China announces $2 billion in coronavirus help at WHO assembly
By JAMEY KEATEN and MARIA CHENG GENEVA:China will provide $2 billion over two years to fight the coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout from it, President Xi Jinping said Monday, rallying around the World Health Organization even as the United States has slashed funding for the U.N. health agency and sought to undermine its credibility. […]
Italy opens churches as coronavirus rules dictate how to eat, pray
VATICAN CITY :Italy and the Vatican opened a new phase in the virus crisis Monday, with churches resuming public Masses after a sharp confrontation between the Italian church and state over limits on worshipping in the era of COVID-19. Guards in hazmat suits took the temperature of the faithful entering St. Peter’s Basilica, where Pope […]
MHA says states can’t dilute lockdown 4.0 guidelines
NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said no state or Union Territory will dilute the guidelines issued for the nationwide lockdown that will continue till May 31. In a communication to the chief secretaries of the states and Union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the guidelines for the fourth […]
RBI may extend moratorium on repayment of loans for three more months
NEW DELHI: With the government of India extending the nationwide lockdown up to May 31, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to extend the moratorium on repayment of loans for three more months, according to an SBI research report. On Sunday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the nodal department, announced lockdown 4.0 […]
No fresh bankruptcy for 1 year, special insolvency framework for MSMEs
NEW DELHI: In a major relief for businesses, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced that no fresh insolvency case will be admitted for the next one year in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The government had earlier suspended any fresh admission for six months. Further, the government will also set up a special insolvency […]
India gives break-up of economic package; allocation at Rs 20,97,053 crore
NEW DELHI: India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday listed all the measures and allocations made under the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package for the ”self-reliant India” programme, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Sunday, she listed measures worth Rs 20,97,053 crore including RBI measures and steps announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyana […]
From Companies Act to foreign listings, government takes up big corporate reforms
NEW DELHI: The economic package to tide over the coronavirus pandemic has also come out with some major reform and market-freeing announcements, and Sunday was no different with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laying down a number of reforms for the corporate sector ranging from decriminalisation of the Companies Act to permitting direct listing of Indian […]
Lockdown 4.0: India warns of strict action for flouting new guidelines
NEW DELHI: The government of India, which on Sunday extended the nation-wide lockdown for another 14 days till May 31, warned of strict action under the Disaster Management Act and Indian Penal Code if the fresh guidelines are not complied with. The nationwide lockdown was first imposed for 21 days starting March 25 and then […]
India announces easing of restrictions on utilisation of Indian air space
NEW DELHI: India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced easing of restrictions on utilisation of Indian air space, benefiting civil aviation sector by about Rs 1,000 crore per year. Announcing the fourth tranche of economic stimulus, she said only 60 per cent of Indian airspace is freely available. More air space available would reduce […]
”Reform, Perform & Transform”: Amit Shah reminds after reforms steps
NEW DELHI: India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman”s reforms announcement on Saturday coincided with the completion of six years of Narendra Modi government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah immediately connected the two. “Prime Minister Modi”s mantra of ”Reform, Perform and Transform” is the key to India”s phenomenal growth in the last six years,” Shah said in […]
Power distribution companies in Union Territories to be privatised, says Finance Minister
NEW DELHI: India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said electricity distribution companies in Union Territories (UTs) will be privatised. This is expected to provide a model to be replicated in states later to improve efficiency and attract investment. Unveiling the fourth tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package to revive the coronavirus-hit […]
Odisha urges Modi government to temporarily suspend Shramik trains due to cyclone
NEW DELHI: The Odisha government urged the Narendra Modi government to temporarily suspend running of ‘Shramik Special’ trains to the state’s coastal districts in view of the impending cyclonic storm that is likely to intensify from Sunday, official said. The request was made by Chief Secretary A K Tripathy on Saturday during a video conference […]
US to donate ventilators to India to fight coronavirus: Donald Trump
By Lalit K Jha WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has announced that the US will donate a lot of ventilators to India to help it fight the “invisible enemy”, moments after he underlined the close partnership between the two countries and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi his “good friend”. Trump also said the US and India […]
24 migrant labourers killed, 36 injured in truck collision in Uttar Pradesh
NEW DELHI: At least 24 migrant labourers were killed and 36 people sustained injuries when a trailer truck carrying them collided with another truck in the early hours of Saturday in Uttar Pradesh, police said. Both the trucks were carrying the labourers. The accident took place between 3 am and 3.30 am, they said. “The […]
Supreme Court stays MHA circular on full payment of wages during lockdown
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered administrations across India not to prosecute employers who were unable to pay full wages to workers during the Covid-19 induced nationwide lockdown. A bench comprising Justice L. Nageswara Rao, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B.R. Gavai asked the Centre and states not to prosecute private companies, factories etc. […]
IMA suggests 5 per cent of GDP spending on healthcare
NEW DELHI: Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a massive financial package to revive the country”s economy by outlining a total stimulus of Rs 20 lakh crore, or 10 per cent of the country”s GDP, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has now suggested that the government should invest 5 per cent of GDP […]