News Highlights: India, Sri Lanka set to ink major defence pact during PM Modi's Colombo trip

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11:40 PM

Xi backs exclusive Chinese industrial zone in Bangladesh, welcomes BRI cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing's support for setting up an "exclusive" Chinese industrial economic zone and industrial parks in Bangladesh. He also welcomed Dhaka's commitment to "high-quality" cooperation in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, according to official media reports. Xi made these remarks during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who is on a four-day visit to China.

11:17 PM

Gautam Adani meets J'khand CM Hemant Soren

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on Friday met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, a statement issued by the CMO said. Adani arrived at the chief minister's residence in Ranchi on Friday evening. The meeting with Soren lasted for approximately two hours, it said.

10:23 PM

Gujarat HC grants bail to Asaram for three months on medical grounds

On Friday, the Gujarat High Court granted a three-month temporary bail to self-proclaimed godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case. Earlier, on January 7, the Supreme Court had granted him interim bail until March 31 in connection with a rape case filed by the Gujarat police. Currently, he is receiving ayurvedic treatment in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

8:56 PM

India, Sri Lanka set to ink major defence pact during PM Modi's Colombo trip

India and Sri Lanka are set to sign a major defense cooperation pact for the first time during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the island nation next week. This move comes as China continues its efforts to expand military influence over Colombo. Both countries are also expected to finalize several bilateral agreements, including one on restructuring Sri Lanka's debt, following talks between Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on April 5.

8:42 PM

ICICI Pru Life Insurance gets Rs 328 cr tax demand notice for FY24

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance on Friday said it has received a demand notice of Rs 328.41 crore for the assessment year 2023-24. The demand notice has been sent by the Assistant Commissioner of Income-Tax, Maharashtra, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said in a regulatory filing.

7:58 PM

US imposes new sanctions on Hezbollah

US govt has imposed new sanctions targeting Hezbollah, said US Treasury department.

7:56 PM

India, US to hold wrap-up session on Saturday on proposed trade pact

India and the visiting US officials have decided to hold a wrap-up session on Saturday morning to conclude the three-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement, government sources told PTI.

6:46 PM

Arunachal Pradesh minister raises funding challenges with FM Sitharaman

Arunachal Pradesh's Minister for Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation, and Land Management, Balo Raja, informed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday about the state's lack of financial assistance from international institutions, allegedly due to China's interference. Raja, along with Itanagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Tame Phassang, met the minister in the national capital.

6:43 PM

RG Kar rape-murder: Cal HC directs CBI to submit case dairy of Kolkata Police

The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit the case diary initially prepared by the Kolkata Police in connection with the rape-murder of an on-duty doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. A single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh also instructed the CBI to present a list of individuals interviewed in the case at the next hearing scheduled for April 23.

6:34 PM

India imported gold from 48 countries in 2023-24: Govt to RS

India imported gold from 48 countries during the 2023-24 financial year, with varying import duties on the metal due to the nation's strategic trade interests under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Parliament was informed on Friday. In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada stated that the country imposes import duties on gold either based on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle or under FTA provisions.

5:57 PM

India's CAD widens to $11.5 bn in Q3, shows RBI data

India's CAD widens to $11.5 billion, or 1.1 per cent of GDP, in Q3, 2024-25 from $10.4 billion in year-ago period, as per RBI data

5:26 PM

Interest rates on small savings schemes remain unchanged for April-June qtr

Interest rates on small savings schemes like PPF, NSC remain unchanged for April-June quarter, read a govt notification.

5:20 PM

India's efforts, innovation, opinion receiving from the world today: PM

Importance India's efforts, innovation, opinion receiving from the world today never happened earlier, said PM Modi.

5:15 PM

Core sector growth slows down to 2.9% in Feb

India's core sector growth slows down to 2.9 per cent in February 2025 as against 7.1 per cent in same month last year, as per govt data.

 

4:40 PM

Siliguri police use water cannons, tear gas shells to disperse DYFI cadres staging a protest

Police in Siliguri use water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse DYFI cadres who are holding a protest march towards Uttarkanya, Mini secretariat, alleging corruption in the state and demanding employment. Police have put barricades to stop the protesters.