LIVE news: Nirav Modi's extradition trial to resume in UK court on Monday

Nirav Modi fighting extradition charges related to the estimated $2-billion PNB fraud and money laundering case. Stay tuned for all LIVE updates on latest news

7:27 PM

HDFC clears Rs 47,000 cr loans to 200,000 home buyers under subsidy scheme

Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), the country’s largest mortgage company, has approved loans worth Rs 47,000 crore to 200,000 home buyers under Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS).

 

The subsidy amounting to over Rs 4,700 crore has been passed on to these home buyers. These homebuyers belong to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG) and Middle Income Groups (MIG), HDFC said in a statement. The Corporation has partnered with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and the National Housing Bank to work towards the goal of ‘Affordable Housing for All’.

Renu Sud Karnad, Managing Director, HDFC said due to the Covid-19 crisis, a number of sectors including the real estate sector have been affected. The demand for housing will pick up gradually as the Economy emerges out of this difficult period and confidence in the economy is restored. READ MORE...

7:18 PM

Air tickets booked during Mar 3-May 23 to be fully refunded: DGCA to SC

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday informed the Supreme Court that all air tickets booked by passengers on domestic and international flights during the period from March 3 to May 23 would be 'fully refunded'.

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The DGCA reportedly told the country's apex court that a non-refund of tickets booked during the lockdown by the air carriers would be a violation of the Civil Aviation Requirements and provisions of the Aircraft Rules of 1937.

7:05 PM

DPIIT starts exercise for states/UTs ease of doing business ranking for next year

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has started the exercise for the ranking of states and UnionTerritories in terms of ease of doing business for the next year, a top government official said. DPIIT Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra said that the ease of doing business ranking of states and UTs for next year would be released by March 2021.

 

"We have started the exercise already. We have communicated the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) for next year with the states/UTs, which they have to implement," he told PTI.

 

Last year, the department had identified 181 reform points and for 2021, it has shared 301 such points with the states and UTs. The ranking is based on the implementation of BRAP and feedback received. It started in 2015. The action plan cover12 business regulatory areas suchas access to information, single window system, labour, and environment.

6:54 PM

PNB fraud: Nirav Modi's extradition trial to resume in UK court on Monday

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who has been lodged at a prison in London since his arrest in March last year, is set to appear via videolink for the second leg of his extradition trial at a UK court on Monday.

 

The 49-year-old jeweller is fighting extradition charges related to the estimated USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case brought by the Indian government, being represented at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

 

In line with the coronavirus lockdown restrictions, District Judge Samuel Goozee has directed Modi's appearance from a room in Wandsworth Prison in south-west London with social distancing norms in place for the part-remote setting for the five-day hearing scheduled to conclude on Friday. READ MORE...

 

6:37 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 10,794 new Covid-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh in a day

6:22 PM

Govt expands support to artisans for boosting agarbatti production

The government has expanded the support to artisans involved in agarbatti making as part of a programme aimed at making India self-reliant in the production incensed sticks, an official release said on Sunday.

 

The MSME Ministry had recently approved the 'Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission' towards creating employment for the unemployed and migrant workers in different parts of the country, handholding artisans and supporting the local agarbatti industry, news agency PTI reported.

 

"Further to its launching the support programme on July 30, 2020, the Ministry has looked at all aspects of the industry, beyond just supply of machines for making agarbatti. This includes ensuring supply of inputs and raw materials, the demand for which has increased hugely in last one year," an official statement said.

6:15 PM

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot visits Rajiv Chowk station ahead of resumption of metro services

6:03 PM

Indian Coast Guard launched operation towards fire fighting and pollution response operation

5:51 PM

Delhi Metro resumption: CISF outlines airport-like 'touch-free' security check for commuters

The CISF has planned an airport-like "contact-free" security check for the Delhi Metro and will deploy modified hand-held and doorframe metal detectors for scanning passengers, who will be required to put metallic objects such as belts and pens in their bags.

 

The security drill changes have been outlined in the CISF's 'business continuity plan' for the Delhi Metro which resumes its services from Monday in a "staggered" manner.

 

Before Covid-19 struck, CISF personnel, who guard the metro network, spread over 230 stations, used to scan passengers from proximity and even touch them during security checks. The passengers were also allowed to keep their wallets and belts on the body.

 

5:40 PM

24 IPL matches will be held in Dubai, 20 in Abu Dhabi and 12 in Sharjah: BCCI

5:40 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Jharkhand reports 1,774 new Covid-19 cases; tally nears 50,000-mark

5:31 PM

Nirav Modi extradition trial to resume in UK court on Sept 7

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who has been lodged at a prison in London since his arrest in March last year, is set to appear via videolink for the second leg of his extradition trial at a UK court on Monday, according to a PTI report.

 

The 49-year-old jeweller is fighting extradition charges related to the estimated USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case brought by the Indian government, being represented at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

 

In line with the coronavirus lockdown restrictions, District Judge Samuel Goozee has directed Modi's appearance from a room in Wandsworth Prison in south-west London with social distancing norms in place for the part-remote setting for the five-day hearing scheduled to conclude on Friday.

5:22 PM

IPL 2020: BCCI releases new schedule; check match timings, venues

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the new schedule for 13th edition of Indian Premier League on Sunday after over 4-month break due to coronavirus hiatus. The tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the matches will be played in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

 

IPL 2020 will begin September 19 Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi. In the IPL 2020 opener defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will clash with arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The live telecast of of IPL 2020 opener will begin from 7:30 pm IST (30 minutes before previous seasons).

 

The IPL 2020 final will be played on 10th November 2020. The 53-day tournament will witness 10-afternoon matches starting at 3:30 PM IST while the evening matches will start at 7:30 PM IST.

5:15 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Highest single-day spike of 6,777 Covid-19 cases in UP

5:08 PM

BPCL privatisation: Govt rules on worker protection, asset stripping later

The government will provide guidance on employee protection, asset stripping and business continuity in Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) to potential acquirers of the company only at a later stage of bidding, according to privatisation rules issued by the disinvestment department. The government is selling its entire 52.98 per cent stake in India's second-largest fuel retailer and third-biggest oil refiner.

 

Preliminary expressions of interest or EoIs are due on September 30, which will be followed by qualified bidders being asked to submit financial or price bids.

 

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), erstwhile known as Department of Disinvestment, has issued clarifications on queries raised by potential bidders for the government stake in BPCL. READ MORE...