The Economic Times

Uttar Pradesh rainfall: Many parts of the eastern and western parts of Uttar Pradesh are likely to see fog today and the weather is likely to remain dry throughout the region. Light spell of rain with thunderstorms is likely in Lucknow today. Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut are likely to see fog and mist during the early morning hours today.

Americans in Cuba face government-backed protests and entry denials. The US embassy warns of severe disruptions from power outages and fuel shortages. These issues stem from US actions blocking oil supplies. Cuba's national grid is unstable. Citizens are advised to conserve resources and prepare for significant challenges. Communication between Cuba and the US continues.

UGC Net 2025 Result: The results of UGC-NET are set to be declared on Wednesday, February 4 and candidates can check the results on the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The UGC NET result will confirm eligibility for Assistant Professor posts, Junior Research Fellowship and Ph.D. admissions under the revised UGC guidelines.

India will stop buying Russian oil and increase energy imports from the United States. This agreement follows direct talks between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India also committed to significant investments in the US across various sectors. Sensitive Indian economic areas like agriculture and dairy have been protected in the trade deal.

NTA UGC NET Result 2026: The UGC NET December 2025 results are expected on February 4, 2026, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) releasing them on its official website. Candidates are advised to keep alternate links handy due to anticipated heavy traffic. The exam determines eligibility for Assistant Professor posts and Junior Research Fellowship.

Quote of the Day: Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio in Puerto Rico, has achieved global fame by embracing his true self. His music, blending reggaeton and trap, broke boundaries. He rejected expectations in genre, language, and fashion. His albums have topped charts and won prestigious awards. Bad Bunny's journey highlights the power of authenticity and self-ownership in challenging societal rules.

President Donald Trump has extended a key trade program for Africa. The African Growth and Opportunity Act will now run until December 31, 2025. This provides certainty for businesses. The program offers duty-free access to the US market for many African products. This extension comes amid ongoing diplomatic relations between the US and South Africa.

President Donald Trump signed a spending bill on Tuesday ending the four-day partial government shutdown sparked by Democratic opposition to funding for the federal agency carrying out his sweeping immigration crackdown. Trump, who presided over a record 43-day government shutdown last summer, had been pressuring Republicans to adopt the spending bill and end the closure which began on Saturday.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was reportedly killed in an armed attack at his Zintan residence. Four masked gunmen allegedly stormed his home, leading to a confrontation that resulted in his death. His political team is calling for an investigation into the incident.

A complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is now with lawmakers. It alleges she withheld classified information for political reasons. The complaint was filed months ago. Gabbard's office denies the allegations. Lawmakers have been pushing for the report. This comes as Gabbard faces scrutiny over her role in a Georgia election search.

Adani Defence and Aerospace is embarking on a strategic alliance with Italian aerospace expert Leonardo to produce helicopters in India. This initiative not only responds to the Indian armed forces' projected need for approximately 1,000 military choppers but also strives to fortify the nation's aerospace manufacturing landscape.

Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, is feared kidnapped after disappearing from her Arizona home. A ransom note reportedly demanding millions in Bitcoin has surfaced, with authorities treating the case as a criminal act. Investigators are working to recover deleted surveillance footage and are concerned for her well-being due to daily medication needs.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hailed the reduction in tariffs by the US as a game-changer for Indian exporters. This development is likely to fortify the Indian rupee and entice more international investments, positioning India as a key player on the global economic stage.

The US and India have inked a pivotal trade agreement with which both nations stand to gain. By slashing reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports, the deal safeguards vital sectors like agriculture and dairy.

AMD announced strong fourth quarter earnings and a positive first quarter outlook. Revenue reached a record $10.3 billion. Despite beating expectations, the company's stock saw a decline. AMD's data center and PC segments performed well. The company is also focusing on AI hardware and future technologies.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has revealed the company's plans to invest in OpenAI remained on track following recent reports that the deal had been stalled.

Rising US and European bond yields, with the US 10-year Treasury hitting a multi-month high, pressured growth stocks and led to a Nasdaq decline. Company-specific disappointments from Gartner and PayPal further weighed on the market. Euro zone yields also climbed, influenced by US Treasuries and speculation surrounding potential Federal Reserve leadership changes.

Nancy Guthrie's pacemaker stopped syncing with her Apple devices before her disappearance, a detail emerging as police shift focus to investigation. Authorities found her phone and watch inside her Arizona home. The 84-year-old's family is praying for her safe return, with blood and forced entry signs reported at the residence.

A Reddit user shared a layoff shock after her husband lost his job soon after parental leave. The couple recently bought a home and had a baby. With severance and limited savings, they face financial stress. Living in New York, they worry about unemployment limits and a weak job market.

Official-level meetings were held across sectors at regular intervals besides Quad Working Group meetings to keep momentum in ties. Several US Congressmen also undertook visits to India in recent months, showcasing bipartisan support for ties.

Tata Advanced Systems, L&T and Bharat Forge have been shortlisted to build next-gen AMCA fighter jets after technical evaluation. HAL is out, with the final winner to be chosen in three months.

Jill Biden's ex-husband, William Stevenson, 77, has been indicted on first-degree murder charges in the death of his wife, Linda Stevenson, 64. Police found Linda unresponsive in their Delaware home on December 28th following a domestic dispute. Stevenson, an author and former owner of the Stone Balloon, was previously married to Dr. Jill Biden.

Sergio Gor, who is among a small group of people considered part of Trump's inner circle, is understood to have conveyed Indian concerns and sentiments over the often tense negotiations, helping break the logjam and secure a breakthrough in the talks, they added.

Gold price again closer to $5,000 per ounce today. Gold futures surged nearly 7% on Feb. 3, jumping over $320 in one session and trading near $5,000 per ounce. Prices opened around $4,948 after closing near $4,653 a day earlier. Heavy central-bank buying, falling real yields, and geopolitical risk drove demand. Gold has now outperformed stocks over two years. Major banks see prices reaching $6,000 in 2026 as safe-haven flows accelerate.

The Indo-US trade deal gives India a clear tariff edge over China, eases pressure on MSME exports, boosts defence and energy ties, and strengthens supply-chain and tech partnerships amid global realignments.

Silver futures saw a sudden surge as prices jumped sharply in early trade. Strong buying interest returned after recent losses. Global cues, tariff cut hopes, and bullish expert views pushed silver higher. Investors are closely tracking silver prices now, as momentum is rising fast and long-term targets for the metal are being discussed.

Samajwadi Party MPs protested the Manikarnika ghat redevelopment in Varanasi. They claim it disrespects Ahilyabai Holkar's historical renovation. The protest occurred in the Lok Sabha and outside Parliament. This action highlights the party's independent political stance. The move follows recent election results. The party aims to present its own agenda.

A Kentucky resident narrowly missed a $125 million Mega Millions jackpot but still secured a seven-figure prize. The $2 million ticket, bought at a Racetrac gas station in Frankfort, showcased numbers significant to his family, which includes birthdates. After winning $50 on the first ticket, the man scanned his second ticket and exclaimed, I scanned the next one and it said $2 million. It took me a second to digest it.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has provided interim relief to Panacea Biotec. The court has stayed any coercive action regarding Goods and Services Tax on corporate guarantees. This applies to guarantees issued before a recent amendment to the CGST Rules. The court is examining the retrospective application of GST.

A US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea. The drone aggressively approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. No American personnel were harmed. This incident occurred amid nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. Separately, Iranian forces harassed a US merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ambivalence is the state of experiencing conflicting emotions at the same time. It often emerges during decisions, life changes, or complex relationships, when attraction and hesitation coincide. Unlike indecision, ambivalence features emotional awareness and depth, as both feelings are strong and valid. Recognizing ambivalence helps people to understand themselves better and go through personal and social situations more thoughtfully.

The United States and the European Union have formed a partnership to find new ways to obtain critical minerals. These minerals are essential for many technologies used today. The collaboration seeks to reduce reliance on China for these vital resources. Both the US and EU currently depend heavily on China for abundant and inexpensive minerals. This dependence gives Beijing influence over their supply chains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received congratulations from NDA MPs for securing trade agreements with 39 nations. The party also welcomed its new president, Nitin Nabin. Prime Minister Modi urged MPs to maintain parliamentary discipline and actively explain the budget's vision to their constituents. The alliance's growing strength was highlighted as more parties join.

Eight Congress MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the budget session after tearing and flinging papers. The suspension followed a stalemate over Rahul Gandhi's insistence on quoting from an unpublished book concerning national security and the Prime Minister's reaction to India-China conflict.

Nasdaq big crash today: Nasdaq falls over 400 points as AI stocks tumble. The Nasdaq Composite crashed 422.49 points today. This 1.79% drop took the index to 23,169.62. Over $1 trillion in value vanished. AI stocks are leading the tumble. Customers are building their own tools with Anthropics Claude. They no longer want expensive SaaS subscriptions. Salesforce and ServiceNow fell 5% and 7%. PayPal cratered 17.33% to $43.26. TriNet lost 14.12%.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has directed the commencement of negotiations with Washington concerning the nuclear issue. This directive was reported by Iran's semi-official Fars news service on Monday, citing a government source. The talks could involve high-ranking officials from both nations. According to the Tasnim news service, which also cited an unidentified source, potential participants include US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Modern Family quotes: Spanning 11 seasons and more than 250 episodes, the series followed the everyday victories, missteps and emotional milestones of the Pritchett, Dunphy and Tucker-Pritchett families, set against life in suburban Los Angeles.

India and Tanzania held a key meeting to enhance defence ties. Discussions covered military training and maritime security. Cooperation will now extend to air forces, complementing existing naval and army collaboration. New areas like counter-terrorism and cyber warfare were explored. Military medicine is a potential new focus. This strengthens a strategic partnership guided by a five-year roadmap.

India and the European Union are close to finalizing their Free Trade Agreement. The pact could be signed and come into effect this year. A new Security and Defence Partnership has also been established. This partnership aims to enhance cooperation on various security challenges. Both agreements signal strong commitment and offer significant opportunities for businesses and operational collaboration.

Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, he said it is a historic moment for our foreign policy and our economic system.

India and the United States have reached a trade agreement. Washington will lower reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the deal a decisive leap for economic ties. He stated the historic agreement will foster stronger growth, jobs, and strategic collaboration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed the deal.

Girl Scouts of the USA has officially started the 2026 cookie season, offering a new flavor and retiring two familiar treats. The organization launched Exploremores, a rocky roadinspired sandwich cookie with chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted almond-flavored creme. At the same time, Smores and Toast-Yay! were discontinued following the 2025 season. Cookie sales formally run from January through April, though dates differ by troop.