Highlights of the Day: IIP grows 5.7% in February, retail inflation falls to 4.85% in March

Latest news updates: Catch all the news updates from around the world here

9:52 PM

Thai foreign minister urges Myanmar's military to avoid violent attack on border town its army lost

Thailand's foreign minister on Friday said he urged Myanmar's military authorities not to violently respond to its army's loss of an important border trading town to its opponents, and that so far they seemed to be exercising restraint. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara spoke during a visit to Mae Sot, which lies directly across a river from Myanmar's Myawaddy, where army troops abandoned their last defensive position early Thursday. Their hasty escape ceded virtual control of the busy trading town to guerrillas of the ethnic Karen National Union and its allies, including members of the pro-democracy People's Defense Forces. Myanmar's once-mighty armed forces have suffered a series of unprecedented defeats since last October, losing swathes of territory including border posts to both ethnic fighters and guerrilla units. Civilians took up arms after the generals seized power in 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The military has frequently hit back heavily, using air power.

8:10 PM

Court acquits Dawood's nephew, two others in 2019 extortion case

A special court here on Friday acquitted fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim's nephew and two others who were booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in a 2019 extortion case. Special judge B D Shelke acquitted the gangster's nephew Mohammed Rizwan Shaikh Ibrahim (Kaskar), Ahmedraja Vadhariya and Ashfaq Towelwala of charges under sections 387 (putting persons in fear of death or of grievous hurt to commit extortion), 120 (criminal conspiracy) and relevant provisions of the MCOCA. A case was registered against the trio in 2019 for allegedly threatening a builder. The builder, who also had a business importing electronic goods, had alleged that his business partner owed him Rs 15 lakh and in June 2019, he received an international call made on behalf of gangster Chhota Shakeel through gang member Fahim Machmach not to insist on the payment. The prosecution argued that sufficient material was found against all the accused, particularly, the phone call recording and CDRs.

7:11 PM

Ganga pollution in Varanasi: NGT fines chief environmental officer of Uttar Pradesh

The chief environment officer of Uttar Pradesh has been imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 for not complying with the tribunal's order directing levying environmental compensation on people and entities polluting river Ganga in Varanasi. The NGT was hearing a case regarding the discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater into the river across various locations in the eastern Uttar Pradesh city, thronged by devotees and tourists.

6:48 PM

India commands over 50% of Global Capability Centres: Report

India commands over 50 per cent of the Global Capability Centres, and it remains the most preferred destination to set up such GCCs, a report by business consulting company ANSR said on Friday. ANSR Global is a consulting firm that enables organisations to build and manage teams through Global Capability Centres. The company has established over 110 Global Capability Centres, using 12 million sq ft of office space and employs over 1.20 lakh people. According to the quarterly report released on Friday, India commands over 50 per cent of the GCC market with a mix of unique talent and a robust startup system, and the country remains the most preferred destination to set up a GCC. The study also revealed that nearly 80 per cent of GCCs were directing their focus on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics.

5:18 PM

India's forex reserves reach fresh peak of $648.56 billion: RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said today that India's forex reserves rose by $2.98 billion to hit a fresh peak of $648.56 billion.

5:06 PM

Appellate court can't overturn acquittal only on ground that another view is possible, says Supreme Court

The top court has stated the appellate court cannot overturn the order of acquittal only on the ground that another view is possible. A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said unless the appellate court records a finding that the judgment of acquittal is perverse, no interference can be made. The apex court made these observations while deciding an appeal in a murder case, where the order of acquittal of the trial court was overturned by the high court.

4:46 PM

We are closely monitoring security situation in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine state, says MEA

"The situation in Myanmar remains precarious and deteriorating. We have relocated our Embassy staff from Sittwe to Yangon. (Indian) Consulate in Mandalay remains functional," Randhir Jaiswal,  spokesperson for the MEA, said today.

4:25 PM

Delhi court sends BRS leader K Kavitha to CBI custody till April 15 in Delhi liquor policy case

K Kavitha, who is already in Tihar Jail after her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy case, was arrested by the CBI on Thursday.

4:11 PM

TCS stock gained 6% so far in 2024, IT index shed 1.4%.

TCS's shares have rose about 6 per cent so far this year, whereas the broader IT index has shed 1.4%. The blue-chip Nifty 50 index rose by 3.6% in 2024.

4:08 PM

TCS registers revenue of Rs 61,237 crore in Q4

TCS revenue grew 3.5 per cent to Rs 61,237 crore in Q4. TCS had reported a net profit of Rs 11,392 crore in the year-ago period. The IT industry has had to accept tougher contract terms to secure large orders as they compete for fewer orders. IT firms also had to deal with with clients renegotiating, delaying or cancelling contracts, resulting in a sharp slowdown in the industry's growth from the pandemic-fuelled boom a few years back.

4:02 PM

TCS revenue up 3.5%; firm sees record deal wins

Industry body Nasscom sees the IT sector's overall revenue growth to more than halve to 3.8% from 8.4%. However, like its peers, TCS has been managing expenses to compensate for the slowing revenue growth. That helped its net profit increase 9.2% to Rs 12,434 crore in the latest quarter.

3:55 PM

TCS Q4 net profit rises 9% to Rs 12,434 crore, beats estimates

IT major TCS stated consolidated revenue rose 3.5 per cent to $7.34 billion in the January-March quarter, missing analysts' expectation, according to LSEG data.

3:50 PM

MC Mary Kom steps down as chef-de-mission of India's Paris Olympics contingent

Celebrated boxer MC Mary Kom has quit as India's chef-de-mission for Olympics citing personal reasons. Embarrassing to retreat from a commitment, but I am left with no choice, Kom said today.

3:25 PM

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra holds talks with senior US officials on defence, technology

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra is in Washington this week for a series of meetings with senior officials from the US Government and interaction with industry leaders. Kwatra held separate meetings with Richard Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. The two sides hope to advance cooperation in areas like defence and technology.

 

3:20 PM

Russia-Ukraine war update: Key power plant near Kyiv destroyed by Russian strikes

A massive missile and drone attack destroyed one of Ukraine's largest power plants and damaged others, officials said Thursday. The Trypilska plant, which was the biggest energy supplier for the Kyiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions, was struck numerous times, destroying the transformer, turbines and generators and leaving the plant ablaz

2:21 PM

Properties worth Rs 365 crore attached in alleged Bengal teacher recruitment scam: ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has so far attached properties worth Rs 365 crore in West Bengal’s alleged teacher recruitment scam, the probe agency said in a statement today. Three ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmakers, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the scam.

2:17 PM

Constitution does not allow such laws: Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara on UCC

Karnataka Home Minister and Congress leader Dr G Parameshwara today stated that the Constitution provides the opportunity to practice any faith people want.

"Our Constitution provides an opportunity to practice any faith you want to. You have also allowed those people to stay in India. They are born, brought up, and dying here and you try to meddle with their social life, and societal commitments. Do you want to call them second-set grade citizens in this country? The Constitution does not provide for such laws to be brought in and why do you want to send them to Pakistan? If they are against the law of the land, punish them," the Congress leader told ANI.

2:16 PM

Central govt is trying to bring in President's rule in Delhi through conspiracy: Delhi minister Bharadwaj

"BJP couldn't win any elections in Delhi, they know that if an election happens today, Arvind Kejriwal will win it. Therefore, through a conspiracy, BJP's central govt is trying to bring in President's rule in Delhi. They made the same mistake in 2013 as well,"  AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

1:35 PM

India among countries invited to Ukraine peace conference hosted by Switzerland in June

Switzerland will host a high-level conference on peace in Ukraine, which could be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it is being held back to back with the G7 summit in Italy to which leaders of most major Global South countries, including India, have been invited.

1:25 PM

Defence ministry issues Rs 65,000 cr tender to HAL for buying 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets

The Ministry of Defence has issued a tender to the public sector firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for purchasing made-in-india 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets expected to be worth over Rs 65,000 crore. This is set to be the largest order for indigenous military hardware to be placed by the Indian government ever.

1:14 PM

We ensured arrest of two accused in Bengaluru blast case: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today arrested the prime accused behind the blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru from West Bengal. The NIA said Mussavir Hussain Shazib had placed the IED at the cafe and Abdul Matheen Taha was the mastermind behind the execution of the blast.

1:09 PM

Japan's MUFG to buy 20% stake in HDFC Bank's IPO-bound arm

Japan's MUFG will pick up a 20 per cent stake in HDB Financial Services, a non-banking unit of Indian private lender HDFC Bank, valuing its IPO-bound arm at $9 billion-$10 billion, The Economic Times reported today, citing sources.

12:59 PM

When will Assembly elections be held in J-K, Congress asks PM Modi

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, the Congress accused the BJP-led Central government of suspending democracy in the Union Territory and asked it when would the Assembly polls be held there. In a post on social media platform X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said while PM Modi was in Udhampur, in its attempt to retain power in the erstwhile state, the BJP-led government has suspended almost all tiers of democracy and refuses to hold fresh elections.

12:54 PM

IIT-Guwahati student found dead in hostel

A second-semester student of IIT-Guwahati was found dead in his hostel room, police said today. The body was found hanging inside his room at Dihing hostel on Wednesday, Kamrup's Superintendent of Police Ranjan Bhuyan said. A suicide note was also found. "He stated in the note that no one is responsible for his death. Prima facie it does not look like any foul play is involved. However, we are continuing our investigation to find more details," he told PTI.

12:18 PM

Vinesh Phogat accuses WFI chief of trying to end her Olympic dream; fears doping case

World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat today accused the Wrestling Federation of India chief Sanjay Singh of trying to stop her from competing in the Olympic Qualifiers by creating logistical hurdles for her support staff.  Phogat also said she is fearful of being trapped in a doping case.

The 29-year-old Phogat, who won 53kg bronze medals in the 2019 and 2022 World Championships besides a gold in the 2018 Asian Games (in 50kg), would be eyeing an Olympic quota in the 50kg category in the Asian qualifying tournament next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

12:02 PM

AAP leader Manish Sisodia moves Delhi court seeking interim bail

 AAP leader Manish Sisodia has submitted a plea in a Delhi court seeking interim bail for the purpose of poll campaigning.

11:55 AM

News update: Passenger vehicle wholesales rise 8.4% to 42,18,746 units in FY24, says SIAM

Passenger vehicle wholesales rose 8.4 per cent to 42,18,746 units in FY24, industry body SIAM said today.

11:39 AM

News update: Delhi court reserves order on CBI's plea seeking K Kavitha's 5-day custody

The daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao was held in Tihar Jail, where she has been lodged after her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over an alleged money-laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy.

11:17 AM

K Kavitha's counsel opposes CBI's plea seeking her custodial interrogation, calls her arrest by CBI 'illegal'

BRS leader K Kavitha's counsel  called her arrest by CBI 'illegal' and accused the agency of violating her fundamental rights.

11:14 AM

K Kavitha 'being evasive', 'not cooperating' in probe: CBI to Delhi court in excise policy case

CBI officials had recently questioned BRS leader K Kavitha inside Tihar jail after getting permission from a special court. The BRS leader was questioned about the WhatsApp chats recovered from co-accused Buchi Babu's phone and documents related to a land deal.