Akshita Kapoor

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Industrial output growth slowed to a 6-month low in Feb, dragged down by sluggish manufacturing and mining sectors, while consumer non-durables remained in contraction territory.Data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Friday showed the index of industrial production (IIP) grew by 2.9% in Feb, slower than the 5.6% in Feb last year and below the 5.2% in Jan.The latest data comes against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions triggered by the bruising tariff war unleashed by US President Donald Trump. Most experts expect a dent to GDP growth although domestic demand is expected to help offset some of the impact.The IIP data showed the manufacturing sector grew by 2.9% in Feb, slower than the 4.9% in Feb last year, while the mining sector rose 1.6% during the month, slower than the 8.1% in Feb 2023-24. The […]

[ad_1] MUMBAI: Around one in three digital payment transactions with merchants in India during 2024 were credit-based, either through credit cards or EMIs, showing a shift towards short-term financing and phased spending. An analysis, based on transaction data from over 20,000 merchants, showed that UPI accounted for 65% of all digital transactions, while 75% of recurring utility and govt payments shifted to UPI autopay.According to the "How India Pays" report by fintech firm Phi Commerce, there is a steady rise in credit adoption across sectors such as education, healthcare, and auto ancillaries. EMI-based payments made up 10% of digital transactions in education, and 15% each in healthcare and auto-related purchases. These trends indicate that consumers are increasingly deferring high-value expenses and spreading them over time, especially during school admission periods, medical emergencies, and festive shopping seasons.Before the advent of UPI […]

[ad_1] MUMBAI: The RBI on Friday said it will buy govt securities of various maturities aggregating Rs 40,000 crore on April 17. This will be the third open market operation (OMO) purchase of gilts by the central bank in the current fiscal. The first one of Rs 20,000 crore was conducted on April 3 while the second one, of the same amount, was on April 8.The OMO purchases are in line with the central bank's stated policy of infusing liquidity to the tune of 1% of the net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) in the banking system, a debt fund manager said. Currently, the NDTL of the banking system is about Rs 250 lakh crore. So, the expected liquidity infusion would be about Rs 2.5 lakh crore, fund managers said.Since Jan 2025, the central bank has infused liquidity worth nearly […]

[ad_1] (left to right): Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of recruiting over 150 Chinese nationals to fight in Ukraine — and says Beijing knows about it. The revelation came after Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese fighters in eastern Ukraine, posting videos of them and their passports.“The United States of America should pay attention,” Zelenskyy said. “There are 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine.”Why it mattersIt’s the first time China has been publicly linked to boots on the ground in Russia’s war in Ukraine. While China denies official involvement, the evidence points to an uncomfortable truth for Beijing: Chinese nationals are now visible participants in a war where China has long claimed “neutrality.”The potential implications are massive — from further destabilizing US-China relations to weakening Beijing’s diplomatic […]

[ad_1] (Pic courtesy: Instagram, X) Barbie has become more than just a doll -- she's a cultural icon. And now, thanks to AI, you can turn yourself (or someone else) into a personalised Barbie-style character with just a few photos. Creating an AI Barbie-style doll is like playing dress-up in the digital age -- fun, creative, and full of possibilities. With the right tools, a little imagination, and a good selfie or two, you can step straight into the Barbieverse. Whether you want a glamorous Avatar, a fun digital doll, or a unique gift, here's how to create your own AI Barbie-style doll -- and what to keep in mind to make it shine.Choose the Right AI ToolTo get started, pick an AI image generator or Avatar creator. Look for tools that support: Photo-to-avatar transformation, Custom style inputs (e.g., “Barbie […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: A terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Friday night, while a separate search is underway in Udhampur to track three others, Army officials said.The security forces have broadened their surveillance to include the Bhaderwah area of Doda district to monitor terrorist movements across the hilly districts of the Jammu region.DIG of Kishtwar-Doda-Ramban Range, Shridhar Patil confirmed that operations in the area have been ongoing for three days."One terrorist was eliminated this morning", he informed reporters in Kishtwar.He stated that other terrorists in the area are surrounded and operations will persist until all are neutralised.Officials reported that the confrontation in Kishtwar occurred during a joint Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police intelligence-led search-and-destroy operation in the district's Chatru forest area.The forces made contact with the terrorists during the […]

[ad_1] AI brutally roasts Elon Musk At the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, artificial intelligence stepped out of the lab and into the comedy spotlight in an unprecedented display of digital satire. During the “Life With Machines” panel, Emmy-nominated futurist and comedian Baratunde Thurston directed his AI co-producer, BLAIR, to roast Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk—with no restraints. The result was a 50-second takedown that had the audience erupting in laughter and the internet buzzing with reactions. But behind the humor was something more serious: a growing conversation about the evolving role of AI in cultural discourse, media, and the boundaries of entertainment. This event marked not just a high point of the festival, but a pivotal moment in understanding how technology might redefine the limits of satire and public criticism.AI goes full savage on Elon Musk in […]

[ad_1] Kolkata Knight Riders’ players celebrate the wicket of Chennai Super Kings' captain MS Dhoni during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 T20 cricket match. (PTI) Kolkata Knight Riders secured a dominant eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, handing CSK their first-ever three consecutive home defeats in IPL history. The five-time champions, now led by MS Dhoni after Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury-forced exit, slumped to their fifth straight loss of the season after posting their lowest-ever total at their home ground.Both milestones of three straight losses at home and five defeats in a row are a first for the five-time IPL champions.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!CSK managed only 103 for nine after being put in to bat, marking their third-lowest IPL total and the lowest by any team in this season. Dhoni, batting at […]

[ad_1] MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni's DRS calls are usually spot on, but in a rare moment of controversy, the CSK skipper was given out in a decision that left fans stunned and furious. The incident occurred in the 16th over of Chennai Super Kings' innings against Kolkata Knight Riders, when Dhoni was adjudged LBW off Sunil Narine's bowling.Dhoni immediately opted for a review, convinced there was an inside edge. UltraEdge did show a faint spike as the ball passed the bat, but after a lengthy deliberation, the third umpire ruled that there was no bat involved. With three reds on the ball-tracker, Dhoni was declared out — much to the disbelief of the Chepauk crowd.The home fans were left shell-shocked by the decision. Dhoni, who came out to bat at number nine, could only manage 1 […]

[ad_1] Sunil Narine silences MS Dhoni (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: On a night MS Dhoni resumed the captaincy mantle for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), it was Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine who stole the spotlight with a stunning all-round performance that silenced the Chepauk faithful on Friday. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side, chasing a modest 104, romped to an eight-wicket win in just 10.1 overs, riding on Narine’s blitz and a collective bowling masterclass.Dhoni’s return to leadership, following Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, was expected to lift CSK, but the veteran keeper-batter managed just 1 off 4 balls and fell LBW to the man of the moment, Sunil Narine, in the 16th over of the game. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!That moment, accompanied by stunned silence in the stands, summed up CSK’s woeful evening.After opting to bowl, KKR’s […]