The Economic Times

An explosive was thrown at the home of KSU district secretary Bithul Balan in Thodannur, Kozhikode. This incident occurred early Friday morning. Balan was arrested after Health Minister Veena George was allegedly injured during a protest. The attack caused damage to Balan's residence.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to chair a high-level meeting on India-Nepal border issues in Purnea, Bihar. This follows his earlier call for action against encroachments and infiltration in border areas. Shah's visit to the Seemanchal region highlights concerns over regional security and demographic changes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the cast of the popular Israeli series Fauda during his visit to Israel. He shared a selfie with the actors, noting the show's popularity in India. The meeting offered a cultural break during high-level talks. Actor Lior Raz expressed his honor and praised India's support for arts.

Iran and the United States held indirect talks on Tehran's nuclear program. No deal was reached, increasing the risk of war. Oman mediated the discussions. Iran insists on enriching uranium and lifting sanctions. The US seeks to constrain Iran's nuclear activities. Technical talks will continue next week. The situation remains tense.

Rinku Singh Father death reason: Rinku Singh's father Khanchand Singh has died after battling Stage-4 Liver cancer. The update was shared by Harbhajan Singh on X. Rinku Singh's father was undergoing treatment at the Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida and was put on a ventilator support after his health worsened.

Apple's big 2026 launch event begins Monday morning. Tim Cook's teaser hints at new products. A budget MacBook is expected to be a highlight. Other devices like the iPhone 17e and new iPads are also anticipated.

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has refuted an AI-generated White House video that falsely depicted him making derogatory remarks about Canada. Tkachuk clarified that the voice and words in the fabricated clip were not his own. He also denied claims of him shouting to close the Canadian border during a call with Donald Trump.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the nation's armed forces possess the capability to defeat any aggressors. This declaration follows air strikes conducted on neighboring Afghanistan. Sharif emphasized the unified support of the entire nation for its armed forces. The statement highlights Pakistan's readiness to respond to any perceived threats.

The Federal Aviation Administration has restricted flights near Fort Hancock, Texas, after lawmakers said the Pentagon likely used a high-energy laser system to accidentally shoot down a US Customs and Border Protection drone near the Mexican border. The airspace curbs, which allow limited emergency exceptions, are set to remain until June 24.

Israeli attacks in Gaza on Thursday resulted in five deaths, according to health officials, with airstrikes and drone strikes targeting police checkpoints. The Israeli military reported killing a militant who posed a threat, deeming it a ceasefire violation. The ongoing conflict, triggered by Hamas's October 7th attack, has led to significant casualties in Gaza.

Yesterday's match results: India got a big boost after South Africa crushed the West Indies by 9 wickets in their second Super 8s match of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026. South Africa beating West Indies removed one major hurdle from Indias semifinal race and made the path much clearer. India defeated Zimbabweby 72 runs.

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan addressed the 21st convocation at Kashmir University. He called for shedding colonial mindsets to foster Swadeshi innovation. Radhakrishnan highlighted India's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and global acceptance of its innovations.

Synopsis - Abibliophobia is a funny word that means fear of running out of books to read. It is made from Greek roots and sounds scientific, but it is mostly used in a humorous way. The word became popular in modern times, especially online. Many book lovers use it to describe their strong love for reading.

Clashes erupted between JNU students and police during a march towards the Ministry of Education, resulting in injuries to both sides. Police claim protesters assaulted them, leading to an FIR, while students allege excessive force and damage to an Ambedkar portrait. Several students, including union leaders, were detained.

The U.S. plans to process 4,500 white South African refugees monthly, significantly exceeding its stated goals, by establishing a modular processing village on embassy property in Pretoria. This ambitious target faces administrative backlogs, temporarily halting all refugee travel. The initiative follows a previous raid on a processing site in Johannesburg.

Uttar Pradesh has secured a Rs 200 crore investment from German railway infrastructure company RAILONE GmbH. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya signed an MoU during a visit to Germany, aiming to enhance modern rail infrastructure and global partnerships in the state. This collaboration will provide access to advanced technology and international expertise.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has set March 10 as the new deadline for finalising the NDA's seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming assembly polls. Discussions with allies AGP and BPF are ongoing, with the CM aiming for a complete announcement by the new target date.

Karnataka government will proceed with recruitment under the existing 50% reservation cap due to a stay on the enhanced quota. The Cabinet discussed the impact of the High Court's interim stay on the 2022 Act, which aimed to increase reservation from 50% to 56%. Recruitment will follow pre-December 28, 2022, reservation orders and roster points.

Meta Platforms has reportedly secured a multi-billion dollar deal to rent Google's artificial intelligence chips for AI model development. This move follows Meta's recent agreements with AMD and Nvidia for AI chip acquisitions, underscoring the intense industry-wide investment in AI infrastructure. Google is also exploring TPU sales and joint ventures to capitalize on AI demand.

Ten Cubans, armed with weapons and explosives, arrived in Cuban waters aboard a stolen speedboat, intending to infiltrate for terrorist purposes. The Cuban coast guard engaged them, resulting in four deaths and six wounded. The incident raises questions about the group's motives and whether the Cuban government had prior knowledge of the plot.

Pakistan bombed Kabul and Kandahar after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops in retaliation for earlier deadly air strikes. Both militaries reported dozens of soldiers killed in the escalating border violence, which has seen multiple Pakistani strikes and clashes in recent months. The Taliban government confirmed the air strikes but reported no casualties.

This stems from a Delhi High Court order that has stayed the tax offices demand that Rajiv Saxena, the Dubaibased businessman who was extradited to India in January 2019 in connection Forced Stay? No BMA, says Court I-T Dept cant blindly impose law on involuntary residents in India to get foreign asset info with the AgustaWestland case, must share the details of his foreign assets.

Netflix has withdrawn its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, deeming the acquisition financially unattractive after Paramount Skydance raised its offer. Paramount's revised $31-a-share proposal is now considered superior, though the deal faces potential antitrust scrutiny and political concerns.

Anthropic has refused a Pentagon deal over how its AI can be used. The company wants strict limits so its technology is not used for surveillance or autonomous weapons. Talks are still going on, but tension is high as the government pushes for wider access. The situation shows a growing conflict between AI safety rules and national security needs.

Block stock went up after the company announced big layoffs. The firm plans to cut thousands of jobs to save money and work faster using AI tools. Leaders say the changes will help future growth. The company also shared its latest earnings report, showing stable performance while it prepares for major workforce and business changes ahead.

Dell stock is rising because the company expects very strong demand for AI servers. Big tech companies are spending huge money on AI infrastructure, which helps Dell get more orders. The company also gave higher sales and profit forecasts than expected. Even though chip costs are rising, Dell believes AI demand will keep growing and support its future business.

Hillary Clinton gave a private statement in the Epstein investigation, but the hearing paused after a photo leak online. The picture was shared by Benny Johnson and linked to Lauren Boebert, causing a big political fight. Clinton denied any connection to Epstein and said she never met him, while lawmakers argued over rules and transparency in the case.

The Washington Post is facing serious money problems in 2025 after losing over $100 million. The company is cutting many jobs and trying to reduce costs. Leaders say they want to focus on strong and different journalism. The changes come as the news industry faces falling readers, lower revenue, and big challenges in the digital world.

Google rolled out the Nano Banana AI image editor in August, which quickly became a viral sensation, attracting 13 million first-time users to the Gemini app in just four days in September.

Why is oil price surging now by $1 and will it continue to rise or finally drop? Oil prices increased during a volatile session as the United States and Iran held nuclear talks in Geneva. Brent crude and WTI futures moved higher as markets reacted to developments.

Megyn Kelly believes Savannah Guthrie's latest plea about her missing mother, Nancy, revealed a crucial detail: Nancy was taken from her bed in the dark of night. This statement, made on day 24 of the suspected kidnapping, suggests new information has come to light regarding the February 1 incident in Tucson, Arizona.

Troubled automaker Stellantis, behind brands like Jeep and Fiat, announced Thursday a net loss of 22.3 billion euros ($26.3 billion) for last year, blaming a lack of demand for electric vehicles. Stellantis' revenue fell only by two percent to 153.5 billion euros last year while its sales actually rose from 5.41 million vehicles in 2024 to 5.48 million last year.

Ukrainian and US officials met in Geneva to advance post-war reconstruction plans even as Russia launched 420 drones and 39 missiles in fresh strikes on critical infrastructure. With peace talks stalled, Kyiv seeks $800 billion over a decade for rebuilding. Discussions also covered potential trilateral talks with Moscow aimed at ending the five-year war.

Puma has cancelled its dividend and anticipates an annual loss in 2026. Chief Executive Arthur Hoeld is leading a turnaround for the German sportswear brand. China's Anta is becoming a strategic investor, acquiring a 29% stake. Puma expects an operating loss between 50 million and 150 million euros in 2026.

A Chinese company, Henan Kuangshan Crane Co., Ltd., made global headlines by offering 180 million yuan (US$26 million) in year-end bonuses. Employees were invited on stage to count stacks of cash and take home whatever they could carry. Videos went viral, showing workers struggling to hold bundles of notes while cheering. Chairman Cui Peijun, who owns nearly 99% of the company, canceled planned gifts and distributed cash directly, citing employees financial burdens.

Online posts claim Earths gravity will vanish for seven seconds on August 12, 2026, allegedly causing catastrophic damage and 40 million deaths. The speculation suggests NASA is managing the threat through a secret initiative called Project Anchor and even cites an accurate time for the event. NASA has addressed the theory.

Mortgage rates have dropped below 6%, giving home buyers some relief after years of high costs. Lower rates mean smaller monthly payments and may bring more people back into the housing market. However, rates can change quickly, so buyers should focus on their budget, credit score, and long-term plans before deciding when to lock a mortgage rate.

ET has learnt that Cabinet notes to operationalise these proposals are under preparation, with approvals targeted in the May-June window.

An Election Commission of India delegation is currently in Chennai, conducting a comprehensive review of election arrangements in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. After meeting representatives from multiple political parties, the Commission reiterated its directive to Puducherry officials to rigorously enforce the rulesparticularly against the distribution of money, alcohol, and drugs to sway voters.

Physicists have finally solved the mystery behind the squeaky sound of basketball sneakers. High-speed imaging revealed that the noise is caused by rapid 'opening slip pulses' traveling along the rubber sole. Ridged surfaces on the shoes confine these pulses, creating the consistent, musical squeak heard during games.

The Enforcement Directorate has secured prosecution sanction orders against former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram. These orders pertain to alleged money laundering offenses in the Aircel Maxis and INX Media cases. The agency's probe revealed FIPB approval was granted during Chidambaram's tenure. Illegal gratification was allegedly received through entities linked to his son, Karti P Chidambaram.

Moulin Rouge Broadway: Megan Thee Stallion is set to make her Broadway debut in Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre for a limited engagement from March 24 to May 17, 2026. She will feature Zidler, becoming the first female-identifying performer to play the role in any production worldwide.

Renowned defence analyst and retired Indian Army officer Major Maroof Raza has passed away. He was widely recognized for his sharp insights on national security, counter-insurgency, and India-Pakistan relations, becoming a familiar face on television debates. His extensive military background and academic fellowships lent significant credibility to his impactful strategic commentary.

Nasdaq down today: The Nasdaq Composite fell nearly 2% today, dropping below 22,720 in sharp midday trading. Investors are reacting to a 5% plunge in NVIDIA stock despite strong earnings. The sell-off spread fast across AI stocks and semiconductor shares. The S&P 500 slipped over 1%. The Dow Jones fell about 0.4%. Traders fear AI stock valuations are stretched after a massive 40% sector rally in six months. Rising bond yield concerns and inflation data uncertainty added pressure. Todays Nasdaq c

A $100,000 salary doesnt have the same impact everywhere. According to ConsumerAffairs, Southern and Midwestern cities, particularly in Texas, maximize purchasing power, while West and East Coast metros often reduce it significantly. Factors like state and local taxes, housing, and everyday costs determine the real value of income. The findings show that location can turn a six-figure income into a comfort zone or survival mode. Choosing where to live is as important as earning a high salary.

A 23-year-old law student faces a tough choice: a demanding career opportunity in a new city or a less intense role closer to her boyfriend of four years. The dilemma pits professional ambition and financial stability against relationship proximity, sparking debate online about prioritizing career versus love in early adulthood.