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7:28 PM

Govt taking all steps to ensure safety of Kulbhushan Jadhav: MEA

India is in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels and government is taking all steps to ensure the safety of Kulbhushan Jadhav, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, according to an ANI report.

 

"We are in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. Our government is taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of Kulbhushan Jadhav," MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said during the virtual weekly briefing.

 

This comes after Pakistani media reported that the Islamabad High Court on Thursday gave India "another opportunity" to appoint a counsel for Kulbhushan Jadhav. The Islamabad High Court adjourned the matter till October 6. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India had said that it has asked Pakistan for Jadhav to be represented by an Indian lawyer for filing a review petition against his death sentence.

7:02 PM

Maharashtra to revise policy on govt jobs for sportspersons

The sports policy of the Maharashtra government will be revised to streamline the process of giving government jobs to award-winning sportspersons, an official statement said on Thursday. The revised policy will also ensure that sportspersons inducted in the government service can focus on their sports, mentor new players and develop the state's sports culture, it said.

 

The decision to revise was taken during a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Minister of State for Sports Aditi Tatkare and Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar were also present.

 

The revised policy will also mull giving government jobs to mountaineers who have climbed Everest, those whose records have been recognized by Guinness and Limca books of records, winners of Shiv Chhatrapati Award and Maharashtra Kesari championship-winning wrestlers.

6:53 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: 10,199 new Covid-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh in a day

6:47 PM

We want peace and tranquillity across our borders: CDS General Bipin Rawat

6:38 PM

China's economic assistance to PoK and continued military and diplomatic support to Pak mandates high level of preparations by us: General Rawat

6:26 PM

Bank shouldn't declare accounts as NPAs until disposal of pleas seeking moratorium extension: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that the bank accounts should not be declared as non-performing asset (NPA) as on 31 August should not be declared as NPAs until the disposal of the pleas seeking an extension of the moratorium period, news agency ANI reported.

 

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, was hearing two petitions seeking an extension of the moratorium period on repayment of loans and to waive off the interest on the repayment of the loan amount in view of the cOVID-19 pandemic. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, said that the banking sector is the backbone of India's economy and that the government cannot take any decision which can weaken the economy.

 

"We have decided not to waive interest, but reduce payment pressure," Mehta said. Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who is one of the petitioners, asked whether three months time period till November 1 will be given to borrowers to approach the banks for rescheduling or restructuring after August 31.

6:18 PM

Latest News LIVE update: China deploys five militia squads in Eastern Ladkah

China has deployed five militia squads for rapid response at the disputed Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. It has done so to "consolidate the border" and "stabilise Tibet region", sources said, according to an ANI report.

"Militia is basically a reserve force of the Chinese's People Liberation Army. They are deployed during war time situations and help the PLA in its military operations," said a senior government officer.

 

The officer also explained that Chinese militia conducts independent operations and provides combat support and manpower to replenish the PLA. "It is an irregular mix of mountaineers, boxers, members of local fight clubs and others. Most of the members are raised from the local population," said the officer.

 

It was after their deployments across the LAC that China started making incursion attempts into Indian territories. China had made provocative military movements to change the status quo at Pangong Tso. However, Indian soldiers were already present at those heights to thwart the PLA's land-grabbing bid.

6:13 PM

Tamil Nadu reported 5,892 new Covid-19 cases, 6,110 discharges and 92 deaths in the last 24 hours

6:00 PM

Border situation in eastern Ladakh 'direct result' of Chinese action to effect unilateral change in status quo

India on Thursday said the situation witnessed in the border areas in eastern Ladakh over the past four months is a "direct result" of actions taken by China aimed at effecting unilateral change in the status quo of the region. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India is committed to resolve all issues through dialogue, noting the way ahead to address the issue is negotiations, according to a PTI report.

 

"It is clear that the situation we witnessed(in eastern Ladakh) over the past four months is a direct result of actions by Chinese side aimed at effecting unilateral change in status quo.

 

"We strongly urge China to sincerely engage with the Indian side with the objective of expeditiously restoring peace in border areas through complete disengagement," he said at an online media briefing.

5:50 PM

RBL Bank launches cardless cash withdrawal facility through ATMs

RBL Bank on Thursday said it has launched cardless cash withdrawal facility from ATMs, leveraging the Instant Money Transfer (IMT) system.

 

The private sector lender said it has tied-up with Empays Payment Systems, a global financial technology provider, to offer this service.

RBL Bank customers can withdraw cash without their debit cards from 389 IMT-enabled automated teller machines (ATMs) of the bank or more than 40,000 other bank ATMs across the country, it said in a release.

 

To avail the service a customer has to log into RBL Bank's MoBank app to locate an ATM that supports the IMT function and initiate cash withdrawal by either using his or her mobile number linked to the account or by following a few easy steps on the app. The customer selects the IMT button on the mobile app, gets a code, and uses it to withdraw money from the ATM. READ MORE...

5:31 PM

China sought to unilaterally change status quo: MEA on border row with China

5:22 PM

Way ahead is negotiations; India committed to resolve all issues through dialogue: MEA on border row with China

5:22 PM

SC protects loans not declared NPAs till Aug 31 from such action for now

The Supreme Court on Thursday said those accounts that had not been declared non-performing assets (NPAs) as on August 31 should not be declared bad loans until the case was disposed of, the Live Law reported. The decision was taken by a Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy, and M R Shah, who were hearing pleas seeking an extension of the moratorium on loan repayments in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Court will continue its hearing in the case on September 10.

 

The decision came two days after the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) informed the Court that the moratorium on repayment of loans could be extendable to up to two years under certain conditions, and that sectors most distressed by the economic slowdown were being identified.

 

The RBI had announced a moratorium on repayment of loans on March 27 to provide some relief to people as Covid-induced nationwide lockdown forced many companies to close down or effect major pay cuts. Announced for a three-month period initially, the moratorium was extended for another three months on May 23. The order had permitted lending institutions to grant a moratorium on payment of all term-loan instalments, including interest, falling due between March 1 and August 31. READ MORE...

5:10 PM

Latest news LIVE updates: PM Modi to address US-India summit at 9 pm

5:09 PM

Latest News LIVE: China opposes India's move to ban 118 mobile apps

The Chinese government on Thursday objected and expressed concerns over India's decision to ban 118 mobile applications. Speaking at a press briefing, Gao Feng, the spokesperson of Chinese Commerce Ministry, said India has abused national security by imposing "discriminate restrictions" on Chinese companies, according to an ANI report. Urging India to reconsider its move, Gao said, "China-India economic and trade cooperation yields mutual benefits."

 

He asserted that China has always asked its companies to comply with international and local rules and regulations in their overseas operations.

 

"We hope that the Indian side will work with the Chinese side to maintain hard-won bilateral cooperation and development so as to build an open and fair business environment for international investors and services providers including Chinese companies," he was quoted as saying.