Stories from earlier this week and beyond.
Karnataka is considering a ban on social media use for children under 16, framing it as protection from online harms. The proposal has triggered debate over whether shielding teenagers from risks also limits their access to information, learning, and broader life opportunities beyond screens.
A bomb attack at a mosque in Syria’s Homs struck during Friday prayers, killing at least six people and injuring 21 others. Authorities say preliminary investigations point to explosive devices being planted inside the mosque. Images from state media showed blood on carpets and visible damage to walls, as investigators work to determine who carried out the attack.
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Airbnb’s reported footprint in India during 2024 supported 1.11 lakh jobs and generated Rs 2,400 crore in wages. Guest spending climbed to Rs 11,200 crore, with domestic travelers accounting for 91% of guests. Airbnb’s overall activity is estimated at 0.5% of India’s travel and tourism GDP, underlining its expanding role across hospitality and allied industries.
Bihar MP Pappu Yadav landed in a major controversy after saying that 90% of women cannot do politics unless they “enter” politicians’ bedrooms. The remark triggered backlash and a formal response: the Bihar State Women’s Commission has issued a notice to him. The comments, aired to media, have intensified scrutiny over sexist statements in public debate.
Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education has started the Class 10 and 12 exams today with tight security and students entering only after thorough checks. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams are set to begin February 17. For 2026, CBSE will align with NEP-2020 guidelines, and a tentative date sheet was released to help students plan.
Sri Lanka has announced a four-day work week to conserve its scarce fuel reserves as it braces for a possible prolonged war in the Middle East. The government warned that escalation abroad could derail its recovery efforts after the 2022 economic meltdown, highlighting how global conflict risks are reshaping domestic policy.
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JioHotstar has rolled out signal led commerce advertising, aiming to reach high intent audiences by using purchase signals rather than only viewing behaviour. Quick commerce platform Instamart is the first partner, connecting content discovery to rapid buying during the IPL season, and betting that intent driven targeting will convert faster.
Indian bank leaders are set to meet the Finance Minister to discuss safeguards for the country’s payments system, with attention on cyber threats linked to Anthropic’s new AI model “Mythos.” Banks’ interconnected IT networks make them potential targets. The meeting comes amid reports of unauthorized access attempts, as regulators worldwide weigh AI-related security risks.
Tata Consultancy Services’ latest results show net profit down 1.7% year-on-year to ₹12,224 crore, while revenue grew 5.3% to ₹64,479 crore but still landed below market expectations. For FY25, revenue rose 6% to ₹2.55 lakh crore, boosted by a sharp 37.2% surge in regional markets. Management’s signals around compensation are now in focus.
Banks have asked the Reserve Bank of India to clarify forward contract rules for forex hedging. They warn that RBI steps designed to curb speculation may unintentionally restrict genuine trade hedges. Corporates, meanwhile, are struggling with payment delays and slower cargo timelines amid ongoing global conflicts, prompting industry groups to escalate concerns to the regulator.
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The European Union is set to overhaul merger rules for the first time in over two decades, offering faster approval to startups with innovation-focused deals. The quicker pathway is designed to help smaller firms scale and compete, but big technology companies are excluded from the expedited process. The update follows calls from telecom industry players seeking change.
The Staff Selection Commission will provide scribes to eligible candidates with benchmark disabilities for its recruitment exams. Under new guidelines issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities on August 1, 2025, SSC has removed the “own scribe” option, ensuring the scribes are arranged by the commission itself.
Six years after earlier promises, migrant workers are again facing worsening hardship. Protests have broken out over low wages and poor working conditions as living costs rise faster than government responses. Welfare schemes and housing programs are struggling to deliver on the ground, while uncertainty around new labour codes adds fresh risk. Rural distress is also rising, leaving workers trapped in a cycle of exploitation.
India has officially filed an Expression of Interest to host the 2038 Asian Games, marking a major push to cement the country’s role as a global sporting hub. The proposal from the Indian Olympic Association was reviewed at an Olympic Council of Asia ExCo meeting, and a likely host city decision is expected by 2028.
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Bad weather over Delhi is disrupting flight schedules, prompting IndiGo to issue a travel advisory for passengers facing delays and possible schedule changes. The airline says it is closely monitoring conditions, working to reduce inconvenience, and deploying teams to assist those affected. Operations are expected to normalize once weather improves, and travelers are urged to check live flight updates before heading to the airport.
The IEA chief says the global energy crisis is rooted in a deep disruption that won’t clear immediately, even if war ends soon. Restoring energy security will take considerable time, with lingering effects on supply chains, markets, and confidence worldwide—turning a potential ceasefire into only a partial relief.
Rising West Asia tensions are putting India’s energy and logistics system under stress. The risk is not only supply stoppages, but the ballooning of freight and insurance costs that can squeeze corporate margins and widen deficits. While strong balance sheets provide some protection, long volatility may pressure earnings, capex plans, and the credit cycle.
BT Group is partnering with Nscale to develop up to 14MW of AI data centre capacity across three UK locations, powered by Nvidia infrastructure. The project expands BT’s sovereign data services, targeting public sector and business customers that want stronger data resilience and more local AI capability within Britain.
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A new RBI draft for “upper layer” non-bank finance companies is expected to hit core investment companies (CICs) disproportionately, mainly by raising compliance costs. Mandatory listing requirements may be onerous for CICs that don’t plan to access public markets, while an AUM-based approach could complicate governance and listing timelines.
The Global Wind Energy Council’s 2026 Report says wind power kept expanding despite supply shocks and fast-rising oil and gas prices. It projects global wind installations rising 40% in 2025, positioning wind as a steady driver of the energy transition. The industry’s growth suggests it can help offset broader energy stress rather than intensify it.
Even as West Asia tensions rise, Indian workers are still lining up at Gulf visa centres in Delhi. With pay gaps widening and limited job options at home, applicants say financial pressure and family responsibilities outweigh safety worries. Many believe the conflict will eventually ease, and some point to targets they think won’t hit labour camps, keeping plans moving.
Satsuma Technology Plc, a UK-listed “Bitcoin accumulator” holding about $50 million in BTC, is facing mounting pressure from shareholders including Pantera Capital to sell its Bitcoin and wind down. The move underscores how the once-popular digital-asset treasury model is losing favor as valuation premiums evaporate and Satsuma’s stock price has sharply fallen.
For the first time, defence and security firms have their own section at Hanover, the world’s top industrial fair, signaling how Germany’s rearmament push is reshaping industry priorities. The fair, dating to 1947, traditionally avoided defence due to the lasting stigma of Germany’s Nazi and militarist past—now clearly changing.
To curb soaring tomato prices, the government is selling tomatoes at Rs 65 per kg via mobile vans in Delhi and nearby cities. The spike is linked to unseasonal rains in Maharashtra that damaged crops, while delayed sowing and rising pest pressures have reduced supply. A price stabilization fund is reportedly helping manage costs.
Micron Technology, a leading memory chip maker, is making a major bet on India, signaling a potential turning point for the country’s semiconductor ambitions. The move could help build the long-sought local chip ecosystem, but it also underscores a gap: India’s progress toward a fully ground-up fabrication plant is still far from secure.
Global supply disruptions are driving an oil shock that could push up electricity costs in India, a report by ISI Markets warns. It points to a strong connection between fossil fuel price moves and India’s power tariffs, suggesting higher fuel expenses may quickly translate into more expensive electricity for consumers.
Indian professionals are increasingly leaving US jobs and returning home as job stability worsens and visa rules tighten. Rather than sitting out, many are chasing senior roles in India’s fast growing tech and consumer sectors, joining emerging startups and global firms. The shift reflects both pressure in the US and new opportunities in India’s expanding economy.
Crude oil has crossed $100 a barrel, and the shock is rippling into packaging costs and supply-chain planning. Higher input prices are making packaging more expensive, while uncertainty is pushing firms to favor availability over savings. Instead of optimizing inventory, many are stockpiling supplies to reduce disruption risk as conditions remain volatile.
Olee.Space, a photonics and defense technology firm, has appointed Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava, former Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Limited, as its Strategic Production Advisor. With more than four decades of experience, he will help develop advanced defense electronics such as LIDAR and secure communication networks, supporting India’s push for self-reliance in critical technologies.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said the government will open driving schools across 120 aspirational districts and 500 backward blocks over the next five years. The initiative targets youth employment at large scale, aiming to create one crore jobs by training drivers. It also seeks to tackle India’s growing driver shortage while improving road safety through structured training.
HCL Tech shares have slumped after weak Q4 earnings and cautious FY27 guidance, wiping out roughly Rs 59,000 crore in just three days. The fall has triggered multiple broker downgrades and target cuts, as analysts cite slowing growth, softer discretionary spending, and limited visibility on a fast recovery. Market sentiment remains under pressure in the near term.
India’s manufacturing MSME sector is still growing, but the momentum is weakening. A PHDCCI survey finds new orders and production rising, though at a slower pace than before. While the next quarter’s outlook is broadly positive, it comes with caution—suggesting external pressures are starting to bite into demand and expansion plans.
Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy shares slipped around 2% after Q4FY26 results showed revenue down 23% year-on-year to Rs 1,946 crore. Net profit, however, surged 143% to Rs 135 crore, aided by a 24% reduction in total expenses. The firm pointed to a strong order book and its O&M platform to fuel future growth.
Violence marred West Bengal’s first phase of Assembly polling, with multiple incidents reported across districts. BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar was attacked in Kumarganj, while AUUP chief Humayun Kabir’s convoy in Murshidabad was vandalised. A BJP polling agent suffered head injuries in Labhpur, and two Congress workers were hurt in Birbhum, underscoring a tense campaign atmosphere.
Near the Arctic Circle, Alaska’s Kaktovik is moving to restart its polar bear tourism after a pandemic shutdown and worries about visitor impact. The village once welcomed thousands of tourists each year, and now leaders are trying to revive the local economy while safeguarding polar bears and preserving Inupiat culture—turning the return into a more controlled experience.
India’s post-pandemic K-shaped recovery is losing its sharp divide as rural demand begins to grow faster than urban momentum. The change is being powered by everyday FMCG consumption and welfare-linked spending, while urban markets mature. With city growth becoming more steady, the next mass-consumption wave appears increasingly rooted in India’s hinterlands.
England stunned Australia at the MCG with a dramatic four-wicket victory, ending a near 15-year wait for a Test win on Australian soil. After trailing 3-0 in the series, the visitors flipped the script and delivered their first Ashes success Down Under since 2011, overturning a seemingly uphill battle and reigniting belief.
The New Delhi Municipal Council is overhauling property taxation by replacing the old rateable value approach with the Unit Area Method. NDMC says the new system will be more fair and predictable, helping homeowners estimate and verify their tax liability with greater transparency. The change is aimed at reducing subjectivity and making tax calculations easier to understand.
By end-2025, foreign investors reportedly sold about INR 1.6 lakh crore in India, marking one of the weakest years for Indian markets. While US-linked global capital is reportedly shifting to other emerging markets, FIIs are still staying away from India. The key question is why India remains sidelined despite being a major growth story.
US Navy Secretary John Phelan has suddenly left his post, with Undersecretary Hung Cao stepping in as acting leader. The change adds to a broader wave of Pentagon reshuffles under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Phelan’s departure comes as US naval operations intensify across the Middle East and the Caribbean, raising questions about what’s next.
Uttar Pradesh’s Energy Department, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directions, has drawn up a strategy to make about 34,000 MW of electricity available for consumers this year. The plan is built around anticipated peak demand, focusing on ensuring supply stays adequate when electricity usage typically spikes across the state.
Bengaluru’s real estate market may be on the verge of a major upswing, with forecasts suggesting property prices could rise by as much as 40% over the next two years. The expected surge is being linked to the Bengaluru Metro’s expansion, especially the Yellow and Pink lines, which are poised to boost connectivity across key residential and commercial corridors.
The Reserve Bank of India has rolled out a new e-mandate framework from 2026 that relaxes Additional Factor Authentication (AFA) for recurring digital payments. Transactions will be authorised without extra authentication up to Rs 15,000 each. RBI also allows recurring payments such as insurance premiums and mutual fund subscriptions up to Rs 1 lakh without additional authentication.
Delhi Assembly Election Results 2025 show BJP winning both Mustafabad and Karawal Nagar. BJP candidate Mohan Bisht won Mustafabad, which was established in 2008 and sits in North East Delhi under the North East Lok Sabha constituency. Kapil Mishra also secured victory in Karawal Nagar, reinforcing BJP’s strength across key urban pockets.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court acquitted former Law Minister Somnath Bharti and 16 others in the 2014 Khirki Extension raid case. The prosecution had alleged assault and harassment of women of African origin after a controversial late-night raid. With the court ruling in favour of the accused, the long-running matter has effectively ended after years of proceedings.
US-based power equipment startup Ayr Energy is reportedly in talks to raise $25–30 million from Energy Impact Partners, potentially valuing the company at about $200 million. Founded by former Zetwerk and Ather Energy executive Anirudh Reddy, the startup is betting that AI workloads and expanding data centres will drive rapid demand for new power infrastructure.
Olly Robbins, the former head of the UK Foreign Office who has been fired, says he felt political pressure to approve Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite security concerns. He insisted the concerns were not connected to Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, but he would not say why the government vetting agency flagged Mandelson as a potential security risk.
India’s current account deficit is set to widen as expensive oil imports strain foreign exchange inflows, with the Iran conflict adding further pressure. Economists warn RBI steps may only deliver short-lived support to the rupee. If the oil cost shock persists, the deficit could expand enough to push India into a balance of payments shortfall for a second straight year.
Tata Capital posted a 43% year-on-year jump in Q4 FY26 net profit to Rs 1,502 crore, with 9% revenue growth. The company also announced a dividend and credited broad AI integration for improving risk management, operational efficiency and cost control. It claims better cost-to-income metrics and lower credit costs, making the quarter stand out for investors deciding on buy sell or hold.
ICICI Bank’s sharp drop in provisioning is being read as a sign of improving asset quality and a sturdier recovery pipeline. HDFC Bank, however, is taking a more cautious approach, focusing on protecting profitability and asset quality amid macroeconomic headwinds. It also plans to gain deposit market share, targeting faster deposit growth than credit growth.
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