Civic body withdraws lockdown relaxations in Mumbai
NEW DELHI: Amid rising COVID-19 cases, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday decided to withdraw the relaxations given from lockdown in Mumbai city, including the permission to reopen liquor shops, and declared only essential services will be available from Wednesday. In an order issued in the night, the BMC said only groceries, medical stores […]
Lockdown in Telangana extended till May 29
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday announced that the lockdown in Telangana had been extended till May 29. After a cabinet meeting, Rao told reporters that night-time curfew would continue in the entire state. Last month, even before the Centre had announced the first extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3, Rao […]
West Bengal registers liquor sales of Rs 40 crore on Day 1
NEW DELHI: West Bengal recorded liquor sales of Rs 40 crores on the first day of reopening of standalone shops on Monday, a wine traders’ body of the state said. Forty-two days after the lockdown was enforced, the state government allowed only ‘OFF’ shops to reopen in all the red, orange and green zones, except […]
India suspends all visas, bars travel by OCI card holders
NEW DELHI: The government of India on Tuesday suspended all existing visas, barring a few exceptions, granted to foreign nationals till international air travel to and from India remains shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, an order said. In a separate order, the Union Home Ministry said it has extended on ‘gratis’ basis the visas […]
Donald Trump says up to 100,000 Americans may die from coronavirus
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he now believes as many as 100,000 Americans could die in the coronavirus pandemic, after the death toll passed his earlier estimates, but said he was confident a vaccine would be developed by the year’s end. Trump alternated during a two-hour virtual town hall broadcast by FOX […]
India should put in large enough stimulus package to revive demand: Abhijit Banerjee
NEW DELHI: India should come out with a large enough stimulus package to revive demand, Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee said on Tuesday, asserting that putting cash in the hands of people would be the best way to boost the economy post lockdown. Banerjee, while talking to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi through video-conferencing, suggested giving money […]
After Delhi, Andhra Pradesh government hikes liquor prices by another 50 per cent
NEW DELHI: The Andhra Pradesh government has enhanced prices of liquor by another 50 per cent on Tuesday, only a day after imposing a 25 per cent hike as shops were reopened in relaxation of the ongoing lockdown. Special Chief Secretary (Revenue) Rajat Bhargava said the abnormal increase in liquor rates was to ‘discourage’ people […]
Petrol price in Delhi hiked by Rs 1.67 per litre, diesel by Rs 7.10
NEW DELHI: Petrol price in the national capital was hiked by Rs 1.67 a litre on Tuesday and diesel by a steep Rs 7.10 per litre after the Delhi government raised local sales tax or value-added tax (VAT) on the two fuels. Petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 71.26 a litre as against Rs 69.59 […]
Delhi government imposes 70% ‘special corona fee’ on liquor from today
NEW DELHI: Liquor in Delhi will cost more from Tuesday as the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has decided to impose a 70 per cent ‘Special Corona Fee’ on its sale in the national capital, sources said. The move will boost the government revenue, which has been hit hard due to the coronavirus-forced […]
Pune mayor disapproves of lockdown relaxations
NEW DELHI: A day after the civic administration gave relaxations in lockdown norms in non-containment zones in the city, Mayor Murlidhar Mohol on Monday expressed his disapproval of the decision and expressed concern over crowding on roads here. Mohol said he has spoken to Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and asked him to intervene […]
Kerala opens to a new normal after lockdown
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On Monday, across most Kerala districts it was like a curtain raiser for the new normal, as the good old days of absolute freedom will now go down into history as the old normal. Barring public transport and auto-rickshaws, roads in Kerala witnessed traffic as markets and shops opened. Also opened offices in the […]
Digital payments surge during lockdown to benefit telcos
NEW DELHI: Digital payments in India are surging in the ongoing Covid-19-caused lockdowns which will accelerate mobile data/4G penetration and build an ecosystem of services. According to a research report by CLSA, acceleration in data penetration will especially be positive for Bharti Airtel, as 50 per cent of its subscribers are still to upgrade to […]
Why Noida-Greater Noida mobile manufacturing belt must open now
NEW DELHI: With the country entering lockdown 3.0 with further relaxation, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and mobile manufacturers on Monday reiterated that the Noida-Greater Noida manufacturing belt need to reopen slowly so that supply chain can be streamlined and the ‘Make in India initiative can be put back on track. According to […]
Lockdown: Migrant workers clash with Gujarat Police in Surat
SURAT: Hundreds of migrant workers seeking to return home clashed with police and pelted stones at them near a village in Gujarat’s Surat district on Monday, following which the security personnel lobbed teargas shells and baton-charged the agitated workers, an official said. Besides, several labourers also came out on a road in Rajkot demanding that […]
JSW Steel reports 60 per cent fall in output at 5.63 LT in April
NEW DELHI: JSW Steel has registered a sharp fall of about 60 per cent in its crude steel production at 5.63 lakh tonne (LT) amid lockdown during April 2020. The company had produced about 13.90 LT of crude steel during the same month in 2019. “JSW Steel reports crude steel production at 5.63 LT for […]
Vaccine will be available by year’s end :Donald Trump
WASHINGTON: USA President Donald Trump says he believes a vaccine for COVID-19 will be available by the end of the year. Trump also says the U.S. government is putting its full power and might behind remdesivir, a drug that has shown early promise as a treatment for the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Trump […]