India’s net direct tax collection, comprising corporate tax and personal income tax, increased by 14.69% to cross ₹17.78 lakh crore as of February 10 in the current financial year, compared to ₹15.51 lakh crore in the same period of 2023-24, according to data released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Tuesday.

The gross direct tax revenue surged by 19.06% to exceed ₹21.88 lakh crore, up from ₹18.38 lakh crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Revenue from net non-corporate taxes, primarily personal income tax, grew by 21% year-on-year to ₹9.48 lakh crore during this period. Meanwhile, net corporate tax collection rose by over 6% to more than ₹7.78 lakh crore between April 1, 2024, and February 10, 2025.

Collections from securities transaction tax (STT), which also falls under direct taxes, recorded a sharp 65% increase, reaching ₹49,201 crore so far in the financial year.

Greece’s parliament elected its former speaker, Constantine Tassoulas, as the country’s president on Wednesday, approving the conservative government’s nominee for the largely ceremonial role.

The decision to nominate him has angered protesters who rallied outside parliament last month seeking justice over a deadly 2023 train crash. They say that on Tassoulas’ watch as parliamentary speaker, lawmakers failed to investigate any political responsibility over Greece’s worst rail disaster.

Two years later, a judicial probe is still in progress. Parliament is the only body that can investigate politicians under Greek law.

Tassoulas, 66, a lawyer and father of two who has been a lawmaker since 2000 and has previously served as Greece’s culture minister and deputy defence minister, won the backing of 160 lawmakers in Wednesday’s vote in the 300-seat parliament.

Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Employers’ Federation of India (EFI), is set to host the first-ever Regional Dialogue on Social Justice on 24-25 February 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This landmark event is a significant contribution to the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

Launched by ILO in 2023, the Coalition is a platform for governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, international and regional organizations, financial institutions and development banks, enterprises, international non-governmental organizations and academia committed to advancing social justice and engaging in collaborative efforts to achieve shared objectives. The Coalition leverages collaboration among partners to amplify the unique strengths of each participant, comprehensively and coherently addressing social justice challenges.

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan was on Wednesday named as one of the four event ambassadors for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 to March 9.

Besides Dhawan, the ICC has also named Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson, and New Zealand’s legendary fast bowler, Tim Southee as event ambassadors.

The quartet will write guest columns and will also attend matches, sharing their thoughts on the event, where the world’s best eight teams will compete for the top honour.

Dr. Raj P Narayanam, Founder and Executive Chairman of Zaggle, was awarded the prestigious 2024 Hurun Industry Achievement Award for Financial Solutions Innovation at India's most respected Entrepreneur Awards 2025. The awards celebrate the achievements of leaders across industries who have significantly impacted their sectors and contributed to the growth of the Indian economy.

* Honoured at India's Most Respected Entrepreneur Awards 2025 hosted by Hurun India

* The industry award recognizes trailblazers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in their respective fields

* "Hard work, perseverance, and dedication describe my journey toward success," said Dr. Raj

The award is a testament to his pioneering innovations and contributions to transform the financial solutions landscape. Under Dr. Raj's leadership, Zaggle has consistently delivered innovative financial solutions that address the evolving needs of businesses and customers. His forward-thinking approach and emphasis on leveraging technology have enabled the development of scalable, efficient, and customer-centric financial products and services.

Reliance Consumer Products has announced the launch of sports drink ‘Spinner’ at an affordable price of ₹10 and said the beverage would lead the movement to create a sports beverage category of up to $1 billion in the next three years.

The sports drink has been co-created with former Sri Lankan cricketer and current coach of Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan.

The beverage brand has partnered with top IPL franchises such as Lucknow Super Giants, SunRisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Mumbai Indians, which will drive awareness and increase brand visibility across the country, the company said.

The 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF), with the theme “Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific” is being organized in New Delhi during February 12-14, 2025. The Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (AFAF) is a triennial event of the Asian Fisheries Society with its Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This 14th AFAF is being jointly organized by the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), Kuala Lumpur; Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi; the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India; and the Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch (AFSIB), Mangalore. This prestigious event is being hosted in India for the 2nd time after the 8AFAF held at Kochi in 2007.

The 14th AFAF brings together key players from the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and will host around 1,000 delegates from 24 countries, including researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders. The Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (AFAF) has a strong legacy of fostering global collaboration in the sector. Since its inception, the forum has been successfully hosted in multiple countries across Asia. Hosting the 14th AFAF in India after 18 years highlights the country’s growing prominence in global fisheries and aquaculture. With a rapidly expanding blue economy, progressive government policies, and significant scientific advancements, India has emerged as a key player in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Today, India occupies 2nd position in total fish production and also aquaculture production globally. The forum will provide a platform to showcase India’s contributions, strengthen international partnerships, and promote innovative approaches for sustainable, resilient, and economically viable fish production systems.

The 38th edition of the National Games is currently being held in Uttarakhand with 28 states, eight union territories and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) participating.

Services currently leads the standings with 97 medals - 54 gold, 22 silver and 21 bronze. Maharashtra has 146 medals (41 gold, 52 silver, 53 bronze) and Karnataka has 62 medals (31 gold, 13 silver and 18 bronze), is second in the medals tally.

Nagaland, Puducherry and Sikkim are yet to register a gold medal in the competition.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) officially launched a seven-year project with Somalia that aims to enhance climate adaptation and resilience for vulnerable communities in the country. The 95 million dollar “Climate Resilient Agriculture in Somalia” project, dubbed “Ugbaad,” which means hope in Somalia, will tackle climate change challenges and strengthen agrifood systems through large-scale investment.

Speaking at the launch event, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling climate change. The project, which was approved in October 2024, represents a significant step in tackling the pressing challenges posed by climate change, restoring productive landscapes, and empowering vulnerable local communities.

The FAO noted that in Somalia, the agricultural sector is the main economic activity for an estimated 65 percent of the population, contributing about 75 percent of the gross domestic product. Somalia is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change in the world. Serious weather shocks are hitting more often, harming livelihoods and economic growth. The 2020-2023 drought and later flooding highlighted the plight of millions of Somalis who rely on seasonal rains to grow crops or raise cattle.

The largest edition of MRO Middle East and Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) 2025 has opened in Dubai, marking a significant milestone for the regional aerospace industry. The two-day event has attracted over 250 international exhibitors, highlighting the aviation sector’s robust growth amid record-high passenger demand. The gathering focuses on aircraft modernization programs and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, bringing together key players from across the global aviation supply chain.

The event witnessed several major announcements, including GE Aerospace’s $10 million investment to expand engine service capacity and capabilities at its two MRO facilities in the Middle East. Additionally, Airbus unveiled its Middle East Services Forecast for 2024-2043, projecting global services demand to reach $32 billion by 2043, with a 4.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over 20 years. The forecast highlights the Middle East as one of the fastest-growing regions for aviation services.