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2:29 AM

Govt extends work from home norms for IT, BPO companies till December 31

The government on Tuesday said it has extended connectivity norms for work from home for IT and BPO companies till December 31.

 

The time period for work from home was expiring on July 31.

 

"DoT has further extended the relaxations in the terms and conditions for other service providers up to 31st December 2020 to facilitate work from home in view of the ongoing concern due to Covid-19," the Department of Telecommunications said in a late night tweet.

2:28 AM

Govt to soon come out with a list of strategic sectors: DEA Secretary

In line with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' package, Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj on Tuesday said the government will soon come out with a list of strategic sectors, and public sector companies in non-strategic sectors will be privatised.

 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had in May announced that there will be a maximum of four public sector companies in strategic sectors, and state-owned firms in other segments will eventually be privatised.

2:46 AM

Rains may pick up in the next few days over north and south India: IMD

The southwest monsoon has made a steady start across India in the first one and a half months. However, north India, particularly in Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, parts of Rajasthan, and Coastal Karnataka, has still not received adequate rainfall.

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest forecast said rains would pick up in the next few days over north and south India.

2:45 AM

India seeks new preferential treatment from US on drugs, other goods

India is seeking concessions for generic drugs it exports to the US in return for opening its dairy markets and slashing tariffs on farm goods as the two sides seek to shore up a new trade deal, three sources said.

 

India accounts for 40 per cent of US generic drug imports, including the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine, touted by US President Donald Trump in the fight against Covid-19.

 

To win preferential treatment on pharmaceutical exports, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is dangling the carrot of opening its dairy and farm markets to the Trump administration, months ahead of the US presidential election.

2:45 AM

Bureaucratic reshuffle: P Amudha appointed joint secretary in PMO

enior bureaucrat P Amudha has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Keshav Chandra as the Director of Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected on Monday by the Centre.

 

Amudha, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, is currently serving as Professor, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.

2:45 AM

Indian medical experts hail Oxford trial results for Covid-19 vaccine

Medical experts in India on Monday hailed the results of Oxford University's early-stage human trials for a Covid-19 vaccine, with some saying it's the "most scientifically done" among all such exercises, while others expressing hope that the final trials will "bear fruit".

 

From clinicians to pathology experts, doctors in the country feel the Oxford trials have been the "most transparent" one by far.

2:44 AM

We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus: Trump

1:07 AM

India begins anti-subsidy probe on Chinese export of certain yarn

The Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday initiated a probe into alleged low-cost imports of a certain type of yarn from China, which is impacting the domestic industry.

 

The Commerce Ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has started the probe to assess if the subsidy programme of China for exports of 'Viscose Rayon Filament Yarn above 60 deniers'' is impacting the Indian industry.

 

Association of Man-Made Fibre Industry of India (AMFII) has filed an application before the DGTR, on behalf of domestic industry, for anti-subsidy investigation on the imports of this yarn from China.

1:06 AM

Bihar CM alerts officials for possible flood situation due to heavy rainfall

1:04 AM

ED freezes 60 bank accounts in India on Brazil's request

The Enforcement Directorate is understood to have initiated a process to freeze over 60 bank accounts in the country on the request of the Brazilian government in connection with a money laundering case in that country, offiicials said on Monday.

 

They said the agency has undertaken the action under the provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in pursuance of a mutual agreement between the two nations to combat financial crimes.

 

The over 60 bank accounts are held by some individuals and businessmen based in the country, they said.

1:03 AM

Trump lacks strategic vision, historical knowledge: Bolton

Former national security adviser John Bolton said Monday he believes President Donald Trump committed several impeachable offenses, but Democratic congressional leaders doomed their effort to remove him from office by rushing the process for partisan purposes.

 

Bolton told a Florida group in an online presentation that Trump's business and re-election concerns drive not only his dealings with Ukraine, which led to his impeachment by the House, but also with China, Turkey and other countries.

12:59 AM

Heavy rainfall lashes Rajpath area of Delhi

12:38 AM

TMC prepares for its first mega virtual rally on July 21

Even as the TMC leadership is apprehensive whether its first mega digital rally on July 21 would evoke a similar response as it used to during previous years, all eyes are on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's message to party workers ahead of next year's crucial assembly polls.

 

According to party sources, Banerjee is likely to kick start the party's digital campaign for the 2021 assembly polls with the rally.

 

The July 21 rally is not just a show of strength on the part of TMC but also a platform which sets the tone of the party's policies and politics for the entire year.

12:34 AM

Gehlot govt withdraws 'general consent' for CBI investigation; BJP says CM is hiding something

12:33 AM

Rebel Cong MLA alleges Gehlot harassing Rajasthan legislators

Dissident Congress MLA Vishvendra Singh on Monday night accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of misusing his powers to harass legislators who have challenged his "misrule and lack of leadership".

 

He said he was a cabinet minister until recently but now FIRs are filed against him by the Special Operations Group and the Anti Corruption Bureau.

 

He warned the government that the public was "watching it all".

 

"ACB and SOG were misused for registering cases against me and Bhanwarlal Sharma as we had challenged Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his misrule and lack of leadership," Singh said in a statement.

12:33 AM

Bureaucratic reshuffle: P Amudha appointed Joint Secy in PMO

Senior bureaucrat P Amudha has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Keshav Chandra as the Director of Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected on Monday by the Centre.

 

Amudha, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, is currently serving as Professor, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.

 

Chandra, a 1995 batch IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories or AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as the Director, SFIO, Ministry of Corporate Affairs up to December 17, 2022, an order issued by Personnel Ministry said.

 

His batchmate Varsha Joshi has been appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for a tenure of five years.

11:54 PM

Shooter Abhishek Verma opens small shooting range at home for practice

11:50 PM

Government committed to ensuring technological shift towards 'work from home' is smooth: PM Modi

11:41 PM

All-round Stokes guides England to thrilling win

All-round Ben Stokes was the chief orchestrator as England beat West Indies by 113 runs on the fifth and final day of the second Test at the Old Trafford here on Monday to level the three-match series 1-1.

 

Stokes set up England's victory with a majestic 176 in the first innings as he stitched a 260-run partnership with fellow centurion Dom Sibley (120) to take England to a commanding 469/9.

 

In reply, the Windies managed 287, riding on half-centuries by Kraigg Brathwaite (75), Shamarh Brooks (68) and Roston Chase (51). With one day wasted due to rain, England needed a breezy innings from someone to post a challenging target for the tourists, and Stokes was at it again, hitting a quickfire 57-ball 78 to set the Windies a target of 312.

11:34 PM

Rahul Gandhi attacks PM on LAC standoff; BJP accuses him of indulging in mudslinging

11:14 PM

Second tranche of Bharat Bond ETF garners Rs 10,992 cr

The second tranche of Bharat Bond ETF (exchange traded fund) was over-subscribed 3.7 times, collecting Rs 10,992 crore.

Bharat Bond ETF was launched on July 14 and closed on July 17. The base issue size was Rs 3,000 crore with a green-shoe option of Rs 12,000 crore, taking the total size to Rs 15,000 crore.

"The Bharat Bond NFO Tranche II has seen resounding success, receiving applications amounting to Rs 10,992 crore," Edelweiss Asset Management said in a statement.

11:13 PM

UK suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong over controversial Chinese law

11:12 PM

Akali Dal has no locus standi to be concerned about farmers after supporting Centre's farm ordinances: Amarinder Singh

10:47 PM

Delhi govt to give Rs 10 lakh to family of man who died under waterlogged Minto bridge: AAP

10:41 PM

Rajasthan crisis: Gehlot calls Pilot names

The Ashok Gehlot camp sharpened its attack on Sachin Pilot on Monday, with the chief minister calling him useless and another loyalist alleging that the dissident Congress leader had himself offered him crores to switch sides.

 

Pilot reacted sharply, saying he will take the MLA to court.

 

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was dismissive of a notice from Rajasthan police over unverified audio clips, saying their authenticity should be examined first.

 

According to the Congress, Shekhawat is heard in one of the clips in which a plot to topple the state government is being discussed.

10:10 PM

US slaps strongman ruler of Russia's Chechnya with sanctions

The United States on Monday slapped the regional strongman leader of Russia's republic of Chechnya with sanctions over human rights violations.
 

Ramzan Kadyrov, 43, has run Chechnya like his personal fiefdom, relying on his security forces to quash dissent. International human rights groups have accused Kadyrov and his lieutenants of abductions, torture and killings of their opponents.
 

Rights defenders also hold the Chechen authorities responsible for a sweeping crackdown on gays over the past few years that has seen more than 100 people arrested, subjected to torture, with some of them killed. Chechen authorities have denied those accusations, and federal authorities said a probe found nothing to support the charges.

10:08 PM

Brexit will split financial markets, says Bank of England appointee

Brexit will make markets less efficient but it won't be disastrous for Britain's economy, an appointee to the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said on Monday.
 

Britain left the European Union in January, with transition arrangements that afford continued full access to the bloc ending in December.
 

"It will cause fragmentation, it will cause inefficiency, there will be problems with regulation, but it's not going to be disastrous... for the economy," Jonathan Hall, told a confirmation hearing in parliament's Treasury Select Committee.

10:04 PM

Cement demand likely to de-grow by up to 25 per cent in FY21: Icra

Cement demand is likely to de-grow by up to 25 per cent this fiscal on account of the coronavirus lockdown and subsequent specific restrictions disrupting construction activities, ratings agency Icra said.

 

It further said cement manufactures may witness a compression in operating profitability by 150-200 basis points (bps) in the current financial year.

 

While rural housing and infrastructure projects in remote areas would support cement consumption, urban-led demand is headed for a slowdown, it said.

9:53 PM

Rajasthan ACB asks dissident Congress MLAs to appear before it within three days

9:41 PM

Congress MLA claims Pilot offered money to join BJP; Pilot rubbishes charge as "baseless, vexatious"