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

6:27 PM

Latest News: Investor wealth tumbles Rs 1.37 trillion

Investor wealth tumbled Rs 1.37 lakh crore on Friday as markets declined, snapping their three-session rising streak.

 

The 30-share BSE Sensex closed at 50,792.08, lower by 487.43 points or 0.95 per cent. During the trade, it plunged 741.08 points to 50,538.43.

 

Following the weak sentiment, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies tanked by Rs 1,37,590.62 crore to Rs 2,07,89,062.84 crore.

 

"Indian markets failed to hold on to its strong start as rising bond yield countered positive sentiments," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

6:02 PM

Latest News: 'No arrangement or agreements finalised': Tata Power on Tesla tie up

Tata Sons' power generation unit, Tata Power on Friday clarified that no arrangement or agreements have been finalised with Tesla Inc for setting up Electric Vehicle (EV) infra unit in India as reported in the media.

 

"Our EV charging business are constantly examining and exploring various growth opportunities of the business. No arrangement or agreements have been finalised as reported in the media," it said in a stock exchange filing

5:21 PM

PM Modi to address the Global Ayurveda Festival at around 8:45 pm today

5:08 PM

Latest News: India fifth most attractive growth destination after UK: Survey

India has emerged as the fifth most attractive growth destination, slipping one position after being surpassed by the United Kingdom, according to a global survey of CEOs.

 

The United States is the number one market that CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) are looking to in terms of growth over the next 12 months and China is at the second spot.

 

The findings are part of leading consultancy PwC's 24th Annual Global CEO Survey that covered 5,050 CEOs in 100 countries and territories, including India.

4:56 PM

Latest News: EU set to sanction Chinese officials over human rights abuses

Senior European Union leaders have agreed to target China with sanctions over its human rights abuses, blacklisting four people and one entity in Xinjiang, according to several diplomats.

 

The EU will be imposing sanctions on Chinese officials for the first time since the infamous 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, after long negotiations this week once again exposed the bloc's divisions on how to approach Beijing, according to Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

 

The sanctions have been imposed due to Beijing's actions in Xinjiang, especially with Uyghur Muslims that have been labelled by the US and some European countries as genocide. They include a travel ban and asset freezes.

4:46 PM

India's oil demand falls 5% in February

India's fuel consumption fell for the second month in a row in February to its lowest since September as record-high prices hindered demand recovery.

 

Petroleum product consumption fell 4.9 per cent to 17.21 million tonnes in February as demand for both petrol and diesel fell, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

 

Petrol and diesel prices across the country rose to their highest levels last month before state-owned fuel retailers put on hold any further price increase ostensibly to contain political fallout for the ruling party in the ensuing assembly elections in states like West Bengal.

4:45 PM

Officials associated with governments cannot work as SECs, says SC

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court Friday held that a person employed with the government cannot work as state election commissioners (SECs) and came down on the Goa government for giving its Law Secretary the additional charge of the SEC.

 

The apex court said the state poll panels shall be headed by independent persons who do not hold any office under the state government and if they hold any such offices, then they have to resign before taking charge of SEC.

 

The top court said election commissioners have to be independent persons and no state can appoint a person who holds any office with the government.

 

A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman also directed the Goa state election body to issue the notification for the local body polls within 10 days from today and complete the election process by April 30.

4:36 PM

Latest News: Cement sector expected to grow over 10% in 2021, says ACC

The domestic cement industry is likely to witness a growth rate of over 10 per cent in 2021 on account of demand revival, according to ACC Ltd.

 

The government's spending on big infrastructure projects and affordable housing schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) with enhanced budgetary allocations would be "primary drivers of growth" for the cement industry, it said.

 

The cement industry had witnessed a de-growth of 10-12 per cent due to the Covid-related disruptions.

4:29 PM

ECI might punish police personnel in charge of Mamata's security for lapse in Nandigram: Official

The Election Commission of India (ECI) might punish police personnel in charge of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's security for a lapse leading to her injury during campaigning in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, a senior election official said on Friday.

 

The ECI is waiting for reports from the state government and the two observers appointed for the upcoming assembly elections before deciding on the punishment, he said.

 

"There was definitely a lapse on the part of the police personnel who were in charge of the chief minister's security. Anyone shouldn't penetrate the security circle around the CM. We are waiting for reports from the state government and the observers before taking a decision," the ECI official told PTI.

4:28 PM

Latest News: Tesla in talks with Tata Power for EV charging infrastructure: Report

Tesla Inc is exploring an arrangement with Indian conglomerate Tata Sons' power generation unit, Tata Power, to set up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the country, CNBC-TV18 reported on Friday, citing sources.

 

Shares of Tata Power rose 5.5% to their best closing level since June 9, 2014 after the report, which comes as the Palo Alto-based electric-car maker gears up for an India launch later this year with plans to import and sell its Model 3 electric sedan in India.

4:22 PM

LIVE: It is our dream to host the 2048 Olympics, says Delhi CM Kejriwal

4:21 PM

Latest News: Indian Overseas Bank gets new executive director

Public sector lender Indian Overseas Bank got a new executive director on Friday.

 

Prior to the new role, S Srimathy was Chief Vigilance Officer of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), a press release from the Chennai- headquartered bank said.

 

Beginning her career as a probationary officer at Canara Bank in November 1986, Srimathy has over 34 years of experience across verticals, including branch operations, mid and large credits, human resources and risk management, among others.

4:12 PM

Latest News: FinMin to infuse Rs 14,500 crore in banks under PCA soon: Report

The finance ministry is likely to infuse Rs 14,500 crore mainly in the banks that are under the RBI's prompt corrective action framework in the next few days to improve their financial health.

 

Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India and UCO Bank are currently under this framework that puts several restrictions on them, including on lending, management compensation and directors' fees.

4:05 PM

Cooperation between countries should not target others: China on Quad meet

Ahead of the Quad summit on Friday, China said exchanges and cooperation between countries should contribute to mutual understanding rather than targeting a third party and refrain from pursuing exclusive blocs.

 

US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will attend the virtual summit, which is the first conclave of the top leaders of the Quadrilateral alliance, on Friday.

3:55 PM

Latest News: Clean environment basic right of citizens, says NGT

A clean environment is a basic right of citizens and the plea of non-availability of funds cannot be an excuse for not ensuring it, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said while rapping the Uttarakhand government over waste disposal dump yards illegally set up on the bank of the Khoh river in Kotdwar.

 

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said in view of the repeated failures of the state, a case is made out for taking coercive action against its senior officers, including the secretary, urban development, for violation of statutory rules, which is a punishable criminal offence, and also to require payment of compensation for the continuing damage to the environment, with a direction to recover from the erring officers.