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New Delhi, May 6 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Vietnamese President To Lam at Hyderabad House, focusing on strengthening the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The discussions covered key areas of cooperation including trade and investment, defence and security, digital technology, energy, and connectivity. Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.

The meeting emphasized enhancing economic engagement, improving supply chain resilience, and exploring new opportunities in emerging sectors such as infrastructure, critical minerals, and innovation-led growth.

The visit comes at a significant milestone as both countries mark 10 years of their upgraded strategic partnership. The engagement is expected to further deepen bilateral ties and open new avenues for cooperation between India and Vietnam.

New Delhi, May 06: BC Jindal Group, India’s leading conglomerate with over Rs. 18,000 crore turnover, has announced the appointment of Sanjay Bhargava as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its power business, Jindal India Power Limited.

In his new role, Sanjay Bhargava will be responsible for further enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening performance at the group’s 1,200 MW thermal power generation facility in the state of Odisha, which comprises two 600 MW units. The BC Jindal Group, led by Shyam Sunder Jindal, Promoter BC Jindal Group, commissioned the state-of-the-art facility in 2015, which has been running successfully with an increasing Plant Load Factor (PLF) year after year.

We are pleased to welcome Sanjay Bhargava as the Chief Executive Officer of Jindal India Power Limited. He brings a wealth of experience with him to the company alongside expertise of India’s power sector. We believe his leadership and experience will support and contribute to the company’s continued growth, “said a spokesperson of the BC Jindal Group.

With over 35 years of experience, Sanjay Bhargava is a thermal power plant professional who has worked in different domains of the power industry including, power sales strategy, plant operations and maintenance, commercial and regulatory, advocacy and business development, to name a few. In the past, he has been associated with reputed companies like Tata Power. 

Speaking on the appointment, Mr. Sanjay Bhargava, CEO, Jindal India Power Limited said, “I am delighted to join Jindal India Power Limited as the Chief Executive Officer. Along with the talented team at the plant, I look forward to continue driving operational excellence and sustainable growth at the facility. I am thankful to the leadership at BC Jindal Group for entrusting me with this opportunity.”

Since its inception, Jindal India Power has signed multiple Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with state DISCOMs and other consumers across Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, and Noida, to name a few. These agreements encompass short-term, medium-term, and long-term power supply arrangements, showcasing the company’s expertise in the sector.

Founded in 1952 by Shri BC Jindal, the BC Jindal Group, led by Shyam Sunder Jindal, Promoter, BC Jindal Group, is one of India’s leading conglomerates and is engaged in a diverse portfolio of businesses that includes packaging films, energy and steel products.

 

May 6 (BNP): Gold and silver prices showed mixed movement on Tuesday as investors closely tracked geopolitical tensions in the Middle East alongside uncertain progress in US–Iran discussions.

Market sentiment remained cautious amid renewed instability in the Gulf region. Reports of fresh hostilities and military activity in the Strait of Hormuz have raised concerns over global energy and trade routes, keeping safe-haven demand for precious metals supported.

The situation intensified after both the United States and Iran engaged in actions in the region, further unsettling an already fragile security environment. These developments have added volatility to global markets, influencing investor positioning in gold and silver.

Despite ongoing geopolitical risks, prices remained largely stable as traders balanced safe-haven demand with broader economic considerations and expectations around diplomatic negotiations.

Overall, precious metal markets continue to react to evolving geopolitical headlines, with investors remaining alert to developments that could impact global stability and commodity flows.

Paramaribo (Suriname), May 6 (BNP): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on his first official visit to Suriname, emphasized the strong historical and cultural bonds between the two countries, describing the relationship as one rooted in shared heritage and enduring people-to-people connections.

 Pic Credit: https://x.com/DrSJaishankar

He noted that India’s engagement with Suriname goes beyond traditional diplomacy, reflecting deep civilisational linkages shaped by migration history and cultural affinity, particularly among the Indian-origin community in the Caribbean and South American region.

The Minister highlighted that these longstanding ties continue to serve as a foundation for expanding cooperation in key areas such as trade, development partnership, digital initiatives, capacity building, and cultural exchange.

Reaffirming India’s commitment, Jaishankar said both nations are working to further strengthen bilateral relations and explore new avenues of collaboration that benefit their people.

The visit is seen as part of India’s broader outreach to deepen engagement with partner countries through cultural and developmental diplomacy.

New Delhi, May 6: maspar, India’s leading premium home furnishings brand, has reopened its flagship store at DLF Mall of India, Noida. The store has resumed operations with a refreshed layout, new theme, and updated structure designed to enhance the shopping experience for homeowners and design professionals across NCR.

The redesigned space moves beyond traditional retail, offering a stylised structure with curated inspiration zones where customers can explore complete room concepts across bedding, bath, curtains, upholstery, and accessories. The store also introduces a dedicated Personalised home styling Assistance service, enabling clients to create tailor‑made living environments with expert guidance.

Mr Abhinav Mahajan, Director Retail, maspar said,

“We were among the first to open in this mall. Understanding changing customer preferences and experience requirements, we decided to bring an eye-level experience to home furnishings purchases. A completely new Maspar experience. This relaunch is about creating a destination where homeowners, architects, and designers can explore coordinated, sustainable, and luxurious home styling solutions.”

Aligned with maspar’s Green Thread initiative, the renovated outlet is maspar’s 6th exclusive store. Maspar today has a retail presence at 115 locations across 15 states in India. The maspar brand is also available in leading retail stores in 10 countries.

These changes reflect the brand’s ongoing commitment to conscious luxury, complementing its use of bamboo and organic cotton in textiles.

This relaunch follows maspar’s recent flagship opening in Mumbai’s Andheri West and builds on the brand’s recognition at the IHE Excellence Awards. By reimagining its presence in one of India’s premier shopping destinations, maspar reinforces its position as a leader in premium home furnishings, combining innovation, sustainability, and design expertise.

 

New Delhi, May 6 (BNP): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a series of major decisions aimed at strengthening infrastructure, judicial capacity, agriculture, industry, and maritime development.

Under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the Cabinet approved three multitracking railway projects covering 19 districts across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, aimed at improving connectivity and logistics efficiency.

In judicial reforms, the Cabinet approved the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, to increase the strength of the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37 judges (excluding the Chief Justice), supporting faster delivery of justice.

For the agriculture sector, the government fixed the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane at ₹365 per quintal for the 2026–27 season, benefiting millions of farmers and workers engaged in the sugar industry.

The Cabinet also approved the “Mission for Cotton Productivity” with an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore to boost cotton yields, promote advanced farming technologies, and enhance India’s competitiveness in global textile markets by 2030–31.

In a major maritime infrastructure push, the government announced the development of a state-of-the-art Ship Repair Facility at Vadinar, Gujarat. The project will significantly expand India’s ship repair ecosystem and is expected to generate both direct and indirect employment. It will also promote skill development and support the growth of maritime ancillary industries and MSMEs in the surrounding region.

These initiatives collectively aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve governance efficiency, support farmers, boost industrial growth, and enhance India’s maritime capabilities.

May 6 (BNP): India’s services sector gained momentum in April, rising to a five-month high as stronger demand and new business orders supported overall expansion, according to the latest HSBC Services PMI data compiled by S&P Global.

The seasonally adjusted index increased to 58.7 in April from 58.5 in March, marking the 45th consecutive month above the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction.

The improvement was driven by a sharp rise in new orders, which also encouraged companies to increase hiring at a faster pace to meet rising workload. Employment growth reached a ten-month high as firms expanded capacity to handle stronger business inflows.

International demand also strengthened, with export orders rising at their fastest pace since July 2024, supported by clients from Asia, Europe, West Asia, and the United States. Finance and insurance sectors led the growth, while consumer services also showed strong performance.

Although input cost pressures eased to a six-month low, companies raised selling prices at a quicker rate, reflecting higher wage and transportation expenses.

Despite a slight dip in business confidence, firms remained broadly optimistic about continued growth in the coming months, supported by steady demand conditions and improving market activity.