Latest news today (March 18): Presenting FE’s Breaking News today. We will keep you updated on all major news, views and much more throughout the day.
Breaking News LIVE: Chinese President Xi congratulates Putin
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his congratulations to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, emphasising that Putin's triumph authentically mirrors the strong backing he enjoys from the Russian populace.
Breaking News LIVE: Opposition asks EC to act against PM's Whatsapp message on 'Viksit Bharat'
Raising concerns over the circulation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's letters on WhatsApp soliciting support for the creation of a 'Viksit Bharat', opposition leaders urged the Election Commission on Monday to take action against what they termed as a "clear breach" of the model code of conduct.
Breaking News LIVE: Satyendar Jain returns to Tihar
Former Delhi health minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain has returned to Tihar Jail after the Supreme Court dismissed his regular bail plea in a money laundering case.
Nasdaq, the exchange that lists shares of major U.S. tech giants, announced on Monday that it had successfully resolved a technical issue that disrupted connectivity for over two hours. The company assured that all systems were restored and functioning normally. While not disclosing the severity, Nasdaq acknowledged this as its second technical hiccup in recent months, attributing it to the matching engine - software systems responsible for matching buy and sell orders. The incident commenced around 4:55 a.m. ET, as per the exchange's website.
Israeli authorities refused entry to the head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) into the Gaza Strip on Monday, as confirmed by UNRWA and the Egyptian foreign minister. This action was deemed unprecedented. Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of UNRWA, disclosed during a press conference in Cairo alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry that he had planned to visit Rafah on Monday, but was informed an hour prior that his entry was denied.
PM Modi congratulates Vladimir Putin on his re-election
Vivek Sahay, an IPS officer, has been appointed as the next Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal following the removal of the incumbent DGP by the Election Commission today.
The Election Commission of India on Monday removed Home Secretaries of six states - Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand. The poll panel has also removed West bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar. The poll panel said that all officials, who have completed three years in their home state, have been transferred.
According to Bloomberg News, Apple is in discussions to integrate Google's Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) engine into the iPhone, as reported by sources familiar with the matter on Monday. Additionally, Apple has recently engaged in talks with OpenAI, supported by Microsoft, and has contemplated utilizing its model. As part of its upcoming iPhone iOS 18, Apple is gearing up with new capabilities based on its proprietary AI models. However, it is seeking a partner to empower generative AI features, such as image creation and essay writing based on basic prompts, the report highlighted. (Read More)
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all details related to the electoral bonds, including serial numbers, which allowed individuals and companies to make donations to political parties. (Read More)
The Supreme Court is hearing the poll bond case right now. The apex court will decide whether the State Bank of India should be directed to disclose the unique numbers of the electoral bonds or not.
Most dollar bonds of Adani Group companies fell to their lowest level in two months on Monday following a report indicating that US prosecutors have widened their investigation of the conglomerate to examine potential bribery. Shares of all 10 group and related companies also fell over 5% in early trading in India, with Adani Total Gas leading the decline. Bond prices fell, resulting in a 38 basis points increase in the yield on a note from Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone due in February 2032 to 7.20%. The yield had jumped 54 bps to 7.36% earlier in the day, marking the biggest single-session gain since February. (Reuters)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulating him for his re-election, state media KCNA reported. The Russian rouble opened slightly firmer against the US dollar and the euro on Monday, a day after President Vladimir Putin won a record post-Soviet landslide.