Breaking News
India stands alone against China-backed WTO investment pact


India stands alone against China-backed WTO investment pact
Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry.

With Türkiye dropping its opposition to investment facilitation agreement, India is left alone to keep the China-backed proposal out of the ambit of WTO as talks at the ministerial meeting in Cameroon enter the final 24 hours, reports Sidhartha. Govt has steadfastly opposed the entry of investment facilitation for development — a plurilateral agreement with 130 of the 160 members agreeing to it — arguing that it is a backdoor way to legitimise a treaty whose negotiations were not cleared by the entire membership and which would have implications going forward.A group of 66 countries, including the UK and Japan, on Saturday also sought to seek a plurilateral agreement on digital trade.But that is not the only battle that negotiators led by commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal have to fight. India will also have to navigate its way amid attempts by the US to clinch a permanent moratorium on e-commerce — that does not allow customs duties on digital downloads and streaming — by promising a package for least developed countries in Africa, exemplifying how the Trump administration is playing hard despite its criticism of WTO.While India is keen to find a solution, for almost 30 years, it has used this as a bargaining chip at every meeting, realising that an imposition of duty on streaming and downloads is set to generate revenue for it and others and put those such as the US at a disadvantage.But, for a change, India, the US, Russia and Pakistan are on the same side in their pitch for a reform of the 31-year-old multilateral body. Along with Egypt and Paraguay, they are backing a reform plan, as opposed to a work programme. On Saturday, India backed the adoption of draft decision on fisheries subsidies, though with a condition. “India’s support for the adoption of the draft decision, while emphasising that further decisions must deliver an equitable and development-oriented outcome that protects both marine resources and livelihoods,” Goyal posted on X.



Source link

FSSAI makes food business permits permanent | India News


FSSAI makes food business permits permanent

NEW DELHI: In a big relief for food businesses, the country’s food regulator has made licences valid for life.Under new rules notified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), food licences and registrations will now remain valid permanently, unless cancelled for violations. This means lakhs of restaurants, small eateries and vendors will no longer need to renew their licences every few years. The move is part of a wider overhaul aimed at making compliance easier while tightening actual food safety checks.One of the biggest gainers of the decision would be street vendors. Those already registered under street vending law will now be automatically treated as registered under food safety rules as well, removing the need for multiple registrations and fees.The regulator has also simplified how businesses are classified. Units with turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore will only need basic registration, while bigger businesses will require state or central licences based on size.The new system will come into force on April 1.Inspections, too, are set to change. Instead of routine checks, authorities will now follow a risk-based system: businesses with a good track record will face fewer inspections, while repeat offenders will be checked more closely. Officials say the idea is to reduce paperwork and focus on actual food safety.At the same time, FSSAI has made it clear that there will be no relaxation in hygiene standards, especially for high-risk sectors like dairy, meat and packaged water.With most food businesses coming under ambit of state authorities after the changes, states will play a bigger role in monitoring and enforcement.For small businesses and vendors, the message is simple: fewer licences, less hassle — but stricter checks if rules are broken.



Source link

India denies Musk joined Modi-Trump call over war, refutes US media report | India News


India denies Musk joined Modi-Trump call over war, refutes US media report

NEW DELHI: Amid reports that billionaire Elon Musk joined the phone call between PM Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump last week, the Indian govt said on Saturday that the conversation was between the leaders only.NYT reported late on Friday that Musk participated in the phone call that Trump made to Modi, calling it an unusual appearance by a private citizen on a call between two heads of state during a wartime crisis.“We have seen the story. The telephone conversation on March 24 was between PM Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only. As has been stated earlier, it provided the opportunity for exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.While the MEA denied that there was anyone else involved, the White House did not confirm or deny the report. “President Trump has a great relationship with PM Modi, and this was a productive conversation,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to a news agency.Quoting two anonymous US officials, the report said it was unclear why Musk was on the call or whether he spoke. “His companies have taken on significant investment from sovereign wealth funds in countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Musk has also long coveted a greater commercial presence in India,” it said.Trump had dialled Modi to discuss the West Asia situation, including the need to secure the Strait of Hormuz. According to an Indian readout, Modi had noted that safe passage of ships through the strait is vital for global peace, stability and economic well-being.This was their first conversation since early Feb and came in the middle of reported efforts by Pakistan to host talks between the US and Iran for ending the ongoing military conflict. US ambassador Sergio Gor had said that president wanted to keep Modi in the loop about developments related to the conflict.



Source link

Vijaypat Singhania, ‘The Complete Man’, passes away | India News


Vijaypat Singhania, ‘The Complete Man’, passes away

Former Raymond chairman Vijaypat Singhania, a corporate titan and record-setting aviator who embodied his brand’s famous tagline, ‘The Complete Man’, died in Mumbai on Saturday evening. He was 87. He was admitted on Friday following a decline in his health due to age-related illness. He will be cremated on Sunday at Chandanwadi crematorium. Hailing from a prominent business family, Singhania served as Raymond CMD for over two decades.At 67, set world record by flying in hot air balloonA former Mumbai sheriff, Singhania was also an avid aviator.Vijaypat Singhania’s family had acquired the company from ED Sassoon & Co in 1944, when it was primarily a manufacturer of woollen blankets. Under his leadership, Raymond evolved into a diversified conglomerate, expanding into synthetic fabrics, denim, steel, industrial files and cement, while also becoming one of India’s most recognised clothing brands.During the later years of his chairmanship tenure, the company faced financial strain as a recession affected its steel and cement businesses, which were eventually sold. He subsequently handed over leadership to his son, Gautam Singhania, and remained chairman emeritus for a period.He is survived by his wife Ashadevi and children Gautam, Madhupati and Shephali Ruia. His relationship with Madhupati had been strained over business divisions, and in later years he also had disagreements with Gautam regarding certain assets.In Nov 2005, at age of 67, he set a world record by ascending to 69,000 feet in a hot air balloon, taking off from the Mumbai racecourse in a pressurised capsule and landing near Nashik after a flight of about five hours.



Source link

Expedite PNG clearances: Govt to municipal bodies, other agencies | India News


Expedite PNG clearances: Govt to municipal bodies, other agencies

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday underlined the need to ensure medium-to-long-term preparedness and a swift decision-making process to navigate the impact of the evolving crisis in West Asia.Rajnath made the remarks while chairing the first meeting of the informal group of ministers (IGoM) set up to monitor the situation in West Asia. The meeting was attended by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri, power minister Manohar Lal, chemicals & fertilizers minister J P Nadda, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Prahlad Joshi, civil aviation minister K R Naidu, and science and technology minister Jitendra Singh.

Watch

World on edge! Rajnath Singh warns of global fallout from Iran war

As part of the meeting, presentations were made by the seven empowered groups of secretaries (EGoS), outlining key sectoral issues identified and the policy measures already put in place to manage the situation. Rajnath provided guidance to the EGoS to continue the close monitoring of the situation, adopt a medium to long-term preparedness approach, maintain high-level coordination, and ensure swift decision-making.He stressed that all policy efforts should remain in synergy and be implemented in a time-bound manner. He also sought constructive inputs from all the ministers concerned to ensure that India remains resilient and prepared.Later Rajnath in a post on X said, “A meeting of an IGoM constituting several senior ministers was held today to review the risks to energy supplies, domestic availability of essential commodities, critical infrastructure resilience and robustness of India’s supply chains in the wake of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. There was in-depth discussion on all the measures being taken by the govt of India.”“There was in-depth discussion on all the measures being taken by the Govt of India. The NDA Govt under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation and it is committed to safeguard the Indian people from any impact of the conflict,” he said. The need for assessing the impact of the situation across various industries was also discussed.It was also directed that all ministries and departments share relevant information, developments and advisories related to the ongoing situation through the MIB WhatsApp Channel to ensure dissemination of accurate information to citizens and to effectively counter rumours, misinformation and fake news, according to the defence ministry.



Source link

Aneet Padda’s sister Reet slams Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ as ‘propaganda’; calls out Priyanka Chopra’s silence on ‘illegal war’ |


A social media post by Reet Padda, sister of actor Aneet Padda, has created quite a stir online. In a lengthy post that has since gone viral on social media platforms, Reet criticised the box office blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ as “propaganda” and questioned Priyanka Chopra‘s silence for not condemning the ‘illegal war’.

Aneet Padda’s sister, Reet’s comments go viral

The controversy began when Reet responded to a post, questioning her views. In a detailed comment, she defended her stance, ranging from political views to calling out films and actors. In the screenshots of her response that has gone viral, she says, “Actually responding to a comment on social media – shocking, I know,” and added, “Normally, I don’t bother, because clearly trying to change someone’s mind here is like trying to teach cats to do calculus. But, since you’ve so generously invested your precious time reacting to every little thing I’ve reposted, I thought, why not? Let’s go point by point, just so I can try to understand your apparently endless issues with my stance.”

Watch

Dhruv Rathee calls Dhurandhar 2 “WhatsApp-inspired”, sparks massive fact vs fiction debate

Reet calls Ranveer Singh‘s ‘Dhurandhar’ ‘propaganda’

Addressing her remarks about calling the Ranveer Singh starrer ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ and the Anupam Kher starrer ‘The Kashmir Files’, “propaganda” she stated, “For Dhurandar, it literally serves as a government-friendly narrative, using political speeches to justify, say, the minor hiccup of demonetisation. Call it propaganda? Yep. Deny it? Not a chance. But maybe your definition of propaganda is…different, who knows.Also See: ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ box office collection Day 10 [LIVE]: Ranveer Singh film eyes Rs 800 crore net on second Saturday

Reet on ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘Kerala Files

Moving on to her comments about ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘Kerala Files’, she said, “The films apparently enjoy a bit of creative math: ‘32,000 women converted to Islam!’ when real cases barely scrape a few hundred. But hey, that’s how propaganda works, right? Take a sliver of truth, sprinkle in some absurdly inflated numbers, and suddenly you’ve got a full blown narrative against a community.”Reet further questioned the authenticity of her critic and their knowledge of the ‘ground reality’, just “because you’re a Kashmiri Pandit”. Explaining her stance, she clarified, “I never said the problems didn’t exist, but these films clearly push a certain narrative and deviation is apparently optional. I’d love to hear about the “real” ground reality from someone in the know…if only you weren’t hiding behind a faceless, anonymous account.In a question to the person claiming to be a Kashmiri Pandit, she asked, “Why haven’t you shared a single personal experience that actually matters? Curiosity, dear friend, call it logical verification.”Also See: Aneet Padda’s sister Reet Padda goes private on Instagram after ‘Dhurandhar Propaganda’ backlash

Reet calls out Priyanka Chopra’s silence

She also addressed her dig at Priyanka Chopra, particularly for her widely discussed Oscar moment, when she chose not to comment on the Israel-Palestine war. Netizens had noted that the actress, who presented the Best International Feature Film award, with Javier Bardem, did not comment or react when the actor condemned war saying, “No to war, and free Palestine.”Addressing the Oscar moment, she said, “Priyanka Chopra and her international platform. She’s got a chance to oppose an illegal war next to someone taking a stand, and…she can’t even clap.”

Reet shares her hope for sister Aneet

Holding the same benchmark against her actress sister, she said, “If my sister gets that kind of opportunity, and Inshallah, sache patshah, jai shri ram, I pray she rises to the occasion.” She also assured, that if Aneet chooses to stand there like a dodo bird, “I will be the first one to call it out.”

Reet on taking a stand

Clarifying her broader position, she added, “I do not discriminate against anyone, ever, because I’m human. I am fully unafraid to take a stand, even if everyone else is yelling “no!” at me. What I do discriminate against are political figures who drag religion into politics, especially when the same politicians orchestrated the 2002 genocide against Muslims. That is terrorism, that is a crime, and I will call it out. Would anyone let a film about that pass without scrutiny? Doubtful.”She concluded the note saying, “So, yes, I don’t discriminate against individuals. I do, however, discriminate against political dishonesty cloaked in religion. And yes, I’m unafraid to speak up, even if the majority doesn’t like it.”The post has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions online. While some are cheering her on for her bold comments, others have begun sharing the post and trolling her.



Source link

IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals star pacer Mitchell Starc hits out Indian media and experts for injury remarks



Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has launched a fierce attack against Indian media pundits and certain individuals he accuses of spreading heavily misinformed opinions regarding the shoulder and elbow injury that will sideline him for the opening matches of IPL 2026.

In a candid Instagram statement on Saturday, Delhi Capitals (DC) fast bowler confirmed he is dealing with a recently diagnosed issue in his shoulder and elbow – an injury he says he was unaware of the full extent of during the Australian summer. The revelation comes amid growing speculation in Indian cricketing circles questioning his fitness and commitment to the franchise.

“Despite the opinions and views of certain individuals with their platforms in and through the Indian media, I’m currently rehabbing and managing an injury in my shoulder and elbow of which I didn’t know the extent of during the Australian summer,” Starc wrote.

The left-arm pacer did not hold back in his criticism of those who questioned his availability, emphasizing that external commentary had overstepped the mark.

“These individuals have made some strong statements around involvement in the IPL and provided heavily misinformed opinions of players, preached them as facts, and claim to know my body better than me,” he added.

Mitchell Starc apologises to Delhi Capitals and their fans

While pushing back against the media narrative, Starc acknowledged the inconvenient timing of the setback and expressed regret to the Delhi Capitals organization and their supporters. He stopped short of specifying how many matches he would miss but reaffirmed his commitment to joining the franchise as soon as possible.

“With that said I do acknowledge this injury setback and timing is disruptive to the Delhi team and I apologise for that and to the fans for not being available for the early part of this season. I remain committed to join DC, are in continual communication updating the team and will continue to do what I can to be available for DC asap,” Starc stated.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra emerged as one of the most prominent voices questioning Starc’s absence. In a recent episode of his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed skepticism about the pacer’s fitness status, pointing to the gap since the conclusion of the Ashes series in January this year.

“If Mitchell Starc is also not going to come at the start, what is Cricket Australia doing? … even though he is absolutely fit. He has already said goodbye to T20Is. So, what has he done in the last two months or so?” Chopra had remarked.

Also READ: IPL 2026 – Here’s why RCB players are wearing black armbands against Sunrisers Hyderabad in today’s match

Confusion over Starc’s No-Objection Certificate

The uncertainty surrounding Starc’s availability was compounded by mixed messaging from the Delhi Capitals camp. In recent press conferences, the franchise management declined to confirm the nature of the injury, stating only that Cricket Australia (CA) had not yet issued the No-Objection Certificate (NoC) required for his participation.

Adding to the confusion, CA’s official website, cricket.com.au, had previously suggested that the governing body was deliberately holding Starc back from the early IPL fixtures to manage his workload ahead of a congested international schedule spanning 2026 and 2027.

Starc’s emphatic clarification now confirms the injury is physical rather than administrative, drawing a firm line between medical reality and the speculation he says has dominated Indian media coverage in recent days.

Also READ: IPL 2026 – How many matches will Mitchell Starc miss for Delhi Capitals?



Source link

PM, Saudi crown prince agree on need to keep shipping lines open | India News


PM, Saudi crown prince agree on need to keep shipping lines open
PM Modi talks with Saudi Crown Prince amid West Asia Conflict, discusses need to keep shipping lines open

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi has spoken to Saudi crown prince and PM Mohammed bin Salman and reiterated India’s concern about freedom of navigation as the Iran-aligned Houthis entered the theatre of war in West Asia by firing missiles at Israel, raising concern over the transport of Saudi crude through the Red Sea.“We agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation and keep shipping lines secure. Thanked him for his continued support for the welfare of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia,” Modi wrote on X after the conversation with the de facto Saudi ruler. Modi also reiterated India’s condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure.

Watch

‘Hormuz Remains Our Foremost Priority’: PM Modi Speaks To Kuwait’s Crown Prince Amid West Asia War

The Houthis — a Shiite group who are armed and bankrolled by Iran and have taken control of Yemen — had so far remained on the sidelines of the battle. They have fought against the Saudis and, in 2023, as part of the conflict, blocked the strategically important Bab el-Mandab Strait — a narrow passage that carries a significant share of global energy and cargo flows. At a time when risks persist around the Strait of Hormuz, any disruption at Bab el-Mandeb could further strain already sensitive supply chains.This was the second telephonic conversation between the PM and the crown prince since the West Asia conflict started on Feb 28.Underscoring India’s energy and diaspora interests in the Gulf, Modi has twice spoken to leaders of all GCC countries since the conflict started and condemned the violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity. India, however, is yet to condemn the US-Israel strikes on Iran.In his conversations, Modi has also repeatedly called for keeping the Strait of Hormuz — which Iran continues to control — open to ensure global energy security is not adversely impacted.



Source link

IAF starts work on ‘Vayu Baan’, India’s first helicopter-dropped drone project | India News


IAF starts work on ‘Vayu Baan’, India’s first helicopter-dropped drone project
IAF starts work on ‘Vayu Baan’

NEW DELHI: With drones taking centre stage in conflicts around the world, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has started work on the country’s first helicopter-dropped drone project, called ‘Vayu Baan’ (air arrow).Vayu Baan is an indigenous air-launched effects (ALE) programme designed to integrate unmanned aerial systems directly with manned rotary-wing platforms. It is a small, autonomous drone designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight. Once released, the drone unfolds its wings, activates its propulsion and operates as either a surveillance asset or a precision-guided munition (kamikaze drone).The homegrown project is being led by IAF’s Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD), Gandhinagar, which issued a request for proposal (RFP) recently, inviting bids from domestic vendors for the system’s design and development.Once airborne, Vayu Baan will transmit real-time video to operators and, if required, carry out a precision strike using a small warhead onboard. The drone is expected to have a range of over 50 km and an endurance of around 30 minutes.The drone will feature electro-optical and infrared sensors for target identification, with the ability to operate in GPS-jammed environments. IAF, which requires 10 drone units, along with two airborne and two ground control stations, aims to fast-track development, testing and delivery within a year.With ‘Vayu Baan’, IAF is set to join a select group of countries like the US and China that are working on air-launched unmanned systems. The US Army is investing in ALEs as part of its future vertical lift ecosystem. Key technologies include the Area-I ALTIUS (agile-launched, tactically integrated unmanned system), which has been demonstrated in trials launched from MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.China is focusing on integrating unmanned rotary-wing aircraft with its existing helicopter fleets, such as Z-20J, Z-10, and Z-19.



Source link

15 lakh Bengal voters in limbo due to missing e-signatures | India News


15 lakh Bengal voters in limbo due to missing e-signatures

KOLKATA: Judicial officers have disposed of 37 lakh “under-adjudication” voter cases in Bengal, but only 22 lakh names appear across two supplementary electoral rolls, leaving about 15 lakh cases unaccounted for due to missing e-signatures.EC published a third list late Saturday, but there was no clarity on the number of names listed. An EC official said supplementary lists would be published every day going forward.EC officials said 60 lakh voters were initially marked for scrutiny after a special intensive revision (SIR) of rolls, with over 700 judicial officers assigned to review them. By March 23 evening, around 29 lakh cases had been cleared. Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal said names carrying e-signatures till 5pm would be published in the first supplementary list. The list released around midnight carried about 10 lakh names.

15 lakh Bengal voters in limbo due to missing e-signatures

Third list out

The gap persisted in the second list. Officials said 37 lakh cases had been disposed of by Friday evening, suggesting the remaining 27 lakh should feature in the next publication. However, the list showed only 12 lakh names. “We received 12 lakh cases with e-signatures and published accordingly,” a senior EC official said Saturday, offering no explanation for absence of e-signs on the remaining 15 lakh cleared cases.An EC source said digital signature functionality was introduced late into the adjudication software, after several officers had already disposed of cases in assigned segments. Those cases will be routed back to the officers.



Source link