LIVE: SC to hear petition seeking release of Mehbooba Mufti tomorrow

The dawn-to-dusk bandh call has been supported by several pro-Kannada and other outfits besides the Opposition Congress and the JD(S). Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

2:10 AM

Oil up 1% on economic hope; virus fears check price gains

Oil prices rose 1 per cent on Monday as global equities rallied on hopes for another US stimulus package, but rising virus cases fed concerns about fuel demand and kept oil futures from moving higher.

 

Brent crude settled at $42.43 a barrel, up 51 cents, or 1.22 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate settled at $40.60 a barrel, rising 35 cents, or 0.87 per cent.

 

"In my opinion, the most likely event capable of moving the crude oil market to the next level would be the passing of a coronavirus stimulus package," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

 

Oil followed Wall Street higher as American political talks continued for another Covid-19 relief bill after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said she thought a deal could be reached with the White House.

1:24 AM

Amazon to hold Prime Day event on October 13-14

1:16 AM

Africa lost $800 billion in illegal transfers in recent years: UN

The United Nations estimates that illegal outflows of capital from Africa totaled over $830 billion in the first 15 years of this century, much of it linked to movements of high-value commodities like gold, diamonds, and platinum straining the ability of the continent's governments to provide services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

 

The UN Conference on Trade and Development on Monday focused the latest edition of its annual report on economic development in Africa to the issue of illicit financial flows, or illegal movements of money and assets across borders. In Africa, it has often involved theft, corruption, and flawed invoicing of shipments.

 

From 2013 to 2015 the last year for which data was available such outflows rose to nearly $89 billion a year on average. By comparison, the combined total of both official development assistance and foreign direct investment received by Africa during that three-year span averaged $102 billion annually.

11:06 PM

GM will repay $28 million to Ohio in tax incentives after closing plant

11:02 PM

After New York Times revelations, Trump says he paid millions in taxes

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he paid "many millions of dollars in taxes" and that he had many more assets than debt, but did not provide evidence or promise to release any financial statements before the Nov. 3 election.

 

In a series of Twitter posts, the Republican president responded to a New York Times report that he paid just $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017, after years of reporting heavy losses from his business enterprises.

 

"I paid many millions of dollars in taxes but was entitled, like everyone else, to depreciation & tax credits," he wrote. "I am extremely under leveraged - I have very little debt compared to the value of assets."

 

The Republican president, who will face Democratic rival Joe Biden on Tuesday night for their first presidential debate, said he had "extraordinary assets" and boasted a "very IMPRESSIVE" financial statement.

10:52 PM

Farooq Abdullah speaks to Harsh Vardhan about Jammu's 'crumbling health' infra: NC statement

10:46 PM

Astrosat, India's first multi-wavelength astronomical observatory, completes five years of imaging celestial objects in space

10:19 PM

Ola partners Akshaya Patra Foundation to deliver 1.2 million meal kits to its drivers, families

10:15 PM

Farm laws: Punjab CM lashes out at Sukhbir Badal, says Akali Dal has lost credibility

10:12 PM

Industry bodies welcome Maharashtra govt's decision to re-open eateries, bars from October 1st week

10:11 PM

Import of all iron, steel items need compulsory registration now under SIMS: Govt

9:29 PM

Over 81 per cent votes cast in first phase of Rajasthan gram panchayat polls

9:24 PM

The meeting of the MPC from September 29- October 1, being rescheduled. Fresh dates to be announced soon: RBI

9:22 PM

Pandemic boosting demand for plant-based foods, Nestle says

Demand for plant-based foods has picked up during the coronavirus crisis as consumers try to eat more healthily and problems at some factories have hit meat supplies, the head of Swiss food giant Nestle said on Monday.

 

The world's biggest packaged food company is investing heavily in plant-based products as it looks to step up innovation and meet the challenge of trendy local food brands.

 

In the coming days, it is launching a plant-based Nesquik milk drink and a new version of its vegan burger.

 

"The interest in plant-based alternatives has been on the rise for a number of reasons," Chief Executive Mark Schneider told Reuters, citing problems in the North American meat supply chain.

9:20 PM

Shiromani Akali Dal asks its members to resign from posts held by them in three municipal corporations of Delhi

9:16 PM

Lenders give clean chit to Reliance Commercial Finance as GT audit finds no fraud

9:13 PM

Senior bureaucrat P D Vaghela appointed chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

9:01 PM

SC to hear petition seeking release of Mehbooba Mufti tomorrow

8:56 PM

Punjabi singers, actors hold protest in support of farmers

Several Punjabi singers and actors such as Ammy Virk and Deep Sidhu held a protest here on Monday in solidarity with the farmers agitating against the new farm laws.

 

Prominent among them who took part in the protest also included Kanwar Grewal, Ranjit Bawa and Resham Singh Anmol. They exhorted people to join hands in farmers' fight against the farm laws.

 

"The time has come for artists and the youth to come together against the government to force it to withdraw the farm laws. Every section of the society is with farmers," said Bawa.

8:51 PM

Kolkata Metro to resume services on Sundays from October 4

The Kolkata Metro Railway on Monday said it will resume services on Sundays from October 4. The first service will commence from both ends at Noapara and Kavi Subhash stations at 10.10 am and the last one will start at 7.30 pm, an official said.

 

The Sunday services will, however, be available only in the north-south line, excluding the East West Metro, spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said.

 

The East West Metro has been suffering from poor passenger patronisation, with only a little over a 100 people riding it on weekdays.

 

8:44 PM

Paytm Money aims to onboard over one million investors this fiscal

Paytm's wholly-owned subsidiary Paytm Money on Monday said it aims to onboard over 1 million investors this fiscal for its stockbroking services.

 

Paytm Money, which had started early access programme for the stockbroking service, has already registered over 220,000 investors, a statement said.

 

"The company aims to onboard over 1 million investors this fiscal with the majority of them as first-time users from small cities and towns...The company is striving to become the most comprehensive online wealth management platform in India driving financial inclusion for the masses," it added.

8:37 PM

RBI extends enhanced borrowing limit for banks under MSF till March 31

Amid the ongoing economic woes created by the coronavirus pandemic, the Reserve Bank has decided to extend by six months the enhanced borrowing facility provided to banks to meet liquidity shortage till March 31, 2021.

The RBI, as a temporary measure, had increased the borrowing limit for scheduled banks under the marginal standing facility (MSF) scheme from 2 per cent to 3 per cent of their Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) with effect from March 27, 2020.

The facility, which was initially available up to June 30, 2020 was later extended up to September 30, 2020 in view of the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

8:30 PM

France to release $49 billion in economic stimulus next year

France's government presented its 2021 budget on Monday, a plan that aims to rescue the country's beleaguered economy from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by injecting a 42 billion-euro ($49 billion) stimulus next year.

 

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said we are convinced that France can recover, and quickly recover, following a Cabinet meeting.

 

France's economy is expected to shrunk 10 per cent this year, in its worst recession since World War II. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government unveiled a 100 billion-euro ($117 billion) recovery plan aimed at creating jobs and saving struggling businesses.

8:26 PM

Guv demeaning his post, behaving like state president of BJP: TMC

Trinamool Congress Monday came down heavily on Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for his comments against the state government and said "instead of demeaning the post he holds, he should take over as the BJP state president".

 

Dhankhar on Monday claimed that the TMC government has turned West Bengal into a "police state" and said he would be forced to "look at" Article 154 of the Constitution as his office has been ignored for long by the ruling dispensation.

 

Article 154 of the Constitution mandates that the executive power of the state shall be vested in the Governor and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him.

 

8:18 PM

Punjab's Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh continues 'rail roko' agitation to protest Farm Bills

8:17 PM

Defence Ministry approves acquisition of arms, military equipment worth Rs 2,290 cr

The defence ministry on Monday approved the procurement of arms and military equipment worth Rs 2,290 crore, including around 72,000 Sig Sauer assault rifles from the US for troops guarding the borders with China and Pakistan, officials said.

The proposals were approved at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the defence ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement of arms and other equipment for the country's armed forces.

Besides clearing the proposal to buy assault rifles, the other significant acquisitions approved by the DAC include procurement of smart anti-airfield weapon (SAAW) systems for the Navy and the Indian Air Force at an approximate cost of Rs 970, the officials said.

8:08 PM

Desi startups lap up $63 bn since 2016, spawn 27 unicorns

The startups ecosystem has raised as much as $63 billion in growth capital between 2016 and 2020, when they spawned 27 unicorns, according to the data collated by the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and Praxis Global Alliance.

 

According to them, this makes India the third largest tech startup ecosystem in the world. Of the total inflows, nearly half came in 2019 alone -- $34 billion and USD 17 billion in 2020 till May.

 

The time period also created as many as 27 unicorns in the country. Unicorns are those with $1 billion or more valuation. Tech-enabled players continue to drive investors' interest and have dominated the early stage funding landscape here.

 

8:01 PM

Bharat Vikas Parishad contributes Rs 2.11 cr to PM Cares Fund: Govt

A non-profit making social organisation, Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP), has contributed Rs 2.11 crore to the PM CARES Fund through Union Minister Jitendra Singh, according to a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry on Monday.

 

Acknowledging the contribution, Singh said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys a very high degree of faith, trust and credibility among the people and that is why whenever he gives a call for any cause, it spontaneously transforms into a mass movement.

 

"We saw this when he gave a call for Swachh Bharat Mission and building of toilets, for surrendering gas subsidy or observing early lockdown and other guidelines in view of the coronavirus pandemic," he said.

 

7:56 PM

Arunachal may reopen for tourists after October: CM

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday hinted that the state will reopen for tourists after October.

 

Attending a virtual programme organised by the central government, Khandu said that the tourism sector has suffered a lot in the last six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic which affected the livelihood of thousands of people and dented the state's revenue.

 

"Tourism is one major source of revenue and employment. Keeping all considerations in mind, we will be re-opening the sector. If everything goes well, after October we will be open to visitors," he said at the Destination North East programme.

 

7:51 PM

Corp Affairs Min extends deadline for various schemes amid Covid-19

Providing relief to companies amid the coronavirus pandemic-induced disruptions, the government has extended the duration of "several schemes" till December 31, including the fresh start scheme.

 

The corporate affairs ministry has extended the Companies Fresh Start Scheme and the LLP Settlement Scheme, besides allowing companies to conduct EGMs (extraordinary general meetings) and board meetings through video conference or other audio-visual means till end of this year.

 

Further, the scheme for relaxation of time for filing forms related to creation or modification of charges under the Companies Act, 2013 as well as the deadline for independent directors to register themselves on a data bank for them has been extended.