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logistics solutions provider Ecom Express has announced a strategic partnership with Truecaller for business to drive reliable and secure customer communication and enhance trust in logistics interactions. Ecom Express, which serves thousands of online sellers, direct to consumer or D2C brands, and e-commerce marketplaces, is leveraging Truecaller's communication solutions to minimise call rejection rates and provide greater transparency to its customers, according to a release. Ecom Express has adopted Truecaller's Customer Experience solution, with a view to ensuring seamless, secure, and reliable communication with customers across India, the release added. Leveraging Truecaller Verified Business Caller ID as part of the customer experience solution, Ecom Express ensures that its customers can instantly recognise verified calls through elements such as the company name, logo, a verified green badge, and a category name.

Addressing the issue, Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar in a special briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs stated, «About Khalistan, this was an issue that came up… We do alert our friends to the activities of anti-India elements in their countries and their abuse of freedom of speech and other democratic freedoms to glorify terrorism and to threaten attacks against our diplomats, our parliament or our events in India. So these were also conveyed. The government of New Zealand has been receptive and has taken our concerns on board in the past as well.» India has been vocal about its stance against separatist movements operating from foreign soil. The meeting with Luxon comes at a time when the Indian government has been urging international partners to take stronger action against individuals and groups involved in extremist activities. New Zealand has previously acknowledged such concerns, and India expects continued cooperation in addressing these threats. Meanwhile, India's concerns over Khalistani separatist activities are not limited to New Zealand. Recently, India formally raised the issue with the United Kingdom following a security breach during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to London. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, «We have conveyed our deep concern to the UK authorities about the breach of security arrangements by UK-based separatist and extremist elements during EAM's visit.»

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) has been extended to December this year. It was initiated in April 2015 by the Government of India with a budget outlay of Rs. 4,500 crore for seven years initially. Supercomputing systems under NSM have supported research in critical domains such as drug discovery, disaster management, energy security, climate modelling, astronomical research, computational chemistry, fluid dynamics, and material research. NSM has created opportunities for researchers from tier II and tier III cities to conduct research by providing access to supercomputing facilities.

Shriya Lohia has etched her name in motorsports history by becoming the first Indian female driver to compete in Formula 4 (F4) racing. At just 16, she has already achieved a major milestone by scoring points in the inaugural Indian Formula 4 Championship, representing the Hyderabad Blackbirds, one of the country’s top racing teams. Her journey into motorsports began at the young age of nine when she took up karting. With an exceptional talent for speed and precision, she quickly rose through the ranks, securing over 30 podium finishes across various competitions. Her consistent performance and dedication earned her multiple accolades, including four recognitions from the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the governing body for motorsports in the country. In 2022, Shriya’s remarkable achievements were further honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, India's highest civilian award for children, recognizing her excellence in motorsports. As she continues to break barriers, Shriya stands as a trailblazer for aspiring female racers in India, proving that talent and determination can drive success in a male-dominated sport.

Global South is being hindered by China’s growing economic and strategic clout, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Sunday. Delivering the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture in Delhi, he highlighted the increasing complexity China’s rise brings to global geopolitics. “The rise of China as a dominant economic and strategic force adds complexity, creates competition, and hampers India's effort to be the natural leader for the Global South,” General Dwivedi stated. He urged India to look towards Africa as a future power centre, recognising its potential role in the shifting global order. Despite its demographic and geographic advantages, India remains at a relatively lower global standing, he observed. “With the democratic shift and resource control race, we need to look at possibilities of Africa as a future power centre… India’s position will remain pivotal due to its geography, demography, democracy, prosperity, soft power, and inclusive approach,” he said.

In October of the previous year, Marika joyfully announced on Instagram that she had successfully completed her PhD in Physics at Cambridge after four years of rigorous study. To many, her qualification seemed to guarantee a lucrative career in the STEM field. Yet, reality painted a different picture. Instead of stepping seamlessly into a rewarding job, Marika encountered a prolonged and arduous job hunt, enduring over 70 rejections along the way.

Kripa Upadhyay, a Seattle-based immigration attorney, told TOI's Lubna Kably, “As heartless as this may seem, foreign nationals (especially those needing renewal of H-1B or F-1 visa stamps) really need to think twice about leaving the US right now.” The US Department of State recently changed eligibility requirements for interview waiver or «dropbox» appointments. Earlier, anyone who had been issued a non-immigrant visa (except B visitor visas) could apply for a waiver if their visa expired within 48 months. Now, dropbox is limited only to applicants renewing the same category of visa that expired within the last 12 months.

SBI Mutual Fund launched PSU Bank-based two new passive schemes: SBI BSE PSU Bank Index Fund and SBI BSE PSU Bank ETF. The new fund offer or NFO for both schemes is open for subscription and will close on March 20. Also Read | FY25 mutual fund stars: 36 schemes score big, Mirae Asset Hang Seng TECH ETF shines brightest SBI BSE PSU Bank Index Fund is an open-ended scheme replicating/tracking the BSE PSU Bank Index, and the SBI BSE PSU Bank ETF is an open-ended exchange-traded fund replicating/tracking the BSE PSU Bank Index.

Rajnath Singh and the US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard met and held bilateral talks in the national capital on Monday. On Saturday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a meeting with Gabbard, and according to sources, they discussed several facets of the India-US relationship in detail. Gabbard is visiting India as a part of her multi-nation visit. The Asia leg of Gabbard's trip will culminate in an address on March 18 at the Raisina Dialogue, a multinational gathering of security officials in Delhi, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited her. The US intel chief Gabbard will hold bilateral meetings with Indian officials and officials from other countries, The New York Times reported, citing a Trump administration official. Her visit to India follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in February this year.

Data tracked by PMSBazaar.com showed that 16 AIF funds across categories have given positive returns in February 2025 compared to near 6% fall seen in the Nifty50 in the same period.

The committee, led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and comprising IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal S P Dharkar, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, and senior officials from DRDO and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), is expected to submit its report next month. This move comes as Pakistan aims to acquire at least 40 J-35A fifth-generation stealth jets from China, which is already showcasing prototypes of its sixth-generation aircraft. Meanwhile, China has stationed its fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 jets at airfields along the Indian border, such as Hotan and Shigatse. Given this, alongside delays in the production of the fourth-generation Tejas jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a source told TOI that the committee's primary goal is to «devise how best to get AMCA from the drawing board into the air by shrinking timelines and improving efficiency, including a good workable production-cum-business model with much greater private sector participation.»

Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University who opted to «self-deport» after her visa was revoked, has described the terrifying moment when federal immigration agents first knocked on the door of her varsity apartment. The immigration agents were searching for Srinivasan, 37, who had recently learned her student visa had been revoked. Srinivasan, an international PhD student from India, did not open the door when the three immigration agents knocked at it, the New York Times reported. She was not home when the agents showed up again the next night. She packed a few belongings, left her cat behind with a friend and jumped on a flight to Canada at LaGuardia Airport, the report added. When the agents returned a third time, this past Thursday night, and entered her apartment with a judicial warrant, she was gone.

Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2016-17 Series IV, which is due today, March 17, 2025. It was issued in March 2017. The SGB is repayable on the expiration of eight years from the date of issue of the Gold Bonds. Accordingly, the final redemption date of the above tranche shall be March 17, 2025.

Transformers and Rectifiers on Monday said it has secured orders worth Rs 726 crore for supply of auto transformers and bus reactors from Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation. The work shall be completed within 18 months from the date of issuance of the Letter of Intent (LOI), according to a regulatory filing. Transformers and Rectifiers (India) Ltd has secured orders amounting to Rs 726 crore from Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd, the statement said. The total order value received is Rs 726 crore, including GST, the statement said.

deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist and professor at Brown University’s medical school, has sparked concerns about the treatment of H-1B visa holders under the Trump administration. Despite holding a valid H-1B visa and a federal court order temporarily blocking her removal, Alawieh was deported, raising questions about the future of employment-based visas in the United States. Dr. Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen, was detained at Boston Logan International Airport after returning from a family visit to Lebanon. She was held for 36 hours before being put on a flight to Paris, even though US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had been ordered to give 48 hours' notice before any such action. CBP has not provided an explanation for why the court order was disregarded. Legal representatives for Dr. Alawieh and her cousin, Yara Chehab, have filed cases against senior Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seeking answers on whether her deportation signals a policy shift against H-1B visa holders.

IndusInd Bank with an unchanged target price of Rs 850. The current market price of IndusInd Bank is Rs 678.55. IndusInd Bank, incorporated in 1994, has a market cap of Rs 52628.84 crore. IndusInd Bank's key products/revenue segments include Interest & Discount on Advances & Bills, Income From Investment, Interest On Balances with RBI and Other Inter-Bank Funds and Interest for the year ending 31-Mar-2024.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated South Korea as a 'sensitive' country. The U.S. department has not explained why South Korea was added to the list, which can cause curbs on cooperation, though a DOE spokesperson said Seoul faced no new limits on bilateral cooperation in science and technology from the designation. In a statement relayed by the finance ministry after a ministerial meeting, Choi called on South Korean agencies to actively foster understanding with Washington, and for the industry minister to meet with the U.S. Secretary of Energy this week. Despite the DOE assurances over bilateral cooperation not being impacted, politicians in Seoul have traded blame over the sensitive country designation. The main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung on Monday criticised the current South Korean government, calling the U.S. move a «perfect diplomatic failure» which is feared could limit cooperation between the countries in the high-tech field.

foreign institutional investors (FIIs), who have been unloading Indian equities at an alarming pace. Since the market peaked in September 2024, FIIs have pulled out a staggering Rs 2.13 lakh crore, testing the resilience of India's stock market. Yet, domestic mutual fund investors have fought back, pouring in nearly Rs 1.88 lakh crore between October and February—emerging as the last line of defence against the selloff. In February 2025, even as volatility rattled the markets, mutual fund inflows remained positive for the 48th consecutive month, coming in at Rs 29,303 crore. While this marked a 26% decline from January, it highlighted the unwavering commitment of domestic investors, who have kept faith in Indian equities despite global headwinds. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) contributions remained strong at Rs 25,999 crore—surpassing the September figure of Rs 24,509 crore and underscoring the growing financial discipline of retail investors.

Paris Saint-Germain completed a fine week by beating bitter rivals Marseille 3-1 on Sunday to take a big step towards another Ligue 1 title, while the clash between relegation battlers Montpellier and Saint-Etienne was abandoned due to crowd trouble. PSG followed their Champions League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday by getting the better of Marseille at the Parc des Princes in a meeting of the top two in Ligue 1. Ousmane Dembele continued his prolific recent form by scoring the opener and Nuno Mendes made it 2-0 for PSG before half-time, with Pol Lirola's own goal securing victory in the second half after Amine Gouiri had pulled one back. Luis Enrique's side are still unbeaten after 26 games in Ligue 1 this season and now lead Marseille by a mammoth 19 points at the top with eight matches to play. It means PSG could be crowned champions for the 11th time in 13 seasons during the next round of games on the last weekend in March.

trade policies and a run of soft macroeconomic data. The euro stood not far from a five-month peak after German parties on Friday agreed on a fiscal deal that could boost defence spending and revive growth in Europe's largest economy.

Lars Staack decided to play it safe and invest his retirement savings in S&P 500 index funds, which are diversified and carry lower risk than owning individual stocks. It was a strategy that brought him peace of mind for more than two decades — until President Donald Trump was elected in November. As he reviewed Trump's comments in support of sweeping tariffs, Staack, 62, who retired two years ago, became increasingly uneasy about the savings he planned to use for the rest of his retirement.