IDFC FIRST Bank, in partnership with Ikonz, has used the latest artificial intelligence (AI) avatar of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan at 10 more branches in 5 new cities including Delhi, Gurugram, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
The initiative allows Bachchan to connect with another 70 million people.
Last year (2024), Ikonz partnered with IDFC FIRST Bank to bring the legend’s AI avatar as the face of all banking communication at their Juhu Branch in Mumbai. In a short span, the initiative has been widely accepted and has led to better efficiency and customer trust.
This partnership between IDFC FIRST Bank and Ikonz Studios leverages the power of AI and Holographic Extended Reality to create an immersive experience. Customers are greeted by Amitabh Bachchan’s interactive digital avatar, who provides information about banking products such Zero Fee Banking, Monthly Interest Credits, and Mobile Banking in his inimitable style.
Abinav Varma Kalidindi- Founder and CEO of Ikonz Studios.
United States President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring February 9 as "the first-ever Gulf of America Day," celebrating the renaming of the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico.
Trump was on his way to the New Orleans for the Super Bowl 59 and signed this proclamation as Air Force One flew over the area he was renaming.
This follows the signing of Executive Order 14172 on January 20, 2025, which mandated the renaming of the US Continental Shelf area.
As part of the order, the Secretary of the Interior was directed to take the necessary actions to rename the area bounded by Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, and extend to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba.
India will host the first World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai from May 1-4 that will bring together too media CEOs, entertainment icons and creative minds from around the globe.
The WAVES summit is being positioned by the government as India's global event for the entertainment sector to what Davos is for the economic sector.
The summit will spotlight advancements in animation, gaming, entertainment technology, and regional and mainstream cinema, fostering collaborations and setting the stage for India's creative economy to shine globally.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved two voluntary amalgamations in the urban co-operative bank (UCB) space -- The Citizen Co-operative Bank (Vasco-De-Gama, Goa) with TJSB Sahakari Bank (Thane, Maharashtra) and Pune Commercial Co-operative Bank (Satara, Maharashtra) with Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank (Pune, Maharashtra).
RBI said the Scheme of Amalgamation of The Citizen Cooperative Bank with TJSB Sahakari Bank has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
The Scheme will come into force with effect from February 10, 2025, whereby the branches of Goa-based UCB will function as branches of TJSB Sahakari Bank.
In a separate statement, RBI said the Scheme of Amalgamation of Pune Commercial Co-operative Bank with Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
The Scheme will come into force with effect from February 10, 2025,
branches of Pimpri Chinchwad Sahakari Bank.
Since 2004-05, the UCB sector has witnessed 156 mergers, including six in 2023-24, of which three were in Maharashtra, two were in Telangana and one was in Gujarat. Maharashtra accounted for majority of the mergers in the last two decades, followed by Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, the report said.
The Union Cabinet approved a three-year extension of tenure for the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), which functions under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to implement provisions of the law prohibiting manual scavenging across the country.
The Union Cabinet said the extension of the commission’s tenure would have a financial implication of Rs. 50.91 crore over the next three years.
In addition to being the implementing agency for provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013,
the NCSK has a mandate to recommend specific programmes for the upliftment of sanitation workers to the Centre, investigate specific grievances they may have, and to study and monitor their working conditions, among other functions.
The first NCSK set up in 1994 under the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993 was functioning as a statutory body till 2004, when the law lapsed. Since then, the commission is acting as a non-statutory body under the Social Justice Ministry with its tenure being extended from time to time.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma made a memorable return to form with a power-packed century against England at Cuttack in the second ODI, helping him overtake Rahul Dravid to enter the top 10 run-getters in ODI cricket.
The Hitman set his struggles aside, timing and middling his shots with perfection to score 119 in 90 balls, with 12 fours and seven sixes.
In 267 ODIs, Rohit has 10,987 runs at an average of 49.26 and a strike rate of 92.70. He has 32 centuries and 57 fifties, with a best score of 264. He is the 10th-highest run-getter in ODIs. Dravid has on the other hand, scored 10,889 runs In 344 matches and 318 innings at an average of 39.16, with 12 centuries, 83 fifties, and best score of 153.
Rohit also overtook legendary Sachin Tendulkar to become the second-highest run-getter for India as an opener in international cricket. In 343 matches, he has scored 15,404 runs at an average of 45.43, with 44 centuries and 79 fifties. His best score is 264.
On the other hand, Sachin has scored 15,335 runs at an average of 48.07 in 346 matches and 342 innings.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in logistics and infrastructure development between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India (GoI) and the Korea Transport Institute (KoTI), Republic of Korea (RoK) was signed South Korea by Mr. Youngchan Kim, President of KOTI, and H.E. Amit Kumar.
The MoU will enhance cooperation in logistics and infrastructure development, leveraging KOTI's expertise to support India’s ambitious infrastructure initiatives. Joint working meetings will be held for taking the initiative forward.
Further, the MoU will establish a comprehensive mechanism for knowledge exchange and institutional cooperation between the Logistics Division,
DPIIT and KOTI. This will help in the development of infrastructure and logistics master plans under the aegis of the prestigious program - PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.
The key benefits of this collaboration include the establishment of a research-driven program that enhances expertise in logistics and infrastructure through knowledge exchange, training.
The Ministry of Labour & Employment signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FoundIt (Formerly Monster), a leading job portal in New Delhi. The MoU signed in the presence of Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, aims to enhance international & domestic employment opportunities for job seekers registered on NCS portal.
To enhance trust in digital banking and curb cyber fraud, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of exclusive internet domains—’bank.in’ and ‘fin.in’—for Indian financial institutions. This initiative aims to tackle the increasing cyber threats, particularly phishing and other malicious activities that undermine the security of online transactions.
Highlighting the importance of secure digital banking, the RBI stated, “Increased instances of fraud in digital payments are a significant concern. To combat this, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is introducing the ‘bank.in’ exclusive internet domain for Indian banks.
This initiative aims to reduce cybersecurity threats and malicious activities like phishing while streamlining secure financial services and enhancing trust in digital banking and payment services.”
The ‘bank.in’ domain will be exclusively available to Indian banks, providing them with a secure and easily identifiable online presence.
This move is expected to facilitate safer financial transactions and boost customer confidence in digital banking.
The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) has been designated as the exclusive registrar for these domains, with registrations set to commence in April 2025.
Additionally, the RBI plans to introduce ‘fin.in’ as a dedicated domain for non-banking financial entities, further strengthening cybersecurity measures across the financial sector.
By introducing these dedicated domains, the RBI aims to help consumers easily identify legitimate financial service providers and reduce cyber fraud risks.
The Government of India approved the continuation of the integrated Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26. Integrated Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme comprises Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS),
Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and Price Stabilisation Funds (PSF). Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) administers PSS, PDPS and MIS whereas Department of Consumer Affairs administers PSF. The integrated PM-AASHA Scheme is administered to bring-in more effectiveness in the implementation of procurement operations that,
would not only help in providing remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce but also control the price volatility of essential commodities by ensuring their availability at affordable prices to consumers.
Under the Price Support Scheme, the procurement of the notified Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra conforming to the prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) is undertaken,
by the Central Nodal Agencies (CNAs) at the MSP directly from the pre-registered farmers through the State level agencies.
Further, Minister of Agriculture and farmers’ welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has approved the proposal to extend the period of procurement of Groundnut in Gujarat by 6 days and in Karnataka by 25 days beyond the normal procurement period of 90 days,
in the interest of farmers of the state.
Further, to incentivize the farmers contributing to enhancement of domestic production of pulses and to reduce the dependence on imports, the Government has allowed the procurement of Tur, Urad and Masur under PSS equivalent to 100% of the production of the State for the procurement year 2024-25.
India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – have taken a significant step towards deeper economic collaboration with the inauguration of the India-EFTA Desk. This initiative follows the recently concluded India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA),
which positions EFTA as the first European bloc to formalize a trade pact with India. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal hailed TEPA as a landmark agreement, emphasizing India’s growing role in global trade.
The India-EFTA Desk will provide structured support to EFTA businesses looking to invest, expand, or establish operations in India.
High-ranking dignitaries from all four EFTA nations attended the launch, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening economic ties.
Norway’s State Secretary of Trade and Industry, Mr. Tomas Norvoll, likened TEPA to an airport, with the EFTA Desk serving as the landing strip for businesses.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 10 February as World Pulses Day to recognize the importance of pulse crops like chickpeas, dry beans and lentils as a global food.
Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses.
To celebrate the importance of these remarkable crops, the UN celebrates World Pulses Day since 2018 through FAO. This 2025, under the theme “Pulses: Bringing diversity to agrifood systems,” underscores the vital role of pulses in promoting diversity – both above and below the ground.
To raise awareness about the Arabian leopard, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed February 10 as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard in resolution 77/295.
Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the rapid disappearance of the Arabian leopard represents a major setback for biodiversity conservation in its native region,
underscoring the urgency of addressing the nature crisis that threatens ecosystems worldwide.
By celebrating this Day, the UN ultimately seeks to restore the Arabian leopard as a flagship species for conservation and sustainability in its native region while emphasizing the critical role of biodiversity in maintaining the health and resilience of our planet’s ecosystems.
