09:57 Rupee rises 9 paise to 71.02 vs US dollar: The rupee darted up 9 paise to 71.02 against the US dollar in early trade Thursday amid a reversal in foreign fund outflows even as oil prices hardened.
At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market, the domestic unit opened slightly higher at 71.06 and built on the gains to reach 71.02. Snapping a four-session downturn, the rupee had appreciated by 23 paise to end at 71.11 against the US dollar Wednesday.
Foreign institutional investors, who had been heavy sellers over the past few sessions, net bought equities worth Rs 713.47 crore Wednesday, provisional data showed.
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.24 per cent higher at USD 67.24 per barrel. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.07 per cent to 96.52.
Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex climbed 19.16 points, or 0.05 per cent, to trade at 35,775.42 in early trade Thursday. — PTI
09:47 US to provide additional USD9.5 million in assistance to Maldives:
The Trump Administration on Wednesday announced its intent to provide USD 9.5 million in assistance to the Maldives as part of its effort to strengthen its ties with the island nation.
In a meeting with visiting Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed their common interest in deepening bilateral ties and their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Shahid underscored the importance of his government’s reform efforts to the vitality of Maldives’ democracy and future prosperity, according to the State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino.
“Pompeo expressed strong support for the US-Maldives partnership, announcing the intent of the State Department to work with the Congress to provide USD9.75 million in additional assistance for Maldives,” Palladino said.
During the meeting Pompeo hailed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to enhance aviation security and an intent by USAID to facilitate sustained collaboration with the Maldives. — PTI
09:17 69 killed as huge fire breaks out in chemical warehouses in Dhaka:
At least 69 people were killed as a massive fire on Wednesday night ripped through several buildings also used as chemical and plastic warehouses in an old part of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.
The fire broke out at a chemical warehouse on the ground floor of a four-storey building named Hazi Wahed Mansion behind a Mosque in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area and the flames then quickly spread through four other buildings nearby, including a community centre, fire officials said.
At least 69 people have been killed in the massive blaze, fire officials said, adding that the death toll could rise further as dozens of people were trapped in the buildings and the fire fighters were yet to enter into the main spot where the fire broke out.
“Most of the bodies were retrieved from the houses around that building while fire fighters now prepare to enter into the five-storey building, the main spot in search of more bodies,” a police official at the scene said.
Witnesses said the victims also included passersby, some people who were eating food at a nearby restaurants and some members of a wedding party.
Fire officials said the second, third and fourth floors of the building were used as warehouses and plastic factories and there were some residential flats also.
Over 50 wounded people were being treated at Dhaka’s two major state-run facilities — Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit and Sir Salimullah Medical College.
Image: Volunteers recover a dead body from a burnt warehouse in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters
09:11 Low intensity blast in Kalindi Express; JeM letter recovered:
A low-intensity blast took place on board the Kanpur-Bhiwani Kalindi Express near Kanpur on Wednesday, although no casualty was reported, officials said.
According to Additional Director General of Police (Kanpur zone) Avinash Chandra, some material apparently belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit was recovered from the spot.
The explosion occurred in the washroom of a general compartment of the train when it stopped at Barrajpur station, 30 km from Kanpur, around 7.10 pm, railway officials said.
“Some handwritten pamphlets in illegible writing containing threats have been found from the blast site,” the ADG said, adding the threatening materials apparently belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad.
“Our priority to get properly check all coaches of the train by anti-sabotage and bomb disposal squad teams as a precautionary measure before allowing the train to leave for its desired destination,” he said.
A railway spokesperson said the Anti-Terrorism Squad was at the spot and the cause of the blast was yet to be ascertained.
He had earlier said, “Prima facie the explosion seemed to have been caused by crackers as the damage was not much”.
The plywood sheet of the toilet is damaged, he added.
The incident comes six days after 40 CRPF personnel were killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. — PTI
08:28 PM’s post booked for next 2 general elections: Maha CM :
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the prime minister’s post has been booked for the next two general elections.
Fadnavis was replying to a question asked by actor Riteish Deshmukh during an award ceremony in Mumbai.
When Deshmukh asked who from Maharashtra, including Sharad Pawar and Nitin Gadkari, can become the prime minister, Fadnavis said, “Let me tell you, this question does not arise, because the post for prime minister has already been booked… Not only for this year’s election, but also for the 2024 polls.”
“Though, I would be more than happy if someone from Maharashtra becomes the prime minister after that,” he added.
To another query that which party, the Shiv Sena or the BJP, will stake claim for the chief minister’s and deputy chief minister’s post if both get equal number of seats in this year’s Maharashtra assembly elections, Fadnavis said few things need to remain secret.
“Everything cannot be disclosed at this moment,” he added.
He also dismissed reports that BJP workers and leaders were not happy with the alliance as the party would contest only 144 seats in the 288-member House.
“Forging an alliance with our old ally Shiv Sena was necessary and this is the political reality in the present situation when all non-natural allies are ganging up to fight against us. Our workers understand this very well and support the alliance,” he said.
Appealing to forget the bitterness, Fadnavis said, “Jo beet gai so baat gai’ (Let bygone be bygone).
To another query that what cemented the alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis said in a lighter vein, “When we arrived at ‘Matoshree’ (Thackeray’s) home, Uddhav’s better half served us few homemade dishes that were so delightful that we forgot everything and sealed the deal.” — PTI
08:20 PM arrives in South Korea on two-day visit :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Seoul on Thursday on a two-day visit to strengthen India’s strategic ties with South Korea and seek to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, including trade and investment.
Ahead of his visit, the prime minister described South Korea as an important partner for India’s key initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, and said as fellow democracies the two countries share values and vision for regional and global peace.
Modi is visiting South Korea on the invitation of President Moon Jae-in. This is his second visit to the Republic of Korea since 2015 and second summit meeting with President Moon Jae-in.
Spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs Raveesh Kumar said the visit would strengthen India’s special strategic partnership with South Korea and add dynamism to the Look East Policy.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will have bilateral and business engagements, unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi and accept the Seoul Peace Prize conferred upon him, Kumar said in a tweet.
Earlier in his departure statement, Modi said his visit is reflective of the importance “we both attach to our relationship”.
“We regard the Republic of Korea as a valued friend, a nation with which we have a Special Strategic Partnership. As fellow democracies, India and the ROK have shared values and a shared vision for regional and global peace,” the prime minister said.
“As fellow market economies, our needs and strengths are complementary. South Korea is an important partner for our ‘Make in India’ initiative as well as in our ‘Start Up India’ and ‘Clean India’ initiatives,” Modi said.
He said collaboration between the two in the field of science and technology is encouraging, with joint research ranging from basic to advanced sciences.
“Our people to people ties and exchanges, as always, provide the bedrock of our ties of friendship, he said.
“Working together, we are determined to take our relationship forward as a ‘future oriented partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace’,” the prime minister said. — PTI
01:23 Crown Prince orders release of 850 Indians from Saudi jails:
Saudi Arabis’ Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday ordered the release of 850 Indian prisoners lodged in his country’s jails on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request as the two leaders held extensive talks in New Delhi, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
After the talks, it was also announced that India has decided to extend e-Visa facility to Saudi nationals.
In an important development, Saudi Arabia also joined the International Solar Alliance, a move welcomed by the prime minister, MEA officials said.
Both sides noted the potential of cooperation in the renewable energy sector, not only in investment but also in research and development, a joint statement issued after the talks said.
In another significant move, Saudi Arabia has also agreed to resolve issues relating to Indian workers who are currently stranded in the kingdom due to the closure of a foreign company, T S Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, said. — PTI
IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind hosted a banquet for Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday and said India wishes to be a partner in the gulf nation’s ‘Vision 2030’. Welcoming the crown prince, who is on his first state visit to India, Kovind said India cherishes its cordial and friendly relations with Saudi Arabia and considers the Gulf region as its extended neighbourhood.
Source: Rediff