LIVE updates: BJP-backed candidates leading in Karnataka panchayat polls

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10:53 PM

Delhi govt suggests restaurants be allowed to serve liquor till 3 am as part of excise reforms: Report

Delhi govt panel suggests clubs, restaurants be allowed to serve liquor till 3 am and several other measures as part of excise reforms: official sources

10:04 PM

Delhi transport dept of extends validity of documents till March 31

The transport department of Delhi government has extended the validity of documents including driving licence, all kinds of permits and fitness certificates among others till March 31, 2021 in view of Covid-19 pandemic.

 

An order issued by the transport department on Tuesday stated that documents including driving licence, all types of permits, registration, vehicle fitness among others that had expired on February 1, 2020 or would expire on December 31, 2020, will be treated as valid till March 31, 2021.

 

The decision to extend the validity of the documents has been taken in accordance with a recent advisory of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said the order.

8:45 PM

Current account surplus moderates to $15.5 bn in second quarter: RBI

India's current account surplus moderated to USD 15.5 billion or 2.4 per cent of the GDP in the July-September quarter of the current fiscal. The same was at USD 19.2 billion or 3.8 per cent of the GDP in the preceding three months on account of a rise in the merchandise trade deficit, the RBI said on Wednesday.

 

A current account deficit of USD 7.6 billion or 1.1 per cent of the GDP was recorded in the second quarter of 2019-20.

 

India recorded a current account surplus of 3.1 per cent of the GDP in the first half of the fiscal as against a deficit of 1.6 per cent in the corresponding period of 2019-20. This was mainly on account of a sharp contraction in the trade deficit. READ ON...

8:23 PM

Govt offers to set up panel on farmers demand, next meeting on Jan 4

The government and farm unions reached some common ground on Wednesday to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

 

After nearly five hours of the sixth round of negotiations between three union ministers and a 41-member representative group of thousands farmers protesting on Delhi borders, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said at least 50 per cent resolution has been reached with mutual agreement on two out of four items on the agenda and discussions would continue on the remaining two on January 4.

 

"Discussions on the three farm laws and MSP are continuing and will continue in the next round of talks on January 4," Tomar told reporters after the meeting ended. READ ON...

7:30 PM

Latest News LIVE updates: ITR filing deadline extended till January 10

Extending the deadline for the third time, the government on Wednesday allowed individuals to file income tax returns for 2019-20 fiscal till January 10. The deadline for companies and individuals who need to get their accounts audited too have been extended by 15 days till February 15, the finance ministry said in a statement. The due date for filing income tax return (ITR) by individuals and companies was December 31, 2020, and January 31, 2021, respectively.

 

Over 4.54 crore ITRs for 2019-20 fiscal (assessment year 2020-21) were filed till December 28. In the comparable period last year, 4.77 crore income tax returns were filed.

 

At the close of deadline for filing ITRs without payment of late fees for fiscal 2018-19 (assessment year 2019-20), over 5.65 crore returns were filed by taxpayers. The income tax department tweeted that the extension in various deadline was given in view of the continued challenges faced by taxpayers in meeting statutory compliances due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

7:14 PM

Lord Ayyappa's Sabarimala temple re-opened for Makaravilakku festival in Kerala

6:49 PM

Latest News LIVE updates: ITR filing deadline extended till January 10

6:21 PM

Govt okays export of Akash missile system, aims to hit $5 billion defence export

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the export of Akash Missile System aiming to achieve the target of USD 5 billion of defence export and improve strategic relations with friendly foreign countries, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

 

The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Akash is country's important missile with over 96 per cent indigenisation. Akash is a Surface-to-Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms. The missile was inducted in 2014 in Indian Air Force (IAF) and in 2015 in Indian Army.

 

Singh said a committee for faster approvals for the export of such platforms has been created. READ MORE...

5:48 PM

Market Wrap, Dec 30: Here's all that happened in the markets today

The benchmark equity indices reversed losses in late afternoon trade to end the highly volatile session on a strong note ahead of Decemeber F&O expiry. Gains in global peers and development on the vaccine front enthused market participants, helping both Sensex and Nifty extended their winning run to 6th day in a row and end at record closing highs.

 

Britain on Wednesday became the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

 

Meanwhile, a media report suggested that Subject Expert Committee of the CDSCO is set to meet anytime today to consider the application of Serum Institute of India for emergency use authorization of its Covid-19 vaccine. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE.

5:32 PM

Union Home Ministry declares entire Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for 6 months

Union Home Ministry declares entire Nagaland as ‘disturbed area’ for 6 months under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

5:14 PM

Gurugram police stations to have women help desks within two weeks

To help distressed women in Gurugram, women help desks will be set up in all the police stations in the district within the next two weeks. They will operate from a separate room in the police stations.

 

According to a senior police official, with the operationalisation of women help desks, the complainant women will not be forced to sit for long in the police station for registering their complaint.

 

For the last several years special emphasis has been laid on women's safety for which three women police stations have been established in the district. The 'Durga Shakti' Rapid Action Team has also been formed for the safety of women. READ MORE...

4:51 PM

Isro to launch first satellite developed entirely by Brazil's space agency

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is set to launch Amazonia-1, the first satellite to have been developed completely in Brazil by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Latin American nation's apex space research body.

 

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates airline, has executed a cargo charter to transport Amazonia-1 from Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil to Chennai. This is the first time that Emirates SkyCargo has transported a space satellite from South America.

 

The earth Observation has been designed, assembled and tested in Brazil and took eight years to be developed. Once launched into space, it will help monitor the ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest, the world’s largest tropical rainforest. The satellite is due to be sent to space in February 2021 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on the East coast of India. READ ON...

4:21 PM

BJP-backed candidates leading in panchayat polls in Karnataka

Initial trends indicate that the candidates backed by the BJP have won a majority of panchayat seats in Karnataka as the counting of votes progressed on Wednesday. Though these polls don't take place on party symbols, all political parties have put in efforts to ensure that the candidate supported by them wins, so as to have their hold on grassroot level politics, which may prove advantageous for them in taluk or zilla panchayat and even assembly polls whenever it happens.

 

According to sources, the BJP has so far secured 4,228 seats, followed by the Congress with 2,265 seats, JD(S) 1,167 seats and independents 678 seats.

 

Karnataka State Election Commission officials said counting was on at all 226 centres at the Taluk headquarters by adhering to strict COVID-19 protocol of mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing and hand hygiene.

3:55 PM

Cabinet nod to opening Indian missions in Estonia, Paraguay, Dominican Republic

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the opening of Indian missions in Estonia, Paraguay and Dominican Republic, a move that will help promote trade and cultural relations with these countries, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said.

 

Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always pitched for maintaining good relations with all countries and the move was part of the efforts to further strengthen ties with other nations.

3:41 PM

Cabinet approves modified scheme to enhance ethanol distillation

Cabinet approves modified scheme to enhance ethanol distillation