Latest News LIVE: India, China may engage in diplomatic talks soon

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a three-day visit to Russia beginning today to attend a grand military parade in Moscow amid coronavirus pandemic

1:59 AM

India, China hold 2nd round of Lt Gen talks

India on Monday strongly raised with China the "premediated" attack on Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley and demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh, during the second round of Lt General-level talks, people familiar with the development said.

 

As India's border tension with China escalated, top commanders of the Army carried out a comprehensive review of the entire situation in eastern Ladakh and resolved to deal with any Chinese misadventure with a "firm hand", they said.

 

The Lt General-level talks began at around 11:30 am at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh and lasted for close to 11 hours, they said.

 

The focus of the deliberations was on finalising modalities for disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh, the people said.

 

There is no official word on the outcome of the talks yet.

 

The first round of the Lt Gen talks was held on June 6 at the same venue during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.

11:51 PM

Apple unveils phone-based car keys, new features at developer conference

Apple Inc on Monday announced a system to let iPhone owners unlock and start cars with their devices at its annual conference for software developers.

 

The new system, which also lets users share digital car keys with friends and family members via the company's iMessage system, will work with BMW 5 Series vehicles that will ship next month, Apple said in a virtual keynote filmed at its Cupertino, California, headquarters. Read full story here...

11:48 PM

Apple unveils complete redesign of Mac operating system

 

11:46 PM

Apple launches phone-based car keys, new features at developer conference

10:00 PM

Slowing Chinese imports may delay automakers' electric vehicle target

Rising anti-Chinese sentiments may push automakers’ electric vehicle (EV) plans on to the slow lane, with imports from the country set to hit a snag. Incidentally, the world’s biggest component makers for EVs are Chinese.

 

Market leader Maruti Suzuki (MSIL) says the impact could be offset by strong state support for other technologies like hybrids, which the industry has been pushing for but hasn’t received.

 

C V Raman, senior executive director (engineering) of MSIL, said: “The government is primarily supporting battery electric vehicles (BEV), whereas equivalent support to other EV technologies (strong hybrid and plug-in hybrid) is missing. Further, the industry has worked for three decades to establish an internal combustion engine (ICE)-based ecosystem, because of which we achieved very affordable cost levels.” Read full story here

9:01 PM

India will play constructive role as UNSC member: Syria

Syria has expressed confidence that India will play a constructive role as a member of the UN Security Council and help maintain international peace and security while keeping away from politicisation and interventional agendas.

 

Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja'fari, in a letter to India's Permanent Representative to the UN T S Tirumurti, congratulated India on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-2022.

 

"I look forward to working with you to strengthen our bilateral relations, and to uphold the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and international law," he said. "I am confident that India will play a constructive role during its membership of the Security Council to help maintain the international peace and security away from politicisation and interventional agendas," Ja'fari said.

 

India was overwhelmingly elected as a non-permanent member of the powerful UN Security Council last week for a two-year term.

8:52 PM

Results of Maharashtra Board examinations likely in July

Results of Maharashtra Board examinations for classes 10 and 12 are likely to be declared in July, a top official said on Monday.

 

Results of class 12 (HSC) examinations may be declared by July 15 and that of class 10 (SSC) exam likely by July-end, said Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education chairperson Shakuntala Kale in a virtual meeting of Education department.

 

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad also attended the meeting. Thackeray, who recently instructed initiating online pilot projects at the start of the academic year, watched demonstration of online classes during the meeting.

8:43 PM

Coronavirus cases at shelter home: NHRC sends notices to UP govt, DGP

The NHRC has sent notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state police chief over reports that 57 minor girls tested positive for Covid-19 at a state-run shelter home in Kanpur, officials said on Monday. Five of them were pregnant and one HIV positive. The Kanpur district administration on Sunday had clarified that the girls were pregnant at the time they came to the shelter home.

 

The girls were exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 for some time but there was "delay" in taking them to the hospital for tests, the National Human Rights Commission said quoting reports.

 

"The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that 57 minor girls tested positive for the novel coronavirus at a state-run children's shelter home in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh," the NHRC said in a statement.

 

The commission has observed that the "contents of the media report, if true, are enough to prima facie believe that the public servants have failed to provide safeguard to the victim girls and apparently were negligent in protecting their right to life, liberty and dignity in the custody of the state". Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the UP chief secretary, seeking a detailed report, including their health status, medical treatment and counselling, it said.

 

A notice has also been issued to the UP director general of police for a report regarding the registration of an FIR in this matter and the status of investigation. The response is expected within from weeks from both the authorities, the statement said.

8:29 PM

Latest News LIVE: Maruti Suzuki drives in S-CNG variant of S-Presso at Rs 4.84 lakh

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Monday said it has launched BS VI compliant S-CNG variant of S-Presso, priced between Rs 4.84 lakh and Rs 5.13 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The introduction of the S-CNG variant is in line with the company's commitment to expand its green vehicle portfolio in the country, MSI said in a statement. The new trim comes with one litre engine delivering a mileage of 31.2 km/kg, it added.

 

"With the launch of the new trim, we are strengthening our efforts towards sustainable green mobility," MSI Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) Shashank Srivastava said.

 

Having already sold one million green vehicles, including CNG, smart hybrid vehicles, the company under its 'Mission Green Million', aims to sell the next 1 million green vehicles in the next couple of years. The company sold 1,06,443 factory-fitted CNG vehicles across the country during 2019-20.

8:13 PM

Sebi imposes Rs 1.55 crore fine on two entities for fraudulent trading

Markets regulator Sebi on Monday imposed a total penalty of Rs 1.55 crore on two entities for indulging in fraudulent trading in illiquid stock options on the BSE.

 

Sebi levied a fine of Rs 84 lakh and Rs 71 lakh on Ashlar Commodities Pvt Ltd and Ashlar Securities Pvt Ltd, respectively, in two separate orders.

 

After observing large-scale reversal of trades in the illiquid stock options segment of the BSE, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) conducted a probe between April 2014 and September 2015.

8:01 PM

LIVE updates: Traffic congestion was seen at Delhi Noida Direct (DND) Flyway earlier today

7:57 PM

Latest News LIVE: Chinese hotel builder abruptly liquidates business in UK

A Chinese conglomerate which has built hotels for Hilton and Travelodge has abruptly liquidated its UK subsidiaries, trade magazine Construction Enquirer reported. Covid-19 pandemic is said to be a reason behind the move. CIMC is a global business with regional offices in the UK, US and Australia and the main head office in Southern China.

 

The main UK business, CIMC Modular Building Systems and its development arm first set up to promote the modular system have both been placed in voluntary liquidation by managing director Jason Taylor.

 

According to last published account CIMC MBS lost pound 2.5 million in 2018. During that year it delivered nearly 900 modules creating 1,317 hotel or student rooms. CIMC has supplied ready-built rooms from a factory in China for more than 10 years. They have been used for hotels, including a Hampton by Hilton at Bristol airport, and student accommodation.

7:43 PM

LIVE updates: Raymond cuts workforce to tide over Covid-19 woes

Amid an organisational restructuring to tide over the Covid-19 woes, apparel maker Raymond has seen about 1,100 employees either resigning or being sacked since April as part of cost-control measures, retrenched employees claimed, but the firm refuted their assertions on non-payment of full dues, PTI reported.

 

About a dozen employees PTI spoke to said the Raymond management sought resignations from them, failing which they were threatened with termination. While some 400 were coerced into resignation, around 700 who did not do so were sacked. Similar notices have been served to 400 more now, they claimed.

 

The Gautam Singhania-led company had 7,087 employees on its rolls as of March 2019, according to the annual report. A company spokesperson, however, refuted the numbers saying queries on the issue "are factually incorrect, malicious and misrepresented with vested interests."

 

"We would further like to state that in line with the prevailing market conditions and unprecedented challenges, the company has undertaken the process of cost rationalisation to minimise the impact on business due to the pandemic.

7:23 PM

Army chief General Naravane discusses security situation with top army commanders

The apex leadership of the Indian Army on Monday held detailed deliberations on the eastern Ladakh standoff and the situation along the Line of Actual Control with China after the Galwan Valley clashes that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, PTI reported.

 

On the opening day of a two-day conference, the commanders carried out a comprehensive review of India's security preparedness along the LAC in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, they said.

 

In his initial remarks, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane briefed the commanders about the overall situation following which detailed discussions on the matter took place, the sources said. The commanders also deliberated on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said. It is the second phase of the biannual commanders conference. The first phase had taken place last month.

7:18 PM

Rail Coach Cafe opened at Rail Museum in Karnataka