Bharat Bandh LIVE: Farmer protests erupt in Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka

Police personnel in adequate strength have been deployed across Punjab and Haryana to ensure law and order, officials say. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

The Election Commission on Friday announced that the Bihar assembly elections 2020 will be held in three phases from October 28 to November 7 as the state takes unprecedented measures to protect voters in the coronavirus pandemic. The results will be declared on November 10.

Bihar assembly election will be one of the biggest elections globally to be held during prevailing coronavirus situation, said Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

Bihar has 243 Assembly seats. In 2015, the alliance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal-United and the Congress had swept the polls but JD-U has since aligned with the BJP.

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

2:08 AM

Apple may face EU rules to open up payment technology

The European Union is weighing legislation that could force Apple Inc. to open iPhone payment technology to competitors.
 

The potential rules would grant other payment services a right of access to infrastructure such as near-field communication technology embedded in smartphones, the European Commission said Thursday, confirming a Bloomberg report last week.

12:44 AM

Europe regulator sees November lifting of Boeing 737 MAX flight ban

Boeing's grounded 737 MAX could receive regulatory approval to resume flying in November and enter service by the end of the year, Europe's chief aviation safety regulator said on Friday.

 

"For the first time in a year and a half I can say there's an end in sight to work on the MAX," said Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

 

EASA expects to lift its technical ban "not long" after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), probably in November, but national operational clearances needed for individual airlines to resume flying in Europe could take longer, he said.

12:43 AM

Making efforts to fulfil promises made to people: Rajasthan CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the government is aware of its promises made to the people of the state and is making sincere efforts to implement them.

 

Gehlot on Friday held a review meeting with the council of ministers. In the meeting, Home Minister of Chhattisgarh Tamradhwaj Sahu and MP from Punjab Amar Singh were also present.

 

He said out of the 501 announcements, 252 have been fulfilled and in addition to the declaration, many new programmes and schemes were implemented.

12:42 AM

Congress urges Assam CM to retain chapter on Nehru's policies in class 12 syllabus

11:30 PM

India slams Pak for raking up J&K in UNGA, says Islamabad peddled 'litany of vicious falsehood'

11:30 PM

Sushant's family unhappy with CBI probe, says all attention diverted towards drug case: Lawyer Vikas Singh

11:30 PM

IGP calls for alertness to prevent movement of arms, terrorists along J&K highway

11:30 PM

Multilateralism must not be just generous but also creative and practical: Jaishankar

10:10 PM

Modi speaks to Japan PM Yoshihide Suga; agree to strengthen all-round partnership

10:10 PM

Nalco signs pact with Numaligarh Refinery for supply of calcined petroleum coke

10:09 PM

Nitish welcomes Bihar poll schedule, unveils '7 resolves-II' for next term

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday welcomed the Assembly poll scheduled announced by the Election Commission, and said that he would take up more developmental programmes if the people of the state give him another chance to serve them.

 

Like his "saat nischay" (seven resolves of good governance) of the current term, his government would launch phase-II of the development initiative, Kumar told a press conference at JD(U) office here.

 

Seven resolves, launched by the Nitish Kumar administration for its 2015-20 term, comprised seven schemes to ensure basic necessities such as supply of piped drinking water, construction of toilets and concrete drains and electricity connection to every household.

9:57 PM

Congress, Left parties in Telangana protest against farm Bills

Congress, Left parties and farmers organisations on Friday held protests here and in other places in Telangana against the farm Bills that were recently passed in Parliament.

 

Former Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao and the leaders of CPI and CPI (M) besides activists of farmers' unions organised a protest at the GST Bhavan here.

9:54 PM

Positive pay system for cheque payments to come into effect from Jan 1: RBI

9:43 PM

India's first RRTS train with design speed of 180 kmph unveiled

The Centre on Friday unveiled the first look of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train whose design is inspired by Delhi's iconic Lotus Temple and can attain a top speed of 180 kilometres per hour on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.

 

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said with a radiating stainless steel outer body, the aerodynamic RRTS trains will be lightweight and fully air-conditioned.

 

They have been designed in such a way that natural sources of light and energy will flow into the trains, the ministry said.

 

Each car will have six automatic plug-in type wide doors, three on each side for ease of access and exit. The business class will have four such doors, two on each side.

9:42 PM

Bring innovation to attract more buyers: Tea Board chairman tells Guwahati auction centre