Standalone shops of cell phones, garments, hardware allowed to open during lockdown, but not markets
NEW DELHI: Neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware and stationery items have been allowed to open but those located in market places, malls and COVID-19 hotspots and containment zones, will continue to remain shut till May 3. In rural areas, all shops, except those in single and multi-brand shopping malls, […]
Ahmedabad may have 8 lakh coronavirus cases by end of May: Official
NEW DELHI: The number of COVID-19 patients in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat may grow to eight lakh by the end of May if the current four-day period of doubling of such cases continues, an official said on Friday. So far, Ahmedabad city has reported 1,638 coronavirus positive cases, the highest in Gujarat. Of these, 1,459 […]
Tata Trusts launches countrywide health campaign on COVID-19
NEW DELHI:Tata Trusts has begun a pan-India community outreach to induce adoption of health practices, as promoted by the Government of India, in rural areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Beginning 31st March, the exercise is expected to have already reached about 12 million people in 21 states. The campaign ‘5 Kadam, Corona Mukt […]
Coronavirus lockdown: Government allows local shops to open with 50% employees
NEW DELHI: In a reprieve to public at large, the government of India on Friday night allowed opening of neighbourhood and stand alone shops, including those located in residential complexes within municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions. However, the order signed by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, […]
Industries cannot be forced to pay wages during lockdown
NEW DELHI: Industries cannot be forced to pay wages to their employees during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, who chairs the parliamentary panel on labour, said on Monday. Amid the countrywide lockdown to check the spread of the novel coronavirus, the parliamentary panel on labour on Thursday submitted its report on the Industrial […]
Rs 1-lakh crore fund in the works to repay pending dues to MSMEs: Nitin Gadkari
NEW DELHI: The government of India will set up a Rs 1-lakh crore fund to repay outstanding payments to MSMEs owed by the central and state government undertakings as well as major industries, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. The minister said he has devised a scheme to set up the fund, and the […]
China communists ‘will pay price’ for hurting US economy: Mike Pompeo
NEW DELHI: China’s Communist Party will pray the price not sharing information they had about the coronavirus pandemic and thus causing a “huge challenge” for economies, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said. China has come under increasing pressure from nations across the world, including the US, over the lack of transparency in its […]
India’s truckers in crisis: police checks, no food and fears of coronavirus
By Aditi Shah, Rajendra Jadhav NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Indian truck driver Arju Yadav says he was on a 30-40 km (20-25 mile) journey earlier this month to deliver a consignment of biscuits when he was stopped by police for defying a coronavirus lockdown, beaten and made to do sit-ups. India had exempted truckers carrying food, medicine […]
Company buses, extra shifts: Italy retools transport to end coronavirus lockdown
MILAN/ROME: Buses for use by companies. Staggered shifts. Metro turnstiles that let in a limited number of commuters at any one time. Italian authorities, companies and unions are grappling with a crucial aspect of getting people back to work as they prepare to gradually lift a nationwide lockdown from May 4: transport. Some 2.7 million […]
Chinese investors flummoxed by India’s new foreign investment rules
NEW DELHI: India’s plan to screen foreign direct investments from neighbouring countries has Chinese firms concerned that such scrutiny will affect their projects and delay deals in one of Asia’s most lucrative investment markets. The tougher rules were not a surprise, as other countries are also on guard against fire sales of corporate assets during […]
Ashok Leyland to resume operations at Alwar, Bhandara, Pantnagar plants
NEW DELHI: Ashok Leyland on Tuesday said it had received permissions to resume operations at Alwar, Bhandara and Pantnagar plants, but will restart production in line with demand after preparing supply chain. The firm has received permission from authorities to resume operations of plants at Alwar, Bhandara and Pantnagar, Ashok Leyland President-HR, Communication and CSR […]
Chhattisgarh: Hand sanitizer developed from Mahua spirit
JASHPUR: An entrepreneur in Chhattisgarh has developed in association with a women’s Self Help Group (SHG) a hand sanitizer liquid with alcohol distilled from Mahua flowers as its main ingredient. Hand sanitizers are currently in great demand as their use to clean hands helps keep COVID-19 at bay. Yellow coloured Mahua flowers are one of […]
Aurangabad: 431 companies to start operations soon
NEW DELHI: As many as 431 companies in Aurangabad district will start their operations soon with the available workforce amid the lockdown, an official said on Thursday. These companies have completed all the necessary formalities, an official of Aurangabad MIDC told PTI. “A committee has been constituted by the District Collector to process the requests […]
Instead of tackling COVID-19, BJP spreading virus of communal prejudice, hatred: Sonia Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country, asserting that “grave damage” is being done to social harmony. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi said it should worry every Indian and her party will have to work […]
Shivraj Singh Chouhan aide Narottam Mishra gets Home and Health portfolios in Madhya Pradesh cabinet
NEW DELHI: A day after expanding his cabinet, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday allocated portfolios to the five inductees. Narottam Mishra, a senior BJP leader and Chouhan’s confidant, was allotted Home, Health and Family Welfare departments, an important assignment in view of the COVID-19 situation in Madhya Pradesh. Announcing the […]
Donald Trump signs ‘very powerful order’, suspends issue of new green cards for 60 days
NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pausing immigration for 60 days to protect the jobs of Americans laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The temporary suspension of immigration will affect those who are legally seeking entry into the United States for employment purposes but not the ones who are […]