Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini has been named the new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of millions of Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world.
He will take on the role from his father Prince Karim Aga Khan, who died in February 2025 at the age of 88.
The appointment was made after Prince Karim's will was unsealed, the Aga Khan Development Network said.
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V is the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, who say they are direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
Cristiano Ronaldo's 12ft Statue Unveiled At Times Square
A 12ft (3.6m) bronze statue of football icon Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled in New York City's Times Square on his 40th birthday.
Sergio Furnari known for his terra cotta-and-steel rendition of the iconic New York photograph "Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper" created the 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture.
Global Justice Summit in Dubai
Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance & Co-Existence, UAE, will be the Chief Guest in a star studded & power packed Global Justice, Love & Peace Summit to be held in Dubai on April 12 and 13, 2025, at the Dubai Expo. The Summit is themed "One Planet, One Voice: Global Justice, Love and Peace."
Organised by the I am Peacekeeper Movement, the landmark event will feature an extraordinary line-up of 72 renowned speakers, including 10 Nobel Laureates, global thought leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, cultural icons, sports champions, and advocates of peace and justice.
The summit will have a significant participation from India, including the who-is-who of Bollywood, spiritual and religious leaders, corporate leaders, legal luminaries, authors, litterateurs and social workers.
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Seeks Universal Banking Licence
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (USFB) applied for a universal banking licence, a major milestone in its journey from a small finance bank to a full-fledged commercial bank. This move aligns with the bank's strategy to expand its financial services, increase regulatory flexibility, and strengthen its position in the banking sector. The bank's decision follows a growing trend of small finance banks transitioning to universal banks for broader operational capabilities.
Established in 2017, USFB has focused on providing financial services to underserved and unbanked sections of society. Over the years, the bank has expanded its portfolio, offering savings accounts, fixed deposits, microloans, housing loans, and small business loans. The shift to a universal bank will allow it to offer a wider range of services, including corporate banking and larger loan products.
L&T Finance Unveils AI-Powered Home Loan Advisor 'KAI'
In a significant move towards improving customer experience, L&T Finance Limited (LTF), a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) in India, launched 'Knowledgeable AI' (KAI), an AI-powered virtual home loan advisor on its newly redesigned corporate website.
This new feature marks a major step in LTF's ongoing efforts to combine cutting-edge technology with customer service, offering an innovative solution to simplify and personalise the home loan process.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has introduced the latest version of its structural analysis software, Finite Element Analysis of Structures (FEAST) 2025, at the 8th National Finite Element Developers'/FEAST Users' Meet (NAFED08) held at IIT Hyderabad. The event, organised in collaboration with Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), brought together over 250 experts from academia, industry, and research institutions to discuss advancements in finite element-based structural analysis.
FEAST plays a key role in ISRO's high-profile space missions. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan highlighted in his address that the software has been used in structural design analysis for projects such as Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, and Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).
Former Wimbledon Champion Simona Halep Announces Retirement
Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1, announced her retirement from competitive tennis. The Romanian player ended her career after attempting a comeback that was affected by injuries following a doping ban.
Halep's remarkable career highlights encompass victories at Wimbledon 2019 and the French Open 2018, along with 24 WTA singles titles and over $40 million in prize money.
Gujarat Giants appointed Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner as the team captain for the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 season.
Gardner took over from her compatriot Beth Mooney who led the side in the first two seasons of the WPL. In both editions, Gujarat finished bottom of the five-team league, winning only two games apiece in 2023 and 2024.
Indian Finance Ministry asked employees to stop the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek for official purposes citing sensitive government data. The ministry repeatedly said the use of such platforms breaches the confidentiality of government documents and data.
Third India-Japan Steel Dialogue Organised to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation in the Steel Sector
The 3rd India-Japan Steel Dialogue was successfully held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, jointly organised by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, and the Ministry of Steel, India. The dialogue was co-chaired by Mr. Vinod Kumar Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Government of India, and Mr. Hideyuki Urata, Deputy Director General, METI, Japan, leading the respective delegations from both nations.
During the discussions, both sides exchanged insights on the current economic developments in India and Japan, an overview of the steel sector in both countries, the latest trends in the steel industry, the status of steel trade between the two countries, and the international steel market. The Indian delegation highlighted strategic initiatives by the Government of India to promote ease of doing business, sustained growth in steel demand driven by infrastructure investment, and concrete steps such as the release of the Green Steel Report and the Taxonomy of Green Steel. Additionally, India's firm resolve to promote research and development in the sector, coupled with demographic advantages, presents significant opportunities for Japanese investors.
South Africa's Tshego Gaelae Becomes First Black Woman to Win Mrs. World
South Africa's Tshego Gaelae was crowned Mrs. World 2025, becoming the first black woman to win the title in the competition's 40-year history.
The 33-year-old model from Soweto was crowned in Las Vegas, beating contenders from Sri Lanka and Thailand.
This victory follows in the footsteps of Candice Abrahams, who became the first South African to claim the global crown in 2016. As Mrs. World 2025, Gaelae will embark on a global tour, using her platform to make a positive impact on the lives of women around the world.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
February 6 marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
In 1997, World Health organisation with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) gave a joint statement against female genital mutilation. The Unified Nations General Assembly in 2012 adopted the goal to end the female genital mutilation.
Since then every year, February 6 is observed as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation to raise awareness about the issues faced by women because of this system and steps we can take in wiping out this merciless practice.
The theme for this year (2025 is 'Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.'
The 2nd Bharat Leadership Excellence Summit & Awards: Recognising Visionary Leaders in India
The 2nd Bharat Leadership Excellence Summit & Awards, organised by the Leadership Federation, took place in New Delhi, India. This prestigious event brought together distinguished professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry pioneers to celebrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and excellence across various fields.
The event was graced by the Chief Guest, Lt. Gen Suresh Sharma, Former Engineer-in-Chief & Former Director General, Border Roads, Ministry of Defence. The winners are: Shireen Dhar - Rising Star in Intellectual Property; Uma Mahesh - Global Business Leadership Award; Amit Panigrahi - Excellence in Dispute Resolution (IP); Brij Mohan Agarwal - Sales & Marketing Leadership Award; Doulat Dehurry - Best Facade Leader of The Year; Dr. Rajeev Jha - Cybersecurity Leader of The Year