Times of India

India's 2026 space calendar is marked by a surge in private sector involvement, despite an early launch setback. Key milestones include a major Earth Observation Satellite System project and the development of 31 satellites for strategic surveillance by private entities. Rocket startups are poised for commercial launches, signaling a new era for India's space economy.

OpenAI's Chief Information Security Officer, Matt Knight, has stepped down after over five years. Knight, the company's first security hire in 2020, oversaw the growth of its security program to protect a global platform used by millions. He expressed pride in defining AI security and launching the Aardvark project. CEO Sam Altman lauded Knight's significant contributions.

Breast cancer is affecting younger women more frequently. This trend is a growing concern in India and globally. Many young women dismiss symptoms, believing cancer only affects older individuals. Early detection is crucial for better survival rates. Awareness campaigns must include women under 40 to encourage timely medical consultation and improve outcomes.

Gold and silver futures shattered previous records on Tuesday, driven by a surge in safe-haven demand amidst escalating geopolitical tensions. International markets saw significant gains, with gold surpassing $5,100 per ounce and silver climbing over 6%. This rally is attributed to global uncertainty, a weakening US dollar, and trade disputes impacting currency values.

Public sector banks across India are experiencing widespread disruption due to a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). Employees are demanding the immediate implementation of a five-day work week, a request that remains unformalised by the government. The strike is expected to impact branch services for five consecutive days, compounded by upcoming holidays.

Both parties trained guns at one another after the BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi refused to wear the traditional Assamese scarf given to all the guests at a reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. BJP called it an insult to the northeast, with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma snubbing what he called the attitude of the "de facto supremo".

Cricket Scotland's CEO is confident players will reach India for the T20 World Cup despite visa delays, especially for Pakistan-origin pacer Safyaan Sharif. The ICC and BCCI are working to expedite the process for all 20 teams, with Scotland's opening match on February 7th. Scotland is also preparing backup visa applications.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dismisses claims of 'circular financing' regarding a $2 billion investment in cloud provider CoreWeave. He asserts these are strategic investments in 'generational companies' vital for AI expansion, not financial engineering. Huang emphasizes Nvidia's contributions are a small fraction of the massive capital these AI firms require for growth.

US President Trump is sending "tough but fair" border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis following two fatal shootings involving federal agents. The incidents have intensified protests and calls for an independent investigation into ICE operations, with Homan previously leading aggressive enforcement efforts.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei subtly criticized social media entrepreneurs' approach to AI development, contrasting it with scientists' sense of responsibility. This comes as Meta's AI pioneer Yann LeCun departed following disagreements with Mark Zuckerberg over research direction, particularly concerning world models versus large language models. LeCun's exit and subsequent venture highlight a growing divergence in AI philosophies.

Public sector bank operations face nationwide disruption Tuesday as unions strike for a five-day work week. Conciliation talks failed, leading to the strike after banks were already closed for the weekend and Republic Day. This is expected to impact branch services for three consecutive days.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya celebrated a decade in international cricket, marking the milestone with an emotional message on Instagram. He expressed gratitude for his journey, emphasising that his career is far from over and that he is just beginning his true path. Pandya highlighted his growth as a cricketer and a man while serving his country.

India and the European Union are set to sign a landmark Free Trade Agreement after nearly two decades of talks, signaling a significant boost to their economic and strategic partnership.

Jasprit Bumrah showcased his exceptional control and wicket-taking ability in the T20 against New Zealand, delivering a match-winning performance. Despite being used in varied roles, Bumrah's spell of 4-0-17-3 restricted the opposition and earned him Player of the Match. The bowler also reflected on his decade-long international career.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has questioned WhatsApp's security, calling it "braindead" to believe the platform is secure. This comes as a class-action lawsuit accuses Meta-owned WhatsApp of accessing user messages, contradicting its end-to-end encryption claims. Meta has called the allegations "frivolous" and "absurd," asserting that WhatsApp messages are indeed encrypted.

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has said Europe cannot defend itself without the US, dismissing notions of European military independence expressed by many EU leaders. He emphasized the US nuclear umbrella as crucial for freedom and urged European nations to significantly increase defense spending, even suggesting the need for nuclear arms if standing alone.

A shocking chain snatching incident unfolded within AIIMS Bhopal's lift, targeting a woman employee. A masked assailant, after feigning conversation, forcibly snatched her mangalsutra before fleeing. The lack of security in the lift area and the subsequent escape raise serious questions about the hospital's safety protocols. Investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrator.

A 23-year-old woman was abducted from Leopard Trail by a food vendor who forced her into a borrowed Scorpio. Police pursued the vehicle for an hour before it got stuck, leading to the vendor's arrest. He faces charges of kidnapping and snatching, with potential sexual assault charges pending.