The Economic Times

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the world of Chinas economy, the story is mixed. Ningbo's colossal port represents a beacon of export success, highlighting the country's manufacturing strength. Despite this, a sharp decline in housing prices is eroding the financial stability of the middle class and curtailing spending habits. Local government budgets are also feeling the strain, resulting in cutbacks that affect public welfare.

India's latest budget prioritizes fiscal consolidation with a gentle approach, focusing on capital expenditure to counter elusive private investment and geopolitical risks. The industrial strategy aims to boost electronics, support labor-intensive sectors against rising tariffs, and derisk critical supply chains. However, risks include state fiscal wobbles, potential disruption in rural employment schemes, and neglect of mega-city livability.

India plans to significantly boost its global services sector share to ten percent by 2047. A new panel will identify growth areas and assess technology's impact on jobs. The government is emphasizing digital services, health, education, and tourism. Tax holidays are offered for cloud services using Indian data centers.

India's 2026 budget focuses on predictable growth. It aims to attract global investment with clear tax rules for technology and data centers. Manufacturing in critical areas like defense and advanced electronics is also a priority. Reforms simplify business operations. This strategy positions India for long-term growth and a key role in global supply chains.

India's new budget champions manufacturing, aiming to significantly increase its contribution to the nation's GDP. Key sectors like semiconductors, electronics, and textiles receive substantial funding. Initiatives like the Biopharma SHAKTI program and production-linked incentives are designed to build domestic capacity and reduce reliance on imports. This strategic focus supports job creation and economic growth.

A Russian drone strike on Dnipro killed 15 mineworkers, hours after peace talks were rescheduled. The attack, targeting energy sector workers, injured seven others. Meanwhile, Russian drones also hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia. Peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. are now set for February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi.

Twitter down: There were more than 19,281 reports of issues with the social media platform 'X'.

Iran has warned of regional conflict if the United States attacks. This comes amid heightened tensions and increased U.S. naval presence in the Middle East. Iran also designated European Union armies as terrorist groups. This move is a direct response to the EU's earlier decision to label Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.

The nearly 22 per cent hike in capital budget combined with the government's decision to scrap basic customs duty on components and parts for production of civilian and other aircraft is being seen by the industry as a major move.

While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not make any big-ticket announcements for the poll-bound states in her Budget speech, there were proposals for high-speed rail links for Chennai, an ecologically-sustainable mountain trail at Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats and a rare-earth minerals corridor in southern states.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, praised the Union Budget 2026-27. He described it as a bold plan for growth and inclusion. The budget emphasizes skilling, science, and research to boost India's capabilities. Investments in infrastructure and the digital economy are also key. Bharti Airtel Foundation will support education and talent development.

Australian Open 2026: Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion and a two-time Australian Open winner, was front row at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday duirng final showdown between Alcaraz and Djokovic.

Jeffrey Epstein drafted notes to and about Bill Gates, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, suggesting that he engaged in extramarital sex, according to emails that the Justice Department released on Friday.

ISRO's ambitious space station and human spaceflight goals receive a significant boost. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 13,705.60 crore to the Department of Space. This funding supports crucial projects like the Gaganyaan mission and the Next Generation Launch Vehicle. The increased allocation signals strong government support for ISRO's future endeavors and private sector involvement.

Pakistan faces potential export and job losses. India's new trade deal with the European Union could reduce Pakistan's tariff advantages. This impacts its key textile and apparel sectors. Officials are reviewing the situation. Pakistan remains committed to its strong trade ties with the EU. The country aims to navigate these evolving trade dynamics.

Union budget 2026-27- The Union Budget 2026-27 has proposed to launch a scheme for the development of Buddhist circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura

The 2026-27 Union Budget is being celebrated for its forward-thinking approach that prioritizes the average citizen. With a strategic focus on curbing inflation and expanding opportunities, it earmarks significant funds for health, education, and infrastructure, fostering job creation. Farmers will gain from improved irrigation systems and better storage facilities.

India's seafood exports are set to see more value-added products. A threefold increase in duty-free import limits for processing inputs will lower production costs. This move aims to boost competitiveness against rivals like Vietnam and Thailand. Value-added products currently form a small portion of India's seafood exports. This change is expected to significantly improve that share.