After three consecutive weeks of losses, the Indian stock market made a strong comeback, closing the week with gains of nearly 2 per cent.

The recovery was driven by favourable global and domestic cues, instilling confidence among investors. The Nifty settled at 22,552.50, while the Sensex closed at 74,332.58, marking a significant rebound.

According to market watchers, among the key drivers, the global sentiment improved following reports of a delay in US tariffs and the possibility of further negotiations, which helped stabilise financial markets.

Additionally, a weaker dollar and a decline in crude oil prices further boosted investor confidence, said Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

An estimated 82.1 million people in East and Central Africa are currently food insecure and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said in a statement.

The agencies said more than 53.1 million of those affected are in seven of the eight IGAD member states: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

Other affected countries include Tanzania, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi.

The two agencies attributed the surge in food insecurity to climate shocks and increasing conflicts in the region.

The removal of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh Ji and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar by the executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), under the influence of Sukhbir Badal, is a black day for the Khalsa Panth. I strongly condemn this unjust and politically motivated action.

This act is a direct violation of the Miri-Piri principle established by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, which ensures the balance of spiritual and temporal leadership. Over time, politics has started dominating our religious affairs, whereas religion should guide politics.

India opener Shubman Gill is gearing up to make the most of the opportunity as he is set to play his second ICC tournament final on Sunday when Rohit Sharma-led side will take on New Zealand in the Champions Trophy summit clash.

In the ICC 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad, Gill failed to score big and fell cheaply on four runs in a match which India lost by six wickets to miss out on a third tournament title.

However, Gill has moved on from the heartbreak and is more mature now. Ranked No.1 in ODI batter rankings, the vice-captain is mentally ready to handle pressure better and spend more time at the crease.

The mission of US company Intuitive Machines' lunar lander Athena has come to an early end because the lander tipped over while touching down on the Moon, and its battery quickly drained, the company said.

According to NASA, the uncrewed lander landed at a region near the Moon's South Pole at about 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time Thursday, more than 400 meters from its intended landing site, news agency reported.

The mission, codenamed IM-2, landed closer to the lunar South Pole than any previous lander, said NASA.

Intuitive Machines said images collected later confirmed the lander was on its side, preventing it from fully operating NASA's lunar drill and other instruments before its batteries were depleted.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) announced on Saturday morning that tropical cyclone Alfred has in the last hour weakened back to a tropical low pressure system and is now considered an ex-tropical cyclone, though more homes and premises in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) are suffering power outages.

The Guardian Australia quoted Queensland Premier David Crisafulli in the morning as saying that a quarter of a million homes in the Australian state do not have power, as well as Gold Coast University Hospital, which is running on generators.

That's the single biggest loss we have seen in over a decade, he added.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Saturday morning that the latest figures show there are around 43,000 premises, including homes and businesses, without power.

A week after the second anniversary of Greece's deadly train collision, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's government once again withstood a no-confidence vote.

The vote came after three days of intense debate, with Opposition parties fiercely criticising the government's handling of the 2023 rail disaster.

They accused the ruling administration of failing to address systemic issues in the railway sector and of not providing sufficient support to the victims' families.

This marks the second time the government has faced a no-confidence motion over the incident.

On March 28, 2024, Opposition parties had also filed a similar motion, blaming the government for neglecting to reform the railway system. That motion was also defeated by the majority held by Mitsotakis's New Democracy (ND) party in Parliament.

The South Korean ruling and Opposition parties sparred on Saturday over a court decision to release detained South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, deepening the political divide that has thrown the country into political turmoil.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) demanded Yoon's immediate release, denouncing his detention as "illegal" during a protest in front of the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul.

"They are still detaining the President 20 hours after the court ruled for his release," the PPP's interim leader Kwon Young-se said at the protest, urging the prosecution not to "give in to threats from the Opposition party."

The protest was attended by 35 PPP lawmakers, who chanted, "Release the President."

India’s inflation fell to 4.31 per cent in January from 5.22 per cent, approaching the RBI’s 4 per cent target after four months above 5 per cent and this trend reinforces the case for potential rate cuts, with the repo rate at 6.25 per cent, a new report showed on Saturday.

The observed market trajectory suggests a cautious sentiment among investors, potentially influenced by macroeconomic conditions, sector-specific developments, and global financial market trends, according to the Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund report.

The Nifty 500 Index declined by 7.88 per cent in February, reflecting contractions across multiple sectors. Factor-based strategies reflected broader market movement, while fixed-income instruments, including Nifty 5 year Benchmark G-Sec (+0.53 per cent), exhibited relative stability.

The Indian Navy on Saturday lauded two women officers from the Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition for their remarkable courage in sailing through the challenging waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, marking a significant milestone in women's empowerment within the armed forces.

Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa have braved fierce tides, sailed through storms, and demonstrated that the oceans -- like the world -- have no limits for their courage, the Navy stated while extending its appreciation.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II is a testament to changing times, showcasing how the Indian Navy is at the forefront of empowering women.

The two officers embarked on this global circumnavigation mission aboard INSV Tarini in October 2024, undertaking a formidable challenge that underscores their exceptional endurance and skill.

Taking to X, the Indian Navy posted, "On the occasion of International Women's Day, Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Navy Staff, and all personnel of the Indian Navy salute Lt Cdr Dilna & Lt Cdr Roopa."