1:50 PMIOC to invest Rs 740 cr to raise Digboi refinery capacity
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will invest over Rs 740 crore to raise the capacity of the nation's oldest oil refinery at Digboi in Assam.
In a stock exchange filing, IOC said its board has approved raising of Digboi refinery capacity from 0.65 million tonnes per annum to 1 million tonnes along with associated facilities at an estimated cost of Rs 740.20 crore.
"The project is expected to be commissioned by October 2025," it said. "The capacity expansion would improve the profitability of the Digboi refinery."
Digboi refinery was commissioned on December 11, 1901, and is India's oldest operating refinery and one of the oldest operating refineries in the world.
1:48 PMReNew partners UNEP, SEWA to train 1,000 women salt-pan workers
Green energy firm ReNew Power has partnered with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA) to train 1,000 low-income women salt-pan workers to work in the renewable industry.
Under 'Project Surya' initiative, women salt-pan workers, who work in the challenging and extreme temperatures at Rann of Kutch marshes, will be trained as solar panel and solar-pump technicians at Dhokavada village in the Patan district of Gujarat, the three entities said in a joint statement on Thursday.
"In support of India's clean energy transition, ReNew in partnership with UNEP and SEWA launched 'Project Surya' will train 1,000 low-income women salt-pan workers to work in the renewable industry," it said.
1:35 PMRebel Shiv Sena leader Shinde leaves for Mumbai to meet Governor
Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Thursday left for Mumbai to meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
Sources said that he held a meeting with all rebel MLAs this morning before leaving for Mumbai with a 'support letter'.
Shinde told the mediapersons that he was going to Mumbai to meet the Maharashtra Governor. "I am going to meet the Governor. Rest all MLAs are here in Goa. We will let you know our next decision and steps," Shinde said.
He was escorted by a police force during his travel to the Dabolim airport. Tight security was seen at the airport also.
1:34 PMNEET PG exam: Mandaviya to felicitate top 25 rank holders each in medicine, dental courses
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will interact and felicitate top 25 rank holders in the NEET PG exam of both medicine and dental courses.
This is first time that an Union Health minister will felicitate top rank holders of the entrance exam, officials said.
The NEET PG-2022 results were declared on June 1.
Mandaviya will also host a dinner for the top rank holders. Senior Health ministry officials will also be present on the occasion, they said.
11:48 AMMore than Rs 500 crores have been digitally transferred to 18,000 MSMEs: PM Modi
We've taken the resolution to make our unique local production in every district and part of our country, global... focus being given to develop MSME sector... More than Rs 500 crores have been digitally transferred to 18,000 MSMEs; I congratulate the MSME sector: PM Modi, in Delhi
11:46 AMIMD declares arrival of monsoon in Delhi-NCR
IMD declares arrival of monsoon in Delhi-NCR
11:33 AMMaharashtra Assembly special session postponed, no Floor Test today
Maharashtra Assembly Secretary Rajendra Bhagwat has informed all state MLAs that as per the Governor's orders the special session that was scheduled on Thursday will now not be convened.
The special Assembly was scheduled today with the only agenda of a Trust Vote against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray Minister who resigned as chief minister late Wednesday evening.
In a circular, Rajendra Bhagwat, Principal Secretary, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, informed all state MLAs that as per the Governor's orders, there's no need for a floor test now, so today's special session will not be convened.
The Floor Test that was convened by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was challenged in the Supreme Court by the Shiv Sena. The apex court, however, declined to stay the Floor Test and in its observation said that the floor of the House was the only way to settle these issues of democracy.
11:32 AMIsraeli military, Palestinians clash at West Bank shrine
Palestinian gunmen opened fire at Jewish worshipers on Thursday at a flashpoint holy site in the occupied West Bank, wounding an Israeli military officer and two civilians, the Israeli army said.
The Palestinian official news agency Wafa said a Palestinian teenager was wounded by live fire and 16 others by rubber bullets in clashes with Israeli forces at the site near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, a frequent point of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
Some Jews believe the biblical Joseph is buried at the site, while Palestinians say it's the tomb of a Sheikh. Jewish worshipers escorted by the Israeli military often visit the shrine to pray.
9:12 AMCoronavirus update: India logs 18,819 new cases
Coronavirus update: India logs 18,819 new cases. 39 deaths in 24 hours.
8:55 AMChina’s Economy Shows Signs of Improvement as Covid Eases
China’s economy showed further signs of improvement in June with a strong pickup in services and construction as Covid outbreaks and restrictions were gradually eased.
The official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 50.2 from 49.6 in May, the National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday, slightly below the median estimate of 50.5 in a Bloomberg survey of economists. It was the first time since February that the index was above 50, indicating expansion in output compared with May.
8:47 AMFerdinand Marcos Jr. to take charge as new Prez of Philippines
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of late leader Ferdinand Marcos, will be sworn in as the 19th President of the Philippines on Thursday, succeeding the outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte.
Marcos Jr. won the presidential election in May with 60 per cent of the votes over rival Maria Leonor Robredo.
Meanwhile, his running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio, the 43-year-old daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, will be sworn in as the Vide President.
The oath taking ceremony will take place in the afternoon at the National Museum in Manila.
8:38 AMIran-US nuclear talks in Qatar end without making progress
Indirect negotiations between Iran and the US over Tehran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers ended Wednesday in Qatar after failing to make significant progress amid a growing crisis over the Islamic Republic's atomic program, diplomats said.
The Doha talks broke up after two days without any sign of a breakthrough, months after talks in Vienna among all of the deal's parties went on pause."
In the time since, Iran shut off surveillance cameras of international inspectors and now has enough high-enriched uranium to potentially fashion into at least one nuclear bomb if it chose.
8:25 AMAmarnath Yatra begins, 2,750 pilgrims leaves Nunwan base camp for cave shrine
The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday as a batch of about 2,750 pilgrims left the base camp here for the cave shrine housing the naturally formed ice-lingam in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
The pilgrimage was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner Piyush Singla at the Nunwan base camp in the Anantnag district's Pahalgam.
The journey -- most of it on foot -- takes about three days with night halts at Sheeshnag and Panchtarni along the route.
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