IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru have appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain, effective from the 2025 season. Patidar was reportedly chosen after consultations with senior Indian players in the RCB setup. His leadership led Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final last year, showcasing his potential.
Starting February 17, 2025, new validation rules for FASTag balance will alter toll payment processing. Transactions will be declined if a FASTag has been blacklisted for more than 60 minutes before reading and remains blacklisted for at least 10 minutes afterward. Maintaining an adequate balance in advance is crucial to avoid penalties.
A Delhi court has found former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar guilty of leading a mob that murdered a father-son duo during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The verdict relied on survivor testimonies, highlighting police inaction during the incident. Kumar faces a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.
Actor Chiranjeevi was criticized for remarks on preferring a male grandchild to carry on the family legacy, sparking accusations of sexism. The comment, made during a film event, led to significant backlash on social media, questioning gender roles and the contributions of his daughters and daughter-in-law.
AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan has filed an anticipatory bail plea after being accused of obstructing police officers during an attempted arrest of Shavez Khan, an alleged criminal. Amanatullah Khan, who denies the charges, wrote to the Delhi Police commissioner, claiming the case is fabricated. The incident reportedly involved threats and aggression against the officers.
Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, opened in green on Thursday. While BSE Sensex was above 76,200, Nifty50 was near 23,100.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington, DC, for a two-day visit focusing on bolstering trade, defense, and technology ties with the US. He met with key figures including President Trump and the newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated that practically useful quantum computers are still 5-10 years away. This comes after a similar warning from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, suggesting that very useful quantum computers may take 15-30 years. Quantum computing stocks reacted negatively to these announcements.
India and France have signed agreements to enhance cooperation in AI, civil nuclear energy, and regional development. Modi and Macron reaffirmed their strategic partnership, emphasizing the joint development of small modular reactors for sustainable energy. They also focused on the Indo-Pacific region, connectivity via the IMEEC corridor, skill development, and anti-terrorism measures.
Retail investors continued to invest in mutual funds throughout January, despite volatility in the stock market. Monthly SIP inflows remained high at over Rs 26,000 crore. However, a reconciliation process led to a reduction in SIP accounts and total assets under management. Investors showed a preference for hybrid funds over thematic schemes due to uncertain market conditions.
Retail inflation in India eased to a five-month low of 4.3% in January due to moderating vegetable prices, while industrial output growth slowed to 3.2% in December, largely due to sluggish performance in the manufacturing sector. Both rural and urban inflation witnessed declines.
Only Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have reduced their debt-to-GSDP ratios, while Punjab and Tamil Nadu have seen significant increases. Economists propose enhanced fiscal oversight and debt relief for heavily indebted states in exchange for more central oversight. Recommendations include better revenue mobilization, tax base broadening, and capacity-enhancing investments.
Gwalior cyber police arrested three students in Noida for scamming a BSF officer of over Rs 71 lakh, falsely posing as Mumbai Crime Branch officers. They exploited his fear of arrest for money laundering, forcing multiple transactions. The suspects transferred the scammed funds to various locations and collaborated with a Chinese gang to convert the amounts into USDT.
