Vikas Khanchandani, CEO of Republic TV | Photo: Twitter (@VickMaverick)
4:47 PM
DDC elections: 42.79% votes polled till 1 pm across Jammu and Kashmir
The sixth phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections recorded voter percentage of 42.79 per cent across 31 constituencies spread over different districts of Jammu and Kashmir till 1 pm on Sunday.
As per the figures given by the office of State Election Commissioner, in Kashmir Division, Pulwama has recorded a voting percentage of 6.80 per cent, Baramulla 26.68 per cent, Kulgam 32.71 per cent, Shopian 3.66 per cent, Anantnag 20.95 per cent, Bandipora 40.57 per cent, Ganderbal 45.89 per cent, Kupwara 41.21 per cent and Budgam 27.44 per cent till 1 pm.
Similarly, in Jammu division, Udhampur has recorded a voting percentage of 54.69 per cent, Jammu 55.62 per cent, Kathua 50.09 per cent, Ramban 61.91 per cent, Doda 53.39 per cent, Samba 60.61 per cent, Poonch 60.73 per cent, Rajouri 63.07 per cent and Reasi 61.21 per cent till 1 pm. Moreover, it was informed that the Kashmir Division recorded an overall polling percentage of 26.28 per cent while Jammu Division recorded 56.90 per cent upto 01:00 pm.
4:11 PM
Gunfight breaks out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir
4:01 PM
FM reviews progress of various schemes under three packages; banks sanction Rs 2.05 trillion to MSMEs
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took stock of progress made under various schemes under the three Aatmanirbhar Bharat Packages (ANBP) to help revive economy hit hard by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Following announcement by the Prime Minister, Sitharaman presented the details of the Rs 20.97 lakh crore ANBP 1.0 in a series of press conferences from May 13-17. It was followed by AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package 2.0 on October 12 and the third tranche on November 12.
Sitharaman on Friday concluded a comprehensive review of ANBP with the Secretaries of various Ministries and Departments concerned over three days, the Finance Ministry statement said on Sunday.
Sharing details of the progress made by various schemes under the ANBP, the statement said, banks have sanctioned loans worth Rs 2,05,563 crore to about 81 lakh accounts under the Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector that was impacted by disruptions caused due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While 40 lakh MSME accounts have received Rs 1,58,626 crore till December 4, Rs 3 lakh crore collateral-free guaranteed loans budgetary provision of Rs 4,000 crore made for the Scheme in First Supplementary Demand for Grants for FY 2020-21.
3:33 PM
NGT directs Delhi govt to keep vigil against burning of plastic
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to keep a continuous vigil against the burning of plastic and other waste for the protection of environment and public health.
The tribunal was hearing pleas filed by Mundka village resident Satish Kumar and Tikri-Kalan native Mahavir Singh alleging pollution caused by burning of plastic, leather, rubber, motor engine oil and other waste materials and continuous operation of illegal industrial units dealing with such articles on agricultural lands in Mundka and Neelwal villages.
The green panel noted that the matter relating to air pollution has been pending for more than seven years and it does not find it necessary to keep it so for an indefinite period. It is for the statutory authorities to continue further steps for enforcement of environmental norms as per law.
3:22 PM
Nirmala Sitharaman reviews implementation of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has concluded a comprehensive review of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package (ANBP) with the Secretaries of various Ministries/Departments, the Ministry of Finance said on Sunday. In an official release, MoF said, the Ministries and Departments concerned have started implementing the announcements under the 3 Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Packages (ANBP). The progress of implementation is being reviewed and monitored regularly.
As per the release, the Finance Minister Sitharaman on Friday concluded a comprehensive review of ANBP with the Secretaries of various Ministries/Departments concerned over three days.
"Under an Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), as on 04.12.2020, as reported by Public Sector Banks, top 23 Private Sector Banks and 31 NBFCs, additional credit amounting to Rs. 2,05,563 crore has been sanctioned to 80,93,491 borrowers, while an amount of Rs. 1,58,626 crore has been disbursed to 40,49,489 borrowers," the release said.
"As on 04.12.2020, Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have approved the purchase of a portfolio of Rs. 27,794 crore and are currently in process of approval/negotiations for Rs. 1,400 crores. The timeline for purchase of bonds or Commercial Papers (CPs) has been further extended till 31.12.2020," the release further said.
2:54 PM
42.79% votes polled in 6th phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections till 1 pm across Jammu and Kashmir
2:41 PM
After three MLAs, Delhi Police detains AAP leader Atishi Marlena near Delhi LG's residence
The Delhi Police detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena near the residence of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Sunday. She was to hold a demonstration outside the residence of Lt Governor against alleged misappropriation of funds done by North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). Earlier today, three AAP MLAs including Raghav Chadha were also detained ahead of their planned protest outside Home Minister Amit Shah's residence. MLAs Rituraj Govind and Kuldeep Kumar too were detained.
This comes after Delhi Police had rejected Raghav Chadha's request for permission to hold a demonstration outside the Union Minister Shah's residence on Sunday in view of the pandemic.
"...Any type of gathering is not allowed outside the residence of Hon'ble Home Minister of India. Your request has been considered but rejected. You are requested to co-operate with the Delhi Police," the Delhi Police said in its reply.
2:18 PM
Mumbai Police nabs Republic TV CEO in TRP scam
In another swoop, the Mumbai Police arrested the CEO of Republic TV Vikas Khanchandani in connection with the ongoing probe into the TRP scam case, officials said on Sunday. He is the 13th person to be arrested in the alleged TRP scam in which at least three television channels, including Republic TV were named by the police. However, Republic TV on Sunday termed the arrest as 'illegal', saying he was nabbed from his home around 3 a.m. without serving proper papers.
Khanchandani is likely to be produced before a holiday court later in the day, even as Republic TV initiated a campaign demanding his release soon after his arrest. The channel said: "Republic TV issues national appeal for courts to intervene to stop attacks on an independent news organization" with a hashtag, #FreeRepublicCEONow.
The channel said that Khanchandani has already been summoned in the past and subject to interrogation of over 100 hours by the Mumbai Police, and termed it as 'targeting' of the Republic TV.
1:57 PM
AAP leaders detained ahead of protest outside Amit Shah, LG's homes
The Delhi Police on Sunday detained several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers, including MLAs Raghav Chadha, Atishi, Ritu Raj, Kuldeep Kumar, Sanjeev Jha and several others, who were on their way to the Union Home Minister's residence and LG house to hold a demonstration against alleged misappropriation of funds by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
Their detention comes after the police denied permission to Chadha's request to hold a 'peaceful demonstration outside the residence of the Union Home Minister on Sunday.
"Several AAP leaders and party workers were detained on Sunday morning as they were on their way to protest and taken to several police stations," said a senior police officer.
Besides the protest outside the Union Home Minister's residence, AAP had also announced demonstration at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's residence demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into its allegations.
"I went to meet LtGovDelhi with Aam Aadmi Party Councillors to ask him to order a CBI enquiry into the 2500 crore scam in North MCD. Instead of meeting us LtGovDelhi got Delhi Police to detain us! Who is LtGovDelhi protecting? Why does he not want to order a CBI enquiry?," Atishi tweeted after she was detained.
1:27 PM
FM reviews implementation of AatmaNirbhar Bharat package with secys
Banks have sanctioned additional credit amounting to Rs 2,05,563 crore to 80,93,491 borrowers under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).
The Rs 3 lakh crore ECLGS scheme was announced by the government early this year as part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package (ANBP) to provide liquidity support of medium and small sector in the time of the pandemic.
As per the progress tracked by the Centre, as on December 4, top 23 Private Sector Banks and 31 NBFCs, additional credit amounting to Rs. 2,05,563 crore has been sanctioned, while an amount of Rs. 1,58,626 crore has been disbursed to 40,49,489 borrowers.
The scheme was amended on November 26 and its duration has now been extended till December 31, 2021. Also, the turnover limit prescribed therein has been removed.
1:14 PM
Foggy weather in west MP; intermittent drizzle in many parts
People in many areas of western Madhya Pradesh woke up to a foggy Sunday morning and large parts of the state continued to receive intermittent drizzle, an IMD official said.
The state has been witnessing a wet spell since the last three days due to moisture incursion from an upper air cyclonic circulation formed in the Arabian Sea, said P K Saha, senior meteorologist of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Bhopal office.
Moderate to dense fog prevailed in many areas of western Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Shajapur, Rajgarh and Ujjain.
12:57 PM
Smog engulfs parts of Delhi, reduces visibility
As winters make landfall in North India, a thick layer of smog shrouded parts of Delhi and its neighbouring region on Sunday morning decreasing visibility significantly.
Deepanshu Pandey, a local, who was out for a morning walk, said, "It gets really foggy early in the morning. I along with my friends prefer to walk early in the morning. Due to the pandemic, we wear face masks and keep sanitizing our hands-on timely intervals.""To add to the problem, we wear masks while cycling due to the COVID-19 pandemic which makes the breathing process difficult", he added.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that dense fog will continue to hover over the city for the next three days.
12:39 PM
Raghav Chadha among 3 MLAs detained by Delhi Police ahead of protest outside Shah' residence
The Delhi Police on Sunday detained three Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs including Raghav Chadha ahead of their planned protest outside Home Minister Amit Shah's residence. MLAs Rituraj Govind and Kuldeep Kumar were also detained.
This comes after Delhi Police had rejected Raghav Chadha's request for permission to hold a demonstration outside the Union Minister Shah's residence on Sunday in view of the pandemic.
"...Any type of gathering is not allowed outside the residence of Hon'ble Home Minister of India. Your request has been considered but rejected. You are requested to co-operate with the Delhi Police," the Delhi Police said in its reply.
12:36 PM
8.79% votes cast in 2 hrs in sixth phase Jammu & Kashmir DDC polls
According to figures issued by the office of State Election Commissioner, in Kashmir Division, Pulwama recorded voting percentage of 1.81 per cent, Baramulla 3.10 per cent, Kulgam 4.09 per cent, Shopian 0.51 per cent, Anantnag 2.40 per cent, Bandipora 9.53 per cent, Ganderbal 5.39 per cent, Kupwara 5.52 per cent and Budgam 6.40 per cent till 9 a.m.
12:01 PM
Maruti to launch diesel vehicles next year after exiting sector: Report
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is looking to enter the diesel segment once again next year as the vertical continues to draw a lot of customers especially in the high selling SUV and multipurpose vehicle segments, as per industry sources.
The auto major had discontinued diesel models from its portfolio with the onset of stricter BS-VI emission norms from April this year.
As per the sources, MSI has initiated the process to upgrade its Manesar-based powertrain plant so that it can start rolling out BS-VI diesel engines starting middle or festive season next year.
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