Today’s news LIVE: Jan 30 | Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, likely to take over as Deputy CM

Kolkata fire: Bengal guv visits gutted godowns, flags lapses

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday said the devastating fire at a momo manufacturing unit and two godowns at Anandapur on the outskirts of Kolkata pointed to a failure on the part of the authorities.

"I am here on a fact-finding exercise, not on a fault-finding exercise," the governor said after visiting the spot..

"I do not want to blame anybody, but the fact remains that there has been failure on the part of authorities concerned, else this kind of repeated incidents would not have taken place," the governor told reporters.

So far, 21 body parts, including partially burnt and skeletal remains, have been recovered from the site, officials said.

"We cannot confirm the exact death toll as we have recovered body parts, which may belong to a single or different individuals. This can be confirmed only after the DNA tests," a police officer said. 

Google India profit remains almost flat at Rs 1,437 crore

Google India has posted a flat profit of Rs 1,436.9 crore on standalone basis in the financial year 2025 due to decline in revenue and increase in employee and tax expenses, according to a regulatory document shared by market intelligence firm Tofler.

The company had posted a total profit after tax of around Rs 1,425 crore a year ago. The revenue from operations of Google India declined by 3.2 per cent to Rs 5,340 crore during the reported fiscal from Rs 5,518 crore in FY24.

Total revenue of Google India, however, increased by 3.2 per cent to Rs 6,116 crore from Rs 5,921 crore on YoY basis, an account of "other income" of around Rs 776 crore. Email query sent to Google India elicited no immediate response.

According to the analysis done by Tofler, net margin of Google India also declined 23.49 per cent on year-over-year (YoY) basis from 24.06 per cent. "The company's total expenses for the fiscal were reported as Rs 4,136 crore," Tofler said.

The company posted 7.8 per cent increase in employee benefit expense to about Rs 2,146 crore in FY25 from Rs 1,989 crore in the year ago period.

Silver, gold futures decline as traders book profits after record highs

Silver and gold prices declined sharply in the futures trade on Friday as traders booked profits at elevated levels after a record-breaking rally, tracking a bearish sentiment in global markets and a rebound in the US dollar.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver futures for March delivery plunged Rs 12,169, or 3.04 per cent, to Rs 3,87,724 per kilogram in a business turnover of 8,710 lots. The white metal had surged about 9 per cent to hit a record of Rs 4,20,048 per kg on Thursday, before settling at Rs 3,99,893 per kg.

Similarly, gold futures for February contract dropped Rs 2,162, or 1.28 per cent, to Rs 1,67,241 per 10 grams in 3,965 lots. In the previous session, the yellow metal had soared nearly 9 per cent, to scale a new peak of Rs 1,80,779 per 10 grams, before easing to Rs 1,69,403 per 10 grams on the MCX.

"After hitting record highs, gold and silver prices dropped as a rebound in the US dollar triggered aggressive profit-taking," said Manav Modi, Commodities - Analyst, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL).

He said domestic prices fell more than international benchmarks in the previous market session, raising price parity concerns. The dollar index reversed from recent lows of 96, while the USD/ INR pair marked a record high.

Cong-DMK will begin seat-sharing talks soon, says TNCC chief

Denying any rift in the Congress-DMK ties, TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai on Friday said the two parties will begin the seat-sharing negotiations in a week.

He exuded confidence that his party would get the expected number of seats during the talks with the DMK. "We are not exerting pressure on our ally. We will ask and get what we want and the DMK will give (us)," Selvaperunthagai told reporters in Tiruvallur.

On DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi’s meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital, recently, the TNCC chief said, "We are holding talks. We will again begin the talks in about a week." He took a dig at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami's meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah with his face "masked" and said, "Unlike that meeting, Kanimozhi’s meeting with our leader was straightforward and dignified." The Congress was allotted 25 seats in the 2021 Assembly election by the DMK, but won in 18 segments. 

FTA with EU to help India diversify trade relations: Moody's

The trade agreement with the European Union (EU) will help India diversify its trade relationships and provide greater market access to its exporters amid growing uncertainty due to high US tariffs, Moody's Ratings has said.

The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the EU was announced on January 27. It is likely to be signed and implemented this year only. "For India, the deal reflects its continued efforts to selectively diversify trade relationships while hedging against trade volatility arising from recent US tariff actions," Moody's said.

It said that for the EU, the deal strengthens economic security by widening access to a fast-growing India while reducing vulnerability to disruptions in more concentrated trade relationships.

"Although we expect limited near-term credit effects for India, the EU and individual member states, once ratified and implemented the FTA will be credit positive for both sides in raising trade volumes, enhancing the diversification of trade flows, and providing greater and more stable market access," it added.

European sectors such as automotive (vehicles and parts), machinery and equipment, and aircraft are more likely to benefit over the longer term, given the sharp reduction in tariffs and increased demand from India, although the short-term impact is likely to be modest.

Sabarimala gold misappropriation case: SIT questions actor Jayaram

Renowned actor Jayaram has been questioned by the SIT probing the alleged misappropriation of gold from artefacts at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, official sources said on Friday.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioned the actor recently at his residence in Chennai about the number of times he participated in pujas with Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the gold misappropriation cases, and whether there were any financial transactions between them, sources said.

The SIT is investigating two cases related to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the doorframes of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple.

The actor was questioned following circulation of videos showing him participating in a puja organised in Chennai in 2019 by Potty with the artefacts taken from the temple for gold plating.

Former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) administrative officers B Murari Babu and S Sreekumar, who were arrested in connection with the cases, were recently released on statutory bail in the matter.

Stock markets tank in early trade after 3-day rally

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Friday after a three-day rally, dragged by IT stocks and caution ahead of the Budget presentation on February 1.

Fresh foreign fund outflows and weak trends in global equities also added to markets' weakness during initial trading. The 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 619.06 points to 81,947.31 in opening trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 171.35 points to 25,247.55.

From the 30-Sensex firms, Tata Steel, HCL Tech, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, NTPC and Tech Mahindra were among the biggest laggards. Maruti, ITC, Asian Paints and InterGlobe Aviation were among the gainers.

"As we near the Budget Day there are headwinds and tailwinds for the market. Geopolitical issues continue to plague global trade with continuous threats of tariff weaponisation by Trump. The spike in Brent crude to near USD 70 is a headwind for Indian macros in general and industries that use oil as inputs, in particular.

"However, these headwinds are likely to be countered by the positive message from the Economic Survey that projects GDP growth of 6.8 to 7.2 per cent growth in FY27," VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

Drugs worth Rs 9.2 cr seized in Assam in separate operations

Drugs worth Rs 9.2 crore were seized from two districts of Assam, and three persons were arrested in these connections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Two persons were apprehended after banned Yaba tablets valued at Rs 4.5 crore were recovered from their possession at Bijni in Chirang district, the CM posted on X. The police also arrested one person and seized 947 gm of heroin worth Rs 4.7 crore from 85 cases in Cachar district, Sarma said on Thursday. ''Busted in Brahmaputra Valley, Busted in Barak Valley too! Different valleys -same resolve," the chief minister said.

Amit Shah to launch projects worth Rs 1,715 crore in Assam

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several development projects worth Rs 1,715 crore in Assam on Friday.

He will also address a public meeting, participate in a cultural programme of the Mishing tribe and interact with BJP functionaries and workers in Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and Guwahati, respectively.

Shah reached Dibrugarh around midnight on Thursday and was received by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, several members of the state cabinet and senior officials.

This is Shah's second visit, since December 29, to Assam, where the ruling BJP is aiming to retain power in the state for the third consecutive term in the upcoming assembly elections. ''Honoured to welcome Adarniya @AmitShah ji at Dibrugarh airport'', the chief minister posted on 'X'.

''His visit will mark key milestones across Upper Assam, spanning development, governance, and cultural celebration. We look forward to his guidance and everlasting support for the people of Assam'', Sarma said.

Rupee recovers from lowest level in early trade

The rupee recovered from its lowest level and gained 9 paise to trade at 91.90 against the American currency in early deals on Friday, supported by lower crude oil prices in the international market.

According to forex traders, a sharp recovery in the Indian currency was capped by a strong greenback and withdrawal of foreign funds from domestic equity markets.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 91.89 and strengthened up to 91.87 against the greenback before trading at 91.90 in initial deals, up 9 paisa from its previous closing level.

The rupee ended on a flat note at its lowest level of 91.99 against the dollar on Thursday. On January 23, the currency hit an all-time intraday low of 92 against the US dollar.