Singtel to increase stake in Bharti Telecom; invest Rs 26.49 billion

Singapore-based telecom operator Singtel will invest Rs 26.49 billion in Bharti Airtel Ltd, increasing its stake in the Indian telecom major to 48.9 per cent.

"Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) will invest Rs 26.49 billion in Bharti Telecom Limited (Bharti Telecom), the promoter company of Airtel through preferential allotment of shares," Bharti Airtel said in a statement.

The transaction is subject to the shareholders' approval of Bharti Telecom and the funds raised will be used towards debt reduction, it added.

"With this investment, Singtel's total stake (along with its affiliates) in Bharti Telecom will increase to 48.90 per cent," the statement said.

Strong CV business, robust exports offset domestic weakness for Bajaj Auto

Bajaj Auto was the biggest loser among Sensex companies on Friday: Disappointing earnings, coupled with overall selling pressure in the markets, saw the stock shed 4.9 per cent. While its top line performance for the quarter ended December 2017 was in line with estimates, the company disappointed both at the operating and net profit levels.

First, the volume performance. The company is trailing its peers as far as motorcycle volumes are concerned. Bajaj Auto’s domestic two-wheeler sales grew just two per cent over the year-ago quarter, while peer TVS Motor reported a 27 per cent increase in the same period. Analysts at Jefferies said that underperformance in domestic motorcycles continued in the December quarter and remains a structural concern for Bajaj Auto.

Beijing inches closer to becoming the world's busiest airport

Beijing inched one step closer to taking the crown for the world’s busiest airport.
As the ranks of the Chinese middle-class swell and more people take to the skies, passenger traffic at Beijing’s international airport rose to a new record of 95.8 million last year.

This increase at the world’s second-busiest air hub - at least the fifth straight year of gains - has allowed Beijing Capital International Airport to narrow the gap with top-placed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, whose passenger numbers fell in 2017.

It's Lalit Modi again! BCCI domain name almost sold for $270 on non-renewal

BCCI, the richest cricket board in the world, has not been able to renew the domain of its official website www.bcci.tv in time.
Website registrars register.com and namejet.com have put the domain name up for public bidding, receiving seven bids so far with the highest of USD 270.
The The domain was valid from 2-2-2006 to 2-2-2019.

The updation date, however, happened to be February 3, 2018.
According to a Times of India report, the glitch occured because BCCI’s internet domain is still owned by former IPL czar Lalit Modi, who had not paid for the renewal in time. BCCI and Modi estranged ties in 2010 after the former Rajasthan Cricket Association chief was suspended on 22 charges. He was subsequently banned for life in 2013.

CBI raid reveals AAP minister Satyender Jain owns property worth millions

The CBI on Sunday said it has recovered documents related to property and bank transactions worth millions allegedly linked to Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain during searches at residences of a registrar and a lawyer of Delhi Dental Council in a bribery case.

The CBI has registered a case under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code against the two officials on the allegations of demanding bribe from the complainant for getting him favourable order from the DDC and also for extending help in further legal proceedings in his matter, said officials.

Agency sleuths laid a trap and caught the accused while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 473,000 from the complainant on Saturday night. The arrested accused were produced in a court here on Sunday which sent then to four days police custody.

8 of every 10 cities breathe toxic air, 53% of Indians at risk: Greenpeace

People living in eight of every 10 Indian cities breathe toxic dust particles, PM 10, at levels exceeding national safety limits, according to a recent report.

National capital Delhi has the worst air in the country, said the report, Airpocalypse, released by Greenpeace India, an advocacy. At a time when India is already slipping to meet the renewable targets the budget 2018 overall allocations to the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) has declined by 326 crore or 6% from last year’s Rs 5473 crore.

Of India’s 280 cities/towns where air quality is monitored, none met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe levels of PM 10–20 μg/m³–the report said.

The Indian annual safe level for PM 10–airborne particles seven times finer than a human hair that can sicken or kill people by entering their lungs–is three times more lenient at 60 μg/m³.

Sporting events that rocked world politics, from Hitler to Nixon

The Winter Olympics starting this week in South Korea are the latest in a string of sporting events that have helped shape global politics.

Whether it be an emerging power challenging a dominant one (1908), a dictator looking for a propaganda coup (1936) or a terrorist group looking to shock the world (1972), global sporting events are often more about what goes on away from the playing field.

This year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in invited North Korea in the hope that a detente would help avert a devastating war over its nuclear program. While it’s unclear if the Games will lead to a lasting peace, they’ve already been successful for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un: He’s grabbed more headlines than any of the athletes.