Good afternoon. Indian authorities raid BBC offices in Delhi, proving once again that the pen is mightier than the sword, but can still cause quite the stir. The raid comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a contentious documentary on PM Modi, leading to accusations of censorship and a heated debate on the limits of press freedom in the country.

MARKETS

*Stock data as of market close. Source.

• Markets: Indian benchmark indices closed on a flat note on February 16, with the Sensex up 44.42 points or 0.07% at 61,319.51, and the Nifty up 20 points or 0.11% at 18,035.80. Gainers on the Nifty included ONGC, Tech Mahindra, Apollo Hospitals, Divis Labs, and Nestle India, while BPCL, Bajaj Finance, HUL, HDFC Life, and M&M were among the losers. The information technology, metal, and realty sectors were up by 1% each, while the BSE midcap and smallcap added nearly a percent each.

TECH

YouTube goes Desi: Indian-American to take charge

📺 India-born Neal Mohan has been appointed as the new CEO of YouTube, following the departure of Susan Wojcicki. Mohan, who is of Indian origin, is an industry veteran and has been with Google for over a decade. He currently serves as the company's chief product officer and is known for his contributions to YouTube's growth over the years.

Mohan will take over as the new CEO of YouTube from March 1, and will be responsible for driving the platform's growth and expansion. Wojcicki, who has been with YouTube for over 15 years, is leaving the company to pursue other interests.

INFLATION

Inflation gives Indians something to chew on

💸 India is in for a sustained period of inflation, warns HSBC, with prices for everyday goods and services set to rise. The bank notes that inflation has been on the rise in India for the past few months, with no signs of stopping. The factors behind the inflation include supply chain disruptions, rising commodity prices, and increased government spending.

While the Reserve Bank of India has been trying to control inflation through interest rate hikes, experts warn that this may not be enough. As prices of essential items like food and fuel continue to rise, the average Indian may find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.

CRICKET

Zomato pampers its delivery partners with rest points

🍹 Zomato is setting up rest points across the country for its delivery partners, in a bid to improve their working conditions. The food delivery giant has identified over 600 locations where it plans to set up these rest points, which will provide delivery partners with basic amenities like toilets, water, and seating.

Zomato has also partnered with local businesses to provide discounts and offers to delivery partners who use these rest points. The move comes after reports of delivery partners working long hours without adequate breaks, leading to accidents and health issues. Zomato hopes that the rest points will not only improve the working conditions of delivery partners but also help them build a sense of community and belonging

EARLYBIRD FINDS

•  Strong Q3 performance for Paytm, Zomato, PolicyBazaar, and Nykaa grabs attention again

• AstraZeneca India receives CDSCO approval for new drug to treat biliary tract cancer.

• Elon Musk shuts down two out of three Twitter India offices and sends staff home.

• India vs. Australia: Second Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy sees India fighting back.

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