The Economic Times

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Zou Jiayi, the new President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), here in the national capital, where they discussed strengthening the India-AIIB partnership.

The Reserve Bank of India reports nearly all Rs 2,000 banknotes have been returned. Since May 2023, the central bank announced their withdrawal. Most of the currency has been exchanged or deposited. The remaining Rs 2,000 notes are still legal tender. This marks a significant step in currency management.

BLACKPINK's Jisoo stars in the new Netflix romantic comedy, 'Boyfriend on Demand,' premiering March 6, 2026. The series follows a webtoon producer who finds an escape in a virtual dating service, blurring the lines between digital romance and reality. Filmed in the Philippines, the show promises a blend of humor, emotion, and futuristic escapism with a star-studded cast.

India and Canada have officially begun talks for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. This pact aims to boost economic ties between the two nations. Both countries are committed to concluding the agreement swiftly. The Terms of Reference for these negotiations were signed in New Delhi. This marks a significant step towards a more robust trade relationship.

Dabur India is acquiring a significant minority stake in luxury skincare direct-to-consumer brand RAS Beauty for Rs 60 crore. This strategic move, under Dabur Ventures, aims to tap into the booming premium beauty segment. The investment will fuel RAS Beauty's expansion into omnichannel presence and product development, reflecting a broader trend of legacy FMCG firms backing digital-first brands.

India's current account deficit widened to $13.2 billion in Q3, primarily due to a larger merchandise trade deficit. However, this was an improvement from the revised Q2 deficit. Net services receipts increased, while primary income account outgo dipped, and personal remittances rose.

The CBI has challenged a special court's order discharging Arvind Kejriwal and others in the excise policy case. The agency argues the order was illegal and based on a flawed review of evidence. The CBI claims the special judge conducted a mini-trial, which is not permitted at this stage. The High Court will hear the revision petition on March 9.

Global leaders react to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran retaliates with missiles and drones. Nations express varied opinions, some supporting the strikes, others condemning them. Calls for dialogue and de-escalation emerge. The conflict raises concerns about regional stability and potential for a wider war.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu stresses self-reliance for resolving state security issues. He calls for technology-driven policing and conviction-oriented justice. The state aims to strengthen cyber capabilities and digital forensics. Efforts are underway to upgrade the Inner Line Permit system. The Chief Minister highlights the need for proactive measures against illegal immigration and emphasizes modern criminal justice systems.

Quote of the Day by the man who changed the course of World War II, Winston Churchill: More than 60 million people died in World War II. In 1940, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany. Winston Churchill stepped in as Prime Minister and changed the course of World War II leadership. Todays Quote of the Day by Winston Churchill remains one of the most searched World War II quotes online: You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. This powerful leade

A mans body was discovered inside a freezer at a biryani shop in Lucknow, prompting a police investigation. Vijay Pal was identified through his family members and personal belongings after being found in the disconnected freezer of the temporarily closed outlet. Police are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the exact cause of death. Officers said there were no visible injuries on the body, though they noted an unusual detail regarding the placement of his slippers, which is now part o

Apple has expanded its iPhone 17 series with the iPhone 17e, a more affordable variant designed to bring the latest iOS experience and long-term software support to cost-conscious users. While it shares the same Apple silicon as the flagship models, it features a simplified camera and display setup. The device retains the modern flat-edge design but uses slightly lower-tier materials to keep prices down.

Bonos quote says that perspective can help people deal with sadness and negative thoughts. He believes when people look at life from a bigger view, they feel less depressed. Bono is a famous U2 singer and activist known for helping poor countries and raising awareness about global problems. His words focus on hope, mindset, and positive thinking in difficult times.

An employee in Bengaluru reached their limit after a year of relentless work. Long hours and weekend demands became unbearable. Management's disregard for promised perks and personal time led to a breaking point. The employee finally set a boundary, refusing to work on a Saturday. This act signals a shift towards reclaiming work-life balance in demanding corporate environments.

Air India is strengthening its engineering and maintenance. Jeremy Yew, formerly with Singapore Airlines, will lead the engineering division from April 1. Sisira Kanta Dash moves to Chief Strategy Officer. This change comes amid regulatory scrutiny over aircraft reliability. The airline is implementing new safeguards to improve technical performance and restore its reputation.

Apple has unveiled the new iPad Air powered by the M4 chip, delivering up to 30% faster performance than its predecessor and significantly improved speeds over M1 models, while keeping prices unchanged at $599 for the 11-inch and $799 for the 13-inch variant. With 12GB unified memory, a faster 16-core Neural Engine, and enhanced graphics capabilitiesincluding hardware-accelerated ray tracingthe device targets creative professionals and gamers. New N1 and C1X chips improve connectivity with Wi-Fi

Eric Claptons quote, Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it, celebrates passion, dedication, and confidence in ones craft. The legendary British guitarist and singer, known for iconic hits like Layla and Tears in Heaven, emphasizes that talent paired with practice and belief can inspire audiences of any size. Ultimately, it inspires creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence.

Saudi Arabia's military is on high alert following drone attacks by Iran. The Ras Tanura oil refinery faced a partial shutdown after a strike. Saudi Arabia warns of retaliation if its oil facilities are targeted. This incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions. The kingdom has intercepted missiles near Riyadh as well.

India's foreign exchange reserves saw a nominal rise of USD 19.4 billion in April-December 2025, primarily due to valuation gains from higher gold prices and a weaker dollar. However, excluding these valuation effects, reserves declined by USD 30.8 billion on a balance of payments basis, indicating underlying external flow pressures.

YouTube co-founder Steve Chen has raised concerns about the growing dominance of short-form videos, warning that the TikTok-ification of the internet could negatively impact childrens attention spans. Speaking at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Chen said shorter-form content equates to shorter attention spans and added that he would not want his own children consuming only quick, highly stimulating clips. He also called on platforms to introduce safeguards such as age restrictions and

War risk insurance for ships in the Gulf is being cancelled. The Iran conflict has disrupted shipping. Several tankers are damaged. Two seafarers have died. Around 150 ships are stranded near the Strait of Hormuz. Oil and gas prices have jumped. Shipping costs are set to rise further.

America's mission in Iran targets Tehran's missile capabilities and naval forces. The Pentagon chief detailed Operation Epic Fury, aimed at dismantling Iran's offensive missiles and preventing nuclear weapon acquisition. This operation, ordered by President Donald Trump, is described as the most precise aerial operation ever. The focus remains on destroying Iranian missiles and their production.

Quote of the day by Anne Frank: While hiding from Nazis in 1944, Anne Frank wrote of a world transforming into a wilderness, fearing the approaching thunder of destruction. Her diary, published posthumously, offers a poignant personal account of the Holocaust's horrors and the enduring human cost of war and hatred.

Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, wife of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died from injuries sustained in a recent U.S.-Israeli military attack. The coordinated airstrikes also killed Khamenei and several family members, marking a significant escalation in regional conflict. Iran has declared a 40-day period of national mourning.

Oil prices have surged sharply. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are creating uncertainty about global supply. U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran are a key factor. Tanker traffic has dropped significantly. Attacks on vessels have been reported. Saudi Arabia intercepted Iranian drones. Market attention is on potential wider conflict. Prices are expected to remain high if disruptions continue.

The FBI has warned about a rise in ATM jackpotting scams. In this crime, hackers install malware in ATM machines to make them release cash illegally. Hundreds of cases were reported recently, causing millions in losses. The agency says banks should watch for tampering signs and report quickly. Customers bank accounts are usually not directly affected in these attacks.

What are Claude HTTP 500 and 529 error messages, and which regions are affected by Anthropic outage? Claude down reports surged as users in India, Europe, and Africa faced login failures and site errors. Anthropic confirmed elevated errors on claude.ai and said investigation is ongoing without an ETA.

Alicia, a social media influencer, shared her journey through India. She received warnings about travel but found overwhelming kindness instead. A man, despite appearing poor, bought her water. This act deeply touched her. Her travels from Mumbai to Goa reinforced her positive feelings. She aims to inspire women empowerment through her experiences.

Greater Cincinnati is under a winter weather advisory through 11 a.m. Monday, March 2, leading several school districts to announce delays and closures. Snow is anticipated to begin before and during the morning rush, between 5 and 7 a.m., with sleet mixing in before temperatures rise. Several Northern Kentucky systems have shifted to non-traditional instruction days.

Global Systems for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), which counts over 1000 mobile operators and businesses across the global telecom ecosystem as its members, conferred the award to the Bharti honcho at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Asian nations are most vulnerable to oil and gas supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Japan faces the highest risk, followed by South Korea and India. Around 20 percent of global oil and LNG flows through this vital chokepoint. China and India are the largest destinations for these energy resources.

SBI has relieved Nitin Chugh as Deputy Managing Director effective March 2, 2026, after completion of his contractual tenure.

Tata Steel will invest eleven thousand crore rupees in Jharkhand. This investment is for developing advanced green steel technology at its Jamshedpur facility. Tata Motors will also invest in hydrogen trucks at the same location. The Tata Group will form an experts' panel to explore further investments in Jharkhand's development.

India's current account deficit increased to $13.2 billion in the October to December quarter of 2025-26. This is a rise from the previous year's deficit. The Reserve Bank of India reported this widening. A larger merchandise trade gap primarily caused this increase. Services exports and remittances continued to show strength.

Todays Quote of the Day by Albert Einstein Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and Im not sure about the universe offers a sharp and uncomfortable reflection on human behavior. The article explores how the remark, often seen as humorous, actually points to repeated societal mistakes and rigid thinking. It connects the quote to Einsteins life experiences, his belief in questioning assumptions, and his broader philosophy about knowledge, imagination, and responsibility.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reviewed crude and LPG supplies as Iran-Israel tensions pushed up global oil prices and raised concerns over energy security.

Many seniors in the US can reduce their tax bills using three simple methods. People aged 65+ can claim extra deductions and use a new senior tax benefit. Some people aged 6063 can also save more in retirement plans to cut taxes. These steps help lower taxable income and let seniors keep more money during tax season.

The Middle East faces a widening conflict. United States and Israel operations against Iran have escalated. This has led to attacks across the region. Iran's leadership structure remains intact. Nuclear facilities are now at risk. Regional powers are threatened. Global calls for de-escalation are increasing.

At the 2020 SAG Awards, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt shared a heartfelt backstage reunion that instantly captivated audiences globally. Both had just won major acting honors, Aniston for her role in The Morning Show and Pitt for his performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The encounter became a defining awards-show memory, symbolizing mutual respect and enduring camaraderie years after their marriage ended.

Experts believe recent strikes on Iran will strengthen Kim Jong Un's resolve to build nuclear weapons. This development could influence upcoming talks with President Donald Trump. North Korea possesses advanced nuclear capabilities. Kim Jong Un may seek to manage relations with the U.S. better, potentially exploring new negotiations.

India's government met with trade and logistics experts to address the impact of escalating West Asian tensions on exports and imports. Discussions focused on potential disruptions to cargo flows, shipping routes, and costs. The government assured all measures to ensure continuity and protect exporter interests, especially for MSMEs.

Optimizing your evening meal is key to long-term gut health. This story features seven traditional and modern Indian dinnersfrom Moong Dal Khichdi to Ragi Porridgethat are designed to be light, nutrient-dense, and easy on the digestive system, ensuring a restful sleep and a refreshed morning in 2026.

Oil prices today jumped more than 10%. Brent crude crossed $80 per barrel within hours of reports that Iran struck a Saudi Aramco refinery. Traders reacted fast. They priced in supply disruption risk. The Ras Tanura facility processes about 550,000 barrels per day. That scale matters. Global oil markets now fear tighter crude oil supply. Nearly 20% of world oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Any threat there lifts Brent crude and WTI crude futures quickly. If tensions escalate, analysts see

Russia is in constant contact with Iran regarding recent events. Moscow expressed deep disappointment over US strikes, calling them outright aggression. President Putin condemned the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Russia accuses the US and Israel of escalating the Middle East conflict. Russia is analyzing the situation and drawing its own conclusions.

Anand Mahindra highlights Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya. Its residents embody collective responsibility and discipline. Cleanliness is a way of life, not a campaign. This community's actions show that real change requires universal participation. Their daily efforts prove progress becomes a way of life when a community moves together. Mawlynnong offers a powerful example for India's transformation.

Following the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), Prime Minister Modi addressed the media, saying, Friends, we will work to increase defence industries, maritime domain awareness and military exchanges.

The IAEA has found no clear evidence that Iran's nuclear facilities were hit in recent military attacks, despite Iranian claims. Director-General Rafael Grossi stated the agency's access is limited, preventing independent verification of damage. He also reiterated that no structured program for nuclear weapons has been observed.