The government’s move to relax foreign direct investment rules for China and other nations sharing land borders with India has drawn support from experts, who say the step attempts to strike a balance between attracting capital and protecting strategic interests. They also noted that the proposal for a 60-day fast-track approval window for investments in selected sectors could provide greater predictability to investors, reported PTI.Neha Aggarwal, Partner at Deloitte India, said clearer norms on beneficial ownership bring long-awaited certainty to India’s FDI framework. “With foreign investment moderating in recent months, a 60-day approval timeline strikes a pragmatic balance between attracting capital and safeguarding strategic interests, while enabling supply-chain integration and access to advanced technologies,” she said.Shardul S Shroff, Executive Chairman of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said the proposed expedited route for investments in sectors such as manufacturing and electronics components is a positive step, though its scope may remain limited as majority ownership and control must stay with domestic entities.“Given this stringent requirement, the expedited route may have limited applicability,” Shroff said, PTI quoted.Rudra Kumar Pandey, Partner at the firm, said allowing investments of up to 10 per cent without prior government approval introduces a practical threshold within the Press Note 3 regime. “By ensuring the exemption is available only where the investing entity is not controlled by persons from land-bordering countries, minority investments up to 10 per cent can proceed more smoothly while retaining safeguards around control ownership,” he said.Think tank GTRI said easing restrictions could open space for cross-border investments, but the scale of manufacturing growth in India will depend on wider economic factors. Founder Ajay Srivastava said the policy should be seen as an opportunity to attract deeper manufacturing investments over time. “The policy change is best seen as an opportunity for India to attract more substantial manufacturing investment over time. To realise this potential, India must further strengthen its competitiveness by lowering the cost of manufacturing,” he said.Rahul Turki, Partner and Global Value Chain Ecosystem Leader at Grant Thornton Bharat, said the decision could ease hurdles for global private equity and venture capital funds with minority stakes. “From an investment perspective, this move could unlock capital flows into startups, deep-tech ventures, and manufacturing value chains such as electronics components and solar supply chains,” he said.Krishan Arora, Partner and Leader, Indirect Tax and India Investment Advisory at Grant Thornton Bharat, added that the revised guidelines could facilitate greater trade with neighbouring countries such as China and Bangladesh, while promoting ease of doing business, strengthening manufacturing in sectors like electronics and solar, and attracting higher inbound investment

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Iran on Wednesday warned American tech companies that their offices and infrastructure could become targets as the conflict in the region widens.Al Jazeera reported that IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency has published a list of offices and infrastructure run by major US technology companies that it claims are linked to Israel and used for military purposes.The report described these locations as “Iran’s new targets”. It said the list includes infrastructure used for cloud-based services operated by companies such as Google, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle Corporation.According to the report, the listed offices and infrastructure are located in several Israeli cities as well as in some Gulf countries.Tasnim said the targets were identified because their technology had allegedly been used for military applications. “As the scope of the regional war expands to infrastructure war, the scope of Iran’s legitimate targets expands,” it said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Separately, Iran also warned that it could target economic centres and banks linked to US and Israeli entities across the region.A spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, which the United Nations has described as owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the warning came after what Iran called an attack on one of its banks.“The enemy left our hands open to targeting economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime in the region,” the spokesperson said.

The official also warned civilians to stay away from such locations. “People of the region should not be within a one-kilometre radius of banks,” the spokesperson said.Meanwhile, the war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least seven people across southern Lebanon early Wednesday, including five in the town of Qana. Residents of Tehran also reported some of the war’s “heaviest bombardment” overnight, with powerful explosions shaking neighborhoods and causing electricity outages across parts of the capital.

Mumbai: In the next academic session from June, city colleges will see an additional batch of UG students across several courses as the first cohort enters the fourth year under National Education Policy 2020. With limited infrastructure to accommodate the additional academic load, autonomous colleges are planning to run the fourth year on a staggered schedule, while some are considering conducting classes in shifts. There has been a lukewarm response from students to pursuing the fourth year, making it difficult for colleges to plan the schedule in advance. Many colleges are also planning to restrict the fourth year to a limited number of programmes for now, citing space constraints, among other concerns.Mithibai College plans to operate in shifts as it prepares to introduce the fourth year across all UG courses. Principal Krutika Desai said the master’s programmes already run in afternoons and evenings. For courses with an existing PG department, the schedules for the fourth year and the first year of the master’s programme will be aligned. “For other programmes, we have prepared fourth year as well as PG syllabi and are waiting to discuss it in the governing board,” she said, adding that for those, they have to look for availability of classrooms in the later part of the day. St Xavier’s College plans to follow a staggered schedule for fourth year programmes. “For some papers that are common to the PG courses, we will combine the classes and for others, we plan to start with staggered timings,” said principal Karuna Gokarn. The college, though, has prepared the syllabi for the fourth year for all programmes and is awaiting govt guidelines. At Matunga’s Ramnarain Ruia College, the fourth year will be offered in science programmes only. “We are offering it for courses where we have PG departments. And classes will be clubbed with first-year PG students. For arts courses, at the moment, we are not planning to start the fourth year, except for psychology,” said principal Anushree Lokur. Jai Hind College plans to offer the fourth-year option only for self-financed courses such as BMS, BAF, BBI and BBA for now. “We have well-established PG departments that are functioning well, and we do not wish to disturb them at the moment. There is also not a strong response from students for the fourth year. Instead, we plan to offer the option to students from self-financed programmes,” said principal Vijay Dabholkar. The college has sent its proposal to the university and is awaiting a response. Dabholkar said due to space constraints, classes will be scheduled in the second shift in the afternoon, and part of the programme will also involve internships.

AI image (Picture credit: OpenAI via ChatGPT)

Arctic sea ice is on track to record one of its smallest winter peaks since satellite monitoring began four decades ago, raising fresh concerns about climate change and its geopolitical implications, according to data reviewed by news agency AFP.Figures from the National Snow and Ice Data Center show that Arctic sea ice extent reached nearly 14.22 million square kilometres on March 10. If the current trend continues until the winter maximum later this month, the level could rank among the five lowest ever recorded.Sea ice forms when ocean water freezes during winter and melts during summer. However, the total amount of ice returning each winter has been steadily declining due to human-driven global warming.

Risk of record-low winter peak

Seamus McAfee said the situation could still change slightly, but current data suggests the Arctic is approaching a historically low winter extent.“But so far, it is looking like it could be a very significant extent, perhaps one of, if not the lowest, in the record,” McAfee said, as quoted by AFP.Last year, Arctic sea ice reached its lowest winter maximum on March 22, covering 14.31 million square kilometres, according to the NSIDC. Previous lows were recorded in 2016, 2017 and 2018.Samantha Burgess said the 2026 level would likely fall within the five lowest years on record.Meanwhile, polar oceanographer Gilles Garric said the current winter was already among the “top three” lowest levels so far.

Arctic warming far faster than global average

Scientists say the shrinking ice cover reflects a broader warming trend in the Arctic.The last three years have been the hottest globally on record as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The Arctic is warming significantly faster than the rest of the planet.“Given that the Arctic is warming at 3–4 times the global average rate, we are likely to continue to observe continued Arctic warming, loss of multi-year ice,” Burgess told AFP.Experts also warn that the return of the El Nino later this year could further push global temperatures higher.Low winter sea ice levels could also accelerate melting during the summer months.

Threat to ecosystems and wildlife

Although melting sea ice does not directly raise sea levels, unlike melting glaciers or ice sheets, scientists warn that the loss of frozen ocean cover threatens fragile polar ecosystems.Species such as the polar bear and emperor penguin depend on sea ice for breeding, hunting and survival.Shaye Wolf warned the shrinking ice cover could signal deeper climate dangers.“The sirens are blaring that we’re headed for a hothouse planet with massive devastation around the world,” Wolf told AFP.“But Arctic warming, driven by fossil fuels, puts us all in peril. We’re closer than ever to irreversible tipping points that will forever alter the world we know.”Despite the Arctic hitting a record low, Antarctica saw an improvement as its sea ice extent approached its typical summer average following four years of significant lows, according to a report from the NSIDC.

Melting ice reshaping geopolitics

Beyond environmental risks, the loss of Arctic ice is also reshaping global geopolitics.As ice retreats, new shipping lanes and access to untapped mineral and energy resources could emerge across the region.Elizabeth Chalecki said the melting Arctic could transform the region into a contested maritime zone.“From a geopolitical perspective, the climate change-induced melting of sea ice is turning the Arctic into the new Mediterranean: a common shared maritime resource surrounded by competing states,” she told AFP.Russia is already expanding its economic and military presence along the Northern Sea Route, while the United States and Canada may need to increase their activity in the region.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has previously voiced interest in acquiring Greenland, arguing the Arctic territory holds strategic importance amid growing competition with Russia and China.Scientists warn that while new economic opportunities may emerge from the melting ice, the environmental consequences could be far more severe if global emissions are not rapidly reduced.

India’s triumphant campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 sparked celebrations across the cricketing world, but one of the most talked-about moments off the field came from former captain MS Dhoni. Breaking nearly two years of silence on social media, Dhoni shared a rare Instagram post congratulating the Indian team and support staff, while also delivering a playful message for head coach Gautam Gambhir.

MS Dhoni’s viral message for Gautam Gambhir

The post quickly went viral among fans as Dhoni affectionately referred to Gambhir as “Coach Sahab,” joking about his famously serious expressions during matches. While congratulating the team for their historic achievement, Dhoni remarked that Gambhir’s smile looked great on him and that his trademark intensity paired with a smile was a “killer combo.”

Dhoni wrote that it was a pleasure to watch the team perform and praised the collective effort behind India’s success. He also added a brief humorous note about star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “champion bowler,” but jokingly suggesting it might be better not to say too much about him.

Gambhir reacts to Dhoni’s heartwarming post

Responding to the viral message, Gambhir acknowledged Dhoni’s comment and appreciated the gesture. However, the Indian head coach admitted that maintaining a relaxed or cheerful expression during high-pressure international matches is not always easy.

Gambhir explained that coaching the Indian cricket team comes with immense responsibility and constant scrutiny, making it difficult to stay visibly relaxed while games are in progress. He pointed out that many people commenting on a coach’s body language may not fully understand the pressure involved in that role. Gambhir still appreciated Dhoni’s light-hearted remark and took it in good spirit.

According to Gambhir, sitting in the dugout during crucial matches brings enormous tension because every decision and moment could impact the outcome of the game.

“But that’s why, being a coach, I feel that sometimes it is very difficult to be in a situation where people commenting on it have never actually been in that position. But good on him that he tweeted that, honestly. However, I feel that when you are sitting in the dugout, there is so much at stake,” Gambhir told ANI.

Also READ: Explained: Why Gautam Gambhir thanked Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 title triumph?

The former opener further elaborated on the expectations surrounding the Indian cricket team. Gambhir stated that the intense passion of fans and the massive attention on the team often creates an environment where defeat is rarely accepted easily. He said that while players and coaches would love to enjoy every moment with smiles and laughter, the reality of international cricket—especially during major tournaments like the World Cup—makes it difficult.

Gambhir emphasized that the pressure comes from the belief among many supporters that India should win every tournament they participate in. However, he reminded fans that cricket remains a sport where uncertainty always exists. According to Gambhir, if losing were truly not an option, India would have won every World Cup in history. Instead, the unpredictable nature of the game is what makes victories even more meaningful.

“There are always huge expectations from the Indian team. Even if you want to laugh or smile — and of course everyone would like to — many times you just cannot. Especially when you are playing a tournament like the World Cup. Because in India, unfortunately, losing is not considered an option. That’s true, but it can still happen. If losing was not an option, then India would have won every World Cup, but that’s not how it works,” added Gambhir.

Also READ: Explained: Virat Kohli’s absence from the T20 World Cup 2026 Final while MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma were in attendance

Concerns over cooking gas availability amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia are prompting households to turn to electric kitchen appliances, triggering a sharp rise in demand for induction cooktops and electric kettles, industry executives said.Tata Group’s Croma has seen a strong spike in consumer interest in induction cooktops over the past few days, while Stovekraft Ltd reported a multiple-fold jump in online sales of such appliances as buyers explored alternatives to LPG.

“At Croma, we have observed a sharp and immediate uptick in demand for induction cooktops over the past few days. Our average daily run rate has surged significantly,” Infiniti Retail Ltd (Croma) CEO & MD Shibashish Roy said, PTI reported.While he did not disclose exact numbers, Roy added, “Our average daily run rate has surged to nearly three times the usual levels.”He further noted that consumer behaviour has also changed. “Interestingly, we are also seeing customers purchase multiple units at a time, which was not common earlier, indicating some precautionary buying.”Alongside induction cooktops, demand for electric kettles has also increased, with sales nearly doubling compared with the regular run rate, Roy said.“Induction cooktops and electric kettles are increasingly being viewed as a reliable and convenient alternative, and there is a present momentum in the adoption of electric cooking solutions across households,” he said, adding that the company is maintaining adequate availability across stores and online channels.An Amazon India spokesperson said, “Over the last two days, sales of induction cooktops have increased 30X, while rice cookers and electric pressure cookers are seeing a 4X increase. Air fryers and multi-use kettles are also seeing a 2X increase in sales over a regular day.“Customers are using Amazon Now to get similar products within minutes in parts of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru.”Echoing similar trends, Stovekraft Managing Director Rajendra Gandhi said, “We have seen a four times spike in the average weekly sales of induction cooktops in the e-commerce channels since the beginning of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.”The company currently manufactures around 2 lakh induction cooktops at its facility in Harohalli, Karnataka. “We plan to ramp this up in the coming financial year,” Gandhi added.Stovekraft said it expects consumer interest in energy-efficient and alternative cooking solutions to remain strong as households seek reliable and cost-effective appliances. The company sells kitchen appliances and cookware under brands such as Pigeon and Gilma through online and offline channels.Meanwhile, amid supply concerns linked to the West Asia conflict, a senior Oil Ministry official on Wednesday said there was no need for panic booking of LPG cylinders and that the normal delivery cycle of about 2.5 days was continuing.India’s crude oil supplies remain secure, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Sujata Sharma told reporters at a briefing, adding that crude is being sourced through routes that do not pass via the Strait of Hormuz.Government measures have also led to a 25 per cent rise in LPG production, according to the ministry. However, disruptions in energy supplies due to the widening conflict have created “limitations” in continuing LPG supplies to industrial and commercial consumers for now.

Yuki Bhambri, Ankita Raina, and Sumit Nagal

The eighth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) will be held on March 21, 2026, in Lucknow, celebrating the achievements and inspiring journeys of India’s top athletes across various sports. TOISA 2025 will honour performances from January 1 to December 31, 2025, recognising standout moments from global championships and international tournaments. More than 45 categories will acknowledge both sporting icons and emerging talents who brought pride to the country.Winners will be chosen by a distinguished jury of sporting legends, including Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharath Kamal, and Leander Paes, ensuring credible recognition of excellence in Indian sport.Here are the tennis players nominated for TOISA 2025:Tennis (Male)Rohan BopannaDate of Birth: March 4, 1980Place of Birth: Bengaluru, KarnatakaSport: TennisMajor Achievements in 2025:US Open: Played his final Grand Slam match in New York.Paris Masters: Partnered with Alexander Bublik in his final tour-level appearance.Officially retired from professional tennis in November 2025 at the age of 45.A true legend of the sport, Rohan Bopanna brought his illustrious two-decade career to a close in 2025. After becoming the oldest World No. 1 and a Grand Slam champion in 2024, Bopanna used his final season to bid farewell to the global circuit, ending his journey as one of the most respected figures in tennis. His retirement marked the end of an era for Indian tennis, leaving behind a legacy of 26 ATP titles and two Grand Slam crowns.Yuki BhambriDate of Birth: July 4, 1992Place of Birth: New DelhiSport: TennisMajor Achievements in 2025:Dubai Tennis Championships (ATP 500): Gold (Doubles title with Alexei Popyrin)US Open: Reached his first-ever Grand Slam Semi-final (Doubles with Michael Venus)ATP Ranking Milestone: Broke into the World Top 20 in doubles.Surpassed Rohan Bopanna to become India’s No. 1 ranked doubles player.Yuki Bhambri enjoyed a sensational 2025, fully establishing himself as one of the world’s elite doubles specialists. He secured his first ATP 500 title in Dubai and made a historic run to the semi-finals of the US Open, becoming the last Indian standing in the year’s final Major. By climbing into the global Top 20, Bhambri effectively took over the mantle of leadership in Indian men’s tennis following Bopanna’s retirement.Sumit NagalDate of Birth: August 16, 1997Place of Birth: Jhajjar, HaryanaSport: TennisMajor Achievements in 2025:Australian Open: Main Draw participant.Copa Faulcombridge: Reached the Quarter-finals in Valencia.Braga Open: Quarter-finalist.Finished the year as India’s highest-ranked singles player.Sumit Nagal continued to lead the charge for Indian singles on the ATP Challenger and World Tour in 2025. He maintained his presence in the Grand Slam main draws and secured consistent results on his preferred clay courts in Europe, reaching several quarter-finals. Nagal’s resilience throughout the year ensured that India remained represented in the upper echelons of the global singles rankings during a period of transition for the national team.Tennis (Female) Ankita RainaDate of Birth: January 11, 1993Place of Birth: Ahmedabad, GujaratSport: TennisMajor Achievements in 2025:WTA 125 Chennai Open: Semi-finalist (Singles).ITF W60 Traralgon (Australia): Quarter-finalist.Held the India No. 1 ranking for a significant portion of the year.Ankita Raina remained the most consistent force in Indian women’s tennis throughout 2025. Her standout performance came at the WTA 125 Chennai Open, where she thrilled home fans by advancing to the semi-finals after a gruelling victory over Romania’s Irina Bara. On the international circuit, she continued to rack up wins in Australia and Europe, proving her longevity and status as the primary pillar of India’s Billie Jean King Cup squad. Vaishnavi AdkarDate of Birth: December 14, 2004Place of Birth: Pune, MaharashtraSport: TennisMajor Achievements in 2025:FISU World University Games: Bronze (Women’s Singles).Fenesta Women’s Nationals: Gold (National Champion).First Indian woman ever to win a tennis medal at the World University Games.Vaishnavi Adkar scripted history in 2025 by winning a bronze medal at the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, ending a 46-year medal drought for India in tennis at the event. Her victory over home favorite Sina Herrmann in the quarter-finals secured India’s first medal in the sport since 1979. Domestically, she solidified her rising status by winning the prestigious Fenesta National title, marking her as the brightest young prospect in the country.Sahaja YamalapalliDate of Birth: October 29, 2000Place of Birth: Hyderabad, TelanganaSport: TennisMajor Achievements in 2025:WTA Chennai Open: Won her WTA main-draw debut match.ITF W35 Santo Domingo: Gold (Doubles title with Hiroko Kuwata).Reached and held the National No. 1 spot in Women’s Singles.2025 saw Sahaja Yamalapalli make significant strides on the professional tour, highlighted by her successful WTA debut in Chennai, where she earned her first main-draw victory. She also added to her trophy cabinet with an ITF doubles title in the Dominican Republic. By finishing the year as the AITA National No. 1, Sahaja confirmed her position as a major contender to lead the next generation of Indian women’s singles players.