The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lifted restrictions on Kotak Mahindra Bank, allowing the bank to resume onboarding new customers digitally and issuing new credit cards. The restrictions were imposed on April 24, 2024, due to supervisory concerns. Kotak Mahindra Bank has taken corrective actions and complied with the requirements needed to address the concerns raised by the RBI. The lifting of restrictions is a significant step towards the restoration of the bank's full operations in customer acquisition and credit card issuance.

The UK government launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal migrants, targeting Indian restaurants, nail bars, and convenience stores. Inspired by US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, the operation led to 609 arrests and 19,000 deportations since Labour took power last July. The Home Office released a video of migrants boarding deportation flights, stating raids increased by 48% compared to last year. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the move, saying illegal employment exploits migrants and undermines the economy. The Opposition Conservatives called the Labour Party’s immigration bill "weak" and demanded tougher measures.

Indian stock markets opened lower on Tuesday, with the BSE Sensex dropping 100 points to 77,211 and the Nifty50 slipping below 23,400. Investor sentiment weakened as global markets reacted to US President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Steel stocks, including Tata Steel and JSW Steel, fell up to 4%. The US dollar strengthened, while oil prices remained stable. Asian markets traded cautiously, with light volumes due to Japan’s holiday. Analysts warn of further volatility as Trump signals more trade measures.

Indian food delivery giant Zomato announced it will rebrand as "Eternal," integrating its key businesses—Zomato, Blinkit, District, and Hyperpure. CEO Deepinder Goyal stated the move signifies the company's evolution beyond food delivery. "We thought of renaming when something beyond Zomato became a significant driver," he said. Blinkit’s rapid expansion has fueled investor confidence in quick commerce. Competitors like Swiggy Instamart, Reliance JioMart, Amazon, and Walmart India are also expanding in this sector. Zomato first introduced the name internally over two years ago. The rebrand aims to align with its diversified business model.

Chinese fashion brand Shein is back in India after being banned in 2020. The app is now available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store under Reliance Retail. Shein was banned due to security concerns amid India-China tensions. Reliance partnered with Shein to bring back its affordable fashion. The app currently delivers in select cities, with plans to expand nationwide soon. Shein products were never banned, but the app was removed. Social media users have reacted with excitement. Shein offers free shipping and low prices, making it popular among young shoppers in India.

India’s capital markets thrived in FY25, driven by a surge in retail investors, record IPO listings, and corporate bond activity, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. Retail investors grew from 49M in FY20 to 132M in December 2024, while demat accounts hit 185M. India led global IPO listings with a 30% share. Equity and debt markets raised ₹11.1T from April-December 2024. Mutual fund AuM rose 25.3% to ₹66.9T. Despite corporate bonds raising ₹7.3T, liquidity challenges persist. The report highlights regulatory reforms, digital infrastructure, and strong earnings as key drivers.

Tata Steel has become India’s first company to develop hydrogen-compliant pipes, a major step in the country’s clean energy transition. The pipes, processed at Tata Steel’s Khopoli plant using steel from Kalinganagar, meet global hydrogen transport standards. The company conducted hydrogen qualification tests in Italy, ensuring the pipes can handle 100% pure hydrogen under 100-bar pressure. Tata Steel VP Prabhat Kumar said the achievement aligns with India’s National Hydrogen Mission. This milestone comes months after Ratan Tata’s death, with Noel Tata now leading Tata Trusts. Tata Group’s innovation continues to drive India’s industrial growth.

Wall Street faced a historic downturn, losing $1 trillion in market value as the Nasdaq dropped 3%. The panic stemmed from China's AI startup DeepSeek, which unveiled a cost-effective chatbot rivaling OpenAI and Google. Nvidia saw a 13% plunge, erasing $465 billion, while Broadcom fell 12%. Global indexes followed suit, with Europe’s Stoxx 600 down 0.4%. Experts warn this signals a shifting AI landscape. Investment Analyst Bret Kenwell noted, "Panicking rarely helps; investors must remain disciplined." Fidelity’s Tom Stevenson emphasized the implications for AI's future and tech dominance.

Netflix has announced price hikes for its US and Canadian subscription tiers following a record-breaking 19M subscriber jump in Q4 2024. This growth pushes its global subscriber base to 302M, cementing Netflix’s dominance in the streaming market. Popular events like the Tyson-Paul boxing match and “Squid Game” season 2 fueled the surge. Monthly prices will increase by $2 for premium 4K plans ($24.99) and $1 for ad-supported accounts ($7.99). Revenue hit $10B, a 16% rise, with $2.3B operating income. Netflix plans further investments in live events and sports to drive growth. Shares soared 13% after the announcement.

Bitcoin reached a record high of $109,241 on January 20, 2025, ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, before dropping back to $107,765. The surge follows optimism surrounding Trump’s stance on cryptocurrency deregulation. Since Trump’s victory in November 2024, Bitcoin has seen a significant rise, surpassing $100,000 for the first time in December. Trump, once critical of cryptocurrencies, has since advocated for them, appointing a cryptocurrency supporter to head the US securities regulator. Over the weekend, Trump launched his own cryptocurrency, $TRUMP, driving further interest in the market.