Narendra Modi government’s lockdown strategy has failed: Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the four phases of nationwide lockdown have “failed” and not given the results that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected. Addressing a press conference, he asked the central government to clarify its strategy as far as opening up of India is concerned and how it intends to […]
Salman Khan launches grooming and personal care brand
NEW DELHI: Superstar Salman Khan has launched his own grooming and personal care brand FRSH. The 54-year-old actor, who has been living at his Panvel farmhouse since the lockdown was announced on March 25 to rein in the spread of COVID-19, unveiled his new brand on social media on Sunday. Considering the importance of hygiene […]
American billionaires richer by $434 billion during the pandemic
NEW YORK: As millions of US citizens lost their jobs in the Covid-19 pandemic, nations billionaires saw their net worth jump $434 billion in the first two months of pandemic, led by Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos ($34.6 billion) and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ($25 billion). The top five US billionaires – Jeff Bezos, […]
No GST exemption to help businesses fight Covid-19 disruptions
NEW DELHI: The Finance Ministry has ruled out GST waiver or deference to businesses as part of the economic relief package to help them cope with the situation arising in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant nationwide lockdown. In discussions within the ministry, it has been said that Goods and Sales Tax exemption […]
India might allow International flight operations from July
NEW DELHI: International flight operations from India might commence from July depending upon the circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday. The statement assumes significance as it comes just days ahead of the recommencement of domestic flight services from Monday. During an online question and answer session, […]
Markets in Ghaziabad to open from May 25
NEW DELHI: The Ghaziabad administration in Uttar Pradesh on Friday said markets in the district will open from May 25 on alternate days from 10 am to 5 pm. Two days’ time has been given to shopkeepers to make arrangements to ensure social distancing, it said. District Magistrate (DM) Ajay Shankar Pandey told PTI that […]
Karnataka allows factories to extend working hours
BENGALURU: Amid the COVID-19 lockdown, the Karnataka government on Friday issued a notification allowing factories to extend working hours up to 10 hours a day and 60 hours a week till August 21. The extension of workhours is from the current eight hours a day and 48 hours a week. “In exercise of powers conferred […]
Uttar Praedsh government invokes ESMA for 6 months
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) banning strikes in all departments and corporations under it for a period of six months. The ESMA, as it is commonly known, gives the police right to arrest without a warrant anybody violating the Act’s provisions. It has been invoked after taking […]
Economic damage for India from lockdown to be significant: Moody”s
NEW DELHI: Moody”s Investors Service said on Friday that economic damage as a result of India”s coronavirus lockdown will likely be extensive and reflect the country”s inherent economic vulnerability and fiscal constraints. The report pointed out that this will have wide-ranging effects on both public and private sectors. Moody”s Investors Service has released a report […]
No restrictions on utilisation of additional borrowing by states: Finance Ministry
NEW DELHI: The government of India has not imposed any restrictions on states for utilisation of additional borrowing of 2 per cent and they are free to spend as per their requirements, a senior Finance Ministry official has said. It is to be noted that the basic limit of 3 per cent remains unconditional, while […]
Sonia Gandhi launches Nyay scheme in Chhattisgarh, says farmers will become self-reliant
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay scheme in Chhattisgarh through video conferencing on Thursday and said this was a true tribute to the former prime minister. Addressing the launch event on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi’s death anniversary, she lauded the scheme, saying it will bring a change in […]
U.S. secures 300 million doses of potential AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
BENGALURU/LONDON: The United States has secured almost a third of AstraZeneca’s one billion possible COVID-19 vaccine doses by pledging up to $1.2 billion, as the world’s biggest powers scramble for medicinal supplies to get their economies back to work. While not proven to be effective against the coronavirus, vaccines are seen by many world leaders […]
One check-in bag to fare control: India issues guidelines for domestic flight operations from May 25
NEW DELHI: A day after announcing resumption of domestic commercial passenger flights from May 25, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday issued detailed guidelines for airlines, airports, passengers and other stakeholders. The ministry said it will prescribe lower and upper limit on air fares and airlines will have to adhere to it “during the period […]
Harsh Vardhan to take charge as WHO executive Board Chairman
NEW DELHI: India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who is at the forefront of India’s battle against COVID-19, is set to take charge as the chairman of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board on May 22, officials said. Vardhan would succeed Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, currently the Chairman of the 34-member WHO Executive Board. […]
Britain increases large business loan scheme to 200 million pounds
LONDON: Britain has increased the size of the loan that large businesses can borrow to see them through the coronavirus pandemic from next week, raising it to 200 million pounds ($245 million) from 50 million pounds. The Treasury said the move would help those companies that did not qualify for the Bank of England’s Covid […]
IndiGo, SpiceJet, other airlines resume online bookings for domestic flights for June
NEW DELHI: Some airlines have started bookings for flights from June onwards, sources said amid commercial flight services remaining suspended till May 31 due to the coronavirus lockdown. A SpiceJet spokesperson, however, said its international bookings are closed till June 15. Commercial flights have been suspended since March 25 when the country-wide lockdown began to […]