News Highlights: G20 calls for UN reforms, overhaul of Security Council

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10:56 PM

Remarkable decline in out-of-pocket expenditure for healthcare in past decade, says Nadda

Union Health Minister J P Nadda Friday said out-of-pocket expenditure incurred by people for healthcare in India has declined to 39.4 per cent from 64.2 per cent a decade earlier.

Addressing the 12th edition of the International Health Dialogue 2025 organised by Apollo Hospitals, he said India is on the cusp of leading a global healthcare transformation.

10:25 PM

Vedanta emerges as preferred bidder for diamond block in MP

Vedanta Ltd on Friday said it has been declared as preferred bidder for a diamond mine in Madhya Pradesh.

The company said it is the highest bidder with a final price offer of 1.10 per cent. "The company has been declared as 'Preferred Bidder' for the Kauhari Diamond Block," Vedanta said in a regulatory filing.

8:27 PM

G20 calls for UN reforms, overhaul of Security Council

The G20 representatives, attending the first Foreign Ministers' meeting under by South Africa's presidency, on Friday reaffirmed the urgent need to reform the UN, including changes to the Security Council. Among the key attendees were External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

7:58 PM

ED levies FEMA penalty of Rs 3.44 cr on BBC World Service India: Officials

The Enforcement Directorate has levied a penalty of more than Rs 3.44 crore on BBC World Service India for alleged contravention of foreign direct investment (FDI) regulations, agency officials said on Friday.

The federal probe agency also fined three of its directors with more than Rs 1.14 crore each as it issued an adjudication order against the British broadcaster under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

7:49 PM

Granules India to acquire 100% equity stake in Senn Chemicals AG

Granules India To Acquire 100% Equity Stake In Senn Chemicals AG

7:43 PM

Aster DM Healthcare to invest Rs 850 cr in Kerala

Aster DM Healthcare on Friday said it will invest Rs 850 crore in the next three years in infrastructure, medical services, and employment generation in Kerala. The investment builds on Rs 500 crore the healthcare provider has already put in the state in the last three years.

7:32 PM

China expresses concerns over US tariffs in Bessent call, vice premier says

China's Vice Premier He Lifeng expressed concerns over U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions on China during a video call with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday. The two sides had an "in-depth" exchange of views on important issues in China-U.S. economic relations, and both sides agree to keep communicating on issues of mutual concern, according to a readout released by Chinese state media.

7:01 PM

Swiggy to invest up to $115 mn in supply chain subsidiary

Indian food and grocery delivery firm Swiggy said on Friday it will invest up to 10 billion rupees ($115.47 million) in Scootsy, a subsidiary engaged in supply chain services and distribution.

6:45 PM

New Delhi BJP govt plans to introduce key reforms in healthcare sector

With the formation of the BJP government in Delhi, an action plan has been prepared to introduce key reforms in the healthcare sector, which includes digitisation of health services, setting up of 'Aarogya Mandirs', filling up various vacancies of medial superintendents and completion of under-construction hospitals, officials said on Friday. They said that many state-run hospitals have been facing an acute shortage of medical superintendents (MS) and medical directors (MD), with some officials managing two hospitals simultaneously, which affects the functioning of health facilities.

6:41 PM

BJP govt in Delhi plans key healthcare reforms, Aarogya Mandirs' and digitisation in focus

With the formation of the BJP government in Delhi, an action plan has been prepared to introduce key reforms in the healthcare sector, which includes digitisation of health services, setting up of 'Aarogya Mandirs', filling up various vacancies of medial superintendents and completion of under-construction hospitals, officials said on Friday. They said that many state-run hospitals have been facing an acute shortage of medical superintendents (MS) and medical directors (MD), with some officials managing two hospitals simultaneously, which affects the functioning of health facilities.

6:29 PM

NIA chargesheets two key aides of Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dala

The National Investigation Agency has chargesheeted two key aides of Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala in a terror-gangster syndicate case, the probe agency said on Friday. The chargesheet filed on Thursday before the NIA special court at Patiala House Court here named absconder Neeraj Pandit alias Neeraj Faridpuria and Anil Singh in the case, it said. NIA investigations have revealed that Arsh Dala, a member of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was funding a terror gangster syndicate in India of which the two men were a part, said a statement issued by the probe agency.

6:18 PM

Efforts on to balance India-Japan trade by boosting exports: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said efforts are underway to balance bilateral trade between India and Japan by increasing exports. India's exports to Japan during April-January this fiscal rose by 21.12 per cent to $5.1 billion, while imports grew by 9.1 per cent to $15.92 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $10.82 billion in favour of Japan.

6:03 PM

Federal judge allows Trump's mass firings of federal workers to move forward

A federal judge in Washington has allowed President Donald Trump's mass firings of federal workers to move forward. US District Judge Christopher Cooper decided Thursday he could not grant a motion from unions representing the workers to temporarily block the layoffs. He found that their complaint amounted to an employment dispute and must follow a different process outlined in federal employment law.

5:47 PM

PM Modi likely to inaugurate redeveloped Tripureswari temple on Apr 7: Tripura minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the redeveloped Tripureswari temple in Tripura's Gomati district on April 7, a state minister said on Friday. The temple, one of the 51 'Shakti Peeths', has been redeveloped under the 'PRASAD' scheme, a flagship programme of the Centre, with a cost of Rs 54 crore.

5:34 PM

India's forex reserves drop USD 2.54 billion to USD 635.721 billion

Snapping the three-week rising streak, India's forex reserves dropped by USD 2.54 billion to USD 635.721 billion in the week ended February 14, the RBI said on Friday. In the previous reporting week, the reserves had increased by USD 7.654 billion to USD 638.261 billion. The forex reserves had increased to an all-time high of USD 704.885 billion in September 2024. The forex kitty however declined thereafter due to forex market interventions by RBI to reduce volatility in the rupee. For the week ended February 14, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, decreased by USD 4.515 billion to USD 539.591 billion, the data released on Friday showed.