The RBI’s move to inject Rs 1.9 lakh crore has come as a big positive for banks, which is reflected in the rise in the stock prices of both private and public sector banks, as well as Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) on Thursday.

The Nifty PSU Bank index rose 1.46 per cent, or 86.3 points to hit an intraday high of 5,976.75, while the Nifty Bank index increased 0.72 per cent, adding 349.15 points to hit an intraday high of 48,839.10. Similarly, the Nifty Private Bank index recorded a gain of up to 0.67 per cent in morning trade.

As part of the measures to infuse more liquidity in the banking system, the RBI has announced that it will conduct open market operation (OMO) purchases of government securities worth Rs 1 lakh crore in two tranches of Rs 50,000 crore each. The first auction will be held on March 12 and the second by March 18.

South Africa’s veteran batter David Miller said he would back New Zealand to win 2025 Champions Trophy, while admitting that it wasn’t ideal for the Proteas to travel between Lahore and Dubai before their semifinal game happened.

South Africa made a trip to Dubai on Sunday shortly after beating England in Karachi and came back to Pakistan on Monday after their semi-final clash was confirmed to be held in the Gaddafi Stadium against New Zealand, which they lost by 50 runs on Wednesday, despite Miller hitting an unbeaten century off 67 balls.

"It's only an hour-and-40-minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that (was not ideal). It's early morning, it's after a game, and we had to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4 pm, and at 7.30 in the morning we had to come back.

Six persons were killed and 30 others injured in two separate road accidents in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.

Four persons were killed and 20 others injured in a collision between a private bus and a truck in Eluru district.

The accident occurred near Chodimella village in the early hours of the day.

Police said a bus belonging to a private travel operator, on its way to Kakinada from Hyderabad, rammed into a cement-laden truck.

Such was the impact of the collision that the bus rolled over several times. Three passengers died on the spot while 20 others were injured. One of the injured later succumbed at the hospital.

The number of South Koreans who said they felt anxiety and feelings of depression increased last year, while perceptions of happiness differed by income group, a survey result showed on Thursday.

The respondents who said they felt anxiety recorded 4.1 out of 10 points last year, compared with 3.4 points in 2023, and feelings of depression also ticked up from 2.8 points to 3.5 points in the same period, according to the data by the Korea Institute of Public Administration, news agency reported.

The survey was conducted on 8,251 adults from August to September last year to investigate the level of social integration and public perception. Public perception of happiness recorded an average of 6.8 points, a 0.1-point increase from the previous year.

South Korea will push for measures to bolster medical safety and reduce medical accidents, including heavier compensation responsibility of the state, the health ministry said on Thursday.

The plan, unveiled at a parliamentary policy forum, also includes the introduction of a "no punishment against will" policy for deaths that occur during acts of essential medical care and the expansion of insurance coverage for medical accidents, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, news agency reported.

Under the plan, the ministry is considering allowing medical workers involved in death cases related to essential medical care to avoid criminal charges when the family of the deceased gives consent as part of efforts to lower the burden on medical staff.

Israeli researchers have discovered a surprising immune defense role of the proteasome, a cellular structure known for degrading and recycling proteins.

The study, published in Nature, could inspire new strategies against antibiotic-resistant infections, news agency reported.

The study, led by the team from Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS), found that when breaking down old proteins, the proteasome constantly and regularly releases antimicrobial peptides, news agency reported.

These antimicrobial peptides are considered vital components of the body's first line of defense as they attack and kill bacteria.

Experiments showed that human cells with active proteasomes effectively controlled bacterial growth, while blocking proteasome activity allowed infections to spread, WIS said.

In infected mice, proteasome-produced peptides reduced bacteria numbers, decreased tissue damage, and even improved survival rates, performing as effectively as strong antibiotics in clinical use.

The injury loss of winter arrival Daniel Svensson is adding to Borussia Dortmund's struggles. With progress in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League in jeopardy following a disappointing 1-1 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 against Lille, the 23-year-old Swedish full-back's three-week absence is another challenge for coach Niko Kovac.

In addition to concerns about the second leg in France next Wednesday, tensions remain high in the Bundesliga. Despite a recent slight improvement, the club still sits only tenth in Germany's top flight.

While the Champions League campaign could provide additional income, Dortmund does not appear to be in shape to compete for the 2025 title. More concerning is the growing possibility of missing out on one of the four qualification spots for next season's competition.

PhonePe on Thursday launched its ‘insuring HEROES’ campaign ahead of the International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day is observed every year on March 8.

As part of the initiative, the company is offering exclusive discounts of up to 30 per cent, specifically for women, on select term life and health insurance plans.

It is available on the PhonePe platform until March 9, 2025. Women can avail these exclusive offers on the PhonePe app to ensure their overall economic well-being and enjoy long-term stability.

South Korea's exports of food, led by instant noodles, grew an average of 8 per cent annually over the past 10 years on the growing global popularity of K-culture, a business organisation said on Thursday.

K-food shipments doubled to $7.02 billion in 2024 from $3.51 billion in 2015, with instant noodles, or "ramyeon" in Korean, leading the growth, according to a report released by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), reports news agency.

Ramyeon exports increased by an average of 20 percent a year in the past decade, helped by strong demand for K-pop and other K-content, as well as a growing preference for easy-to-cook and inexpensive meals amid an economic slowdown, the report said.

Social security coverage in India has doubled from 24.4 per cent to 48.8 per cent, said Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.

Addressing the post-budget webinar on the theme ‘Investing in People’, Mandaviya outlined the government’s mission to skill and empower India’s youth, ensuring that talent in the country makes a global impact.

Citing the ILO World Social Security Report 2024-26, he said "India’s social security coverage doubling from 24.4 per cent to 48.8 per cent”.

The expansion of the e-Shram Portal, covering over 30.67 crore unorganised workers, and the inclusion of gig workers under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), reinforce the government’s commitment to workforce welfare, the Union Minister said.