LIVE: Our initiatives make Quad a force for global good, says PM Modi

Modi will also inaugurate the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) via video conferencing today. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

The first Quad summit of the leaders of the US, India, Australia and Japan on Friday will likely result in them announcing a historic agreement to expand the Covid-19 vaccine capacity and a key climate change initiative, according to senior officials involved in the major foreign policy initiative of the Biden administration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga are attending the virtual summit, which is the first conclave of the top leaders of the Quadrilateral alliance.
 

The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran said that the party will release its election manifesto for the April 6 Assembly elections at a public function. The alliance partner of AMMK, AIMIM leader and Member of Parliament, Asadudin Owaisi will take part in the function.

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

8:41 PM

Latest News: NMDC board okays interim dividend of Rs 7.76 per share for FY21

Mining giant NMDC on Friday said its board has approved an interim dividend of Rs 7.76 per share for the current financial year.

 

The decision was taken at a board meeting on Thursday, the company said in a filing to the BSE.

 

"The board of directors at a meeting held on March 11, inter alia, declared an interim dividend at the rate of Rs 7.76 paise per equity share of face value of Re 1 each for the financial year 2020-21," it said.

 

NMDC further said the interim dividend shall be paid or dispatched as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.

8:25 PM

Latest News LIVE: Congress to contest in 91 seats in Kerala assembly elections

Congress party will be contesting in 91 seats in Kerala assembly elections. All seats will be announced by AICC by the day after tomorrow. Seat sharing among UDF partners completed, says Congress leader Ramesh Chenithalla

 

8:19 PM

Latest News: CBI, ED issue summons to TMC leaders, ex-MPs in ponzi scam cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday issued summons to Trinamool Congress leaders Partha Chatterjee and Madan Mitra respectively in connection with separate ponzi scam cases, sources in the agencies said.

 

The ED also summoned former TMC Rajya Sabha members

 

businessman Swapan Sadhan Bose and journalist Ahmed Hassan Imran - in connection with a case.

8:17 PM

Latest News: Sena stalling BMC sewage treatment project, says Mumbai Congress chief

A sewage treatment project vital to Mumbai is being delayed for almost two decades now by the Shiv Sena that controls the BMC, said Congress leader Bhai Jagtap on Friday.

 

Incidentally, the Sena and the Congress are in an alliance along with the NCP at the state level but the parties are likely to fight the metropolis' civic polls, slated for next year, independently.

8:00 PM

Govt needs to get max advantage out of Quad grouping, share it with country: Congress

The Congress on Friday asserted that India needs to get maximum advantage of the Quad grouping and said the government should share with the country the benefits that will be accrued from it.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the first Quad summit on Friday, which will be attended virtually by US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

 

According to sources, the most significant among the deliverables envisaged in the historic summit of leaders of the Quad countries is a coronavirus vaccine initiative that will allow new manufacturing capacity to be added in India for export to the Indo-Pacific region.

7:49 PM

Latest News: India, China hold in-depth talks on addressing remaining issues in eastern Ladakh

India and China on Friday held "in-depth" discussions on addressing the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, holding that disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake provided a good basis to work towards their early resolution.

 

The two countries also agreed during the parleys that in the interim they should continue to maintain stability at ground level and prevent any untoward incident. The talks were held under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the two sides agreed to maintain close communication and dialogue through both the diplomatic and military channels and agreed to convene the 11th round of military talks at an early date.

7:27 PM

Indo-Pacific will shape the destiny of the world in the 21st Century, says Australian PM at Quad Summit

It's the Indo-Pacific that'll now shape the destiny of the world in the 21st Century. As four leaders of great democracies in Indo-Pacific, let our partnership be an enabler of peace, stability & prosperity and to do so inclusively with many nations in the region: Australian PM

7:25 PM

The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, says Joe Biden at Quad summit

The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and i look forward to working closely with all the leaders, says Joe Biden at Quad Summit.

7:23 PM

United States is committed to work for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, says Joe Biden

United States is committed to work for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, says Joe Biden at Quad Summit

7:18 PM

We will work together closely as ever before for advancing shared values, says Modi at Quad summit

I see this positive vision as an extension of India's ancient philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' which regards the world as one family. We will work together closely as ever before for advancing shared values and promoting secular, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, PM Modi tells Quad summit

7:17 PM

Quad will remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region, says PM Modi

Quad has come of age and will remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region: PM Modi during First Quad Leaders’ Virtual Summit

7:16 PM

LIVE: Our initiatives make Quad a force for global good, says PM Modi at Quad Summit

LIVE: Our agenda today covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies makes the Quad a force for global good

7:09 PM

LIVE: PM Modi takes part in the first Quad leaders’ virtual summit

LIVE: PM Modi takes part in the first Quad leaders’ virtual summit

6:54 PM

CM Mamata Banerjee discharged with appropriate instructions: Doctors

CM Mamata Banerjee has responded well to the treatment. She has been discharged with appropriate instructions, due to her repeated requests. She has been advised to review after 7 days: SSKM Hospital, Kolkata

6:29 PM

TMC trying to stir political crisis in Bengal by floating conspiracy theories on Nandigram incident: BJP

The BJP on Friday accused the TMC of trying to stir a political crisis in West Bengal by floating conspiracy theories on the March 10 Nandigram incident, in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured, as the ruling party in the state "is losing ground from under its feet".

 

Asserting that the BJP has demanded a full-fledged inquiry into the incident and wished a speedy recovery of Banerjee so that she can participate in her electoral campaigning, party spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said even senior TMC leaders are "distorting the state administration's version" of the incident to give credence to the conspiracy angle for political gains.