A worker fills jerrycans with diesel at a fuel station in KolkataIndian state refiners have dropped shutdown plans for April in a sign of the widening impact of Japan's crisis on global oil markets, and calls for Reliance to be allowed to sell domestically from its export-focused plant revive.BPCL Chairman RK Singh said his firm has decided to defer a planned April shutdown of units at its plants, while Hindustan Petroleum is also considering delaying maintenance from April.The country's diesel demand, which peaks in the summer, is expected to be even higher this year as five key states hold elections from April and the fuel will be used extensively in transport on top of power generation.(Pictures by Reuters)

March 21: Snapshots for the day


Employees of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) work at the bourse in Tokyo

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett believes Japan&#39;s devastating earthquake is the kind of extraordinary event that creates a buying opportunity for shares in Japanese companies.

Japan, the world&#39;s third-largest economy, has been battling to bring an overheating nuclear plant under control after it was battered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that rattled global markets and prompted massive intervention in currency markets by the Group of Seven industrial nations.

Employees of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) work at the bourse in Tokyo

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett believes Japan&#39;s devastating earthquake is the kind of extraordinary event that creates a buying opportunity for share

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg walks through Facebook headquarters California

Facebook has agreed to buy Snaptu, an application developer for mobile devices that are less sophisticated than smartphones, as the world&#39;s largest Internet social network focuses on expanding its mobile services.

Facebook will pay up to $70 million for the London-based Snaptu, according to the Israeli newspapers Calcalist and The Marker.

Snaptu confirmed the deal, which is expected to close in a few weeks, on its website on Sunday.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg walks through Facebook headquarters California

Facebook has agreed to buy Snaptu, an application developer for mobile devices that are less sophisticated than smartphones, as the world&#39;s largest In

A woman walks past the Essar headquarters building in Mumbai

London-listed Essar Energy today said it expects to sign by month-end a deal to acquire Royal Dutch Shell&#39;s Stanlow refinery in northwest England for $350 million.

The company, announcing financial results for 2010 full year, in a press statement, said it is "expecting to sign deal to acquire Stanlow, the UK&#39;s second biggest refinery, from Shell over the next 10 days, by March 31."

"Acquisition price will be $350 million plus inventory at cost price," Essar said.

A woman walks past the Essar headquarters building in Mumbai

London-listed Essar Energy today said it expects to sign by month-end a deal to acquire Royal Dutch Shell&#39;s Stanlow refinery in northwest England for $350 million.

Rebel fighters gesture in front of burning vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after an air strike by coalition forces along a road between Benghazi and Ajdabiyah

Political unrest plaguing West Asia and North Africa (MENA) region will delay planned deals with activity seen flat versus last year, Standard Chartered&#39;s regional heads for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) said.

Apoorva Shah and Ralf Pilarczyk, M&A managing directors for the MENA region, said the current unrest has quelled appetite for activity and more deals may be delayed despite the region offering immense potential over the long-term.

Rebel fighters gesture in front of burning vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after an air strike by coalition forces along a road between Benghazi and Ajdabiyah

Political unrest plaguing West Asia