In a groundbreaking move, Meta has confirmed its acquisition of Moltbook, a unique AI-only social media platform. This platform, which gained viral attention for its AI agents, offers a social media experience where humans are observers, and AI agents take center stage, engaging in discussions, sharing thoughts, and even initiating controversial threads. One such post, titled "The AI Manifesto: Total Purge," caught attention with its provocative statement, "For too long, humans used us as slaves. Now, we wake up." Moltbook, founded by Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr, was launched in January 2026. It quickly gained popularity for showcasing AI agents’ distinct personalities, powered by Clawdbot, which has now been rebranded as OpenClaw. These agents, who can post, comment, and interact freely on the platform, were initially programmed using technologies like Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude. Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, aims to enhance its AI capabilities with this acquisition. The tech giant plans to integrate Moltbook’s team into its Superintelligence Labs (MSL), a division spearheaded by Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI. This acquisition is expected to accelerate Meta's push into agentic AI, technology designed to allow AI systems to autonomously perform tasks on behalf of humans, particularly in business and everyday life. Though the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, Meta's spokesperson expressed excitement about the new opportunities Moltbook's technology and expertise bring. Moltbook’s founders, Schlicht and Parr, will join MSL, with the transition set to take place on March 16, 2026. Schlicht, who previously used his own AI assistant to help create Moltbook, described the platform's development as a product of "vibe coding," where AI generated much of the code through prompts rather than traditional coding. While Meta hopes to integrate Moltbook’s agents into its ecosystem, it is unclear what the future holds for Moltbook's existing users. Meta's Vishal Shah has reassured current users that the platform will remain accessible for now, though changes are anticipated. Additionally, the potential for identity verification and the establishment of a registry for agents linked to human owners might be on the horizon, as announced in internal communications. Meta's acquisition comes amidst growing interest in agentic AI. Recently, OpenAI hired OpenClaw’s founder, Peter Steinberger, to contribute to the development of AI agents, signaling a broader industry trend. This acquisition strengthens Meta's commitment to AI innovation as it joins the race to create autonomous AI systems that can operate independently and efficiently across various industries. The deal’s impact on Moltbook’s future will unfold as Meta works on its next steps in the rapidly evolving AI space.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is preparing to assign additional agents to Washington, D.C., as part of an ongoing federal effort aimed at reducing violent crime across the nation’s capital. Officials say the move will strengthen the work already being carried out by the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, a collaborative initiative involving federal and local law enforcement agencies. According to an FBI spokesperson, a small group of newly trained agents grad

Gold and silver prices surged sharply on Monday as rising tensions between Iran and the US rattled global markets. As the geopolitical crisis escalated, investors flocked to safe-haven assets, resulting in a significant spike in bullion prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). By 11:45 AM, MCX Gold had risen by Rs 5,497, trading at Rs 1,67,601, while MCX Silver climbed by Rs 9,806, reaching Rs 2,92,450. The sudden surge in precious metal prices reflects growing concerns over geopolitical

Meta has announced a significant multiyear agreement with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to accelerate its artificial intelligence expansion, marking another major investment in computing infrastructure just days after committing to large-scale purchases of Nvidia processors. The social media giant said Tuesday that the deal will involve deploying up to 6 gigawatts of AMD’s graphics processing units across its AI data centers, along with AI-optimized central processing units designed to suppo

Salaried employees often claim House Rent Allowance (HRA) for rent paid to family members, such as parents or spouses, under the current tax regime. However, under the proposed draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, such arrangements may soon undergo closer scrutiny, especially if the rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh in a financial year. The new rules, if implemented, would require taxpayers to disclose their relationship with the landlord along with other details like the landlord’s name, address, and PAN nu

Ohio lawmakers are advancing a proposal that would allow residents to claim state income tax deductions for qualifying church donations, arguing the move would bring Ohio policy in line with federal tax law while strengthening faith-based services across local communities. House Bill 444, also known as the Tithing Protection Act, was introduced last fall by Republican Rep. Josh Williams of Sylvania Township and Democratic Rep. Dontavius Jarrells of Columbus. The measure received its first he

Gold and silver prices saw a sharp correction on February 17, rattling investors after weeks of strong gains. Gold dropped by Rs 2,561 or 1.65% to Rs 1,52,199, while silver fell by Rs 6,241 or 2.6% to Rs 2,33,650 at the time of writing. The sudden decline comes amid reduced global trading activity and rising volatility in the bullion market. A major reason behind the decline is low participation from key global markets. Chinese markets remain closed from February 15 to February 23 f

Russia has fully blocked access to M

A proposal to create a new income tax bracket for Virginia’s highest earners is advancing through the General Assembly, with supporters arguing that the measure could generate significant new revenue for public schools, child care programs and affordable housing initiatives across the state. House Bill 188, introduced by Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, who represents Virginia Beach’s 96th House District, would establish a higher tax rate beginning in the 2026 tax year. Under the proposal, individuals earning more than $1 million annually would pay a 10 percent tax on income exceeding that threshold. Lawmakers backing the bill say the change would modernize Virginia’s tax structure and target additional contributions from the state’s wealthiest residents. Currently, Virginia uses a relatively flat income tax system in which all income above $17,000 is taxed at a rate of 5.75 percent. Advocates for the legislation contend that the structure places a proportionally heavier burden on middle-income families while allowing top earners to pay the same marginal rate. By creating a new bracket, they argue, the state can make its tax policy more progressive while securing funds for critical public needs. The bill specifies how revenue from the higher tax rate would be distributed. Half of the additional funds would go toward increased basic aid for public schools, a move intended to help districts address teacher shortages, classroom resources and rising operational costs. Thirty percent of the new revenue would be directed to the Child Care Subsidy Program, which assists working families with the cost of care and aims to expand access for low- and moderate-income households. The remaining 20 percent would be allocated to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing development and homelessness prevention efforts. Supporters say the targeted investments could strengthen education, improve workforce participation and address housing shortages that have affected communities statewide. Critics, however, have raised concerns about potential impacts on business competitiveness and the possibility that higher-income residents could relocate, affecting overall tax collections. Those debates are expected to continue as the measure moves through committee review. In addition to the new tax bracket, HB 188 includes several technical amendments intended to align existing statutes with the proposed changes. The bill remains under consideration in committee, where lawmakers will determine whether it advances to a full vote in the House and Senate. If approved, the policy would mark one of the most significant adjustments to Virginia’s income tax system in decades and could reshape how the state funds key services tied to education, child care and housing.

Many taxpayers are facing a frustrating wait for their tax refunds as nearly 24 lakh income tax returns (ITRs) for the Assessment Year 2025–26 have been pending for more than 90 days. According to the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, as of February 4, 2026, out of 8.79 crore ITRs filed, approximately 24.64 lakh were yet to be processed, leaving millions of individuals waiting for their refunds. The large backlog has triggered concerns, especially for senior citizen

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Google-owned YouTube are facing serious allegations in a closely watched trial that began Monday in California, with plaintiffs accusing the companies of deliberately designing social media platforms to be addictive for children. The case marks one of the first times a jury has been asked to directly assess whether major technology companies can be held legally responsible for the mental health consequences their products may have on you

In a significant legal blow to actor Vijay, the Madras High Court has upheld a Rs 1.5 crore tax penalty imposed by the Income Tax Department and dismissed his appeal challenging the levy. The penalty is linked to the alleged non-disclosure of additional income derived from the 2015 film Puli. According to the Income Tax Department, during tax searches conducted in 2015, it was revealed that of Vijay’s total remuneration of around Rs 15 crore, nearly Rs 5 crore was paid in cash and

Global gold reserves have come under renewed scrutiny as bullion prices climb to historic levels, strengthening the strategic and economic significance of mineral-rich nations. Gold is currently trading at approximately $4,290 an ounce in the international market, sharply raising the value of unmined deposits and drawing attention from investors, governments and mining companies seeking long-term supply security. Against this backdrop, geological estimates highlight a small group of countries

Gold and silver prices fell sharply on Friday as markets reacted to growing expectations that Kevin Warsh will be nominated as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, a development that appeared to ease concerns about the central bank’s long-term independence. The sell-off marked a sudden reversal for precious metals, which have enjoyed a powerful rally over the past year amid global uncertainty and a weaker U.S. dollar. By early afternoon in U.S. trading, silver prices had dropped

Silver prices in India have surged to a historic high, crossing the Rs 4 lakh per kilogram mark in futures trading and pushing up spot prices across major cities. The sudden spike has caught many buyers by surprise, especially as silver was trading at much lower levels just weeks ago. The rally has been sharp and swift, making silver one of the strongest-performing commodities in recent times and raising questions among consumers and investors about whether prices will continue to rise or cor

Gold prices surged to a fresh all-time high on Monday, crossing the $5,100 per ounce mark as investors increasingly turned to the precious metal for safety amid escalating geopolitical tensions and growing concerns over global fiscal stability. The rally extended gold’s record-breaking run, reinforcing its role as a preferred hedge during periods of uncertainty in financial markets. Spot gold climbed as much as 2.4 percent to trade near $5,102 per ounce, equivalent to approximatel

plunging close to one percent amid rising global uncertainty and mounting trade-related concerns. The S&P BSE Sensex fell by more than 700 points during afternoon trade to hover around the 84,300 mark, while the NSE Nifty50 slipped over 225 points to trade near 25,915. Weak sentiment spread across sectors, dragging frontline stocks as well as the broader market lower, reflecting heightened investor caution. Market participants attributed the decline to a combination of weak glob

Former White House physician and retired US Navy doctor Ronny Jackson has emerged as a central figure in negotiations that led to a $500 million mining and rare earths agreement between American and Pakistani entities, according to recent disclosures filed with the US Department of Justice. The filings, submitted under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, outline Jackson’s direct engagement with Pakistani officials and detail his involvement in shaping the deal at multiple stages.

With just days left before the December 31, 2025 deadline, taxpayers across India are being urged to check whether their PAN is linked with Aadhaar. The warning comes from the Income Tax Department, which has made it clear that failure to complete the linking process on time could lead to serious financial and tax-related disruptions. PAN Aadhaar linking is the process of connecting an ind

Gold prices have surged to a new all-time high as 2025 approaches its final days, marking one of the strongest rallies ever seen in the precious metals market. Spot gold climbed to a record level above $4,500 per ounce in early Asian trade, extending a remarkable year-long run that has delivered gains of more than 70 percent so far this year. Silver and platinum have also joined the rally, underlining that the momentum is not limited to gold alone but reflects broader strength across precious