LIVE: CBI raids in 11 states in connection with Rs 3,700-cr bank frauds

Army's evaluation process affects women seeking permanent commission, says Supreme Court. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

2:22 AM

Biden says it's his expectation' to run again

President Joe Biden says it's his “expectation” that he'll run for reelection in 2024.
 

Biden is 78 and already the oldest president to hold office. He would be 82 at the start of a second term.
 

Biden was asked at the first news conference of his presidency whether he thought he could face a rematch against Donald Trump.
 

Biden scoffed at the question. “Oh, I don't even think about it,” Biden said. “I have no idea.”
 

2:21 AM

Sachin Pilot to visit Assam to campaign for assembly polls

Congress leader Sachin Pilot will visit Assam to campaign for the upcoming assembly elections, a statement said on Thursday.
 

Pilot will be on a tour of the northeastern state on March 28 where he will address election meetings.
 

He will attend road shows and address rallies in Silchar and Karimganj in support of the party's candidates.
 

2:19 AM

Israel polls: No clear winner as final results confirm deadlock

There was no clear winner in Israel's election as final results were declared on Thursday, making the road to the government formation even more bumpy for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
 

The country's Central Elections Committee confirmed a political deadlock, which means neither Netanyahu nor his rivals have straightforward Knesset majority and possibly heralds 5th vote in 2.5 years, The Times of Israel reported.
 

Mansour Abbas, an Arab leader in Israel seems to have emerged as the unusual "kingmaker" whose possible support has split open differences not only in the ruling Likud party, but also in its right-wing coalition.
 

Netanyahu's Likud party has emerged as the largest party, with all votes counted in Israel's unprecedented fourth election in less than two years. However, it still does not have a clear path to a 61-seat majority needed to form a coalition in the 120 member Knesset (Israeli Parliament).
 

The anti-Netanyahu bloc, comprising left, right and centrist factions which is boosted by some "friends turn foes" determined to oust Israel's longest-serving premier, is also short of a majority in a highly-divided Israeli political spectrum.
 

Most of the analysts predicted a Netanyahu-led coalition, based on the exit polls on Tuesday, with the support of Yamina party led by former defence minister Naftali Bennett, who has not declared his support for anyone but his political inclination is more likely to draw him towards the Prime Minister led right-wing bloc.
 

8:57 PM

Latest News: China says it firmly opposes Quad alliance

China said on Thursday that it was firmly opposed to the Quad alliance consisting of the US, India, Australia and Japan as it asked Washington to refrain from making "troubles out of nothing" and do more to contribute to regional peace and stability.

 

Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defence, made the remarks at an online media briefing when asked about the recent Quad summit and reported statement by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stating that Quad leaders discussed the "challenges" posed by China and they had no illusions about it.

 

China is firmly opposed to the Quad alliance consisting of the US, India, Australia and Japan, Ren said.

8:49 PM

Latest News: BSNL, MTNL to get spectrum for 5G services without participating in auction

The government will administratively allocate spectrum to telecom public sector units BSNL and MTNL for 5G and future services, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed Parliament on Thursday.

 

He said allocation of spectrum to BSNL and MTNL will be done on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services.

 

"Government also approved to administratively allot spectrum for providing 5G services to BSNL/MTNL, spectrum for maintaining current operations and future services on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services," Prasad said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

8:34 PM

Latest News: Centre set to introduce single-window clearance for investors by Apr 15, says DPIIT Secy

As part of furthering the ease of doing business in the country, the government is set to introduce a single-window clearance mechanism for investors by mid-April in order to attract greater foreign investment, a senior official said on Thursday.

 

The single-window portal will integrate the existing clearance systems of various central and state departments.

 

"A lot of hand-holding, a lot of investor support (is being provided) and we are also going to launch a national single window for the investors. We are targeting April 15 for that launch," Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra said at the Times Network India Economic Conclave.

 

All central government departments and 14 state governments, to begin with, will be part of the system, he said.

8:24 PM

LIVE: CBI searches over 100 places in 11 states in nationwide special drive

In a nationwide special drive, CBI today conducted searches at over 100 places in 11 states, UTs in connection with more than 30 cases of bank fraud amounting to over Rs 3,700 crores: CBI

8:16 PM

LIVE: SC order on plea seeking stay on sale of electoral bonds tomorrow

Supreme Court to pronounce its order tomorrow on a plea seeking a stay on sale of fresh electoral bonds ahead of state assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry

8:13 PM

Latest News: Reliance Retail tells govt e-commerce players bypassing foreign investment norms

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail on Thursday told the government that complex legal structures have been used by some firms to bypass the country's e-commerce rules which from the very beginning do not allow foreign capital in the inventory-based model.

 

At a meeting called by the commerce ministry on allegations that foreign online retailers created complex structures to bypass foreign investment rules and damage small traders, Amazon urged the government not to issue any clarification until investigations into its business practices had been concluded, sources said.

8:03 PM

Latest News: Africa's elephants now just a step away from extinction

Increasing threats of poaching and loss of habitat have made Africa's elephant populations more endangered, according to a report released Thursday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

 

The African forest elephant is critically endangered, and the African savanna elephant is endangered. The two species had previously been grouped together as a single species and were classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.

 

The number of African forest elephants has fallen by more than 86% over a 31-year period, while the population of savanna elephants dropped by more than 60% over a 50-year period, according to the IUCN, which rates the global extinction risks to the world's animals.

8:01 PM

Latest News: Barbeque Nation IPO subscribed 1.98 times on Day 2

The initial public offer of Barbeque Nation Hospitality Limited was subscribed 1.98 times on the second day of subscription on Thursday.

 

The Rs 453-crore issue received bids for 98,75,790 shares against 49,99,609 shares on offer, as per NSE data.

 

The category meant for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) was subscribed 37 per cent, non-institutional investors 10 per cent and retail individual investors (RIIs) 9.66 times.

 

The initial public offer comprises a fresh issue of Rs 180 crore and an offer for sale of 54,57,470 equity shares.

 

Price range for the offer is at Rs 498-500 per share.

7:58 PM

Latest News: Naxals torch 12 vehicles in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon

7:53 PM

Latest News: Investment climate going well in India; private sector should skill workforce, says CEA

The investment climate is going well in India and the private sector should skill their workforce in the interest of its business, Chief Economic Advisor K V Subramanian said on Thursday asserting thathe doesnot foresee any difficulty in demand and supply of the workforce.

 

Addressing 'Times Network India Economic Conclave', Subramanian further said job creation is part of the virtuous cycle that starts with private investments flowing into the country resulting in production, growth, job creation and increase in aggregate demand which in turn leads to more investments in the economy.

 

The investment climate is going well in India. Other things will follow, though with a lag...it is for the private sector to start recognising that it is in their own business interest that they should skill their workforce. This, in turn, will raise the average level of skills in India, he said.

7:40 PM

Latest News: Oil drops as demand concerns outweigh Suez disruption

Oil prices fell on Thursday as a new round of coronavirus restrictions in Europe revived worries about demand, even as tug boats struggled to move a stranded container ship blocking crude oil carriers in the Suez Canal.

 

Brent crude slid $1.69, or 2.6 per cent, to $62.72 a barrel at 1340 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped by $1.86, or 3 per cent, to $59.32 a barrel.

 

Both contracts jumped about 6 per cent on Wednesday after a ship ran aground in the Suez Canal, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes. The Suez Canal Authority said on Thursday it had suspended traffic temporarily while eight tugs work to free the vessel.

 

"We believe that the incident mostly creates noise in the market and should remain without any lasting fundamental impact," said Norbert Rücker, analyst at Julius Baer bank

7:23 PM

Latest News: Chinese military says situation in eastern Ladakh 'eased distinctly'

The Chinese military on Thursday said the situation at eastern Ladakh has "eased distinctly" thanks to the joint efforts with India on the disengagement of troops from the Pangong Lake area but gave no indication about when the pull out will take place from the remaining areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

 

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two countries had completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake last month in line with an agreement on disengagement.

 

But the disengagement is yet to take place in remaining areas along the LAC. The Indian Army has been pitching for a faster disengagement process in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang to bring down tension in the mountainous region.