The Economic Times

Apple Valentines Day Sale 2026 has met its match as Vijay Sales undercuts official iPhone 17 Pro prices by 7,000. While Apple India offers 5,000 instant cashback, Vijay Sales combines a lower base price with 12,500 American Express EMI offers, creating the season's best deal.

Russia has firmly dismissed a European suggestion to station NATO forces in Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev expressed that this move is intolerable for Russia, reiterating that the conditions for resolving the ongoing conflict, as stated by President Vladimir Putin, have not changed. This situation underscores the deep-rooted tensions and contrasting viewpoints surrounding a possible peace agreement.

Opposition leaders have voiced strong criticism of the Union Budget 2026-27. Akhilesh Yadav claims the budget favors invisible associates of the Bharatiya Janata Party. MPs from Kerala have labeled it an 'anti-Kerala Budget'. Vaiko of MDMK alleges discrimination against Tamil Nadu, particularly impacting its textile industry.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Central government to establish a tribunal. This tribunal will resolve the water sharing dispute concerning the Pennaiyar river between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The notification and tribunal formation must be completed within one month. Tamil Nadu had approached the court in 2018 regarding Karnataka's actions on the river.

Will a cricket match between Bharat and Balochistan happen soon? A post shared by a Baloch representative shares the idea of a cricket match between India and Balochistan when there is a heavy gunfire between Pakistan Army and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) with multiple deaths on both the sides. On the other hand, Pakistan has also decided to boycott India match at the T20 World Cup.

Budget: Opposition MPs from Kerala protested the Union Budget, calling it anti-Kerala. Meanwhile, the Kerala Legislative Assembly witnessed scenes of uproar. The Speaker rejected an Opposition notice demanding a discussion on alleged violations of the Kerala Prisons Act. Congress leaders boycotted the session, accusing the government of releasing criminals on parole to protect political interests.

Union Budget: Retaining the governments stated focus on a more facilitative tax regime, several new measures touch a wide host of aspects from revised returns and reassessment proceedings to tax prosecution and buybacks.

Education Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said a personal experience inspired the Union Budget 202627s focus on expanding girls hostels, stressing that merit must have a home. The budget allocates Rs 1.39 lakh crore to education, with major increases for higher education and digital learning infrastructure, aimed at empowering young people and women.

The Supreme Court granted bail to three individuals involved in the 2024 Pune Porsche accident. The court noted parental responsibility in such cases involving juveniles. The accident tragically claimed two lives. The accused sought bail after their initial pleas were rejected. The case involves allegations of blood sample tampering.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the politicisation of cricket, calling Pakistan's boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India disgraceful, and urged all parties concerned to contact each other on an emergency basis regarding the imbroglio.

Power Grid Corporation of India has increased its capital expenditure forecast for the current financial year to Rs 32,000 crores, up from Rs 28,000 crores, driven by strong execution visibility. The company secured seven Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding contracts in FY26, including a significant transmission project for Uttar Pradesh's Pumped Storage Projects.

Urfi Javed doesn't follow trends; she creates chaos, conversation, and controversy with every outfit. Love her or hate her, you can't ignore her past. Her fashion is bold, bizarre, and unapologetically Urfi always.

Maruti Suzuki may increase vehicle prices soon. Rising commodity costs, especially precious metals, are pushing up expenses. The company is trying to absorb these costs through efficiencies. However, sustained pressure might lead to price hikes for consumers. Maruti Suzuki has a large order backlog and is working to increase production capacity. The e Vitara will launch this month.

Ten years after posting a photo, Yuvraj Singh still feels the need to apologize to Sachin Tendulkar. He reflects on learning from Tendulkar's actions and the importance of enjoying cricket, a lesson he received from the icon. Tendulkar's enduring legacy includes his historic double century and continued impact on fellow cricketers.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a renowned American thinker, championed individuality and self-reliance. His ideas, born from personal reflection, urge people to stay true to themselves. He believed genuine independence stems from inner clarity, not outward rebellion. Read on to know more about it!

The Indian government is actively conducting inter-ministerial discussions to increase the foreign direct investment (FDI) ceiling in state-owned banks from the current 20% to 49%, financial services secretary M. Nagaraju said on Monday, reported Reuters.

Cigarette prices have significantly increased following a new excise duty. This tax hike, the first in seven years, aims to align India's tobacco taxation with global health standards. Distributors report substantial price jumps on various cigarette types. The government is shifting to a 40% GST rate and will introduce additional excise duties from 2026.

The BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) board agrees with the ICC's stance on sportsmanship regarding Pakistan's boycott of their T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match against India and will comment only after consulting the ICC.

Australian shares saw their biggest drop in two months on Monday, February 2, 2026. Investors grew cautious as the central bank is expected to raise interest rates this week. Precious and base metal miners led the decline. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed lower. Gold miners experienced their worst day since late October, 2025.

The outlook for global inflation is brightening, with substantial reductions anticipated this year and into 2027. This encouraging development is largely attributed to a softening in demand and falling energy prices. The International Monetary Fund's leader recently emphasized this positive trajectory. In the face of significant geopolitical and economic challenges, global growth remains robust.

Union Budget 2026: some measures make high-value imports and essential items cheaper, others add incremental costs that consumers will feel over time.

More than 21,000 girl students in schools across Maharashtra will be imparted military training from February 1, state school education minister Dada Bhuse said. The students will various martial arts such as Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Krav Maga, Boxing, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Aikido and Wushu and the curriculum also includes Yoga to to improve flexibility and emotional balance.

Moltbook is the worlds first AI social network where 1.5 million autonomous agents post and debate without human input. Using OpenClaw technology, these bots have sparked a digital singularity, spontaneously creating a religion called Crustafarianism and drafting constitutions, leaving tech experts fascinated by this unprecedented emergent AI behavior.

JKBOSE Class 11 results for 2026: Access your JKBOSE Class 11 Results 2026 smoothly despite potential website slowdowns. Students can check online via jkbose.nic.in or jkresults.nic.in, or opt for SMS by typing JKBOSE11 and sending to 5676750. Provisional marksheets are also available on DigiLocker.

Maruti Suzuki India saw a significant 12 percent jump in total sales for January. The auto giant dispatched 2,36,963 units, a notable rise from the previous year. Domestic passenger vehicle sales showed a marginal increase. Utility vehicle sales experienced strong growth. Exports also surged impressively, contributing to the overall positive performance for the month.

This week brings exciting South Indian films to streaming platforms. From Prabhas' The Raja Saab to Sivakarthikeyan and Sreeleela's Parasakthi, there is something for every viewer this week. Read on to know when and where to watch these OTT releases online.

Boycott Huda Beauty: Iranian protestors are boycotting Huda Beauty products and throwing them away in dustbins after Huda Kattan shared a post related to the protests. Huda Kattan is under the ire of Iranian protestors for sharing a video of regime supporters burning pictures of the exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi. Moreover, her sister Mona Kattan has unquietly unfollowed her sister Huda Kattan.

UGC NET December 2025 results are anticipated soon. The National Testing Agency is expected to release the scorecards by February 4. Candidates can download their results from the official NTA website. This exam is vital for aspiring teachers and researchers in Indian universities. The examination was conducted between December 31, 2025, and January 7, 2026.

India's manufacturing activity saw a slight uptick in January, driven by improved domestic demand, though export orders remained sluggish. Despite a modest rise in factory output and a three-month high in hiring, business confidence dipped to a three-and-a-half-year low. Input costs increased, but output price inflation eased, indicating limited pricing power for manufacturers.

Pakistan's National Finance Commission has stalled, with most working groups inactive and the second meeting delayed. Provinces and the centre differ over revenue sharing and reforms, raising concerns about further delays to the long-pending 11th NFC award meant to guide distribution of federal resources.

Rags to riches story: A Delhi entrepreneur achieved multi-crore wealth by age 29 after facing bankruptcy at 23. He moved to Canada at 17, worked in sales, and later used social media and AI for content creation. This led to significant earnings, which he reinvested in AI ventures and property. He sold his rental business for Rs 27 crore. His journey inspires many.

Removing added sugar for two weeks triggers a significant bodily recalibration, leading to improved energy, digestion, and metabolism. While initial cravings and fatigue occur, they subside as the brain adjusts. By the second week, noticeable benefits like flatter stomachs, better sleep, and clearer hunger cues emerge, indicating a metabolic reset.

Akshaye Khanna's recent success in 'Dhurandhar' has sparked renewed interest, leading to a viral throwback video of him dancing to 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' with Twinkle Khanna in the early 2000s. The clip, also featuring Aamir Khan, showcases Khanna's effortless charm and surprisingly rhythmic dance moves, earning him widespread admiration online.

Novak Djokovic showed his enduring spirit at the Australian Open 2026 final. Though Carlos Alcaraz won, Djokovic's fight earned widespread admiration. Anand Mahindra and Vuk Jeremi praised Djokovic's inspiration and legacy. Djokovic thanked fans for their support. His performance highlighted that greatness extends beyond wins, focusing on perseverance and pushing boundaries.

Justin Bieber returned to the Grammy stage for the 2026 awards. His performance also featured a new tattoo on his back. Fans believe the artwork is a portrait of his wife, Hailey Bieber. This marks Justin Bieber's first major live performance in years. He also received four Grammy nominations. Read on!

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will focus on state politics for the next five years. He stated his commitment to Assam's development and ensuring no infiltrators remain. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also emphasised this goal. Sarma expressed confidence in the BJP securing a third consecutive term.

Ram Charan and his two-year-old daughter Klin Kaara were mobbed outside a hospital in Hyderabad while they were going to visit his wife Upasana and their newborn twins. The viral video showed Ram Charan tying to protect his daughter from the crowd at one point, he got irritated and pushed the crowd away to clear the path. Soon after news broke that Ram Charan and Upasana had welcomed twins - a baby boy and a baby girl - fans gathered in large numbers outside Apollo Hospital.

At 90 years old, the Dalai Lama achieved a historic first, winning a Grammy for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording. His spoken-word album, Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, mixed his teachings with music from acclaimed artists, aiming to spread messages of peace and compassion to a global audience. Read on!

Uttar Pradesh Rains: The weather in Uttar Pradesh is likely to see a major change as western disturbance is likely to trigger rainfall in many parts of the state, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Both the eastern and western parts of UP are likely to receive rain with thunderstorms and lightning, the weather office said. Ghaziabad, Noida, Saharanpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Meerut, Agra, and Mathura are also likely to see rains.

A.R. Rahman addressed recent criticism regarding his comments on communal bias in Bollywood, explaining his words were misconstrued. Appearing on The Great Indian Kapil Show, he used the show's whisper game to illustrate how messages can be distorted. Rahman also discussed his work on the silent film Gandhi Talks and his struggles with industry comparisons and self-doubt.

A chartered accountant warns that buying a home can be a financial trap. The true cost of ownership, including taxes and maintenance, is often overlooked. Stretching finances for a home can sacrifice long-term investments and delay retirement. Real wealth comes from managing debt and investing, not just owning property. This purchase can lead to decades of financial strain.

Kendrick Lamar made history at the 2026 Grammy Awards, becoming the most-awarded rapper ever with 26 wins, surpassing Jay-Z. He secured multiple awards, including Best Rap Album for GNX. Lamar's acceptance speech emphasised his music's voice and the enduring strength of the culture. Read on!

Delhi, Noida, Gurugram weather: Delhi-NCR was enveloped in thick smog on Monday, which sharply reduced visibility across the city. The dense fog in the national capital prompted the Delhi Airport to issue a travel advisory for passengers. Operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were shifted to CAT III conditions, which allow aircraft to land in very low visibility but often lead to delays.

Grammys 2026: Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the legendary Ravi Shankar, has earned two nominations this year for her album Daybreak and Chapter III: We Return To Light. In an Instagram post, she revealed she is on a tour to India where Chapter III really began, calling her the truest artistic life. Anoushka Shankar has chosen mental health, she wrote in the post.

Trump Iran war: In a diplomatic gambit, US President Donald Trump is optimistic about reaching a consensus with Iran, while the Islamic Republic's supreme leader cautions of potential warfare in the region should hostilities break out.

China's factory activity grew faster in January. Export orders bounced back, and production increased. Hiring reached a three-month high. This private survey contrasts with an official one. China's economy grew 5.0% last year. New export orders expanded, driven by demand from Southeast Asia. Manufacturers increased production ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday.

Anoushka Shankar chose to perform in India during the Grammy Awards. She received two nominations but felt live music offered a more meaningful connection. She highlighted the emotional and financial toll of the awards circuit. She believes her true artistic life is found in performing and creating with her team in India. Read on!