The Economic Times

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed 21 Palestinians, including children, on Wednesday. This violence jeopardizes a recent truce. The Rafah border crossing faced delays for patient passage. The Israeli military stated strikes were in response to militant fire. This incident follows earlier deadly Israeli strikes before the border reopened.

India is poised for significant growth over the next two decades. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink anticipates an 'Era of India' with annual economic expansion between 8-10 percent. He highlighted the country's strong domestic foundation and the potential for foreign investment. Fink encouraged both foreign and domestic investors to participate in India's long-term growth story, emphasizing the importance of capital markets.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami unveiled the party's second list of election promises. Key pledges include increasing monthly social security pensions to Rs 2,000 and waiving education loans. Three free LPG cylinders will be given annually to ration card holders. Compensation for Jallikattu participants and subsidies for events are also promised.

Nicolas Cage navigates the tension between maintaining mystery and prolific creation. While acknowledging the allure of selective appearances for preserving intrigue, he emphasizes the value of working intensely in youth. Cage prioritizes consistent creation over the fear of creative regret, believing it fuels personal fulfillment and artistic growth.

Indian textile, apparel, and leather exporters expect a significant boost in US shipments. A new trade deal offers reduced tariffs, making Indian goods more competitive. This move is set to improve profit margins and revive export volumes. Small and medium exporters are particularly poised to benefit.

Abraham Lincoln's timeless words highlight personal resolve as paramount to success. In today's world of distractions and competition, his message of self-belief and persistence remains vital. Lincoln, a former US President, rose from humble beginnings. His leadership during the Civil War inspires many. Applying his wisdom involves setting goals, building discipline, and embracing resilience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the invitation of PM Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, from February 7-8, as per an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In the second phase of Census 2027, the spotlight will shine on caste enumeration, with final questions set to be unveiled shortly. A plethora of requests related to this topic have reached the governments desk, highlighting its significance. This year, the census embraces technology with a completely digital format, allowing individuals to self-enumerate.

Indian renewable energy players welcome the India-US trade deal. They believe it will restore stability in global trade and strengthen supply chains. The improved tariff environment will boost export competitiveness for Indian businesses. This move is seen as significant for the solar sector, enhancing price competitiveness and market access to the US.

Ireland vs Pakistan Playing 11: Pakistan faces Ireland in a T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up game. Pakistan enters the tournament after a series win. Ireland aims to recover from a recent series loss. The match takes place in Colombo. Both teams will look to fine-tune their strategies before the main event. Fans can follow the action live.

Word of the Day: Vicissitudinous invites readers to think beyond immediate change and consider the broader patterns that define political systems, institutions, and human experience.

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee has started discussions on interest rates. Experts anticipate a pause in rate cuts following the Union Budget and a trade deal. The RBI is expected to maintain the repo rate at 5.25 percent. The committee will announce its decision on Friday. Focus will be on liquidity management and market stability.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day: As womens sports gain greater visibility globally, supporters of National Girls & Women in Sports Day see the observance as both a celebration and a call to action.

The Delhi High Court has rejected actor Rajpal Yadav's plea for more time to surrender in cheque bounce cases. Yadav was ordered to surrender by 4 pm on Wednesday. He sought an extension to arrange a payment of Rs 50 lakh.

India plans to diversify its energy sources to ensure citizen security. Russia's Kremlin stated this is not new, as India has always sourced oil from various nations, including Russia. This comes after a US-India trade deal announcement. Russia acknowledges India's established practice of buying oil from multiple international suppliers.

India's government has deactivated over 2.5 crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased citizens. This move safeguards the world's largest biometric system against identity fraud and misuse. The initiative ensures welfare benefits reach only intended living beneficiaries. Technological safeguards like biometric locks and liveness detection are also in place.

Disclaimer: This article discusses suicide and mental health. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to a mental health professional or helpline.

Rosa Parks Day is marked in several US states to commemorate the civil rights icon whose refusal to give up her bus seat in 1955 helped spark one of the most pivotal movements in American history.

The United States is hosting a global meeting with over 50 nations. The aim is to increase access to critical minerals. This move seeks to reduce China's control over vital industrial supplies. Countries are exploring ways to boost mining and processing outside China. Strategic stockpiles and price floors are among the measures being considered.

The UK's 100-year-old iconic restaurant Veeraswamy faces the risk of closure and has called the intervention of King Charles III to save it. Founded in 1926 and located in London near Piccadilly Circus, the restaurant is known for its delicious menu such as malai chicken tikka, raj kachori, lobster malabar curry, fresh alfonso mango dessert and more. Veeraswamy is a Michelin-star restaurant and celebrity chefs Raymond Blanc and Michel Roux are backing calls to save it.

Manipur is set for a new beginning. Y Khemchand Singh will be sworn in as Chief Minister today, February 4, 2026. This follows the revocation of President's Rule. Preparations are underway for the ceremony at Lok Bhavan. The NDA government aims to bring peace and development to the state. This marks a significant shift after a period of President's Rule.

The Delhi High Court has strongly criticized the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The court noted the MCD's failure to publicize its legislative records and proceedings for two decades. This is despite the mandate under the Right to Information Act. The court emphasized that public authorities must proactively share information. The MCD assured the court that corrective measures are underway.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly refuted allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the Union Budget. She challenged him to present specific evidence from the document to support his claims of neglect towards unemployment, rural distress, and manufacturing slowdown.

Netflix India is launching an ambitious slate for 2026, featuring 30 new projects. Vice President Monika Shergill highlights programming as a mix of art and science, driven by audience intuition. The platform aims to offer diverse content, from regional stories to international films, catering to every viewer's taste and mood.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Palaniappan Manickam reveals the five essential habits for a healthy gut: daily fiber, consistent meal timing, stress management, restorative sleep, and screen-free mindful eating. By blending humor with science, Dr. Pal provides a sustainable roadmap to optimize your microbiome and eliminate bloating without relying on medication.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has benefited over 28 lakh households by January 2026. Central financial assistance of Rs 16,061.12 crore has been disbursed. The scheme aims to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households. This initiative is expected to generate significant renewable electricity and reduce carbon emissions.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has strongly condemned Rahul Gandhi's remarks against Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. Sirsa called Gandhi's use of the word 'traitor' an insult to the Sikh community. He urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to take immediate action. The incident occurred outside Parliament. Bittu, a Sikh leader, recently switched from Congress to BJP.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held talks via video call. This meeting follows recent agreements by diplomats to boost economic cooperation. The strategic partnership between China and Russia has strengthened since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The leaders have maintained regular contact, exchanging New Year greetings and discussing close exchanges.

Emerging markets showed notable resilience despite heightened volatility at the start of 2026. However, India and Indonesia remained underperformers, even as emerging market assets delivered a strong start to the year, according to a Deutsche Bank report.

Spiritual guru Sadhguru has offered two simple tips that can help create mutual magic between partners. The two tips by the popular spiritual guru is approach as a means to share, not extract and become your own source of happiness as complete individuals express love from abundance, not lack, fostering enduring connections.

Anthropic's Claude Cowork agent, now equipped with task-automating plugins, has triggered a SaaSpocalypse fear in tech stocks. This move transforms AI from a helpful feature into a direct competitor, capable of executing tasks autonomously and potentially replacing IT services and software vendors.

Proverb of the day by Theodore Roosevelt: Theodore Roosevelt's wisdom encourages immediate action. Success comes from using available resources and taking consistent small steps. This principle applies to careers, education, personal growth, and business. It inspires millions by urging people to stop overthinking and start acting now. Practical action is key to achieving goals.

NBA All-Star Game: Catch Badshahs historic NBA debut live in India on Saturday, Feb 14, 2026, starting at 5:30 AM IST. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will stream on Amazon Prime Video and NBA League Pass, featuring a star-studded clash between Team Giannis and Team Anthony Anderson.

K Annamalai, former Tamil Nadu BJP President, has resigned as election in-charge for six Assembly constituencies. He cited his father's ill health and need for care as the reason. Annamalai informed the Tamil Nadu BJP leadership of his decision. He expressed willingness to support party and alliance candidates in other capacities.

Security forces neutralized two Pakistani terrorists in Udhampur district. The operation, named 'Kiya', lasted over 20 hours. One of the slain terrorists was identified as Rubani alias Abu Mavia, a top Jaish-e-Mohammad commander. The joint operation involved the Army, police, and CRPF. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site. This encounter follows previous security operations in the region.

Chandrawal Water Plant: After over a decade of delays, Delhi's Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant is finally operational, promising to alleviate water shortages and reduce transmission losses. The project, boosted by central and state funding, will significantly increase water treatment capacity and improve distribution networks, aiming for reliable 24x7 supply to densely populated areas.

Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, has announced the UP BEd JEE 2026 application process, which opened on February 10 and closes on March 10. The examination is scheduled from April 20-25, with results expected by May 30. Applicants must meet age criteria and submit required documents along with the application fee.

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Election Commission and West Bengal's chief electoral officer. This follows a plea from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The court is addressing concerns about alleged wrongful deletions of voters. A hearing is scheduled for February 9.

Delhi Crime: Nearly 50% of Delhi's 18,969 prisoners are between 21 and 30 years old, with over 55% under 30. Poverty, unemployment, and the lure of quick money are identified as key drivers for young offenders. The city's jails are severely overcrowded, operating at double capacity, prompting the construction of new facilities.

Melinda French Gates has hinted that Bill Gates ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to their divorce in 2021. Speaking on a podcast, the philanthropist said the newly released batch of photos in the Epstein files brought back some very painful times in her marriage. Melinda French and Bill Gates divorced in 2021.

China is employing a 'salami slicing' strategy, taking incremental steps across military, economic, and technological domains to alter realities without triggering conflict. This 'gray zone' approach, evident in the South China Sea and beyond, bypasses international law and exploits rivals' hesitation. The cumulative effect creates new facts on the ground, challenging the existing order.