LIVE: EC says TMC's letter on Mamata is 'full of insinuations & averments'

The Trinamool Congress chief has a slight fever and has been shifted to a special ward at the hospital's VVIP Woodburn Block soon after the MRI at the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences

5:25 PM

Latest LIVE: Discussed new rules for digital media with online news publishers, says Javadekar

In a follow up to meeting with OTT platforms, held an interaction with Digital News Publishers Association today. Discussed new rules for digital media. They welcomed the new rules and offered few suggestions which I have noted, says Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar

 

5:21 PM

Latest News: 'As long as it lasts' - Rolls-Royce says can weather crisis despite record loss

Rolls-Royce has enough funding to weather the crisis in the aviation industry caused by the pandemic, its chief executive said on Thursday, after the engine maker plunged to a record 4 billion pound ($5.6 billion) underlying loss for 2020.

 

The British company said its cash burn should halve this year, and turn positive in the second half as vaccinations kick in and travellers return to the skies.

 

"The worst is now well behind us," CEO Warren East said.

 

But even if that proves optimistic, Rolls is well placed to cope with more turmoil after a drive to cut costs and raise funds, he added.

5:20 PM

Latest News: Shell's 2020 carbon emissions fall on the back of fuel sales drop

Royal Dutch Shell, owner of the world's largest fuel retail network, said on Thursday its total greenhouse gas emissions dropped 16 per cent in 2020 as oil and gas sales fell sharply due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Shell said in its annual report that total emissions from its oil wells to forecourt fuel sales fell to 1.38 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent last year, from 1.65 billion in 2019.

 

"One of the major causes of this larger than expected reduction in 2020 was lower demand for energy, especially for oil and gas," it said.

 

Energy majors' climate reporting differs in that some emissions data, for example the data Shell released on Thursday, includes planet-warming gases from the combustion of fuels they produce themselves plus the oil products they sell but are produced by another company.

5:11 PM

Trinamool Congress Parliamentary delegation to meet Election Commission on March 12

Trinamool Congress Parliamentary delegation to meet Election Commission in Delhi on March 12 on yesterday's Nandigram incident in which West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee suffered injuries

5:02 PM

Latest News: PM Modi to flag off 'Padyatra' from Sabarmati Ashram on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off a 'Padyatra' (March) from Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat on Friday and launch various initiatives planned under 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav' to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of India's Independence.

 

The padyatra will be joined by different groups of people on the way to Dandi.

 

Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel will lead the first lap of 75 kilometres of the padyatra, which will be undertaken by 81 marchers from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi in Navsari, a journey of 241 miles that will end on April 5, lasting for 25 days.

 

Modi will also launch various other cultural and digital initiatives for the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav and will also address the gathering at Sabarmati Ashram.

4:54 PM

Suvendu Adhikari offers puja at Shiva temple in Nandigram

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday visited a temple of Lord Shiva in Nandigram and offered puja on the occasion of Mahashivratri.

 

Adhikari visited the Sonachura Trilokeshwar Temple in the area amid a large number of devotees who gathered there to offer puja on the auspicious day.

 

A large number of BJP supporters were also present as Adhikari, the party's candidate from Nandigram, offered puja at the temple.

4:28 PM

Latest News: CAIT launches vendor onboarding mobile app for its e-commerce portal

Traders' body CAIT on Thursday launched a vendor onboarding mobile app for its upcoming e-commerce portal 'Bharat e Market'.

 

The app will enable businesses and service providers to register on the portal and create their own "e-dukaan".

 

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said its 'purely Indian' Bharat e Market portal will comply with all the rules and regulations of the country.

4:20 PM

Mamata's condition stable, but low sodium content in blood: Doctors

The health condition of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is stable but she is having severe pain in her injured left leg and has a low sodium concentration in blood, doctors treating her said on Thursday afternoon.

 

She will be under strict observation for the time being, they said.

 

"The chief minister has severe bony injuries in her left ankle and foot, besides injuries in right shoulder, forearm and neck. She is stable now but is having severe pain in the injured leg," a senior doctor at the state-run SSKM Hospital said.

4:00 PM

Bengal assembly polls LIVE: Young nominees find place in CPI(M) list

The CPI(M), which has fielded young candidates from its student and youth wings, is pinning hopes on budding leaders to take on the BJP and the TMC in the 2021 assembly elections in West Bengal.

 

JNU student leader Aishe Ghosh, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state president Minakshi Mukherjee, Students' Federation of India's (SFI) national joint secretary Dipsita Dhar, SFI state president Pratikur Rahaman, DYFI state secretary Sayandeep Mitra's are among those whose names feature in the list declared by Left Front chairperson Biman Bose here on Wednesday.

 

Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh who gained prominence after receiving injury during the protests against fee hike in 2020, has been fielded by the CPI(M) from Jamuria constituency in Paschim Bardhaman district.

3:54 PM

Latest News: Sebi forms expert group to examine feasibility of SPACs

Capital market regulator Sebi has formed a group of experts to examine the feasibility of introducing Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) like structures in India, sources said on Thursday.

 

The group, formed under Sebi's Primary Market Advisory Committee (PMAC), has been asked to submit its report at the earliest, the sources added.

 

"Sebi wants to explore the potential of SPACs while at the same time building adequate checks and balances in regulatory framework to take care of the associated risks," said a source privy to the development.

3:48 PM

Latest News: Apple starts iPhone 12 assembly in India

Apple Inc has started the assembly of iPhone 12 in India, the US tech giant said, as the company ramps up manufacturing operations in the world's second-biggest smartphone market.

 

"We are proud to be starting production of iPhone 12 in India for our local customers," Apple said in a statement on Thursday, without naming the supplier making the smartphone.

 

The Indian unit of Apple's Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn will assemble the device in its plant in southern Tamil Nadu state, two sources familiar with the matter said.

3:41 PM

Attack on Mamata is a case of attempt to murder: TMC leader Madan Mitra

Had this type of incident taken place in any other state, say Gujarat, then it would have become another Godhra. It was a case of attempt to murder: TMC leader Madan Mitra on injury to West Bengal CM

3:40 PM

Odisha CM expresses concern over Mamata's health, prays for speedy recovery

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday expressed concern over the health condition of his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata following an alleged attack on her.

 

Banerjee sustained injuries on her left leg and waist as she fell on the ground after she was allegedly pushed by unknown miscreants while campaigning for West Bengal assembly elections in Nandigram on Wednesday.

 

"Concerned to know about the hospitalisation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Wishing her speedy recovery and praying for good health," Patnaik said on Twitter.

3:38 PM

Latest News: Sitting AIADMK MLA joins TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK

Sattur AIADMK MLA Rajavarman joined the TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) on Thursday in Chennai.

 

This came after AIADMK denied him a ticket to contest this Assembly election from his seat.

 

On Monday, the AMMK announced an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM for the Assembly elections. AIMIM will contest in three Assembly constituencies including Vaniyambadi, Krishnagiri and Sankarapuram.

3:32 PM

West Bengal polls LIVE: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari offers prayers at a temple in East Midnapore