*NEWS UPDATES* *Indian Market:* • *Bharti Airtel* plans to increase its stake in Airtel Africa Plc by up to 5%. This move is part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the African market. The stake acquisition will enhance Airtel’s operations and expansion efforts across the continent. • *Granules India* has entered the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) sector by acquiring *Senn Chemicals AG*. This acquisition strengthens Granules India's position in the global pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. It allows the company to expand its capabilities in drug development and production services. • *HP Telecom* India's IPO was fully subscribed by the second day, while *Beezaasan Explotech's* IPO remains undersubscribed on its debut. *HP Telecom* and *Swasth Foodtech's* IPOs opened for subscription on February 20 and will close on February 24, while *Beezaasan Explotech's* IPO will close on February 25. • *Vedanta's* plan to split into five separate companies has been approved by its shareholders and creditors. These new companies will focus on aluminium, oil & gas, power, and steel, while Vedanta Ltd. will keep Hindustan Zinc and start new businesses. Shareholders will get one extra share in each of the four new companies. Vedanta Resources will stay the main holding company. *Global Market:* • *Singapore* has introduced tax rebates and a $3.7 billion program aimed at boosting its stock market. The initiative is designed to support market stability and encourage investor confidence. The move comes in response to economic challenges and aims to strengthen the country's financial sector. • *Flipkart* Ventures has selected five startups for its Flipkart Leap Ahead (FLA) accelerator program, offering funding and mentorship. Each will get up to $500,000 and expert guidance. The chosen startups focus on logistics, marketing analytics, HR tech, agriculture, and travel tech. Flipkart Ventures, with a $100 million fund, supports early-stage startups in tech and innovation. • *Canada's* retail sales increased by 2.5% in December, exceeding market expectations. This growth suggests a strong consumer spending environment and signals positive economic momentum. The data highlights consumer confidence amid a challenging economic backdrop. • *Alibaba Group's* stock price rose by 5.44% after investor Ryan Cohen boosted his stake in the company to $1 billion. This move sparked investor confidence, contributing to the stock's strong performance. The increase in stake has generated positive market sentiment around Alibaba.