Live | US sinks Iran ship headed back from India; 83 sailors killed

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed more than 1 per cent lower on Wednesday, in tandem with a weak trend in Asian markets as the conflict in West Asia intensified, driving oil prices higher.

Falling for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 1,122.66 points or 1.40 per cent to settle at 79,116.19. During the day, it crashed 1,795.65 points or 2.23 per cent to 78,443.20 but recovered some of the losses in the second half of the session.

The 50-share NSE Nifty dived 385.20 points or 1.55 per cent to end at 24,480.50, marking its third straight session of losses and logging the lowest closing level in the past six months. During the day, it dropped 560.3 points or 2.25 per cent to 24,305.40.

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Wednesday (March 4) said the government is taking measures to run 10 medical colleges under the PPP model in the next two financial years. The total cost would amount to Rs 8,480 crore

Addressing the Assembly, Yadav observed that out of 17 medical colleges (initiated during the previous YSRCP regime), 11 were sanctioned under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and three each under the Central Government and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.

He alleged that only Rs 1,500 crore was spent on these colleges during the previous YSRCP government and claimed that Rs 500 crore alone was spent on Pulivendula medical college, allegedly neglecting others.

Yadav asserted that the government has spent Rs 900 crore on these colleges after coming to power, and claimed that YSRCP leaders had made false statements that they built these medical colleges. Further, he asserted that the previous government did not even take up land acquisition for Parvatipuram Medical College.

A section of nurses working in private hospitals in Kerala began a strike on Wednesday (March 4), demanding a minimum monthly salary of Rs 40,000 and implementation of various pending assurances without further delay.

The strike was called by the United Nurses Association (UNA), which also organised a march to the secretariat here as part of the protest.

According to the protesting nurses, their salary was last revised in 2018 and has since become inadequate in view of the rising cost of living.

Though the state government had issued orders for a salary hike in 2023 following a protest under the aegis of the UNA, it has not been effectively implemented so far, they alleged.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi celebrated Holi with party workers at the AICC's 24, Akbar Road office here on Wednesday, as he was smeared with colours by supporters and leaders.

Gandhi wished everyone a Holi filled with love and one that eliminates hatred.

Surrounded by workers, leaders and journalists at the party office, Gandhi applied colours on everyone and was smeared by 'gulal' in return.

A vigilance court on Wednesday (March 4) granted statutory bail to former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar in the case related to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols of the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala, sources said.

Padmakumar had already gotten statutory bail in the case related to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at the temple, and therefore, he is likely to come out of jail by evening.

The former TDB president is the eighth accused in the matter to come out of jail on bail, the sources said.

Padmakumar is a former CPI(M) MLA and had served as TDB president when the decision was taken to hand over Sabarimala artefacts for replating to the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti in 2019. He is the 11th accused in the Dwarapalaka gold loss case.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb began a four-day visit to India on Wednesday (March 4) to bolster bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas, including trade, investment and critical technology.

Stubb will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (March 5), following which the two sides are expected to firm up a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation in many sectors.

The crisis in West Asia is likely to figure prominently in the meeting. "The visit will further strengthen the relations between Finland and India, including in the area of trade," Stubb said before leaving for New Delhi.

The Finnish president will grace the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue as the chief guest on Thursday evening.

Stubb was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.

"India and Finland share a warm and friendly relationship rooted in shared democratic values. President Stubb's visit will impart further energy to India-Finland relations," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media.

The Finnish president is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials and business leaders.

Stubb's visit to India comes weeks after Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo travelled to New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit.

The Finnish president will also meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.

Stubb will travel to Mumbai on Friday (March 6) where he is scheduled to meet several business leaders. The Finnish leader will conclude his visit on Saturday (March 7).

The BJP on Wednesday (March 4) announced four candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra, nominating Union minister Ramdas Athawale and former state minister Vinod Tawde, among others, for the Upper House.

Besides Athawale and Tawde, the party has also fielded Maya Chintaman Ivnate and Ramrao Wadkute for the biennial elections.

Seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra are set to fall vacant in April. With over 230 MLAs in the 288-member assembly, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is in a position to ensure the election of all its four nominees.

The Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra retiring this year include NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Athawale, who heads RPI (A), Fauzia Khan of NCP (SP), Rajni Patil (Congress), Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT), and BJP leaders Dhananjay Patil and Bhagwat Karad.

Sri Lanka has rescued at least 30 Iranian sailors from a distressed Iranian frigate in the southern waters of the island nation early Wednesday (March 4), Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.

In response to a question raised in parliament, Herath said, “At 5.08 this morning, a message was received by the Sri Lanka Navy and the coastal guard on the sinking ship named ‘Iris Dena’ 40 nautical miles off the southern port district of Galle. At least 30 of them were rescued while 180 of them are said to be on board.”

Herath added the Sri Lankan Navy and the Air Force carried out a joint operation but the reason for the sinking had not yet been established. “We are bound by the international convention on maritime rescue to rescue anyone distressed irrespective of the reason,” Herath said.

The rescued sailors were admitted to the Karapitiya hospital in Galle after they were brought to the Navy’s southern command headquarters, the foreign minister added.

The security around the Southern command had been increased, the officials said.