Business

Microsoft Co-Founder’s Name Removed From Summit Website New Delhi, February 17: Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates will not be attending the AI Impact Summit 2026, government sources confirmed on Tuesday.Gates had earlier been listed among the prominent speakers on the official website of the AI Impact Summit, which is being held in the national capital from February 16 to 20. The event features leading technology executives, industry heads, policymakers, founders, and technologists.However, by Tuesday, his name no longer appeared on the summit’s website. Government sources stated that Gates will not be participating in the event.Decision Linked to New Jeffrey Epstein Files According to government sources, the development is linked...

CM A Revanth Reddy Positions Hyderabad as Future Global Life Sciences Capital Hyderabad, February 17: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has issued a strong global pitch to investors, inviting them to partner in the state’s growth story as it accelerates its ambitions in life sciences, biotechnology, and innovation.Speaking at the inauguration of BioAsia 2026, the Chief Minister declared that Telangana is no longer competing only within India but is benchmarking itself against leading global clusters. He said Hyderabad has evolved into a preferred destination for Global Capability Centres, reinforcing its position in the global innovation ecosystem.Reddy assured potential investors that the state government, officials...

Bharat1.AI Unveils ‘Humanity First AI City’ in Bengaluru, Plans to Host 10,000 Researchers by Year-End Bengaluru, February 17: Bengaluru-based AI infrastructure company Bharat1.AI has announced an ambitious plan to build a “Humanity First AI City” in the city, positioning it as a large-scale hub for model training, fine-tuning, and inference.The company said the initiative aims to host more than 10,000 AI researchers and innovators by the end of the year, marking one of the most expansive AI research infrastructure projects announced in India.B1 AI Superpark to Anchor the Initiative At the core of the project is the B1 AI Superpark, a 5 lakh square feet AI research and innovation campus coming up in Sarjapura. The campus is designed...

Greenzo Energy has entered into a strategic agreement with Lord's Mark Industries to jointly develop clean energy projects across Uttar Pradesh, including the creation of a 60 MW green hydrogen capacity.The collaboration marks a significant step toward expanding renewable energy infrastructure in the state, with both companies outlining clear roles in project execution and development.Roles Defined for Technology, EPC and Investment Under the agreement, Greenzo Energy will act as the technology and EPC partner. The company will handle engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the projects.Lord's Mark Industries will take on the role of project developer and investor. It will oversee financing, regulatory...

Mumbai, February 17: India’s Global Capability Center ecosystem continues to expand at a rapid pace, with more than 200 new GCCs established in the country over the past two years. The total GCC footprint is projected to surpass 350 million square feet within the next three to four years, signaling sustained momentum in corporate expansion and office space demand.GCC Leasing Activity Reaches Record High According to a report released by JLL, GCC leasing activity in India touched a record 31 million square feet in 2025. The surge reflects the evolution of a sophisticated ecosystem of specialized metropolitan hubs, each offering distinct competitive advantages across key industry verticals.Over the past decade, GCCs have driven 40...

ABEPL Moves Towards Full-Scale Production at Numaligarh Facility Numaligarh, Assam, February 17: Assam Bio Ethanol Pvt Ltd is preparing to scale up operations at its second-generation bioethanol plant in Numaligarh, with plans to partner with more than 30,000 farmers over the next three years to secure bamboo supplies.The Rs 4,930 crore facility, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year, is currently in its start-up phase. According to Chief Executive Officer Rupjyoti Hazarika, the plant is expected to stabilize within a week, after which full-scale production will begin. Limited raw material availability has been part of the initial stabilization process.World’s Only Commercial Bamboo-Based...

New Delhi, February 17The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence across global markets is opening up substantial opportunities for Indian enterprises, with minimal risk of business disruption, according to Ankit Bose, Head of AI at Nasscom.Speaking on Tuesday, Bose emphasized that the accelerating pace of AI development worldwide should be viewed as a strategic opportunity for India rather than a threat.AI Expansion to Drive Job Transformation, Not Job Losses Addressing concerns around employment, Bose clarified that India is unlikely to witness widespread job losses due to artificial intelligence. Instead, he pointed to a significant shift in job roles as AI adoption scales across industries.He explained that while AI...

Two National Highway Sections in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh Monetized Under InvIT Model New Delhi, February 17: The National Highways Authority of India has accepted an offer of ₹6,220.90 crore from the National Highways Infra Trust for the monetization of two National Highway sections spanning 310.35 kilometers across Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.The latest transaction reinforces NHAI’s asset monetization strategy, which has become a key mechanism for unlocking value from operational highway assets while drawing long term private capital into infrastructure development.Asset Monetization Gains Momentum in FY With this award, the total value of National Highways assets monetized during the current financial year stands at...

Gold and silver prices declined for the second consecutive session on Tuesday, with investors parsing mixed US economic data and awaiting clearer signals on the US Federal Reserve’s policy direction.MCX Gold and Silver Futures Under Pressure On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold April futures slipped 0.56 percent on a day to day basis to Rs 1,53,889 per 10 grams. Silver March futures fell 1.18 percent to Rs 2,37,064 per kilogram.The weakness reflects caution in the bullion market as participants reassess interest rate expectations amid evolving macroeconomic data.US Inflation Moderates, Jobs Data Surprises In international markets, spot gold fell below the $5,000 level to $4,992 per ounce, while spot silver declined nearly 3...

Mumbai, February 17: The benchmark equity indices opened lower on Tuesday but staged a recovery as buying interest in select blue chip stocks lifted market sentiment.Early Decline in Benchmark Indices The 30 share BSE Sensex slipped 289.72 points in early trade to 82,987.43. The 50 share NSE Nifty also declined by 112.45 points to 25,570.30 during the initial session.However, the weakness proved short lived as both indices reversed losses and moved into positive territory later in the morning.The Sensex was trading 116.08 points higher at 83,393.23, while the Nifty gained 12.90 points to quote at 25,695.65.Blue Chips Drive Market Recovery The rebound was supported by gains in key heavyweights. Among the Sensex constituents...

Rising Electrification and Renewable Share Reshape Electricity Systems New Delhi, February 17: Integrating artificial intelligence into electricity systems can help address the rising complexity of the power sector, particularly in countries like India where renewable energy capacity is expected to expand significantly in the coming years, an expert from the International Energy Agency said on Monday.Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, Siddharth Singh from the International Energy Agency highlighted that electricity systems across the world are undergoing structural changes driven by rapid electrification and the growing role of renewables.He noted that the energy sector, especially electricity systems, is...

AI Impact Summit 2026 Positions India as Emerging Global AI Leader NITI Aayog Highlights Capacity Building for Women-Led AI Startups New Delhi, February 17: The AI Impact Summit 2026 is set to become a defining platform for positioning India as a leading force in artificial intelligence, according to Anna Roy, Mission Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform and Programme Director at NITI Aayog.Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Roy emphasized that the summit should help establish India’s global standing in the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.Dedicated Mentorship Programme for 150 Women-Led AI Startups Roy announced a focused capacity-building initiative for 150 shortlisted women-led AI startups. The programme will offer...

Indian Rupee Opens Marginally Higher Amid Mixed Global and Domestic Cues Mumbai, February 17: The Indian rupee edged higher by 1 paisa to 90.73 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, drawing support from softer global crude oil prices.At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.72 against the greenback before slipping slightly to 90.73. The local currency had settled 8 paise lower at 90.74 in the previous session.Stronger Dollar, FII Outflows Limit Rupee Gains Despite the initial uptick, gains in the rupee remained capped due to a strengthening US dollar and continued foreign institutional investor outflows, according to forex traders.Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director at...

Indian Stock Market Opens Lower Amid Weekly Expiry Volatility; Metal Stocks Drag Indices Sensex, Nifty Trade in Red as Broader Markets Mirror Weakness Mumbai, February 17: Indian equity markets opened on a subdued note on Tuesday, with volatility surrounding the Nifty weekly expiry and weakness in metal stocks weighing on investor sentiment.At 9:30 am, the benchmark BSE Sensex slipped 232 points or 0.28 percent to 83,044, while the NSE Nifty 50 declined 92 points or 0.36 percent to trade at 25,590.The broader markets moved largely in tandem with the benchmarks. The Nifty Midcap 100 index fell 0.28 percent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 edged lower by 0.05 percent, indicating cautious participation beyond frontline stocks.Sectoral...

Bengaluru, February 17, 2026: Infosys Limited (NSE: INFY, BSE: INFY, NYSE: INFY) on Monday announced a strategic collaboration with AI research firm Anthropic to develop and deploy advanced enterprise AI solutions across complex and highly regulated industries, beginning with telecommunications.The partnership will integrate Infosys Topaz AI offerings with Anthropic’s Claude models, including Claude Code, to automate complex workflows, accelerate software development cycles, and enable agentic AI systems across sectors such as financial services, manufacturing, and engineering.Collaboration to Begin in Telecom with Dedicated AI Center of Excellence As part of the initial rollout, Infosys will establish a dedicated Anthropic Center...

UN Roundtable to Spotlight India’s Renewable Energy Leadership United Nations, February 17: With India emerging as a global leader in renewable energy expansion, the United Nations is convening a high-level roundtable in New Delhi during the visit of Antonio Guterres, underscoring clean energy transition as a top global priority.According to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the meeting will bring together senior leaders from industry, finance, policymaking, and civil society to deliberate on renewable energy and the broader energy transition agenda.The roundtable forms part of the Secretary-General’s continued efforts to accelerate a faster, fairer, and more inclusive global energy transition in alignment with the Paris...

Nirmala Sitharaman Highlights India Growth Opportunities During Norway Visit Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 17 underscored India’s strong economic growth and expanding investment potential during her official visit to Norway, positioning the country as a key destination for global capital and strategic partnerships.Talks with Norway Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg Focus on Renewable Energy and TEPA During her meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman and Norway’s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, discussions centered on deepening collaboration in renewable energy and emerging sectors.Key focus areas included:Solar power Rare earth processing Carbon capture and storageBoth leaders agreed to leverage the Trade and...

Artificial Intelligence is steadily reshaping the fundamentals of filmmaking, enabling creators to visualize entire cinematic worlds even before production begins. Speaking at the AI Impact Expo 2026 in New Delhi on Monday, actor Rana Daggubati highlighted how AI is redefining large scale storytelling and creative execution.AI Enables Filmmakers to Preview Films Before Shooting Addressing a session titled ‘AI x Creativity: Skilling for Innovation in the Intelligent Economy’ on the opening day of the five day summit, Daggubati said that AI tools now allow filmmakers to effectively watch their movies before a single frame is shot.Scenes that previously existed only in imagination or rough storyboards can now be visualized in detail...

Artificial Intelligence is accelerating productivity and redefining how work is performed, but senior executives at leading global financial institutions have cautioned that the rapid transformation also raises concerns around education gaps and human accountability.Speaking at a panel discussion during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Monday, industry leaders outlined both the opportunities and structural risks emerging from widespread AI adoption.AI to Drive 20 to 30 Percent Higher Value Creation: Temasek Executive Srijay Ghosh, a senior executive at Temasek, said AI presents a significant opportunity to move up the value chain by enabling employees to use their time more productively.According to Ghosh, AI could help...

Silver Prices Fall 2% to ₹2.5 Lakh per Kg in Delhi; Gold Gains ₹700 Amid Mixed Global Cues Silver prices declined by 2 per cent in the national capital on Monday, while gold advanced by ₹700 per 10 grams, reflecting divergent trends in the domestic bullion market.Silver Drops ₹5,000 per Kg in Delhi According to the All India Sarafa Association, silver prices fell by ₹5,000, or 1.96 per cent, to ₹2,50,000 per kilogram, including all taxes. The white metal had closed at ₹2,55,000 per kg on Friday.In the global market, spot silver declined nearly 1 per cent to USD 76.94 per ounce.Gaurav Garg, Research Analyst at Lemonn Markets Desk, said silver began the week on a softer note as investors booked profits following the weekend rally...