Latest LIVE: Trump announces 'historic' peace pact between UAE, Israel

Sachin Pilot met Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Thursday, the first time after he openly rebelled against the senior leader a month back. Stay tuned for live updates on latest news

The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government will move a confidence motion in the Rajasthan Assembly during the session beginning Friday, a party leader said. This was announced Thursday at the Congress Legislature Party meeting chaired by Gehlot. Just hours earlier, the opposition BJP said it will move a no-confidence motion during the session.

Sachin Pilot met Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Thursday, the first time after he openly rebelled against the senior leader a month back. Party leaders K C Venugopal, Avinash Pande, Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken and Govind Singh Dotasra were also there at the meeting, posing together for the cameras at Gehlot's official residence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a new platform, 'Transparent Taxation Honouring the Honest', aimed to carry forward the journey of direct tax reforms. Taxpayers won’t be harassed and treated with suspicion, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday as he announced a charter listing their rights and responsibilities.
 

The tax system will be "seamless, painless and faceless", said he in a televised speech. All interaction between the tax department and taxpayers will be faceless and done online to remove the scope of harassment and corruption. “With faceless assessment, the taxpayer is assured of fair, courteous and rational behaviour. Taxpayers charter is also a big step in the country's development journey,” he said.

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

11:57 PM

Oil slips after IEA lowers 2020 demand forecast

Oil prices eased on Thursday after the International Energy Agency lowered its 2020 oil demand forecast due to unprecedented travel restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but resilience in equities markets and a weak dollar limited losses.

 

Brent crude was down 53 cents, or 1.2 per cent, at $44.90 a barrel by 1:38 p.m. EDT (1738 GMT), and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down 51 cents, or 1.2 per cent, at $42.16 a barrel.

 

The International Energy Agency cut its 2020 oil demand forecast on Thursday and said reduced air travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic would lower global oil consumption this year by 8.1 million barrels per day (bpd).

11:34 PM

BSP issues whip to six party MLAs, directing them to vote against Congress in any no confidence-motion.

11:33 PM

India, Maldives special friendship as deep as waters of Indian ocean: PM Modi

11:33 PM

EU to enter contract talks with J&J over 200 million doses of potential Covid-19 vaccine

11:04 PM

Amazon India launches Amazon Pharmacy in Bengaluru

E-commerce giant Amazon India on Thursday said it has launched Amazon Pharmacy, marking its entry into the online medicine segment that has significant traction amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The service is being launched in Bengaluru initially and may be scaled up to other cities in the future.

 

"As part of our commitment to fulfil the needs of customers, we are launching Amazon Pharmacy in Bengaluru allowing customers to order prescription-based medication, in addition to over-the-counter medicines, basic health devices and Ayurveda medication from certified sellers," an Amazon spokesperson said.

11:01 PM

Travel restrictions, border closures have directly affected trade in goods, services: WTO Report

10:56 PM

US President Trump says Hong Kong can 'never succeed' under China control

10:46 PM

After Gehlot-Pilot patch up, Congress to move confidence motion in Rajasthan assembly

9:50 PM

UAE ambassador to Washington says landmark US-brokered peace deal with Israel "win for diplomacy", "significant advance in Arab-Israeli relations"

9:31 PM

UAE says Israel agreed to 'stop further annexation' of Palestinian land

9:29 PM

Trump announces 'historic peace agreement' between Israel, UAE

8:55 PM

Congress family is united, we will fight against BJP's bad politics: K C Venugopal

A day ahead of the start of Rajasthan ssembly session on Thursday, Congress said that it is united to take on the BJP which is planning to bring a no-confidence motion against the Ashok Gehlot government, according to an ANI report.

 

The remarks came after a meeting of Congress Legislature Party which was attended by Sachin Pilot, whose rebellion had caused a crisis for the Congress government in the state.

 

Talking to reporters after the meeting held at Gehlot's residence, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said "everything went on well". "Now the Congress family is united, we will fight against BJP's bad politics. Tomorrow in Vidhan Sabha Congress party will stand united," he said. The party had earlier revoked the suspension of its two MLAs Bhanwar Lal Sharma and Vishvendra Singh.

8:38 PM

Compartment exams for class 10, 12 being planned in September, dates to be announced later: CBSE

8:38 PM

India cannot keep depending on imported defence supplies: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India cannot depend on foreign governments and overseas suppliers to meet its requirement of military platforms, and self-reliance in the defence sector is far more crucial than any other field.

 

Singh made the comments after launching a number of new products brought out by several defence public sector undertakings and the Ordnance Factory Board.

 

"Security is its first priority for the development of any nation. It is known to all of us that the nations, which are able to protect themselves, they have been able to build their strong image at the global level," Singh said.

 

"We cannot depend on foreign governments, foreign suppliers and foreign defence products to meet our defence needs. It is not compatible with the objectives and feelings of a strong and Atmanirbhar Bharat'," he added.

8:25 PM

BJP to bring no-confidence motion against Rajasthan govt tomorrow

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and their allies will bring a no-confidence motion in the Assembly on Friday, said Gulab Chand Kataria, leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, news agency ANI reported.

 

Rajasthan BJP president Satish Punia told a press conference, "There are a lot of differences in the government. The way they have struggled, there are chances that they might bring a vote of confidence in the Assembly but we are also ready to bring a no-confidence motion."

 

"I think, public opinion has changed about this government. They do not have a future. This government has lost morally," he added.

 

On the other hand, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that whatever misunderstanding occurred within the Congress party in the last one month needs to be forgiven and forgotten in the interest of the country, state, people and democracy.