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Ex-Coal India top brass seek PM Modi's help to revise stagnant pensions

Several former top brass of Coal India Ltd (CIL), its subsidiaries and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd have sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to revise retired employees' pension, pointing out that it "remains constant forever". Former CIL director (technical) Binay Dayal, a signatory of the letter, on Tuesday said 75 former chairpersons, managing directors and directors of the PSUs have written to the prime minister over the issue. In the March 23 letter, the former top executives said the pension fixed at the time of retirement remains "constant forever without any adjustment for rise in prices", leaving many retired miners struggling. They alleged mismanagement of the Coal Mines Pension Scheme (CMPS)-1998 corpus and suboptimal investment decisions as the root cause of the pension amount remaining static, pointing out that the Public Accounts Committee had highlighted these shortcomings in its 12th report. Despite the government's stated commitment to review and

Iran names ex-IRGC commander as top security official after Larijani death

Iran named a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander as the new secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council on Tuesday, replacing Ali Larijani, who was killed in an airstrike. Iranian state television identified the new secretary as Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. Zolghadr reached the rank of brigadier general in the Guard. He had been serving as the secretary of Iran's Expediency Council.

India veg oil refiners cut purchases, expect conflict-driven rally to fade

India, which meets nearly two-thirds of its vegetable oil needs through imports, brought in an average 1.36 million metric tons a month in the marketing year that ended in October 2025

Rupee gains 0.1% to 93.86 after 3 day slide, traders remain cautious

The ‌rupee nudged up 0.1 per cent to end the session at 93.8650, from its close at 93.9750 in the previous session

West Asia conflict: Trump pauses strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said there were no talks with US and that stance on the Strait of Hormuz, as well as conditions to end the war, did not change

Oil prices not high enough to cause demand destruction: US energy chief

Oil prices have climbed to multi-year highs and fuel prices in the US are sur- ging, creating potential trouble for President Donald Trump's Republican party ahead of the mid-term elections

Two more Indian LPG tankers cross Hormuz, set to reach India in two days

Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a day's supply of the country's cooking gas, have safely navigated through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores over the next two days. LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing close to each other, started from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning before crossing the strait, ship tracking data showed. The two ships are carrying 92,612 tonnes of LPG, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, at a news briefing. "The movement has started." The tankers are likely to reach Indian ports between March 26 and March 28. The vessels have 33 and 27 Indian seafarers onboard, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Both the LPG tankers sailed through waters between Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands -- possibly to make their identity clear to Iranian authorities before they cross the strait, ship tracking data showed. The two ships were am

Strikes on Gulf energy infra spark fears of prolonged global impact

This new phase of the war began Wednesday, when Iran carried out a retaliatory missile strike on Ras Laffan, Qatar's vast energy complex

American Maritime Strategy in Indian Ocean: Tracing US' post-Cold War shift

The author argues, "Supply chains and critical technologies, such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, are becoming increasingly important to emerging nations in the IOR

Taco Bell, Dunkin franchisee to pay $1.5 million in NYC scheduling case

In December, New York City announced that Starbucks would pay $38.9 million to settle claims it violated the city's scheduling law

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 ...