prompted unified rebukes that such threats undermine sovereignty and territorial integrity, risk a dangerous downward spiral in transatlantic relations, and face legal and practical uncertainty given the EU single market and pending challenges to US emergency economic powers.

Karnataka showcasing execution-first investor facilitation to convert investment intent into on-ground projects through land readiness, approvals, utilities and incentives.
Karnataka is adopting an execution-first investor facilitation strategy emphasizing land readiness, expedited statutory approvals, assured utilities, sector-specific infrastructure, supply chain linkages, skilled talent, incentive frameworks and time-bound facilitation through investor support mechanisms to convert investment intent into on-ground project implementation.

Navarro questions why Americans are funding AI use in India amid tariffs and escalating trade tensions.
Peter Navarro criticised the economic implications of American-funded Artificial Intelligence services servicing large foreign users, questioning why Americans would bear costs for AI use in India and linking cross-border AI consumption to domestic economic concerns. He situated the remarks within broader bilateral trade strain, referencing a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods and an additional 25 percent duty related to Russian crude purchases, and reiterated prior attacks on India's tariff policies and oil purchases while India affirmed measures to safeguard national interests and economic security.

Enforcement Directorate arrests alleged drug trafficker and seizes Rs 3 crore in money laundering probe.
Enforcement Directorate action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act led to the arrest of an alleged drug trafficker and seizure of about Rs 3 crore after coordinated multi state searches arising from a Goa Police anti narcotics FIR, with the probe and asset measures aimed at tracing and attaching proceeds of narcotics trafficking.

Online betting app Magicwin charged under anti-money laundering law for operating a betting exchange and laundering funds.
The Enforcement Directorate filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Magicwin, a UK-registered online betting portal allegedly run by Pakistani directors based in the UAE, naming 14 accused. Stemming from an Ahmedabad cybercrime FIR concerning unauthorized streaming of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, the agency alleges Magicwin operated as a betting exchange and live-casino platform, used mule accounts for transactions, and diverted betting funds through hawala and cryptocurrencies.

Infrastructure push in West Bengal: port, inland-waterway and rail upgrades plus new passenger trains and green vessels.
Central investment announced for port, inland-waterway and rail infrastructure in West Bengal includes the Jayrambati-Barogopinathpur-Maynapur rail line, flagging off Amrit Bharat Express trains, and foundation of an Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh with an Inland Water Transport terminal and road overbridge; Balagarh is planned as a 900-acre cargo terminal with about 2.7 MTPA capacity to divert vessel movement from congested urban corridors and reduce logistics pressure on Kolkata.

E-rickshaw driver impersonated a police officer to evade tolls and access services using a fake ID.
A motorised-rickshaw driver impersonated a police officer to avoid paying tolls and obtain hotel services; police arrested him and seized a sub inspector's uniform, a Special Police Officer identity card purchased for a sum, and personal identity documents, with interrogation revealing the false persona was used repeatedly while operating a rented e rickshaw on an intercity route.

Assam to attend WEF Davos 2026; Chief Minister to present investment opportunities and pursue MoUs during Jan 19-23.
Assam will attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos for the first time, with the Chief Minister representing the State from January 19-23 to present investment opportunities and a future-ready vision. Key memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during the four-day engagement, framing the visit as a state-led investment promotion and formalisation of cooperative arrangements within a broader Indian delegation.