The Economic Times

NASAs Hubble Space Telescope has captured its clearest image yet of the Egg Nebula, a pre-planetary nebula situated almost 1,000 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation. The nebulas central star is hidden behind a dense dust cloud, with twin beams of light escaping through polar openings to illuminate concentric arcs of gas and dust. As a rare example of a late-stage Sun-like star nearing the planetary nebula phase, the Egg Nebula offers astronomers a unique opportunity to study stellar evo

Nancy Guthrie, an elderly woman, is missing after a suspected kidnapping in Tucson. The FBI is searching the Catalina Foothills area and checking ransom messages linked to bitcoin demands. Investigators are trying to confirm if the notes are real. Her family is asking for proof she is alive while police continue looking for clues and possible suspects in the case.

India has opened its insurance sector to 100% foreign ownership. This move aims to boost insurance coverage and attract global investment. Foreign investors can now own domestic insurance companies through the automatic route. This policy change aligns with recent amendments to insurance laws.

Tame Impala, led by Kevin Parker, is set to return to Australia in 2026. The project recently won its second consecutive Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording with the song End of Summer and released a remix of Deadbeats single Dracula, featuring BLACKPINKs JENNIE. Frontier Touring teased a possible tour collaboration with Deadbeat, sharing a poster asking End of Summer? and the enigmatic phrase ll see you when I see you, along with a website for updates.

Opposition members staged a protest and walked out of the Lok Sabha. They demanded the reinstatement of suspended colleagues. The members later returned to the House. They joined the ongoing budget discussions. Eight Opposition members were suspended last week. The Speaker cited unruly behaviour during a protest.

Houston energy companies headquarters: Expand Energy is relocating its headquarters to Houston by mid-2026. This move follows the departure of CEO Domenic Dell'Osso. The company aims to leverage Houston's position as a global energy hub. Expand Energy recently acquired Southwestern Energy for $7.4 billion. Oklahoma City employees will not be impacted by this strategic shift.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed regret for his remarks made against BJP legislators in the assembly. BJP members had staged a walkout protesting his language. Abdullah stated that emotions sometimes overwhelm individuals in the assembly. He requested the Speaker to withdraw any unparliamentary words used during his speech.

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde strongly defended the Union budget in Lok Sabha. He called it a reflection of New India focusing on education, health, and jobs. Shinde criticised Rahul Gandhi's speech as fiction. He advised the opposition to fix their internal issues and electoral failures before commenting on international deals. The opposition has lost 96 elections in 12 years.

New FEMA flood maps for Houston show bigger flood risk areas after many years. The update may put more homes into high-risk flood zones. This could mean flood insurance, stricter building rules, and new property disclosures for homeowners. Officials say the process will take time, and people will get a chance to review and challenge the changes.

Several Arizona employers indicated workforce reductions at the start of 2026 following the submission of mass layoff notices under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which needs advance notice for large job cuts. According to The Arizona Republic, Five Arizona employers filed WARN notices in January, outlining about 260 planned layoffs.

AI agents driving Cloudflare growth: Cloudflare's strong Q4 earnings and optimistic future outlook have sent its stock soaring. The company is experiencing a surge in demand, driven by the rapid adoption of AI agents. These intelligent systems are increasingly relying on Cloudflare's robust network and security infrastructure, positioning the company as a foundational platform for the evolving internet.

China's two highest-ranked generals have been ensnared in disciplinary probes, with He Weidong expelled in October last year and Zhang Youxia placed under investigation in January, marking one of the most high-profile purges of the Chinese military in decades.

Uttar Pradesh's government has presented a Rs 9.13 lakh crore budget for 2026-27. The plan emphasizes welfare and infrastructure development. Key areas include education reform, urban expansion, and youth empowerment. The budget aims for fiscal discipline and aims to boost farmer income and skill development.

The strike completely destroyed the brick house and set it on fire, trapping the family under the rubble, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutors office. The 34-year-old father and his three children 2-year-old twin boys and their 1-year-old sister were killed, while rescue workers pulled out the mother alive, prosecutors said.

Jayne Trcka, the actress and former bodybuilder widely recognized for her role as Miss Mann in Scary Movie and appearances on The Drew Carey Show and Whose Line Is It Anyway?, has had her cause of death officially confirmed. The 62-year-old was found unresponsive in her San Diego home in December after a friend grew concerned when she stopped responding to calls.

BRICS nations are not planning a common currency. Instead, they are focusing on expanding the use of their own currencies for trade and investments. This move aims to make transactions resilient to sanctions and coercive measures. Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov clarified that this is not an anti-western initiative but a response to attacks on multilateralism.

Nearly 85% of employees on a PIP eventually leave their jobs. Your 30-day plan just shrank to six days. This fast-track firing often happens after long vacations. At-will laws let companies change timelines instantly. Don't fight a rigged clock. Download your win metrics now. Save every great job email to a personal device. Use this data for your next resume. Focus on your exit, not the deadline.

A new sales employee's decision to work from home without informing her manager led to an online debate. She assumed it was fine as her boss was traveling. However, her manager noticed her absence during a virtual meeting. The incident highlights the importance of communication and trust-building in a new role.

Pamela Anderson started Sonsie to promote simple and natural beauty. Her brand talks about self-care and feeling comfortable in your own skin. One popular product is a rhubarb lip balm inspired by her childhood. She also says nature, gardens, and simple routines help people stay calm, save time, and keep their skin healthy and glowing every day.

Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju, while chairing a meeting, deliberated on the preparation of the roadmap for Financial Inclusion 2.0

In a Reddit thread that has quickly gone viral, a user shared a story of corporate irony that has resonated with thousands. According to the post on r/work, a CEO attempted to motivate his staff by bluntly informing them that they were all replaceable. The attempt at ough love backfired spectacularly: two months later, the CEO filed for bankruptcy. The internet's response has been a mix of schadenfreude and a serious discussion on leadership.

Rahul Gandhi emphasizes the critical importance of India's vast data reserves as foundational to artificial intelligence. He argues that an Indo-US trade agreement could pressure Prime Minister Modi into conceding this valuable asset to foreign entities, jeopardizing the privacy of 1.5 billion citizens and the entire IT industry.

El Paso airspace closure has been lifted by the FAA. Flights are resuming after a temporary grounding due to a cartel drone breach. The Department of War acted to disable the drones. Officials confirmed no threat to commercial travel. The closure caused significant disruption, including diversions for medical flights. City leaders expressed frustration over the lack of coordination.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed applications to declare Nirav Modi's brothers, Neeshal and Nehal Modi, as Fugitive Economic Offenders. This move follows allegations of their involvement in siphoning off funds through fake companies and overseas transactions in the PNB scam. The court will hear these applications on February 18.

IRS crypto tax reporting rules: The IRS is reminding taxpayers to report all cryptocurrency and NFT income on their 2025 federal tax returns. Digital assets are classified as property, and any transactions involving them, including Bitcoin, stablecoins, and NFTs, are taxable. Maintaining detailed records of transactions and calculating capital gains or losses is crucial for compliance.

The Indian Air Force confirms it struck terror infrastructure and military sites in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor stated that the nuclear site at Kirana Hills was not targeted. Videos circulating online showing attacks on Kirana Hills were not made by the IAF.

A story about an employee sleeping overnight in office went viral online. He stayed there to avoid a long commute and finish work faster. Many people shared mixed views. Some called it practical, while others said it shows work pressure and housing problems. The discussion started a bigger debate about work culture, employee wellbeing, and rising living costs today.

Epstein files Pam Bondi hearing: The last time Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before a congressional panel was in October.

Students can download their BIEAP Inter admit cards for 2026 exams from the official website once they are released. First-year exams begin February 23 and conclude March 24. Second-year exams start February 24 and end March 23. All exams are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Candidates must verify details on their hall tickets and carry the original to the exam center.

Dr Rishikesh Tewari has earned a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Oxford. This honour recognizes his significant impact on English language education and literary awareness. Dr Tewari's clear, step-by-step approach benefits learners globally. His widely used books, Universal Spoken English in Your Tips and A History of English Literature, are classroom staples.

US stock market down today: The Dow fell 188 points to 49,999 today. The S&P 500 dropped 0.39%. The Nasdaq sank 0.83%. The US stock market crashed despite strong January jobs data. The economy added 130,000 jobs. Unemployment fell to 4.3%. But major revisions showed 2025 hiring was far weaker than first reported. Investors fear slower growth ahead.

An 18-year-old, identified by some media as Jesse Strang, is the alleged suspect in a deadly shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. While authorities have not officially confirmed the identity, reports suggest the suspect may be transgender. The RCMP is continuing its investigation into the incident.

Valentines Day is a special time when many people like to watch romantic movies. These films show love, relationships, and emotional moments. They are perfect for couples planning a cozy night or for anyone who enjoys sweet love stories. Watching such movies helps people relax, feel happy, and enjoy the mood of romance during the Valentines season.

El Paso airport update: El Paso International Airport experienced a brief, confusing closure due to special security reasons, later revealed to be a cartel drone incursion neutralized by the U.S. military. Federal officials quickly reversed the 10-day shutdown, assuring no threat to commercial travel. While some flights were affected, operations have since resumed normally.