The Economic Times

The Supreme Court of India has delivered a rebuke against the prevalent culture of freebies. The judges said that such initiatives hinder economic progress and stifle development.

Reckitt is driving a national movement to enhance India's sanitation economy by fostering sanitation entrepreneurs and modernizing school sanitation. The company is also generating crucial evidence to address the significant life expectancy gap faced by sanitation workers, aiming for longer, healthier, and more dignified lives for them.

A techie, who returned from Canada, hacked his pregnant ex-wife to death in Hyderabad as he was reportedly frustrated over a pending domestic violence complaint that prevented him from returning abroad. Mahesh carried two knives, a drilling machine, chainsaw and petrol in his bag when he barged into the house of Sunitha and stabbed her head repeatedly. Police said he also held a grudge as Sunita re-married after taking a divorce from Mahesh in 2024.

Mamata Banerjee said that Prime Minister Modi used the prefix 'Swami' in the message while Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is widely known as 'Thakur'.

Leo Tolstoy, a renowned novelist and philosopher, championed intellectual courage and freethinking. His writings, including War and Peace and Anna Karenina, explored profound human themes. Tolstoy's later spiritual transformation led him to advocate for nonviolence and simple living, influencing global leaders and emphasizing the importance of questioning assumptions for true understanding and societal progress.

Assam assembly polls: Assam is going to assembly elections early March-April this year. Union Home minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Assam on February 20 in different programmes.

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Live Streaming: Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe clash today in the T20 World Cup 2026 for Group B leadership. Both teams have qualified for the Super 8s. Sri Lanka has shown strong form, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis leading the batting. Zimbabwe relies on Brian Bennett and experienced players like Sikandar Raza. The R Premadasa Stadium pitch favors spinners.

At the AI Impact Summit, Prime Minister Modi advocated for shared AI development. A subtle moment saw OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, rivals in the AI race, standing apart during a group gesture, sparking buzz amidst their companies' escalating competition and funding surges.

A Karnataka-based start-up has developed an AI-powered app, Shwaasa, that analyses cough sounds to screen for chronic lung diseases such as COPD and asthma. The tool has been validated by AIIMS and demonstrated high accuracy in testing. It could help bridge a significant diagnostic gap in Indias primary healthcare system, particularly in areas where spirometry is not available.

With summer coming near, most people would switch to an AC to keep their house and rooms cool. But if you don't want to use an air conditioner, you can use simple, affordable ways, such as keeping plants in your house, block sunglight, strategically use fans, using ventilation at night, turning off lights and more.

Andhra Pradesh has cleared 27 ambitious projects, with an impressive investment of over Rs 29,000 crore. The state is on a mission to streamline business approvals and draw in investments from NRIs. Several plans are in the works to enhance tourism across three vibrant regions, establishing new clusters and state-of-the-art facilities.

Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, sought to restore harmony during a time of unrest by advocating for ethical leadership and moral education. His teachings, compiled in The Analects, emphasized principles like humaneness and filial piety, influencing East Asian societies. He believed leaders should govern by moral example, inspiring virtue rather than relying on force.

A viral video showing robots with assault rifles has been debunked as AI-generated. Claims of Chinese military robot training are false. However, China is actively developing humanoid robots for non-combat roles like border management and crowd control. These robots are being tested in various sectors, reflecting China's investment in robotics.

Munaf Virjee, founder of AMR Law, says the key to resolving family business disputes is separating emotions from business decisions. Representing high-profile clients like Hemang Shah of Anchor Group and Gaurav Ghai of Graviss Group, he emphasizes that focusing on long-term family stability, objective self-interest, and business success yields the most effective outcomes.

Bhupen Borah, formerly of Assam Congress, is making headlines as he gets ready to join the BJP. The 126-member Assam assembly is expected to go to the polls in March-April.

NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule has requested security for MLA Rohit Pawar. Pawar has been raising questions about the recent air crash that killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Sule stated that public grief and social media suspicions necessitate clear answers from authorities. She emphasized that questioning the system is a constitutional right and Rohit Pawar is voicing public concerns.

Care tips for plants: Keep your houseplants vibrant with these easy tips. Proper watering is key, avoiding both dryness and over-saturation. Choose the right pot and soil for good drainage. Ensure plants get suitable sunlight and maintain indoor humidity. Avoid sudden temperature shifts and feed plants wisely. These practical steps help prevent wilting and keep your indoor greenery healthy all year round.

Airbus aims to deliver a new milestone in its commercial aircraft deliveries this year, fueled by strong demand and a surge in profit in 2025. Following a successful year with hundreds of planes delivered, the company aims to achieve approximately 870 deliveries, contingent on a stable global environment.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 is returning to Japanese cinemas on February 20, 2026, in a special 4DX Breathing Enhanced Edition. This immersive version aims to amplify the impact of the film's signature Breathing Styles and intense action sequences.

Bayer's Monsanto division is making headlines with a bold offer of $7.25 billion to settle lawsuits concerning Roundup and its alleged link to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This proposed settlement, designed to cover litigants' claims for both current and future cases, extends over a remarkable 21-year span.

The Himachal Pradesh School Education Board has rejected 97 applications for the Limited Direct Recruitment (LDR) exam scheduled for February 22, 2026, after the candidates failed to pay the mandatory 3,000 examination fee. The rejected applicants, who are SMC teachers with a minimum of five years of service, have been listed on the official HPBOSE website.

A senior cricket umpire, Manik Gupta, tragically died after a bee swarm attacked players and officials during a match in Unnao. The sudden incident caused panic, with multiple individuals sustaining stings and the game being halted. Gupta was rushed to hospitals but was later declared dead in Kanpur.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments. This voluntary framework involves global AI companies and Indian innovators. It aims for inclusive and responsible artificial intelligence development. The initiative focuses on understanding real-world AI usage and strengthening multilingual AI evaluations. India leads a Global South-led framework for AI governance.

Young Australians face substantial retirement fund losses by ignoring their superannuation. Many do not check their accounts or know their fund manager. Even small fee differences can cost thousands. Experts urge engagement with super from the start of work. Understanding super boosts savings. This is crucial as balances reach record highs.

The CTET 2026 exam concluded on February 7-8, with candidates now anticipating the provisional answer key's release between February 18-23. Following a brief window for objections, the final answer key and results are expected in late February or early March, as per past trends.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the birth anniversary of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa, emphasising the lasting impact of the spiritual icons visionary ideas. Born in 1836, Ramakrishna Paramahansa was known for his messages of interfaith harmony.

Piyush Dhamnodiya, a 24-year-old MBA student from Indore who allegedly raped and killed his girlfriend, showed no remorse and smirked at the media personnel when he was asked why he committed the crime. Piyush killed her girlfriend and abused her corpse. The police even revealed that he drank next to the woman's dead body and even tried to speak to her spirit by attempting occult rituals.

Eleven Class 10 students in Gurgaon missed their CBSE mathematics exam after Educrest International School allegedly failed to provide admit cards and lacked valid CBSE affiliation. Police have filed a case against four school officials for cheating and misrepresentation following parent protests.

Indonesian and U.S. companies have signed 11 preliminary deals, totaling a massive $38.4 billion, according to the Indonesian government. This development is happening just before both nations are expected to finalize a tariff agreement.

India is hosting its first global AI summit, welcoming leaders from 118 countries. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw detailed a five-layer AI strategy. The focus is on democratizing technology and making its benefits accessible to all. India is developing specialized AI models and investing in compute infrastructure. The nation aims to be a trusted global AI hub, aligning progress with development.

Overcrowding at Shiv Janmasthan atop Shivneri Fort in Junnar, Pune, led to injuries among devotees. One devotee slipping caused a chain reaction on the stairs, resulting in three individuals sustaining injuries. Emergency services quickly transported the injured to the Junnar government hospital for ongoing treatment.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei highlighted India's crucial role in artificial intelligence. He stated India can lead in addressing AI's economic, societal, and security challenges. Amodei emphasized India's importance in managing both AI's potential benefits and its inherent risks. The company is also expanding its operations in India.

Iran earthquake: An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck southern Iran, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said on Thursday.

Vivo V70 Elite and Vivo V70 price: Vivo unveils its V70 Series 5G in India today. The launch features the Vivo V70 and Vivo V70 Elite. These smartphones boast upgraded processors and Zeiss-backed cameras. Expect slim bezels and impressive displays. Pricing starts from Rs. 45,999. The devices will be available for purchase soon after the official announcement.

Pakistani national Seema Haider welcomed her sixth child just 11 months after giving birth to a baby girl. Reports suggest that Seema Haider, who entered India illegally via Nepal in 2023, welcomed a baby boy at a hospital in Greater Noida. She crossed the border illegally to be with Sachin Meena, a Uttar Pradesh man whom she met while playing PUBG online.

Galgotias University faced backlash at the India AI Impact Summit after showcasing a robotic dog, later identified as a Chinese-made product, leading to their stall being vacated. A thermocol 'AI plane' model left behind also went viral, drawing mockery and highlighting issues of attribution and optics at the event.

Barack Obama, the 44th US President, served from 2009 to 2017, becoming the first African American to hold the office. His presidency saw significant reforms, including the Affordable Care Act, economic recovery efforts, and the operation leading to Osama bin Laden's death. Post-presidency, he remains influential through the Obama Foundation and public engagements.

Rajpal Yadav debt case: Actor Rajpal Yadav, out on interim bail in a Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case, has called for designated smoking zones and wider prison reforms. He believes jails should focus on rehabilitation, suggesting lifelines for deserving inmates. The Delhi High Court granted him relief until March 18 after he deposited a portion of the due amount.

Consumer inflation in India is set to climb to 4.3 percent in fiscal 2027. This rise follows an estimated 2.5 percent in fiscal 2026. Food inflation will normalize from current low levels. Changes in the Consumer Price Index basket will limit the overall increase. Non-food inflation and core inflation are expected to help restrain the rise.

Pugnacious means someone ready for a fight or argument. This word describes a combative nature. It is used for people who like to argue. The word comes from Latin for fighting. It is used in journalism and sports. It helps describe public figures. It can imply toughness. The word is useful for describing a fighting attitude.

Jay Pawar, son of the late Ajit Pawar, is calling for a thorough investigation into the air crash that killed his father. He expressed doubts about the destruction of the aircraft's black box. Pawar also requested a ban on VSR Ventures, the company operating the plane. This comes as other political leaders also seek a CBI probe into the incident.

US President Donald Trump's statement about discussing arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping has sparked worry in Taipei. Experts suggest this may breach long-standing US foreign policy. Trump's remarks could set a concerning precedent for future arms deals. Taiwan's government has not yet responded. The island relies on US support amid China's territorial claims.

Yesterday cricket match result: Shivam Dube's explosive 66 and Varun Chakravarthy's 3/14 guided India to a 17-run victory over the Netherlands, securing an unbeaten finish in Group A of the T20 World Cup. Dube's all-round performance earned him player of the match. India now advances to the Super 8 stage, facing South Africa next.