Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Nicolas Sarkozy back in court for fresh trial over alleged Libya funding

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-16T10:53:34+00:00

Ex-French president, who was jailed last year for criminal conspiracy, to be tried at Paris appeal court on four counts Nicolas Sarkozy is due to appear at the Paris court of appeal to face a fresh trial over allegations he conspired to receive illegal election campaign funding from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.The former rightwing French president, who was in office between 2007 and 2012, denies any wrongdoing. Continue reading...

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SEBI plans light-touch penalty structure for investment advisers

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-16T10:51:16+00:00

SEBI is working on a standardised light-touch penalty structure aimed at encouraging compliance while ensuring transparency and fairness.

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Star Infomatic unveils ElectroSense tech to prevent electrical accidents

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-16T10:51:11+00:00

ElectroSense allows field technicians, telecom workers, line inspectors and maintenance teams to receive warning signals before accidental contact with hazardous live points occurs, company says

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European takeover battle hots up with UniCredit’s ‘unfriendly attack’ on Commerzbank

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-16T10:48:08+00:00

Milan-based bank plans to up its near-30% stake in German lender to trigger formal talks despite strong opposition from BerlinTwo European banking powerhouses have become embroiled in a €35bn (£30bn) takeover battle after Italy’s UniCredit stepped up its long-running pursuit of German lender Commerzbank, despite strong opposition from the German government.UniCredit first took a stake of 9% in Commerzbank in September 2024 and has since built up its holding to just under 30%. It said on Monday it was pushing to increase that holding further and push the rival lender into formal merger talks. C

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FSSAI approves 17 r-PET manufacturing facilities : APR Bharat

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-16T10:46:29+00:00

Aligned with this mandate, 15-18 food-grade rPET recycling facilities were established across the country with a total capacity of approx. 3 lakh MT at an estimated investment of ₹9,000 - 10,000 crore

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UK ‘will not be drawn into wider war’ over Iran, says Starmer – UK politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-16T10:38:22+00:00

PM says country ‘will keep working towards a swift resolution that brings security and stability back to the region’Keir Starmer is speaking at his press conference.The war is entering its third week, he says.First, we will protect our people in the region.Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.Moments like this also tell you about leadership … Now, there are others who would have made a different decision two weeks ago.They would have rushed the UK headlong into this war without the full picture of what they were s

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Power demand in India to hit record highs, adding to energy woes

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-16T10:33:58+00:00

Power use could top out at 283 gigawatts during the most extreme periods, a 13% jump compared to the current record of 250 gigawatts set in the summer of 2024

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Mexico sets world record for biggest football lesson

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-03-16T10:29:33+00:00

Thousands turned Mexico City's central square into a football pitch in an attempt to set a new Guiness World record.

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India negotiating with Iran to move six LPG tankers through Hormuz

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-16T10:28:57+00:00

The government has prioritised LPG shipments due to domestic shortages, while several Indian-flagged vessels, including crude and LNG tankers, remain stranded in the Persian Gulf

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London book fair roundup: Idris Elba’s thriller deal, the rise of romcom, and fights against censorship

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-16T10:22:29+00:00

The actor led the starry book deals, while publishers assessed whether US-style bans are spreading to the UKThe annual London book fair wrapped on Thursday, marking the end of three days that saw 33,000 people connected to the book industry – agents, publishers, authors, among others – gather at Olympia to make deals and discuss the state of the publishing world, and its future. Here’s our roundup of the biggest deals, trends and takeaways from the fair.The starriest book deal of the week was a new thriller series co-authored by Idris Elba, featuring an MI6 field operative who gets deployed to

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India in talks for six FTAs with Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile and others

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-16T10:18:00+00:00

The government is also advancing other trade initiatives, including agreements with the United Kingdom and Oman awaiting ratification, concluded negotiations with the European Union and New Zealand, and ongoing talks with the United States and several other partners

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Margareta Magnusson, Swedish ‘death cleaning’ author, dies age 92

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-16T10:13:35+00:00

Magnusson’s 2017 bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning turned the Scandinavian decluttering practice into a global phenomenonSwedish author and artist Margareta Magnusson, whose book on “death cleaning” became a global phenomenon, has died aged 92.Magnusson’s 2017 book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, introduced international readers to the concept of döstädning – the practice of sorting through and giving away possessions in later life so that family members are not left with the burden of doing so after one’s death. Continue reading...

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