Welcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today.

Markets inch higher in early trade on fresh foreign fund inflows, rally in US stocks

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty began the trading session on an optimistic note on Friday amid fresh foreign fund inflows and a rally in the US markets. Rallying for the fourth day running, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 229.22 points to 83,985.09 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up 73.5 points to 25,622.50.

Seven of fourteen trafficked women rescued in Mumbai found HIV positive

What began as a routine crackdown on human trafficking has taken a grim and alarming turn. Medical tests have reportedly confirmed that seven out of the 14 Bangladeshi women recently rescued from a prostitution racket in Mumbai have tested positive for HIV, according to sources. Read more.