Business

As tensions rise in Middle East and vessel safety in the Strait of Hormuz comes under renewed focus, the flag a ship flies has emerged as a key factor in maritime security, regulation and state protection.Flagging a vessel means it is registered with a country and must comply with that nation’s maritime laws and regulations….

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two multi-tracking railway projects worth Rs 24,815 crore covering Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, aimed at easing congestion and boosting freight and passenger movement, a government release said.The two projects–Ghaziabad-Sitapur 3rd and 4th line, and Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu)-Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) 3rd and 4th line–are targeted for completion by 2030-31….

Mumbai: YES Bank’ reported a net profit of Rs 1,068 crore for the March 2026 quarter, up 44.8% from Rs 738 crore a year earlier, supported by lower credit costs and improved operating performance. For the full year, net profit rose 44.5% to Rs 3,476 crore, while return on assets improved to 0.8% from 0.6%…

The government has approved a Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee fund of Rs 12,980 crore to support maritime insurance amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday.The scheme aims to address rising insurance premiums and tighter approvals for shipping cover, which are currently being granted…

Prices of consumer electronics such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and smartphones are set to rise again by the end of April, marking the third round of increases in four months amid sustained cost pressures on key inputs.Industry executives, cited by ET, said elevated prices of crude-linked derivatives like plastics, along with a…

As the weekend approaches, many customers often check whether banks are open or closed on Saturday for pending financial work.So customers should know, that this Saturday, April 18, 2026, bank branches are open across India as it is the third Saturday of the month.Under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday structure, banks are closed…

The Cabinet on Saturday approved a 2 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central government employees, as per sources.This comes amid wider demands from employee bodies for major changes in pay structure under the proposed 8th Pay Commission.In its memorandum, the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) has sought a higher fitment factor of…

Iran is planning to tighten its grip over the Strait of Hormuz with new transit fees to regulate ship movement through the route. However, the country has ruled out charging any “traditional fees” on ships passing through it.Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s National Security Committee told Al Jazeera that a law is being drafted to…

The United States decided to extend the sanctions waiver on Russian oil, offering temporary relief to countries purchasing crude from Moscow as the world grapples with tight energy supplies. The US treasury department on Friday issued a fresh licence allowing the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products that had already been loaded onto ships…

The US administration has decided to extend a narrow window for global buyers to purchase Russian oil shipments already at sea, despite earlier indications that such relief would not continue.Late Friday, the US Treasury Department published a new licence granting a roughly month-long waiver, which allows nations to buy Russian oil and petroleum products loaded…