Shiju Abdul Rasheed

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discussed the Budget’s impact on the economy, emphasizing tax relief for honest taxpayers. She highlighted schemes for agriculture, start-ups, and infrastructure to boost growth. Concerns over inflation, privatization, and fiscal consolidation were addressed, with assurances of sustained public sector expenditure and efforts to widen the tax base.

‘Sadhvi’ Ritambhara, the head of a girls’ school, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan ostensibly for her ‘social work’. But her real contribution lies in destroying India’s secular fabric

OpenAI launched the 'deep research' feature for ChatGPT, enhancing automated research capabilities, while China's DeepSeek chatbot emerges as a competitive force. Amid this, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SoftBank's Masayoshi Son meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss AI infrastructure investments, part of the Stargate initiative.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir lauded the team's high-risk, high-reward approach that secured a 4-1 series win against England in Twenty20 Internationals. He emphasized the selflessness and fearlessness in their play, aiming for big scores like 250-plus, even if it means occasional setbacks. Varun Chakravarthy's bowling was also a key factor in their success.

Middle class is not a defined income category or a voting block. But it’s well represented in professional services & political parties. It can transmit its discontent to wider communities. Hence budget’s reachout

Shein has returned to the Indian market through a new app launched by Reliance Retail, focusing on local manufacturing and strict data sovereignty. The move comes as Shein plans a potential London stock market listing and faces increased regulatory scrutiny in Europe.

Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa achieved a remarkable comeback to defeat world champion D Gukesh 2-1 in the tiebreaker at Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025, claiming his maiden title. Despite initially losing due to a blunder, Praggnanandhaa's strategic brilliance and unwavering focus allowed him to secure victory in the intense and thrilling encounter.

Stock market recommendations: Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd recommends ICICI Bank and JK Cement as top stock picks for the week starting February 3, 2025. ICICI Bank shows steady growth with robust asset quality and controlled operating expenses. JK Cement surpasses expectations with strong volume growth and effective cost-saving strategies.