More exports, price stability, clearance of dues on wish list As the Indian sugar sector steps into a new season, it looks forward to more exports, price stability in the domestic market, and clearance of cane arrears to farmers. The problems the industry confronts today are many, and stem mainly …

The continued rise in oil prices and a crisis of confidence set off by the IL&FS episode pose a challenge Three weeks is a long time for the economy. Ask Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the mandarins in North Block. Until recently, it seemed as if growth was finally returning …

Ownership and management are treated at arm’s length, says HPCL CMD State-owned oil marketing company (OMC) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) generated heated debates when it chose not to recognise ONGC as its parent even after the latter bought 51% stake in HPCL from the government for Rs. 37,000 crore. …

A Syrian rebel alliance has not pulled any heavy arms from the country’s north, its spokesman said on Sunday, denying reports it had begun implementing a demilitarisation deal there. Russia and Turkey reached a deal earlier this month to create a buffer zone around the opposition stronghold of Idlib that …

Digital recreation of the iconic leader’s heartbeat and digital kit will be launched to mark his 150 birth anniversary Visitors can now listen to Mahatma Gandhi’s “recreated heartbeats” at Delhi’s National Gandhi Museum. The Museum will launch a series of programmes on Monday to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of …

Transport fuel prices continued to rise on Sunday, with petrol inching closer to Rs. 91 a litre mark in Mumbai. Petrol touched Rs. 90.84 per litre, up from Rs. 90.75 on Saturday, data on the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) website showed. Petrol prices in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai on Sunday …

Will not allow fake news and targeted voter messaging Internet major Google and social media giants Twitter and Facebook have assured the Election Commission that they will not allow their platforms to be used for anything which affects the sanctity of polls during the campaign period, Chief Election Commissioner O.P. …

‘It is controlled neither by govt. nor by capitalists’ Inaugurating a new chocolate-making factory set-up by dairy giant Amul in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said a cooperative like Amul is a viable economic alternative to capitalist and socialist models. The factory is an expansion of an already …

150 people will march from Andhra Pradesh to Chhattisgarh Around 150 people, from various States affected by Maoist insurgency will begin a 186-km long ‘Peace Padyatra’ (peace march) on Monday to appeal to “all sides to give peace a chance.” The Peace Padyatra, which will start from the Shabri Gandhi …

The National Security Guard (NSG), which provides security cover to select VIPs like Home Minister Rajnath Singh and many Chief Ministers, has upgraded its protocol and armour on lines of the Special Protection Group (SPG) in view of the upcoming election season in the country. The elite counter-terror force has …

Several organisations roll out traditional methods to save trees affected by human activities in the city Using the knowledge of senior botanists, nature lovers initiated an experimental effort in Odisha’s Berhampur on Sunday to cure trees affected by human activities by using traditional ingredients. Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) chairperson Subash …

Special assistant to Nawaz Sharif says both countries have missed many opportunities, which further restrict engagement The back-channel talks between the National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan from 2015 to 2018 were a ‘good instrument’, says Syed Tariq Fatemi , special assistant on foreign affairs to former Pakistan Prime …

Ahead of the bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week, discussions are “still under way” between the two sides to conclude a final deal for 200 Kamov-226T utility helicopters. “Having also received feedback from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of India, we …

The Supreme Court’s challenge to patriarchy has been on-going across Benches, CJIs The past two years have seen the Supreme Court progressively question patriarchy in religion to ensure emancipation for women, and set the course for the future. But majority decisions in the court continue to rely on legal technicalities …

Linking New Delhi to Peshawar school attack dishonours memory of the innocent lives lost to terrorists, envoy tells UN Pakistan’s attempts to link India to the 2014 Peshawar terrorist attack were “most outrageous”, New Delhi told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday. During his address earlier at the …

It was carrying PoK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider for a condolence meeting The Army on Sunday said the troops manning the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pir Panjal Valley’s Poonch district opened fire at a Pakistani helicopter, which was carrying Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, …