Rupee hits record low of 56.52 against US dollar

The rupee opened lower on Thursday at 56.50 and fell further to hit a record low of 56.52, continuing its downward momentum against the US dollar. It had ended at a record closing low of 56.23/24 per dollar.

The Indian currency has fallen for the third successive session, as oil importers ramped up demand for the greenback ahead of the end of the month, while global risk assets were hit by worries about Spain. Risk aversion deepened over continued euro zone worries, setting up expectations about potential intervention from the Reserve Bank of India.

Though global cues are providing the trigger, traders said the rupee was also being weighed down by deep concerns about India's fiscal and economic challenges, and doubts about slowing policy reforms.

Bharat bandh halts normal life, rail traffic hit

The Bharat bandh call by the NDA and the Left parties started affecting normal life on Thursday with the other parties joining the the protests. Rail traffic was hit as Samajwadi Party and JD(U) workers blocked rail routes in Allahabad and Patna. The Saket Express and Ganga Gomti Express were stopped in Allahabad.

The bandh turned violent in Karnataka as protestors burnt three state-run buses and damaged 11 buses.

In Delhi, auto rickshaw unions have also joined the bandh with 55,000 autos and 15,000 taxis expected to stay off the road. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has warned of blocking traffic at about 100 areas across the city.

BJP leader Sanjay Joshi said he will protest near the Akshardham temple in Delhi.

In Mumbai, the Shiv Sena will try and enforce the bandh in some of its strongholds. The city's dabbawalas, too, will be join in and won't be delivering tiffins.

But public transport won't be affected as autos, taxis, BEST buses and railway unions have decided not to join the bandh in Mumbai.

Protestors in Kolkata blocked the East-West by-pass. Blockades were also put near the Howrah station, but were lifted by the police.

Meanwhile, anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare has also called on his supporters to support the agitation. Major protest rallies are expected in NDA strongholds like Bihar, Karnataka and Madhya Pradhesh.

The NDA and the Left called for a nationwide bandh after the government raised petrol prices by Rs 7.50 per litre.

The last Bharat bandh that was called by the Opposition on July 5, 2010 had cost the economy Rs 13,000 crore.

AK Hangal returns to acting at 95

Veteran actor AK Hangal, 95, is making a comeback to acting with the television series "Madhubala". Hangal, who has acted in around 225 Hindi films and various TV shows in a career spanning nearly five decades, will be seen in a small role .

"It is very humbling to have Hangal ji on the show. We are honoured that he agreed to do the serial. He is a true actor and when on the sets he has this sparkle in his eyes which shows that he is very comfortable being there," Prashant Bhatt, head-fiction of Colors, told PTI.

"We didn't have to coax him much to be a part of the show. He agreed once we told him the story and his role," he added. Hangal's most notable roles are as Rahim Chacha in "Sholay" and Bipinlal Pandey in "Namak Haraam". Earlier this year it was reported that the veteran actor was facing financial problems and having a tough time meeting his medical expenses.

 "Madhubala" is based on the world of cinema and follows the story of a girl who is forced into glamour and showbiz. "He is the oldest face in Indian cinema and since the show is a tribute to 100 years of cinema we wanted Hangal ji on the show. He comes on a wheel chair and is very excited and eager to know his lines. We don't have narrate too many scenes and lines since we don't want to exhaust him. But he feels at ease when on the sets," Bhatt said. "Madhubala" went on air Monday and stars Drashti Dhami, Vivian D'sena, Raj Zutshi and Shagufta Ali.

रिम करेगा दो हजार कर्मचारियों की छंटनी

टोरंटो/नई दिल्ली: ब्लैकबेरी हैंडसेट बनाने वाली कनाडा की कंपनी रिसर्च इन मोशन (रिम) अपनी पुनर्गठन योजना के तहत अगले कुछ सप्ताह में वैश्विक स्तर पर 2,000 कर्मचारियों की छंटनी करेगी।

‘द ग्लोब एंड मेल’ ने कंपनी के नजदीकी सूत्रों के हवाले से प्रकाशित खबर में कहा है कि रिम वैश्विक स्तर पर बड़े पुनर्गठन की तैयारी कर रही है। अगले कुछ सप्ताह में वह वैश्विक स्तर पर 2,000 नौकरियों की कटौती करेगी। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि छंटनी का आंकड़ा इससे भी बड़ा हो सकता है।

Chennai petrol shortage forces offices to allow work-from-home today

Chennai: Many offices in Chennai have been forced to allow their staff to work-from-home today, after petrol pumps remain closed for the third day in a row because of lack of supplies from oil companies. Most petrol pumps in the city are shut and the few that have limited supplies are witnessing chaotic scenes since steepest ever petrol price hike last Wednesday.

Only a few bunks are open in the city, where only a motorist is only allowed to buy a litre or two at a time. The bunk owners here instructed motorists to park their vehicles on the road, leading to a traffic jam, and come in only with 1 or 2 litre bottles.

Two wheeler motorists are the ones who are the most affected. On the day of the announcement of the hike, many bunks ran out of stock of diesel. By the end of last week, a good number of bunks were selling only premium petrol at eighty rupees a litre, effectively taking the hike to over eleven rupees, temporarily. Petrol pump owners, speaking to NDTV on condition of anonymity, deny charges of hoarding and plead helplessness due to "lack of supplies from the companies."

Samuel Rajkumar, a driver fumed, "I stood in the queue for three hours from 5 am. At 8 am I got diesel for Rs 500. When I asked if I could get some more, I was told to go back to the end of the queue."

Quite like the mad rush for application forms for school admission, many motorists particularly auto drivers and others made a beeline at pumps before the crack of dawn for a few litres.

"Are the oil companies playing mind games with us? Create an artificial scarcity so that we would think its ok to shell out more as long as we get to fill our tanks" asked another irate customer.

The reason for the pumps drying up over the last 48 hours is being attributed to "no supplies from oil companies." When contacted, the Indian Oil Corporation Public Relations Officer Vetri Selvam told NDTV that he will "issue a statement shortly after discussing with the Executive Director." However oil companies say the situation will improve by tomorrow.

The AIADMK is slated to stage a demonstration against the hike across Tamil Nadu today and the DMK will hold its protest on Wednesday. Meanwhile, it's not the hike but the scarcity of petrol that has left people in Chennai worried.

Sources have told NDTV that the "shortage may continue for another two or three days and is due to reduced supply of Euro 4 grade fuel. Two Euro 4 grade tanker ships are expected to arrive at the Madras Refinery tomorrow. There has also been an unplanned shut down of MRPL & CPCL refineries in April for almost a month and over a week respectively."