LIVE: No superpower can dictate terms to India, says Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Pakistan PM faces the possibility of being the first prime minister in Pakistan's history to be voted out in a no-confidence motion. Stay tuned for LIVE updates

11:52 PM

No superpower can dictate terms to India: Pak PM Imran Khan

11:40 PM

Imran Khan says he will not accept 'imported govt'; calls for street protests on Sunday

Hours before a no-confidence vote against him in Parliament, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday seemed to accept the writing on the wall and urged his supporters to stage peaceful protests across the country when the "new imported government" comes into power on Sunday.

 

In an address to the nation ahead of the no-trust motion on Saturday where he has little chances of surviving unless some miracle occurs, 69-year-old Khan also expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court's verdict on the National Assembly deputy speaker's controversial decision on the rejection of no-trust motion against him.

 

"I will not accept this imported government, I will take to street.Only people can bring me to power and I will come back with the help of the people," he said, adding that his supporters should come out on Sunday evening after the new government is expected to be set up.

11:13 PM

Over Rs 21K cr defence domestic capital procurement allocated for pvt firms

The Ministry of Defence has decided that 25 per cent of domestic capital procurement or acquisition budget, amounting to Rs 21,149.47 crore, will be earmarked for the domestic private industry in this financial year.

 

It is in continuation with the government's efforts to promote private industry, MSMEs and start-ups in the defence production eco-system.

 

Further, to foster innovation and encourage technology development in defence, it has also been decided that an amount of Rs 1,500 crore will be earmarked for procurement from start-ups, including iDEX start-up, from within the allocations for Domestic Capital Procurement. These steps will foster the growth of private industry, MSMEs and start-ups in the defence ecosystem.

11:03 PM

Pak PM Imran Khan says he will not accept 'imported government'; calls for street protests

A defiant Imran Khan said on Friday that he will not accept any "imported government" in Pakistan as he expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court's verdict on the National Assembly deputy speaker's controversial decision on the rejection of no-trust motion against him. In a live-address to the nation ahead of the no-trust motion on Saturday, 69-year-old Khan asked his supporters to join him on the street on Sunday evening.

 

"I respect the Supreme Court and the judiciary, but the apex court should have looked at a threat letter before issuing its verdict, Khan said in his address perhaps last to the nation as the prime minister of the country.

 

Khan, who has effectively lost the majority in the 342-member house, repeated his allegations that a US diplomat threatened regime change in Pakistan.

10:53 PM

There is rampant horse-trading in the opposition camp: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

10:31 PM

Oil prices set for weekly fall on stockpile releases

Oil prices were stable on Friday in choppy trading but remained on course for a second weekly fall after countries announced plans to release crude from their strategic stocks.

 

Brent crude futures were up 77 cents, or 0.77%, at $101.35 a barrel by 12:19 p.m ET (1619 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 90 cents to $96.93.

 

Both contracts are set to fall for a second consecutive week, with Brent on course for a 3% slide and WTI for a 2.4% decline. The benchmarks have been at their most volatile since June 2020 for weeks.

10:23 PM

I am upset with the Supreme Court's decision: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

10:22 PM

IBBI reduces timelines for activities under voluntary liquidation process

IBBI has notified amendments to voluntary liquidation process regulations wherein timelines, including for distribution of proceeds from realisation, have been reduced in order to ensure faster exit for firms.

 

The amended regulations have come into effect from April 5.

 

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) is a key institution in implementing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). According to an official release, it has been noticed that there has been a substantial delay in the completion of voluntary liquidation process.

10:07 PM

FIH Pro League: Indian women stun Netherlands 2-1 in first match

The Indian women's hockey team stunned Olympic champions Netherlands 2-1 in the first match of their double leg FIH Pro League tie. The Indians scored through Neha (11th minute) and Sonika (28th), both from penalty corners, to hand the home team a 2-0 lead at half time. After the change of ends, the Netherlands scored from a penalty corner through Jansen Yibbi in the 40th minute to reduce the margin.

 

This was India's fourth win in the FIH Pro League.

 

Even though the Netherlands have arrived here with a second-string side, it was a creditable performance from the Indians as they were also without three key players -- Lalremsiami, Salima Tete and Sharmila Devi, who were part of India's historic fourth-place finish in the Tokyo Olympics.

9:53 PM

Ruchi Soya repays entire loans of Rs 2,925 crore

Edible oil major Ruchi Soya on Friday said it has repaid Rs 2,925 crore loans to banks and has become a debt-free company. Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved-led Ruchi Soya has recently raised Rs 4,300 crore through its follow-on public offer, and the part of the proceeds has been utilised to repay the debt.

 

Acharya Balkrishna, MD of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, tweeted that Ruchi Soya has become debt-free.

 

In its draft red herring prospectus, the company had mentioned that it would repay loan of around Rs 1,950 crore to the lenders, a company spokesperson said.