Oman’s first polymer one-rial banknote, featuring national landmarks, begins circulation on January 11, 2026/Image: ONA

Oman has introduced its first polymer one-rial banknote, designed to last longer and stay more secure than previous ones. The new banknote, which will start circulating from January 11, 2026, also highlights the country’s cultural and economic achievements.The Central Bank of Oman has released the one-rial polymer banknote, the country has first time issued currency in this material. Unlike the traditional cotton based notes, polymer is durable and comes with advanced security features to help prevent counterfeiting.The note measures 145 by 76 millimetres combining design, heritage, and national pride. The front side features the Oman Botanic Garden, representing the nation’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage. On the rear side, the Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur Cultural Complex appears alongside the Duqm Port and Refinery, showing Oman’s cultural landmarks and economic progress. Together, these images offer a clear picture of the country’s identity and achievements.Security features have been given special attention. A large transparent window, inspired by the arched windows of the Oman Botanic Garden, adds both visual appeal and protection. The front includes a colour-shifting foil showing the frankincense tree, while the Central Bank’s logo appears on the back in iridescent, colour-shifting ink. These features make the note both distinctive and secure.The Central Bank confirmed that the new polymer note will circulate alongside existing one- rial banknotes and will remain fully legal for transactions. Additionally, collectors and the public can buy limited editions, including 1,000 uncut sheets and 10,000 specially packaged notes. These will be available from January 11, 2026, at Central Bank counters in Ruwi, Salalah, and Sohar, as well as through Oman Post’s sales outlet at the Opera Galleria.By combining modern materials with designs that celebrate Oman’s cultural and economic milestones, the new polymer one-rial banknote offers durability, security, and a clear reflection of the nation’s achievements.

India and New Zealand struck a free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday, marking the end of negotiations that began back in March this year. The agreement was unveiled after a telephone conversation between PM Modi and New Zealand’s PM Christopher Luxon. During the call, the two leaders described the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement as historic, ambitious and mutually beneficial, saying that it would act as a catalyst for deeper trade, investment, innovation and shared opportunities between the two countries. They also welcomed progress across other areas of bilateral cooperation, including defence, sports, education and people-to-people ties. Negotiations for the FTA were initiated during Luxon’s visit to India. The leaders noted that the successful conclusion of the agreement within a record nine months reflected strong political will and a shared ambition to further strengthen bilateral ties.Hailing the deal, PM Modi said, “My friend PM Christopher Luxon and I had a very good conversation a short while ago following the conclusion of the landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.”Luxon also took to X, saying, “I’ve just spoken with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the conclusion of the NZ-India Free Trade Agreement … Boosting trade means more Kiwi jobs, higher wages and more opportunities for hard working New Zealanders. The agreement builds on the strong friendship between our two countries.”The PM further wrote, “India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and this gives Kiwi businesses access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers. Our Government is relentlessly focused on fixing the basics and building the future – with new trade deals like this helping to grow our economy so all Kiwis can get ahead.”

India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

The FTA is expected to significantly deepen economic engagement, improve market access, boost investment flows and strengthen strategic cooperation, while opening up new opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, MSMEs, students and youth in both countries across multiple sectors.Both leaders are confident that bilateral trade could double over the next five years.

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch as the partnership enters a new phase following the signing of the agreement.

Representative image (AI-generated)

Three men are set to stand trial next year over the suspected theft of silverware and valuable tableware from the official residence of the French president, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.The disappearance of items, estimated to be worth between 15,000 and 40,000 euros ($17,500–$46,800), was first reported by the Élysée Palace’s head steward. The stolen pieces included Sèvres porcelain, Baccarat champagne glasses, copper saucepans and a René Lalique statuette, all used during state dinners and official events.Investigations traced the theft to one of the palace’s silver stewards, Thomas M, after staff noticed irregularities in inventory records suggesting potential future thefts, as reported by Reuters. Prosecutors said around 100 objects were recovered from his personal locker, vehicle and home. Among the recovered items were pieces identified by the Sèvres Manufactory on online auction websites.Thomas M and his partner, Damien G, were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of theft, while another man, Ghislain M, was arrested on charges of receiving stolen goods. Authorities said Ghislain M, a guard at the Louvre Museum, may have been motivated by a “passion” for rare antique objects, according to his lawyer.Investigators also discovered some stolen items listed on Thomas M.’s Vinted account, including a plate stamped “French Air Force” and Sèvres ashtrays not available to the general public. All recovered items have been returned to the Élysée Palace, according to CNN. The three suspects appeared in court on Thursday on charges of jointly stealing movable property listed as part of the national heritage, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros, as well as aggravated handling of stolen goods.The trial has been scheduled for February 26. In the meantime, the defendants were placed under judicial supervision, barred from contacting each other, prohibited from attending auction venues and restricted from professional activities.The case has drawn attention amid broader concerns about the security of France’s cultural and historical assets. In October, the Louvre Museum, where Ghislain M works, suffered a high-profile theft of pieces from France’s crown jewels, prompting debate about security measures at national landmarks.

Sheikh Hasina (PTI image)

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina reacted to the death of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi, accusing the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of presiding over “lawlessness” and claiming the violence reflects a breakdown of governance that has worsened since her ouster.In an email interview with ANI, Hasina said the killing of the youth leader underscored a growing culture of violence under the interim administration, warning that the situation was destabilising Bangladesh internally and straining ties with neighbouring countries, particularly India.“This tragic killing reflects the lawlessness that uprooted my government and has multiplied under Yunus. Violence has become the norm while the interim government either denies it or is powerless to stop it. Such incidents destabilise Bangladesh internally but also our relationships with neighbours who are watching with justified alarm. India sees the chaos, the persecution of minorities, and the erosion of everything we built together. When you cannot maintain basic order within your borders, your credibility on the international stage collapses. This is the reality of Yunus’s Bangladesh,” Hasina said.Her remarks came after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader associated with Bangladesh’s 2024 “July uprising” and spokesperson of the political platform Inqilab Mancho.Also read | Bangladesh: Youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi dies in Singapore; succumbed to injuries after assassination attemptHadi was shot at close range by unidentified assailants while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12. He sustained a critical gunshot injury to the head and was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being shifted to Evercare Hospital as his condition worsened.He was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment and admitted to the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit at Singapore General Hospital. Inqilab Mancho announced Hadi’s death in a social media post, stating that he had fought for his life for six days, according to Bangladesh news outlet Daily Star. An aspiring independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency, Hadi emerged as a prominent political figure following last year’s uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office.Also Read | ‘Bangladesh won’t forget your mantra’: Yunus vows to fulfill anti-India leader Hadi’s dream; what he saidHasina also expressed serious concern over the killing of a Hindu youth amid the unrest, linking the incident to what she described as the interim government’s failure to protect minorities and maintain basic law and order.Referring to the lynching of 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh district, the former PM held the Yunus-led administration responsible. Das was allegedly beaten to death by a mob over accusations of blasphemy, after which his body was set on fire, triggering nationwide outrage.Also Read | Bangladesh unrest: Hindu man lynched, body tied to tree and set on fire as tensions escalate – reportHasina said such incidents were contributing to diplomatic strain, particularly with India and accused the interim government of allowing extremists to dictate both domestic and foreign policy.“The strain you are witnessing is entirely of Yunus’s making. His government issues hostile statements against India, fails to protect religious minorities, and allows extremists to dictate foreign policy, then expresses surprise when tensions rise. India has been Bangladesh’s most steadfast friend and partner for decades. The ties between our nations are deep and fundamental; they will outlast any temporary government,” she said.She further claimed that anti-India hostility was being deliberately fuelled by radical elements emboldened under the current dispensation, pointing to attacks on diplomatic facilities, media houses and minority communities.“This hostility is being manufactured by extremists who have been emboldened by the Yunus regime. These are the same actors who marched on the Indian embassy and attacked our media offices, who attack minorities with impunity, and who forced my family and me to flee for our lives. A responsible government would protect diplomatic missions and prosecute those who threaten them. Instead, Yunus grants immunity to hooligans and calls them warriors,” Hasina alleged.Sheikh Hasina also warned of what she described as the growing influence of radical Islamist forces, claiming the interim government had released convicted terrorists and allowed extremist-linked groups to enter public life, raising alarms about Bangladesh’s secular foundations.“I share this concern, as do the millions of Bangladeshis who prefer the safe, secular state we once were. Yunus has placed extremists in cabinet positions, released convicted terrorists from prison, and allowed groups linked to international terrorist organisations to take roles in public life. He is not a politician and has no experience governing a complex nation. My fear is that radicals are using him to project an acceptable face to the international community while they systematically radicalise our institutions from within,” Hasina said.Separately, Hasina criticised the interim government’s approach to Pakistan, arguing that major foreign policy shifts were being pursued without democratic legitimacy.She said that Bangladesh had long adhered to a balanced diplomatic principle but accused Yunus of moving hastily to reorient ties after alienating traditional allies.“Bangladesh has always believed in friendship to all, malice toward none. Of course it makes sense for our country to have a stable relationship with Pakistan, but Yunus’ headlong embrace is inappropriate. Having needlessly alienated many of our longstanding allies, he now seems desperate to find a friend on the world stage,” Hasina said.She further stressed that the interim administration lacked the mandate to undertake strategic realignments that could have long-term consequences.“The crucial point is this: Yunus has no mandate to realign Bangladesh’s foreign policy. He was not elected, so he has no right to make strategic decisions that could impact generations. Once Bangladeshis can vote freely again, our foreign policy will return to serving our national interests, not the ideological fantasies of extremists who have temporarily seized power. The ties between Bangladesh and India are fundamental and will endure long after this interim government is gone,” she added.

Jefferies has initiated its coverage of Groww with a buy recommendation and a target price of Rs 180. Analysts said Groww is the largest broker in India in terms of active clients, despite starting the business in FY21. They believe Groww has several levers to drive 35% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of its earnings per share (EPS) over FY26-FY28. These include 19% growth in broking business led by client vintage and market share gains, 5x growth in new initiatives like margin trading facility and wealth management, and 700 basis points margin expansion.IIFL Finance has initiated its coverage of Firstsource Solutions with a buy recommendation and a target price of Rs 420. Analysts said that the company is the largest and well-diversified pure-play BPO services provider in India with annualised revenue of over $1 billion, placing it in a sweet spot in terms of scale and agility. With its UnBPO approach, it is leading the paradigm shift in BPO industry from scale/labour arbitrage to tech-arbitrage driven by: Inch-wide mile-deep approach; domain-contextualised technology; outcome-oriented approach with 50%+ of its revenues based on outcome-based pricing; and an agile business model. Turnaround over the last two years was driven by the new CEO under One Firstsource Strategy has been credible, resulting in a marked pick-up in large deal-wins from about one-per-quarter in FY24 to 4-5-per-quarter in FY26; strong new/strategic logo wins; increasing clients across revenue buckets; strong annual contract value and larger deal sizes.Macquarie initiated its coverage of Lenskart with an outperform rating and a target price of Rs 530. Analysts said India’s leading eyewear retailer, with an integrated supply chain, enjoys competitive edge in cost, design, and efficiency against its peers. The company has a proven history of industry-leading growth and enhances outlook on market share gains from current 5% closer to 40%+ seen in other countries. Improved supply chain utilisation should move earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin near 33% store-level margin and triple return on invested capital (ROIC) to 20%+ over FY26-FY28.CLSA has a hold rating on Voltas with the target price at Rs 1,170. Analysts said that the company’s management indicated room air-conditioner (RAC) demand improved sequentially in Q3FY26 though it may still decline on an annualised basis. Inventory, while down sequentially, remains elevated at 40–45 days against 20–25 days last year, with some instances of pre-buying due to energy efficiency (BEE table) changes. The company’s pricing strategy remains under evaluation with multiple factors being considered to decide on the percentage of pass through to end users. A demand recovery in the RAC segment and developments around price hikes remains key near-term triggers for business, analysts said.Goldman Sachs has a buy rating on Max Healthcare with the target price at Rs 1,325. Analysts said that the company recently announced entry into the Pune market via acquisition of Yerawada Properties. Purchase of an equity stake is expected to be carried out in a step-up manner. In the first tranche, company intends to acquire 100% of Class A equity shares representing 100% of voting rights and 50.22% of economic interest in YPPL. No other details on remaining ownership were shared. Additionally, the board has also approved the setting up of a 450-bed super speciality hospital on the land owned by YPPL.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

KOLKATA: A Kolkata-based sarod player with family roots in Bangladesh and an illustrious legacy in the world of music had to flee the neighbouring country when the venue was vandalised hours before his programme, leaving him shocked and his tabla player still stuck there.Shiraz Ali Khan had a concert scheduled at Chhayanaut in Dhaka on Dec 19. But hours before the scheduled programme, the culture hub was vandalised amid a nationwide spiral of unrest triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical leader who played a key role in last year’s anti-Hasina protests.Shiraz managed to “flee” to Kolkata on Saturday evening, suppressing his Indian identity on the way. His tabla player is still stuck there and hoping to return on Monday.Shiraz’s father is Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, son of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and grandson of Baba Allauddin Khan. Although based in Kolkata, Shiraz’s family has roots across the border. His great-grandfather, Ustad Allauddin Khan, was from Brahmanbaria. “Some years ago, a college in Ustad Allauddin Khan’s name (in Brahmanbaria) was attacked. But the attack on Chhayanaut is an unimaginable assault on our culture and shared values,” Shiraz said.Shiraz arrived in Dhaka on Dec 16, in time for a jazz concert on Dec 17 in Banani. His major classical music recital was scheduled for Dec 19. “Despite the small gathering of 17-18 people, the experience (in Banani) was heartfelt. I didn’t expect that days later, tragedy would hit our musical community. On the morning of Dec 19, I learned about the attack on Chhayanaut. I couldn’t believe the building where I was to perform was destroyed. Seeing the disturbing images was beyond belief, especially as someone who holds music and its sacredness in the highest regard,” Shiraz told TOI. While trying to leave Dhaka, Shiraz was stopped at a checkpoint. “I was asked if I had foreign currency. Fortunately, I didn’t. For the first time, I didn’t mention my Indian identity. Aware of anti-India sentiments, I spoke in the Brahmanbaria dialect. My mother, from Brahmanbaria, settled in India after her marriage in 1968. I learned the dialect from her,” he said.Shiraz’s Khan surname helped. “People thought I was from Bangladesh, not India. I never thought I’d have to hide my Indian identity. I gave my Indian passport and phone to the driver, who kept them in the car’s dashboard. I got them back at the airport. I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t concealed my identity. My mother is still in Bangladesh. My Hindu accompanists are also stranded in Dhaka. I won’t reveal their names for their safety,” he said, adding he “won’t return” to “Bangladesh until artists, music, and cultural institutions are respected and protected”.

PUNE/NAGPUR: BJP-led Mahayuti delivered a sweeping verdict after two rounds of the first phase of Maharashtra’s civic elections, winning presidents’ posts in nearly 207 of 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, mirroring its assembly election performance just over a year ago. Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was reduced to 44 posts. Results were declared on Sunday after polling on Dec 2 and 20. BJP emerged as biggest gainer with victories in over 117 local bodies, cementing the position of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 53 posts, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP won 37. “We have won 117 presidents’ posts, and more than 75% posts are with our Mahayuti partners. This is a repeat of the assembly election,” Fadnavis said. CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “Compared to 2017, our elected representatives have doubled… This is the biggest win in local elections in the last 25 years for any party.”Final results of the 6,859 councillor seats were not released by the state election commission till the time of going to press. But BJP claimed to have won over 3,000 of these seats.Despite emerging as a distant challenger statewide, Congress checked BJP advances in parts of Vidarbha. Western Maharashtra saw Mahayuti allies battling each other as Congress and NCP (SP) struggled to hold ground. Meanwhile, BJP made gains in Mumbai and Konkan, encroaching into traditional Shiv Sena, PWP and NCP pockets. Shinde expanded Sena’s footprint beyond Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), finishing second across the state.North Maharashtra backed BJP strongly, especially in Jalgaon under minister Girish Mahajan. In Marathwada, expected gains from leaders such as Ashok Chavan and Munde cousins failed to materialise. Congress won just 28 civic bodies statewide. Sharad Pawar-led NCP managed seven, while Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena secured nine.Vidarbha delivered a fractured verdict. Congress halted BJP in several councils from Chandrapur to Buldhana and Ballarpur to Wardha, while BJP retained dominance in Nagpur, Gadchiroli and parts of Bhandara.Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 35 of 41 seats in Baramati region, the same undivided NCP had won in 2017. NCP (SP), led by Sharad Pawar, managed to win only one seat, while BSP and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) also won a seat each. Three seats went to Independent candidates while BJP failed to open its account.The outcome is seen as a curtain-raiser to municipal corporation polls due Jan 15 and comes amid anger over flood-hit kharif crops and opposition charges that funds were diverted to populist schemes such as Mukhyamantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. Polls also marked first statewide civic exercise after Shiv Sena and NCP splits, consolidating Shinde and Ajit Pawar as undisputed leaders of their factions.Biggest beneficiary remains Fadnavis. After BJP’s poor 2024 Lok Sabha showing — nine of 48 seats — and his offer to resign, he led Mahayuti to an assembly landslide of over 230 seats, with BJP winning 132. Opposition allegations of “vote chori” and EVM manipulation resurfaced but lost traction after civic sweep.Analysts blamed MVA for failing to capitalise on farm distress. Former CM Prithviraj Chavan admitted Congress could not raise youth and farmer issues effectively.