India Archives - Page 72 of 298

02 Apr

India and Canada to resume high-level trade talks as relations thaw

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsCanada, IndiaCEPA negotiations, India-Canada trade, Mark Carney, Piyush Goyal

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India and Canada are set to reconvene their Joint Commission on Trade in late May or early June, marking a significant step toward finalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2024. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Thursday that India will send its "largest-ever business delegation" to Canada to accompany the commission. This strategic move follows a successful meeting between Goyal and his Canadian counterpart, Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon, where both nations agreed to fast-track trade negotiations. The upcoming summit…

02 Apr

UN condemns India’s “fast-tracked” Transgender Amendment Act 2026

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsDroupadi Murmu, gender rights, Transgender Amendment Act 2026, UN India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The United Nations issued a sharp condemnation on Thursday, April 2, 2026, following the rapid passage and presidential assent of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. In a statement released via its official X handle, the global body expressed deep regret over the "fast passage" of the legislation, asserting that the new law was enacted without adequate stakeholder consultation. The UN warned that the amendments risk reversing decades of progress for the transgender community in India, particularly by replacing the principle of self-identification with mandatory medical verification processes. The legislation, which received President…

02 Apr

Air India to Begin Daily Flights Between Delhi and Halwara from May 15, Boosting Punjab Connectivity

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Punjab, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant boost to regional air travel, Air India has announced the launch of four daily flights connecting Delhi with Halwara airport near Ludhiana, starting May 15. The move marks the airline’s debut operations at Halwara, making it the first carrier to service this route. The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 family aircraft, with schedules tailored to suit business travellers and those seeking seamless onward connections. The timings have been strategically planned to allow passengers to complete same-day trips and easily link to international flights via Delhi. According to the announced schedule, the…

02 Apr

Equity Markets Tumble as Crude Oil Rally Deepens; Sensex, Nifty Under Pressure

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingCrude Oil, Iran

Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): Indian stock markets faced a sharp sell-off on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and a spike in oil prices rattled investor confidence. The BSE Sensex dropped over 1,300 points to trade near 71,800, while the Nifty 50 fell by more than 400 points, slipping to around 22,300 levels during early sessions. The decline followed strong remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which dampened hopes of a near-term resolution and triggered a surge in energy prices. Brent crude rose sharply, crossing the $105 mark per barrel, intensifying concerns for import-dependent economies like…

01 Apr

Navy Chief reveals India was “minutes away” from striking Pakistan during Operation Sindoor

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAdmiral Dinesh Tripathi, Indian Navy, Operation Sindoor, West Asia Conflict

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi disclosed on Wednesday that the Indian Navy was within minutes of launching a maritime strike against Pakistan during last year's Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a naval investiture ceremony, the Admiral stated that Islamabad requested a halt to kinetic actions just as Indian units were prepared to strike from the sea. The revelation underscores the extreme brinkmanship that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered the massive naval mobilization. Operation Sindoor was launched in 2025 as a high-readiness response to regional aggression, characterized by a "highly aggressive posture"…

01 Apr

Punjab Consumers Seek Inclusion of Meter Readings in Power Bill SMS for Transparency

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaPunjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- A growing demand for transparency in electricity billing has emerged in Punjab, with consumers and social voices urging authorities to include detailed meter readings in mobile bill notifications. At present, the SMS alerts sent by the power utility only mention the account number and total payable amount, leaving consumers uncertain about their actual electricity usage. Residents have pointed out that the absence of previous and current meter readings in these messages makes it difficult to verify the accuracy of bills. This lack of clarity, they say, often leads to confusion and mistrust towards the billing system. Several…

01 Apr

IT Giant Oracle lays off 30,000 employees globally; more job cuts likely

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsOracle

Rajeev Sharma :- Oracle Corporation has laid off thousands of employees worldwide, with some reports suggesting the number could be as high as 30,000, even though the company is earning strong revenue. The company has not officially confirmed the exact number of job cuts. However, the layoffs are believed to be part of a bigger strategy change, especially as Oracle focuses more on artificial intelligence and data centres. The job cuts have affected several countries, including India and Mexico. India seems to be one of the most affected, with reports saying around 12,000 employees may have lost their jobs out…

01 Apr

Tensions Escalate Along Jammu Border After Pakistan Fires at Indian Surveillance Drone

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDrone, Firing, India, Pakistan

Rajeev Sharma :- Tensions flared along the international border in Jammu after Pakistani forces opened fire at an Indian remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) during a routine surveillance mission. The incident occurred in the Kanachak sector, where Pakistani posts reportedly fired multiple rounds at the drone operating within Indian territory. According to sources, a total of five shots were fired from across the border, targeting the unmanned aerial system. Despite the provocation, the Indian drone remained unharmed and safely returned to its base. No casualties or material damage have been reported in the incident. The firing comes amid repeated ceasefire violations…

01 Apr

Senior Advocate H.S. Phoolka Joins BJP, Marks Return to Active Politics

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, PunjabBJP, HS Phoolka

Gurpreet Singh :- Senior Advocate H.S. Phoolka formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, marking his return to active politics after a prolonged gap. He was inducted at a ceremony held at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar. Phoolka, who earned national recognition for his legal fight in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has long been seen as a prominent voice for justice and accountability. His entry into the BJP is being…

01 Apr

ATF Breaches Rs 2 Lakh Barrier, Commercial LPG Prices Surge Amid West Asia Crisis

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, TrendingATF, LPG

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Fuel costs in India have spiked sharply as escalating tensions in West Asia continue to disrupt global energy markets, pushing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices to record levels and increasing the burden on key sectors. According to state-run oil companies, jet fuel prices have more than doubled, crossing the ₹2 lakh per kilolitre mark in Delhi for the first time. The latest revision represents an increase of over 114 per cent, making it the steepest surge in recent years. The previous high was recorded in 2022 during a period of global crude volatility. This marks the…