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12:52 PM

Ex-President Pratibha Patil's husband Dr Devisingh R. Shekhawat passes away, funeral today

Academician and politician, Dr Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat - the husband of former President Pratibha Patil - passed away here on Friday morning, official sources said.

He was 88 and breathed his last at the KEM Hospital. He is survived by his ex-President wife, a son Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, who is a Congress leader, and a daughter Jyoti Rathod.

According to the sources, Shekhawat had a fall while on a morning constitutional outside their house lawns in Pune on February 12.

12:47 PM

Amazon to join ONDC with logistics, SmartCommerce services

Amazon on Friday announced that it will integrate its logistics network (from pickup to delivery) and SmartCommerce services with the government's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

This will be Amazon's initial collaboration with ONDC as the company continue to explore other potential opportunities for stronger integration between the two in future.

"We are excited about the opportunities to mobilise Amazon's industry-leading infrastructure and technology, including logistics, and small business digitisation tools, to help the ONDC accelerate its objectives. We remain committed to being a catalyst for India's digitisation efforts throughout the economy," Manish Tiwary, Country Manager, India Consumer Business, Amazon India, said in a statement.

12:46 PM

NSE Indices launches Nifty India Municipal Bond Index

NSE Indices Ltd, an NSE arm, on Friday said it has launched the country's first ever municipal bond index.

 

The new Nifty India Municipal Bond Index will track the performance of municipal bonds issued by Indian municipal corporations across maturities and having investment grade credit rating, NSE Indices said in a statement.

 

The index was launched at a Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) workshop on Municipal Debt Securities in Bengaluru.

12:45 PM

Taking collective call on CWC polls: Cong president Kharge

As the Congress' steering committee started discussions on whether to hold elections for the party's working committee or not, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged the members to freely express themselves and take a collective call on the crucial decision.

 

The steering committee which replaced the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the top decision-making body of the party, started discussions at the beginning of the 85th plenary session here and approved the agenda for the three-day conclave, sources said.

 

12:37 PM

NCLAT stays insolvency proceedings against Zee

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Friday stayed the insolvency proceedings against media major Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL).

 

Admitting a plea by ZEEL Managing Director and chief executive Punit Goenka, a two-member NCLAT bench stayed the order passed by the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

 

On Wednesday, NCLT admitted a insolvency plea against ZEEL by private sector lender IndusInd Bank and also appointed Sanjeev Kumar Jalan as the resolution professional in the matter.

12:35 PM

Full emergency declared at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

A full emergency was declared at the International Airport here on Friday after a Dammam-bound flight from Calicut was diverted to the state capital due to suspected hydraulic failure.

 

The fight landed at the airport at 12.15 PM, according to airport sources.

 

The sources said the tail part of the Air-India Express IX 385, carrying 182 passengers, hit the runway during take-off from the Calicut international Airport in the morning.

 

12:34 PM

Congress used Northeast as ATM, BJP considers eight states 'Ashtalakshmi': Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday claimed that the Congress used Northeast as an ATM, while the BJP considers the eight states of the region as 'Ashtalakshmi' (eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi) and is working for its peace and development.

 

Addressing an election rally in Dimapur, he said the NDA is striving to bring permanent peace in Nagaland so that Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is completely lifted from the state.

12:30 PM

Agriculture budget rises 5 times in 9 years to over Rs 1.25 trillion: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Union Budget 2023-24, like in the previous 8-9 years, focuses on the agriculture sector, and steps are being taken to reduce India's import dependence on oilseeds and edible oils.

 

Addressing a post-budget webinar with stakeholders of agriculture and cooperative sectors, the Prime Minister said India's agriculture budget has increased many-folds to Rs 1.25 trillion.

12:16 PM

Regulators now gear up to probe Google Maps in potential anti-trust case

After facing an intense scrutiny of its Search and advertising businesses, Google is reportedly facing another potential probe from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) -- this time a potential anti-trust investigation into Maps.

 

According to a report in Politico, Justice Department antitrust lawyers are working to target Google's vast mapping business, focusing on the company's control of digital maps and location data.

12:04 PM

1-year of Russia Ukraine war, EU ambassador pay tribute to victims

11:56 AM

Want Conservative Party-led government to do well in election: Liz Truss

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss Friday parried a query on her successor Rishi Sunak's performance but stressed that she wants the Conservative Party government in the island nation to do well in the next election.

 

At the ABP Network's Ideas of India Summit here, Truss was asked about her opinion on Sunak's performance as prime minister. Look, I am a Conservative. I support the Conservative government.

11:44 AM

Our aim for Khalistan shouldn't be seen as evil: Amritpal Singh

11:34 AM

No incident of violence in Nagaland during elections after decades, says PM Modi

After many decades, there was no incident of violence during Assembly elections in Tripura as there is a BJP government in the state: PM Narendra Modi in Dimapur, Nagaland

Work is underway to connect Kohima with railways. Once connected with railways, it will increase the ease of living and ease of doing business here. From tourism to technology and sports to startups, GoI helping the youth of Nagaland

11:24 AM

PM Modi to visit poll-bound Meghalaya today, hold roadshow in Shillong

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Meghalaya on Friday and will take part in a roadshow in Shillong. Security has been beefed up in Shillong in view of PM Modi's visit.

 

The roadshow will start at Central Library and end at the Police Bazar where he will address a public meeting.

11:15 AM

India saved over 3.4 mn lives during Covid through vaccination: Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday hailed India's response to the COVID pandemic and said that the country was able to save over 3.4 million lives by undertaking the nationwide vaccination campaign at an unprecedented scale.

 

The Health Minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during the pandemic and said that he initiated a "preemptive response" much before COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, by the WHO