Newsmakers: Bharti Airtel, Uber ink pact, US oil falls and more

Bharti Airtel, Uber sign pact for free 4G Internet
US-based taxi-hailing app Uber has signed an agreement with telecom major Bharti Airtel to offer free high-speed Internet in its cabs across the country. Besides, Airtel will also become Uber's official telecom partner across India by offering mobile, data and device plans to Uber driver-partners. The service, which has been launched in Mumbai, will soon be extended to other cities.

FM Jaitley says NPAs at 'unacceptable' level for PSBs
Bad loans of public sector banks have reached an unacceptable level and an all-out effort has been launched to 'correct' their health, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday. "NPAs, which have reached to the present level are unacceptable. They reached this level partly because of indiscretion, partly because of inaction and partly because of challenges in some sectors of the economy, which were evident through the high NPA levels in these sectors," he said.

Jet Airways plane lands with 'insufficient fuel'; pilots suspended
As many as 142 passengers and eight crew members of a Jet Airways flight from Doha to Kochi had a narrow escape after the plane landed at Trivandrum airport without the mandatory reserve fuel requirement, leading to the suspension of both the pilots by the aviation regulator, sources said.

US oil falls longest in 29 years after China data
Oil prices resumed their downward trend on Friday pulled lower by weaker global stock markets and a sharp contraction in China's manufacturing activity, with the US benchmark on track for its longest weekly losing streak since 1986. Activity in China's factory sector shrank at its fastest pace in almost 6-1/2 years in August as domestic and export demand dwindled, adding to worries about lower demand for crude in the world's second biggest oil consumer.

India can become a $20-trillion economy in 3 yrs: Suresh Prabhu
The economy can double in three years and has the potential of becoming a $20-trillion economy, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Friday. Prabhu also stressed the need for clarity in thought and a comprehensive plan to make a $20-trillion Indian economy .