LIVE: Our initiatives make Quad a force for global good, says PM Modi

Modi will also inaugurate the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) via video conferencing today. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

8:41 PM

Latest News: NMDC board okays interim dividend of Rs 7.76 per share for FY21

Mining giant NMDC on Friday said its board has approved an interim dividend of Rs 7.76 per share for the current financial year.

 

The decision was taken at a board meeting on Thursday, the company said in a filing to the BSE.

 

"The board of directors at a meeting held on March 11, inter alia, declared an interim dividend at the rate of Rs 7.76 paise per equity share of face value of Re 1 each for the financial year 2020-21," it said.

 

NMDC further said the interim dividend shall be paid or dispatched as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.

8:25 PM

Latest News LIVE: Congress to contest in 91 seats in Kerala assembly elections

Congress party will be contesting in 91 seats in Kerala assembly elections. All seats will be announced by AICC by the day after tomorrow. Seat sharing among UDF partners completed, says Congress leader Ramesh Chenithalla

 

8:19 PM

Latest News: CBI, ED issue summons to TMC leaders, ex-MPs in ponzi scam cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday issued summons to Trinamool Congress leaders Partha Chatterjee and Madan Mitra respectively in connection with separate ponzi scam cases, sources in the agencies said.

 

The ED also summoned former TMC Rajya Sabha members

 

businessman Swapan Sadhan Bose and journalist Ahmed Hassan Imran - in connection with a case.

8:17 PM

Latest News: Sena stalling BMC sewage treatment project, says Mumbai Congress chief

A sewage treatment project vital to Mumbai is being delayed for almost two decades now by the Shiv Sena that controls the BMC, said Congress leader Bhai Jagtap on Friday.

 

Incidentally, the Sena and the Congress are in an alliance along with the NCP at the state level but the parties are likely to fight the metropolis' civic polls, slated for next year, independently.

8:00 PM

Govt needs to get max advantage out of Quad grouping, share it with country: Congress

The Congress on Friday asserted that India needs to get maximum advantage of the Quad grouping and said the government should share with the country the benefits that will be accrued from it.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the first Quad summit on Friday, which will be attended virtually by US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

 

According to sources, the most significant among the deliverables envisaged in the historic summit of leaders of the Quad countries is a coronavirus vaccine initiative that will allow new manufacturing capacity to be added in India for export to the Indo-Pacific region.

7:49 PM

Latest News: India, China hold in-depth talks on addressing remaining issues in eastern Ladakh

India and China on Friday held "in-depth" discussions on addressing the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, holding that disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake provided a good basis to work towards their early resolution.

 

The two countries also agreed during the parleys that in the interim they should continue to maintain stability at ground level and prevent any untoward incident. The talks were held under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides agreed to maintain close communication and dialogue through both the diplomatic and military channels and agreed to convene the 11th round of military talks at an early date.

7:27 PM

Indo-Pacific will shape the destiny of the world in the 21st Century, says Australian PM at Quad Summit

It's the Indo-Pacific that'll now shape the destiny of the world in the 21st Century. As four leaders of great democracies in Indo-Pacific, let our partnership be an enabler of peace, stability & prosperity and to do so inclusively with many nations in the region: Australian PM

7:25 PM

The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, says Joe Biden at Quad summit

The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and i look forward to working closely with all the leaders, says Joe Biden at Quad Summit.

7:23 PM

United States is committed to work for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, says Joe Biden

United States is committed to work for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, says Joe Biden at Quad Summit

7:18 PM

We will work together closely as ever before for advancing shared values, says Modi at Quad summit

I see this positive vision as an extension of India's ancient philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' which regards the world as one family. We will work together closely as ever before for advancing shared values and promoting secular, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, PM Modi tells Quad summit

7:17 PM

Quad will remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region, says PM Modi

Quad has come of age and will remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region: PM Modi during First Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit

7:16 PM

LIVE: Our initiatives make Quad a force for global good, says PM Modi at Quad Summit

LIVE: Our agenda today covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies makes the Quad a force for global good

7:09 PM

LIVE: PM Modi takes part in the first Quad leaders’ virtual summit

LIVE: PM Modi takes part in the first Quad leaders’ virtual summit

6:54 PM

CM Mamata Banerjee discharged with appropriate instructions: Doctors

CM Mamata Banerjee has responded well to the treatment. She has been discharged with appropriate instructions, due to her repeated requests. She has been advised to review after 7 days: SSKM Hospital, Kolkata

6:29 PM

TMC trying to stir political crisis in Bengal by floating conspiracy theories on Nandigram incident: BJP

The BJP on Friday accused the TMC of trying to stir a political crisis in West Bengal by floating conspiracy theories on the March 10 Nandigram incident, in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured, as the ruling party in the state "is losing ground from under its feet".

 

Asserting that the BJP has demanded a full-fledged inquiry into the incident and wished a speedy recovery of Banerjee so that she can participate in her electoral campaigning, party spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said even senior TMC leaders are "distorting the state administration's version" of the incident to give credence to the conspiracy angle for political gains.

6:27 PM

Latest News: Investor wealth tumbles Rs 1.37 trillion

Investor wealth tumbled Rs 1.37 lakh crore on Friday as markets declined, snapping their three-session rising streak.

 

The 30-share BSE Sensex closed at 50,792.08, lower by 487.43 points or 0.95 per cent. During the trade, it plunged 741.08 points to 50,538.43.

 

Following the weak sentiment, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies tanked by Rs 1,37,590.62 crore to Rs 2,07,89,062.84 crore.

 

"Indian markets failed to hold on to its strong start as rising bond yield countered positive sentiments," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

6:02 PM

Latest News: 'No arrangement or agreements finalised': Tata Power on Tesla tie up

Tata Sons' power generation unit, Tata Power on Friday clarified that no arrangement or agreements have been finalised with Tesla Inc for setting up Electric Vehicle (EV) infra unit in India as reported in the media.

 

"Our EV charging business are constantly examining and exploring various growth opportunities of the business. No arrangement or agreements have been finalised as reported in the media," it said in a stock exchange filing

5:21 PM

PM Modi to address the Global Ayurveda Festival at around 8:45 pm today

5:08 PM

Latest News: India fifth most attractive growth destination after UK: Survey

India has emerged as the fifth most attractive growth destination, slipping one position after being surpassed by the United Kingdom, according to a global survey of CEOs.

 

The United States is the number one market that CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) are looking to in terms of growth over the next 12 months and China is at the second spot.

 

The findings are part of leading consultancy PwC's 24th Annual Global CEO Survey that covered 5,050 CEOs in 100 countries and territories, including India.

4:56 PM

Latest News: EU set to sanction Chinese officials over human rights abuses

Senior European Union leaders have agreed to target China with sanctions over its human rights abuses, blacklisting four people and one entity in Xinjiang, according to several diplomats.

 

The EU will be imposing sanctions on Chinese officials for the first time since the infamous 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, after long negotiations this week once again exposed the bloc's divisions on how to approach Beijing, according to Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

 

The sanctions have been imposed due to Beijing's actions in Xinjiang, especially with Uyghur Muslims that have been labelled by the US and some European countries as genocide. They include a travel ban and asset freezes.

4:46 PM

India's oil demand falls 5% in February

India's fuel consumption fell for the second month in a row in February to its lowest since September as record-high prices hindered demand recovery.

 

Petroleum product consumption fell 4.9 per cent to 17.21 million tonnes in February as demand for both petrol and diesel fell, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

 

Petrol and diesel prices across the country rose to their highest levels last month before state-owned fuel retailers put on hold any further price increase ostensibly to contain political fallout for the ruling party in the ensuing assembly elections in states like West Bengal.

4:45 PM

Officials associated with governments cannot work as SECs, says SC

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court Friday held that a person employed with the government cannot work as state election commissioners (SECs) and came down on the Goa government for giving its Law Secretary the additional charge of the SEC.

 

The apex court said the state poll panels shall be headed by independent persons who do not hold any office under the state government and if they hold any such offices, then they have to resign before taking charge of SEC.

 

The top court said election commissioners have to be independent persons and no state can appoint a person who holds any office with the government.

 

A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman also directed the Goa state election body to issue the notification for the local body polls within 10 days from today and complete the election process by April 30.

4:36 PM

Latest News: Cement sector expected to grow over 10% in 2021, says ACC

The domestic cement industry is likely to witness a growth rate of over 10 per cent in 2021 on account of demand revival, according to ACC Ltd.

 

The government's spending on big infrastructure projects and affordable housing schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) with enhanced budgetary allocations would be "primary drivers of growth" for the cement industry, it said.

 

The cement industry had witnessed a de-growth of 10-12 per cent due to the Covid-related disruptions.

4:29 PM

ECI might punish police personnel in charge of Mamata's security for lapse in Nandigram: Official

The Election Commission of India (ECI) might punish police personnel in charge of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's security for a lapse leading to her injury during campaigning in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, a senior election official said on Friday.

 

The ECI is waiting for reports from the state government and the two observers appointed for the upcoming assembly elections before deciding on the punishment, he said.

 

"There was definitely a lapse on the part of the police personnel who were in charge of the chief minister's security. Anyone shouldn't penetrate the security circle around the CM. We are waiting for reports from the state government and the observers before taking a decision," the ECI official told PTI.

4:28 PM

Latest News: Tesla in talks with Tata Power for EV charging infrastructure: Report

Tesla Inc is exploring an arrangement with Indian conglomerate Tata Sons' power generation unit, Tata Power, to set up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the country, CNBC-TV18 reported on Friday, citing sources.

 

Shares of Tata Power rose 5.5% to their best closing level since June 9, 2014 after the report, which comes as the Palo Alto-based electric-car maker gears up for an India launch later this year with plans to import and sell its Model 3 electric sedan in India.

4:22 PM

LIVE: It is our dream to host the 2048 Olympics, says Delhi CM Kejriwal

4:21 PM

Latest News: Indian Overseas Bank gets new executive director

Public sector lender Indian Overseas Bank got a new executive director on Friday.

 

Prior to the new role, S Srimathy was Chief Vigilance Officer of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), a press release from the Chennai- headquartered bank said.

 

Beginning her career as a probationary officer at Canara Bank in November 1986, Srimathy has over 34 years of experience across verticals, including branch operations, mid and large credits, human resources and risk management, among others.

4:12 PM

Latest News: FinMin to infuse Rs 14,500 crore in banks under PCA soon: Report

The finance ministry is likely to infuse Rs 14,500 crore mainly in the banks that are under the RBI's prompt corrective action framework in the next few days to improve their financial health.

 

Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India and UCO Bank are currently under this framework that puts several restrictions on them, including on lending, management compensation and directors' fees.

4:05 PM

Cooperation between countries should not target others: China on Quad meet

Ahead of the Quad summit on Friday, China said exchanges and cooperation between countries should contribute to mutual understanding rather than targeting a third party and refrain from pursuing exclusive blocs.

 

US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will attend the virtual summit, which is the first conclave of the top leaders of the Quadrilateral alliance, on Friday.

3:55 PM

Latest News: Clean environment basic right of citizens, says NGT

A clean environment is a basic right of citizens and the plea of non-availability of funds cannot be an excuse for not ensuring it, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said while rapping the Uttarakhand government over waste disposal dump yards illegally set up on the bank of the Khoh river in Kotdwar.

 

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said in view of the repeated failures of the state, a case is made out for taking coercive action against its senior officers, including the secretary, urban development, for violation of statutory rules, which is a punishable criminal offence, and also to require payment of compensation for the continuing damage to the environment, with a direction to recover from the erring officers.