Driven by vehicle financing, securitisation volume in India rose 56 per cent (year-on-year) to Rs 70,000 crore in the second quarter of this fiscal (FY25), a report showed on Wednesday.

This was propelled by large issuances by some key players, especially a large private sector bank, and a few NBFCs that are primarily into vehicle financing, according to a report by CRISIL Ratings.

The performance helped securitisation volume surpass Rs 1.15 lakh crore for the first half of the fiscal, clocking a 15 per cent on-year growth. As for the investor base, banks continued to dominate the market, accounting for over 70 per cent of the securitisation volume in the first half.

Cole Palmer has been named the 2023-24 England Men’s Player of the Year. The Chelsea star was voted Three Lions’ fans’ stand-out male player ahead of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, who finished second and third, respectively.

Palmer made his debut during a 2-0 win over Malta at Wembley in November 2023, claiming legacy number 1276. The 22-year-old has gone on to chalk up nine senior caps, which included five appearances at UEFA EURO 2024.

He also found the net twice in that period, including a stunning strike against Spain in July’s final in Berlin. Despite not starting a game, Cole claimed the assist for Ollie Watkins' semifinal winner against the Netherlands and then netted England's goal in the final, which ended in a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Spain.

Eight foreign tourists were injured when their tempo traveller was hit by a truck in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred around 7.30 a.m. on the Patna-Gaya four-lane National Highway 83, near Salempur village, under the Kadauna police station.

A speeding truck hit the tempo-traveller from behind after which the tourist vehicle overturned and fell into a pit injuring its occupants.

Officers from the Kadauna police station arrived at the accident site and rushed the injured to Sadar Hospital in Jehanabad.

Of the injured, three were transferred to Patna for advanced medical care.

Singer, songwriter and actor Justin Timberlake recently shared a disappointing post on Instagram about postponing one of his eagerly awaited shows because of an injury.

A lot of fans were delighted to witness him performing at Prudential Center on October 8, Wednesday but Timberlake’s health has to come first.

Timberlake shared: “I’m so sorry to postpone tonight’s show. I have an injury that is preventing me from performing. I’m so disappointed to not see you all but I’m working to reschedule ASAP.”

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday said that retail inflation for the current fiscal (FY25) is projected at 4.5 per cent due to healthy monsoon and sound supply conditions.

Addressing the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting here, Das said that food inflation is likely to decrease later in the year, supported by a solid stock of essential commodities.

The RBI MPC projected Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for FY25 at 4.5 per cent, with quarterly estimates of 4.1 per cent for Q2, 4.8 per cent for Q3, and 4.2 per cent for Q4.

"Food inflation could see some easing later in this fiscal on the back of strong kharif sowing, adequate buffers and good soil conditions," said Das, adding that this would help stabilise food prices and ease inflationary pressures in the economy.

After an excellent show in the Haryana Assembly polls, state Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in the national capital.

The development assumes significance as Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said the BJP has announced Nayab Singh Saini as the Chief Minister, though the party's parliamentary board will make a final decision.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated CM Saini on the poll victory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Haryana after the BJP emerged victorious for the third consecutive time, saying they had voted for the party for development and good governance.

Consuming more caffeine, present in coffee, tea, and cocoa may improve heart health in people with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study on Wednesday.

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. This is both due to the disease and some treatments for them, particularly cortisone derivatives.

To date, these patients were given conventional recommendations like quitting smoking, reducing cholesterol, and controlling high blood pressure, the new study published in the journal Rheumatology, added drinking caffeine to the list to boost their heart health.

Hobart Hurricanes have signed senior New Zealand batter Suzie Bates to their Women's Big Bash League (WBBL 10) squad as an overseas replacement player for the back end of the tournament.

Bates, who has an extensive WBBL career where she has featured in nine out of ten possible seasons, representing Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers, was not picked by any team in the WBBL draft.

The Hurricanes drafted Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Chloe Tryon whilst retaining Lizelle Lee on their list. But with England's players set to be withdrawn from the back end of the WBBL due to a tour of South Africa, Hurricanes sign Bates as their fourth overseas player.

South Korea will be included in a key global government bond index run by FTSE Russell, starting in November next year, the London-based organisation has said, a decision expected to help it attract significant foreign investment.

The country will be added to the FTSE Russell's World Government Bond Index (WGBI) effective with November 2025 index profiles and phased in over a one-year period on a quarterly basis as its market accessibility level will be reclassified from 1 to 2, reports news agency.

The inclusion decision was made two years after the country was placed on its watch list. "Several initiatives intended to improve the accessibility of South Korean government bonds for international investors have been implemented by South Korean market authorities, which have facilitated the fulfillment of the criteria for a Market Accessibility Level of 2," FTSE said.

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Wednesday decided to maintain the status quo on the repo rate at the current 6.5 per cent, while retaining India's real GDP growth forecast at 7.2 per cent for FY25.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that inflation for the third quarter (Q3) this fiscal is set to moderately increase to 4.8 per cent, saying that moderation in inflation is likely to remain slow and uneven.

"The inflation horse has been brought to the stable within the tolerance band. We have to be careful about opening the gate," he said during the MPC briefing.

The central bank decided to hold rates steady despite the US Federal Reserve's recent rate cut of 50 basis points. The RBI has changed the stance to 'neutral' from "withdrawal of accommodation".