The Times of India

The economies included in the investigation are China, the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Modi for his silence on the reported assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ramesh alleged Modi fears antagonizing US and Israeli allies, contrasting this with the government's earlier mourning for former Iranian President Raisi. He highlighted India's condemnation of Iran's actions while remaining quiet on the alleged US-Israeli strike.

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In a significant move for West Bengal's electoral process, the Election Commission has upgraded returning officers for 152 assembly constituencies to Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) level and above. This historic decision, aligning with national norms, aims to enhance the fairness and impartiality of upcoming assembly polls by appointing more senior officials.

Stock market today: Continuing the down trend, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex opened in red on Friday as oil prices climbed and the Strait of Hormuz closure halted important global trade. While Nifty50 went below 23,500, BSE Sensex was down over 580 points.

Middle East tensions are impacting the US bond market, causing mortgage rates to tick upward. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.11%, reversing recent declines. This surge, driven by inflation concerns from higher oil prices, is overriding softer economic data and potentially delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts, further pressuring the already slow housing market.

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Middle East tensions are sending global oil prices soaring past $100 a barrel, with Brent crude trading at $100.66. Attacks on Iran have triggered significant supply concerns, potentially leading to the largest supply disruption ever. Despite economic uncertainty, the US prioritizes confronting Iran over oil prices, while global efforts to mitigate the impact are underway.

The Supreme Court stated that public interest cannot justify broad access to private information of public officials, emphasizing a balance with the right to privacy. The court will consider a petition challenging the Digital Personal Data Protection Act's restrictions, which a petitioner argued nullifies RTI provisions for accessing background data of appointees and could enable state surveillance.

Petroleum ministry officials said that the govt has allocated 48,000 kilolitres (kl) of additional kerosene to states, in addition to the regular quota of one lakh kl, for use as cooking fuel. It has also asked the pollution control boards of respective states and Union Territories to allow the use of biomass, RDF pellets (produced from municipal, industrial and commercial waste) and coal as alternate fuel in the hospitality and restaurant segment for one month.

Amid escalating Iran conflict and rising oil prices, the Trump administration is considering a temporary waiver of the Jones Act. This maritime law requires US ships for domestic transport. The move aims to ensure free flow of vital energy and agricultural products to US ports by allowing foreign-flagged ships to operate domestically.

Prime Minister Modi downplayed the energy crisis, urging collective efforts and national interest over panic. He highlighted government initiatives like increased LPG connections and LNG terminals to boost self-reliance. Efforts are underway to shield citizens and farmers from the impact of global conflicts, with measures to manage LPG distribution and supply.

According to the aviation ministry, over 1.5 lakh people have flown from GCC to India between Feb 28 and March 11. Indian carriers resumed Riyadh flights from Thursday, with Day One seeing four flights by Air India, IndiGo and AI Express. The Indian embassy in Qatar said on X Thursday 1-2 flights of Qatar Airways are expected for India daily in the coming days.

In simple terms, fixed term employment means hiring an employee directly on the employers payroll for a clearly defined period, backed by a written contract.

US stock markets plunged on Thursday as surging oil prices and escalating conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran rattled investor confidence. Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.1 per cent to 46,879.09 while S&P 500 declined 1.0 per cent. Crude prices briefly surpassed $100 per barrel amid fears of Middle East supply disruptions, with no end in sight to the ongoing hostilities.

India's retail inflation climbed to 3.21% in February, primarily driven by a surge in food prices. While this rise is within the RBI's target, specific items like gold and silver saw price acceleration. Core inflation remained steady, suggesting underlying price trends are moderate. Experts anticipate potential upside risks from oil prices but view them as temporary.

In a more pessimistic outlook outlined by Goldman Sachs, crude prices could climb back to around $100 per barrel and remain elevated. Such a development could reduce global economic growth by roughly half a percentage point while increasing inflation by nearly one percentage point over the next year.

President Donald Trump said that US gains from higher oil prices. However, his main focus is stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He described Iran as an evil empire whose nuclear ambitions threaten global stability. The conflict with Iran has entered its thirteenth day. The US has reportedly spent over $11.

Lok Sabha witnessed a heated exchange as Rahul Gandhi's speech on the energy crisis was cut short by Speaker Om Birla. Gandhi was questioned for targeting Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and deviating from the stated notice regarding gas shortages. The opposition had previously accused the Chair of limiting Gandhi's speaking time.