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The Donald Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw the US from the WHO. Stay tuned with Business Standard for the latest news of today

2:53 AM

An external audit points out Facebook fails to protect civil rights

Facebook Inc's decisions to allow controversial posts by President Donald Trump established a "terrible precedent" that could allow the platform to be "weaponized to suppress voting," an external civil rights audit found on Wednesday.

 

The report, which Facebook commissioned two years ago, said the social network has not done enough to protect users from discrimination, falsehoods and incitement to violence, adding to pressure on the company in the midst of an advertiser boycott.

2:52 AM

Trump says he's considering a ban on short video app TikTok in the US

Trump said his administration is considering banning the short video app TikTok in the US as a possible way to retaliate against China over its handling of coronavirus. “It’s something we’re looking at, yes,” Trump said when asked in an interview with Gray Television’s Greta Van Susteren about Pompeo’s remarks.

2:52 AM

Startup funding down 29% in first half of 2020 amid Covid-19 crisis: Tracxn

Startup funding activity decreased by 29 per cent in the first six month of this year to $4.2 billion compared to $5.9 billion in the same period last year, due to the impact created by the coronavirus pandemic, according to data analytics firm Tracxn. Only 443 companies were funded in the January-June period this year against 725 in H1, 2019, according to ‘India Tech Semi-Annual Factsheet’, compiled by Tracxn.

 

In the same period, three unicorns or startups valued at more than $1 billion (each) emerged compared to six last year. These were kids and baby products online retailer FirstCry, fintech company Pine Labs and online beauty and wellness retailer Nykaa. Also, there were 17 soonicorns or companies which hold the potential to become a unicorn in the near future against 28 last year.

2:51 AM

Cipla set to undercut rivals with low-priced generic remdesivir: Report

Indian drugmaker Cipla Ltd has priced its generic version of Remdesivir, Cipremi, at 4,000 rupees ($53.34) per 100 mg vial, according to several sources, making it among the lowest priced versions of the Covid-19 treatment available so far globally.

 

Cipla had earlier said pricing would not exceed 5,000 rupees. On Tuesday, Sovereign Pharma, which is manufacturing and packaging the drug for Cipla, said it had dispatched the first batch.

1:08 AM

UK gets creative: Job bonus and eating out schemes announced

The British government unveiled a raft of measures Wednesday it hopes will limit an anticipated spike in unemployment as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Most noteworthy were a new bonus plan aimed at getting firms to retain workers that have been idle for months, as well as tax cuts for hard-pressed firms in the tourism and hospitality sectors and a new Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme.

 

Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said his latest major intervention is aimed at weaning the U.K. economy off emergency measures announced when the country was put into lockdown in March, while at the same time protecting and generating as many jobs as possible during the recession.

11:43 PM

Venkaiah Naidu reviews Monsoon Session planning

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu Wednesday reviewed the seating arrangements for parliamentarians during the Monsoon session of Parliament and their participation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

At an hour-long meeting with the Secretary General and senior officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Naidu discussed practices to be adopted for the seating arrangement, sources said.

 

These broad principles and practices, including virtual participation of members, will be firmed up soon after discussions between Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the sources said.

11:32 PM

15th Finance Commission holds virtual conference to discuss union govt's revenue projections

11:32 PM

Defence Minister likely to inaugurate key border infra projects on Thursday

11:22 PM

Govt should move ICJ in Jadhav case: Congress

The Congress Wednesday urged the government to step up international pressure on Pakistan and move the International Court of Justice to enable Indian death-row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav to file a review petition against his death sentence.

 

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said one cannot expect anything from Pakistan.

 

"We have to put our faith in the Indian government. It must go flat out to ensure legal rights are granted to Kulbhushan Jadhav," he said.

 

"They (Government of India) should move heaven and earth, they should make applications in the ICJ, the matter has not ended. They should create an adverse public opinion globally that how can a man who is defenceless not be allowed to exercise these rights," he added.

10:57 PM

Veteran actor Jagdeep passes away at 81

10:56 PM

Indian Army has asked its personnel to delete 89 apps from their smartphones

10:56 PM

BJP leader, father and brother shot dead by militants in J&K

A BJP leader, his father and brother were shot dead by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district Wednesday night, DGP Dilbagh Singh said.
 

Militants opened fire on Wasim Ahmad Bari, BJP district president, outside his shop near police station Bandipora at around 9 pm, he said.
 

Singh said Bari's brother Umar and father Bashir Ahmad were injured in the firing.

 

10:26 PM

Saudi, Briton join race for top WTO post as deadline looms

Britain and Saudi Arabia put forward late entries for the contest to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organisation, joining six others aspiring to lead the Geneva-based trade body that has faced scorn and pressure from the Trump administration.

 

A Wednesday evening deadline loomed for candidacies to head the WTO after its current chief, Brazil's Roberto Azevedo, made the surprise announcement in May that he would leave the job a year early, citing a personal decision to leave.

 

Saudi Arabia nominated former economy minister and longtime banker Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, while Britain announced the candidacy of forward former International Trade Secretary and Brexit proponent Liam Fox.

10:05 PM

India again imposes anti-dumping duty on certain types of measuring tapes imported from China

10:04 PM

Opposition slams dropping of chapter on democracy, secularism; CBSE says syllabus reduced only for this year; Mixed response from academicians

9:52 PM

Palaniswami asks Vijayan to permit TN fishermen to resume fishing in Kerala from August 1

9:51 PM

Commerce ministry appoints Utpal Acharya as deputy chairman of Tea Board

The commerce ministry has appointed Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Joint Director Utpal Acharya as the new deputy chairman of the Tea Board with immediate effect, a top official said on Wednesday.

Acharya, whose appointment is for a temporary period, replaces Arun Kumar Ray, who was appointed deputy chairman on July 8, 2018 for a two-year tenure, Tea Board Chairman P K Bezbaruah told PTI.

9:50 PM

DPIIT may discuss 'country of origin' tag with Consumer Affairs Ministry

The industry department is likely to discuss with the Consumer Affairs Ministry the matter of mandating e-commerce firms to mention the 'country of origin' on each product sold through their platforms, sources said.

 

The issue was discussed in a meeting on Wednesday called by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and representatives of e-commerce companies, including Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Tata Cliq and Grofers.

 

The sources said the matter involves certain changes related to packaging of the product "the DPIIT would discuss the issue with the consumer affairs ministry".

 

The department has held two meetings with e-commerce companies to understand their issues and how much time they would take to implement 'country of origin' label on packages sold through their platform.

9:47 PM

Delhi minister Gautam says over 5 lakh people availed supplementary nutrition food facility in city

9:44 PM

Downward revision of growth by agencies shows lockdown impact; Jun data points to uptick: EY

9:44 PM

Japan battered by more heavy rain, floods; 58 dead

Pounding rain that already caused deadly floods in southern Japan was moving northeast Wednesday, battering large areas of Japan's main island, swelling more rivers, triggering mudslides and destroying houses and roads. At least 58 people died in several days of flooding.

 

Parts of Nagano and Gifu, including areas known for scenic mountain trails and hot springs, were flooded by massive downpours.

 

Public broadcaster NHK showed a swollen river gouging into its embankment and destroying a highway. In the city of Gero, the rising river was flowing just below a bridge.

 

Flooding and mudslides blocked parts of a main road connecting Kamikochi and Matsumoto, two major tourist destinations in Nagano, stranding hundreds of residents and visitors, though they were believed to have safely evacuated.

9:31 PM

PM's resolve to ensure nobody stays hungry during pandemic praiseworthy: Amit Shah

8:53 PM

SBI to invest up to Rs 1,760 crore in Yes Bank's further public offering

State Bank of India on Wednesday said its executive committee of central board has given approval for a maximum investment of up to Rs 1,760 crore in further public offering (FPO) of Yes Bank.

 

The announcement came after Yes Bank on Tuesday said it has received approval from the Capital Raising Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank (CRC) for raising funds by a way of FPO.

 

"Pursuant to the intimation given by Yes Bank to the stock exchanges on July 7, 2020 on the issue of raising capital, the executive committee of central board (ECCB) of State Bank of India at its meeting held today on July 8, 2020 has accorded approval for a maximum investment of up to Rs 1,760 crore in the Further Public Offering (FPO) of Yes Bank Ltd," SBI said in a filing to the exchanges.

8:37 PM

India will do its utmost to protect Kulbushan Jadhav and ensure his safe return to India: MEA

8:37 PM

Wednesday Cabinet decisions will bring positive change in lives of many: PM Modi

The decisions taken by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday for urban migrants and the poor will bring a positive change in the lives of many people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

 

Referring to the decision of the Cabinet to approve development of Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) for urban migrants and poor that will make housing available at an affordable rent, he said a house is not just a boundary wall made of brick and mortar.

 

"This is where our dreams take shape and our aspirations take flight. Today, important decisions of the cabinet will bring positive changes in the lives of many people," he said in a series of tweets in Hindi.

 

Modi said the decision to extend distribution of free foodgrains and pulses under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to 81 crore PDS beneficiaries for five months till November is aimed at addressing the concerns of the poor and empower them during the coronavirus crisis. READ MORE...

8:30 PM

India sought unimpeded access to Kulbushan Jadhav to discuss his remedies: MEA

8:26 PM

Pakistan’s claim that Kulbushan Jadhav refused to initiate review petition is continuation of farce: MEA on Pak media report

8:16 PM

Reduction in syllabus being interpreted differently, move only one-time measure: CBSE

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday claimed that the reduction in syllabus announced by the board is being interpreted "differently" and the move is only a one-time measure for the 2020-21 academic session in view of the COVID-19 situation.

 

The clarification by the board came amid a row over certain chapters being dropped from the curriculum.

 

"The reduction of syllabus from classes 9 to 12 has been interpreted differently. Contrary to some of the impressions being created, it is clarified that the rationalization of syllabus up to 30 per cent has been undertaken for nearly 190 subjects for the academic session 2020-21 as a one-time measure only," CBSE Secretary Anurag Tripathi said.

 

The board claimed the objective of rationalisation is to reduce the exam stress of students due to the prevailing health emergency and prevent learning gaps. It asserted that no question shall be asked from the reduced syllabus in the board exams 2020-21 only.

7:55 PM

Delhi Education Minister expresses concern over CBSE syllabus reduction

7:47 PM

Who is Vikas Dubey? A lowdown on Kanpur's notorious criminal

Vikas Dubey is an absconding gangster-turned-politician. Dubey, who is based in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, has dabbled in real-estate.

 

In 2000, Dubey won the Shivrajpur seat in a Zila Panchayat poll he fought from prison, where he was lodged after a murder charge, according to officials. Dubey had instilled so much fear in everyone that even after being accused of murdering a BJP leader having the status of minister of state, not even a single police officer gave a statement against him, according to media reports. READ MORE...