Times of India

OpenAI’s board has unanimously rejected Elon Musk's $97.4 billion offer to buy the company. The board emphasized their commitment to ensuring AI benefits humanity and continuing their nonprofit mission, despite Musk’s proposal to revert to a non-profit model and his competition with OpenAI.

Despite criticism, Pakistan's interim coach Aaqib Javed backs Babar Azam to continue to open batting alongside Fakhar Zaman in the absence of injured Saim Ayub. Babar had a poor outing an an opener during the three matches of the tri-series, which saw him accumulating just 62 runs. Pakistan lost the tri-series final against New Zealand.

The Central Vigilance Commission has initiated an investigation into the renovation of Arvind Kejriwal's former official residence, following a report by the CPWD. Meanwhile, a dispute has arisen over the renaming of the Delhi chief minister's official social media handle on X, with allegations of AAP's misuse and BJP's intervention demands.

New Income Tax Bill 2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the New Income Tax Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha, set to replace the Income Tax Act 1961. The new bill aims to simplify tax provisions with clearer language, reducing its length and eliminating redundant sections while consolidating related content for easier understanding and compliance.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar countered US Senator Elissa Slotkin's claim that democracy doesn't address hunger, asserting that India's democratic society provides nutrition support to 800 million people. He stressed that the effectiveness of democracy varies globally and emphasized the need for honest discussions on its challenges.

Pakistan faced a setback ahead of the Champions Trophy with a one-sided defeat to New Zealand in the tri-series final on Friday. Former batter Ahmed Shehzad criticized captain Mohammad Rizwan's decisions, aiming at Pakistan's incompetent strategies and team selection. Rizwan’s choice to bat first was particularly questioned.

Several star cricketers will be missing the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to injuries, personal reasons, and unexpected retirements. Key players such as India's Jasprit Bumrah, England's Jacob Bethell, and Australia's Pat Cummins lead the list, leaving their teams to find replacements. The absence of these players is expected to significantly impact their teams' performances.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar defended India's robust democracy and electoral process, expressing optimism at the Munich security conference. He mentioned India's high voter turnout and nutrition support provided to 800 million citizens, emphasizing that democracy has delivered tangible benefits in India.

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd subtly hinted that Luka Doncic's presence affected Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson's performances. Kidd's comments come after Doncic's departure to the Los Angeles Lakers in a major trade. With new additions like Anthony Davis, the Mavericks aim to remain competitive despite recent injuries and challenges.

A Saharanpur court has ordered UP police to file a case against a woman's in-laws for allegedly injecting her with an HIV-infected syringe due to unmet dowry demands. The woman's father stated significant expenses for her wedding and ongoing harassment by her in-laws.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia remains optimistic about India's chances at the ICC Champions Trophy despite the absence of key bowler Jasprit Bumrah. With a strong bench, the team looks forward to upcoming matches, buoyed by recent impressive performances from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. India will start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20.

Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith remains optimistic about their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 chances despite a 2-0 ODI series loss to Sri Lanka. Missing key players, the team struggled but Smith praised the new bowlers and expressed confidence in their spin options for Pakistan. He also supported Jake Fraser-McGurk, confident in the young batsman's potential.

India and the US are hopeful of finalizing a mutually beneficial trade deal by fall 2025. Key aspects include reducing import duties and non-tariff barriers. The deal aims to enhance bilateral trade with a focus on Indian goods such as textiles and leather, while boosting US exports of industrial goods and agricultural products.

The Maharashtra government has set up a seven-member committee to draft a law against 'love jihad,' focusing on forced religious conversions in inter-faith marriages. Opposition voices have raised concerns about the lack of statistical evidence for such cases and potential politicization of the issue.

Days after BJP defeated AAP in the Delhi assembly polls, the law department sought details of all court cases filed by the outgoing AAP government against the Centre and LG. Over Rs 300 crore was spent on such litigation, and the new administration may consider withdrawing these cases.

A book fair to be held at Uttarakhand's HNB Garhwal University faced cancellation allegedly due to pressure from right-wing groups. Organisers claimed the event was obstructed by ABVP citing exams and a pre-booked RSS event, despite prior permissions and arrangements.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned the involvement of the CJI in executive appointments, such as selecting the CBI director, and called for a review of such rules. He emphasized the need to uphold the principle of separation of powers, indicating that judicial involvement in executive functions does not align with democratic principles.

Influencer Ranveer Allahbadia petitions the Supreme Court to address an FIR registered against him by Assam Police despite an ongoing inquiry by Mumbai Police on the same matter. Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud seeks an early hearing, fearing potential coercive actions from Assam Police.

Approximately 36,000 children remain untraceable across India since 2020 despite efforts by state and central police to recover missing children. Centre advised states to transfer long-term missing children cases to anti-human trafficking units. Notable data gaps exist as several states haven't provided information on missing children, highlighting the continuing challenge of child trafficking.

A newborn, Pihu, was found with her throat slit and abandoned in a bin in Madhya Pradesh. Despite the severe injuries, she survived after extensive treatment at Kamla Nehru Hospital. Her mother and grandmother have been arrested. The incident highlights the alarming rate of infant abandonments in the state.