New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Afcons Infrastructure Ltd posted a 23 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decline in standalone net profit for the first quarter of FY26 at Rs 135.73 crore, down from Rs 175.34 crore in Q4 FY25, according to an exchange filing on Friday. Despite the sequential drop, the company recorded a 31 per cent year-on-year (YoY) rise in its standalone net profit from Rs 103.62 crore in Q1 FY25.Total income in Q1 FY26 remained largely stable at Rs 3,411.58 crore compared to Rs 3,379.6…

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) The government is conscious of the threats posed by deepfakes powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), including synthetic audio, video and text. Such content can seriously impact a person’s dignity, reputation, and right to privacy. It also raises concerns about platform accountability, the Parliament was informed on Friday. To ensure an open, safe, trusted and accountable cyberspace for users, Government of India has enacted laws such as the information of technology …

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Well-known US law firm Beasley Allen has been enlisted by at least 65 Indian and British families who lost loved ones in the tragic June 12 Air India crash to investigate legal action, potentially in American courts.The firm’s top aviation lawyer, Mike Andrews, met several bereaved families at the crash site in the Meghaninagar neighbourhood of Ahmedabad before travelling to Vadodara.Andrews told reporters on Friday that the families were frantic for justice, answers, and…

Hyderabad, Aug 8 (IANS) Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu said on Friday that the state government is making focused efforts to position the state as a global manufacturing hub. He claimed that Telangana continues to lead the country in manufacturing-led growth. In 2024–25, an industrial output of Rs 2.77 lakh crore, with manufacturing accounting for nearly 48 per cent is estimated by the Economic Survey. “Our merchandise exports have already crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in…

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) The government has procured 3 lakh tonnes of onion this year for its price stabilisation buffer, and a calibrated release from the stocks is expected to start from September in order to keep prices under control, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said on Friday.Pertinently, unlike previous years, prices of major vegetables like potato, onion and tomato are under control this monsoon season. In the case of potato and onion, higher production …

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) on Friday announced the launch of its inaugural edition of ‘Makers Honour’, India’s most prestigious recognition for engineers, developers and technologists who power the country’s $224 billion tech export industry in association with GitHub, a widely used web-based platform for developers. At a time when the nation celebrates founders, valuations, and IPOs, this initiative shines a spotlight on the unsung…

Beijing, Aug 8 (IANS) China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday defended the country’s economic, trade and energy cooperation with nations around the world, including Russia, terming it “legitimate and legal.” Speaking to reporters during a regular media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirmed Beijing’s stand to take energy security measures based on national interests.When asked about US President Donald Trump’s statement that he might impose secondary tariffs …

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Minister of State for Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Friday jointly convened a high-level meeting to discuss the 100 GW Nuclear Energy Mission here.This meeting follows up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious target of expanding India’s clean energy basket and reaffirms the country’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions.During the meeting, a thorough review was conducted on the roadmap to increase India’s nuc…

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) are rapidly transforming the automotive industry by shifting intelligence from hardware to software, a report said on Friday. The study highlights how this evolution is enabling greater automation, personalisation, and innovation in vehicle design and performance, market intelligence firm 1Lattice said in its report.Unlike traditional vehicles built around fixed hardware systems, SDVs operate on modular, programmable platforms.This allows …

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Government-e-Marketplace (GeM) recorded transactions worth Rs 5.4 lakh crore in gross merchandise Value (GMV) in FY 2024–25, the Commerce Ministry said on Friday, on the occasion of GeM’s 9th Foundation Day.Over the past nine years, GeM has recorded notable achievements, onboarding 1.5 lakh women-led enterprises along with startups, self-help groups (SHGs), artisans and micro and small enterprises (MSEs).“Our focus remains on ensuring every enterprise, from tribal a…