Page 22 - Bs Reads

Wall Street jumps after Trump delays Iran strikes; oil falls, dollar dips

Global markets staged a sharp recovery after Trump's comments, with Europe's STOXX 600 and precious metals edging up while oil prices fell, signaling improving risk appetite

Trump admin asks Supreme Court to halt DOGE probe, block records access

The justices intervened in the same case last year in favor of the administration, halting CREW's fact-finding push

US, Iran have major points of agreement, deal possible soon: Trump

Trump said his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and close aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner talked to the Iranians on Sunday and that discussions would continue on Monday

OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky dies of cancer at 43, says company

He also runs Leo, a venture capital fund he founded in 2009 that focuses primarily on investments in technology companies

Iranian oil purchases hinge on feasibility, payment route remains unclear

India will consider resuming buying Iranian oil based on techno-commercial feasibility, a senior government official said after Washington temporarily removed sanctions to ease pressure on prices that followed the US-Israeli war on Iran. Historically, India was a major buyer of Iranian crude, importing significant volumes of Iranian Light and Heavy grades due to strong refinery compatibility and favourable commercial terms. Following sanctions tightening in 2018, imports ceased from May 2019, with volumes replaced by Middle Eastern, US and other grades. At peak, Iranian crude accounted for 11.5 per cent of India's total imports. At a news briefing on developments in West Asia, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said techno-commercial feasibility will drive the decision on resuming buying Iranian crude. "It is based on techno-commercial feasibility," she said. Over the weekend, the US waived sanctions on the purchase of Iranian oil at sea fo

Asgard Alcobev appoints Ronak Jain as Managing Director

Asgard Alcobev Ltd on Monday said it has appointed Ronak Jain as new Managing Director. With over 15 years of experience in the liquor and beer industry, Jain is set to drive the company's strategic realignment and long-term growth, a company statement said, adding that the appointment is for a period of five years. Rohit Jain is a seasoned entrepreneur with diversified experience across breweries, distilleries, cement, steel, and allied industries, the company said. The emerging alcoholic beverages manufacturer, previously known as Banganga Paper Industries Ltd, also announced two additional appointments -- Priyanka Jain as Additional Director (Non-Executive) and Binit Singhania as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Finance Director. These appointments underscore Asgard Alcobev's ongoing strategic realignment. Having transitioned from its legacy paper manufacturing business to the alcoholic beverages sector, the company recently acquired a majority stake in CMJ Breweries in ...

IBA suggests blending of 20% biogas in CNG to boost clean mobility in Delhi

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has suggested to the Delhi government that it pursue up to 20 per cent blending of compressed biogas into compressed natural gas, as it can bring gaseous (vehicular) mobility close to carbon neutrality. In a statement, the IBA pointed out that although EV adoption is increasing, EV penetration in the overall vehicle fleet remains limited. Thus, it makes CNG the best choice as a clean fuel because of its negligible particulate emission and significantly lower levels of NOx compared to diesel, it added. The IBA has submitted its recommendations on the Draft Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy to the Delhi government, urging policymakers to adopt an integrated clean mobility approach that combines electric vehicles (EVs), CNG, and CBG to deliver immediate and scalable emissions reductions. The IBA pointed out that the existing infrastructure for the supply of CNG, including pipelines, dispensing stations, and millions of vehicles that run on this fuel, ...

Centre asks states to curb coal profiteering amid West Asia crisis

The Centre has directed states to prevent small coal retailers from profiteering from the West Asia crisis, as global energy disruptions threaten to ripple into domestic fuel markets. Talking with reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said, "Our secretary (coal) has talked to Chief Secretaries of all states. I have written letters to Chief Ministers yesterday. There is no coal shortage and there is no scope for an increase in domestic coal prices". The minister further said that if coal prices increase, it is the responsibility of the state governments to take action. "We have asked states to keep an eye on coal prices and not let the retailers of coal profit from the ongoing crisis.. The Prime Minister has clearly instructed that coal prices should not increase, and therefore the government has taken proactive measures. "No decision has been taken on increasing coal prices. Coal prices should not increase," the minister explained. Th

Earthquake of 4.1 magnitude hits Nepal's Bajhang, no damages reported

A earthquake of 4.1 magnitude hit the Nepal's Sudurpaschim province on Monday afternoon. There was no immediate reports of any loss of life or damage to property. According to the Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the tremor was recorded at 1:14 pm. The epicentre of the quake was located near the Rayal area of Bajhang. Tremors were also felt by residents in neighbouring districts, including Bajura and Baitadi. A 4-magnitude earthquake struck the Sudurpaschim province on March 17. The earthquake hit the Sitaula area of the Darchula district, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre. Nepal, which experiences multiple earthquakes in any given year, lies in one of the most active tectonic zones (Seismic zones IV and V), making it extremely vulnerable to earthquakes. The Himalayan nation ranks 11th among the world's most earthquake-prone countries.

SC asks CBI, ED to ensure fair probe into ADAG firms, flags reluctance

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed displeasure over the "reluctance" shown by the CBI and the ED in probing the alleged large-scale banking fraud involving the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and its firms, and directed them to conduct a "fair, dispassionate, transparent, and time-bound" investigation into the matter. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and directed all concerned financial institutions to "render full cooperation to the ED". Hearing a PIL filed by former bureaucrat E A S Sarma seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged loan frauds exceeding Rs 40,000 crore by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) firms led by Anil Ambani, the bench permitted the central probe agencies to approach it in case there is any reluctance on the part of other government ...

Govt to deploy 10,000 AC E-buses in 116 cities by 2027; 35,000 more planned

The government on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that 10,000 air-conditioned e-buses would be provided to 116 cities across 26 states/UTs by the end of 2027 under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, and a new scheme would be launched thereafter to provide another 35,000 e-buses. Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on August 16, 2023, announced that the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme to provide mobility in smaller cities and tackle rising pollution. Since states were unable to provide adequate finance for e-buses, a target of a total of 10,000 buses was put under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme for towns with a population between 3 lakh and 40 lakh, he said. The minister said states were told to give their demands, and a selection criterion was laid down, and buses were sanctioned on the recommendations of coordination committees. "Out of 178 cities eligible, 116 cities participated, and they were allot

FAI seeks govt relief for urea producers amid gas curbs, supply fears

Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) has urged the government to provide financial relief to urea producers hit by gas supply disruptions, warning that production shortfalls and a separate packaging materials crunch could disrupt fertiliser supplies ahead of the crucial kharif season. In a letter to the government, FAI called for energy cost reimbursements and penalty waivers for plants operating under constrained gas supplies, citing extraordinary circumstances stemming from the ongoing geopolitical crisis. Fertiliser plants are classified under Priority Sector-2 in the Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order notified on March 9, 2026, which allocates them 70 per cent of their six-month average consumption. FAI said the restriction was squeezing production at plants operating under the New Urea Policy 2025, modified NPS III and NIP 2012 frameworks. The industry body sought the government to recognise actual energy consumption or applicable energy norms - whichever is higher - during

Taking steps to address West Asia conflict's impact on flight ops: Govt

The financial implications of the West Asia conflict on the flight operations are evolving and appropriate measures are being taken in consultation with airlines and other stakeholders, the civil aviation ministry said on Monday. The escalating conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran that started on February 28 has significantly hit operations of airlines in and through the West Asia region. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the Rajya Sabha that the situation arising from the closure of the West Asian air corridor and its impact on flight operations was being closely monitored by the ministry. "The associated financial implications are evolving and appropriate measures are being taken as required by the ministry in consultation with airlines and other stakeholders," he said in a written reply. According to him, the ministry is in constant coordination with airlines and closely monitoring airfares to ensure that ticket prices remain reasonable and that th

India's strategic oil reserves at 64% capacity, govt informs Rajya Sabha

India's strategic oil reserves, designed to provide cover for about 9.5 days of supplies during disruptions or price shocks, are currently sitting at only two-thirds capacity, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday. India, the world's third-largest energy consumer and heavily dependent on imports for about 88 per cent of its crude oil needs, has built strategic underground storage facilities with a total capacity of 5.33 million tonnes across three locations -- Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and Mangaluru and Padur in Karnataka -- to store crude oil used for producing fuels such as petrol and diesel. "Quantity of the crude available in the caverns varies depending on market conditions," Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said in a written reply in the Upper House. "Currently, ISPRL has around 3.372 million tonnes of crude stock available, which is around 64 per cent of the total storage capacity." Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL) is the speci

Hindustan Foods to acquire Ultra Beauty Care unit for ₹19.9 crore

FMCG contract manufacturer Hindustan Foods Ltd on Monday announced the acquisition of ayurvedic, herbal beauty care and cosmetic products facility of Ultra Beauty Care Pvt Ltd in Maharashtra for Rs 19.9 crore. The company has executed a Business Transfer Agreement (BTA) on March 23, 2026 with Ultra Beauty Care Pvt Ltd and its authorised representatives, for acquisition of the business undertaking at C-15, Five Star Industrial Area MIDC Shendra, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Hindustan Foods Ltd (HFL) said in a regulatory filing. The acquisition is in line with HFL's strategy to enter contract manufacturing and expansion of its business into a comprehensive range of ayurvedic, herbal beauty care and cosmetic products, it added. The company identified the facility as a suitable acquisition target because it is into contract manufacturing of a comprehensive range of ayurvedic, herbal beauty care and cosmetic products. On the value of acquisition, HFL said it will be acquired for a cash ...

Strait of Hormuz open to friendly nations: Iran's envoy to Sri Lanka

The Strait of Hormuz remains open to friendly countries, the Iranian envoy to Sri Lanka said on Monday, stressing that Tehran is ready to supply oil or other essential goods to the island nation if the need arises. The conflict in West Asia, involving the US, Israel, and Iran, has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which 20 per cent of the world's energy is transported. Iran, which controls the Strait of Hormuz, has allowed very few ships to cross it since the conflict started on February 28. Addressing a press conference here, Iran's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alireza Delkhosh said that the key strait remains open to friendly country vessels to pass. "Sri Lanka is our friendly country and as I told you, Hormuz is not closed to our friends like Sri Lanka," he said. "If Sri Lanka demands oil or any other necessary goods, Iran will supply," he added. The conflict, which has roiled global oil markets, entered its fourth week, coinciding with which

India's 17 towns host 575 co-working centres amid rising demand: Study

Co-working operators are expanding their business in tier II cities to meet demand of managed office spaces from corporates, as more than 575 centres, comprising nearly 9 million sq ft area, have been set up across 17 small towns, according to Vestian. US-based real estate consultant Vestian has come out with a report 'Flex Spaces Reshaping Tier II Office Markets', which suggests that India's 17 major tier II cities house more than 575 co-working or flexible workspace centres, representing nearly 29 per cent of the total such facilities across India. In terms of area, these 17 towns have over 8.8 million sq ft of flexible workspace stock, accounting for over 9 per cent of the pan-India flex stock. The average size of the co-working centre is 64 per cent smaller than that of Tier-1 cities. Co-working operators generally take on lease office space from real estate developers and property owners to set up their centres and then sub-lease workspaces to corporates of all sizes. These ..

HZL, Tata Steel tie up to boost low-carbon zinc use in steel manufacturing

Vedanta group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd on Monday said it has partnered with Tata Steel to expand the use of its low-carbon zinc solution, EcoZen, in steel manufacturing. The partnership highlights both firms' resolve to weave climate priorities into their core operations and sourcing strategies. "Hindustan Zinc... has strengthened its longstanding association with Tata Steel to expand the integration of EcoZen, its lowcarbon zinc solution into sustainable steel manufacturing," Hindustan Zinc said in a filing to the BSE. EcoZen is produced using renewable energy and has a verified carbon footprint of less than one tonne of CO equivalent per tonne of zinc -- about 75 per cent lower than the global industry average. By significantly reducing emissions at the raw material stage, EcoZen enables downstream industries to lower value-chain emissions and advance their decarbonisation goals. "Our partnership with Tata Steel is a significant milestone in scaling up the adoption of low-carbon

No proposal for complete farm loan waiver under consideration: Sitharaman

There is no proposal of a complete loan waiver for farmers under consideration with the central government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament on Monday. However, she said, the government has taken several measures to strengthen the economic conditions of the farmers, including timely and adequate credit through Kisan Credit Card (KCC), wherein crop loan up to Rs 3 lakh is provided at subsidised interest rates under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), with additional incentives for timely repayment. Besides, the government has enhanced collateral free short-term agricultural loans, including loans for allied activities, from Rs 1.60 lakh to Rs 2.00 lakh and ensuring adequate flow of credit from the banking system to the priority sectors of the economy, including agriculture, under Priority Sector Lending guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), she said in a reply to the Lok Sabha. Additionally, the government has launched crop insurance

Delhi records lowest PM2.5, PM10 levels since 2015, excluding Covid year

Delhi recorded the lowest yearly average of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 in 2025, barring the Covid year i.e. 2020, according to the economic survey of 2025-26 tabled in the Delhi Assembly by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday. The report, which quotes Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) data, the yearly average of PM10 in 2025 was 209 (measured in micrograms per cubic metre) and that of PM2.5 was 100. This was the lowest since 2015, before which data is not available. In 2020, which was the year of the global Covid pandemic, PM10 yearly average had dropped to 187 but PM2.5 remained at 101, one unit higher than 2025. According to the DPCC data provided, the yearly average of PM10 and PM2.5 in 2024 were 225 and 110 respectively, in 2023 were 219 and 106. The PM10 and PM2.5 yearly average were 223 and 103 in 2022, and were 221 and 113 in 2021, respectively. The report quoted that the year-wise annual mean ambien