Latest news LIVE update: Airbus to cut around 15,000 jobs worldwide

Stay tuned with Business Standard for the latest news of today

5:23 PM

I am extending free ration for poor till June 2021: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

5:22 PM

Latest News LIVE update: AAP to hold protest against fuel price hike tomorrow

After Congress launched a nation-wide campaign against incessant hike in fuel prices, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said that it will also take to the streets to protest against the same on July 1.

 

"Aam Aadmi Party will lead a nation-wide protest against the spike in petrol and diesel prices on July 1 at 11 a.m.," stated party leader Gopal Rai on Twitter in Hindi.

 

This came a day after Congress leaders and party workers took out symbolic cycle rides and attacked the government for adding to the hardship of ordinary people by hiking fuel prices. The party blamed the Centre for increasing the fuel prices for three-weeks straight at a time when global oil prices were low. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also asked the government to stop profiteering from the motor fuel and roll back the recent hikes.

 

In a video, released here on Monday, Rahul Gandhi said, "The effect of rise in diesel and petrol prices are two-fold. One that you pay directly, and the other due to the rise in prices of consumer products, including essential items." Starting from June 7, petrol price has increased by Rs 9.17 and diesel by Rs 11.14 in the national capital. In the other cities the magnitude of increase was similar.

5:10 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Sensex, Nifty pare early gains, end marginally lower

Equity benchmark Sensex surrendered all its early gains to end 46 points lower on Tuesday as investors turned cautious ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation.

 

After jumping 272.39 points during the day, the 30-share index turned negative and settled 45.72 points, or 0.13 per cent, down at 34,915.80; while the NSE Nifty slipped 10.30 points, or 0.10 per cent, to 10,302.10. PowerGrid was the top laggard in the Sensex pack, shedding around 2 per cent, followed by Sun Pharma, ITC, ONGC, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries. On the other hand, Maruti, Nestle India, ICICI Bank and UltraTech Cement were among the gainers.

 

Indian market pared intra-day gains as participants adopted a wait and watch approach ahead of Modi's address. Concerns over rising COVID-19 cases and its impact on economic recovery remained a key factor for investors, analysts said. The number of cases around the world linked to the disease has crossed 1.03 crore and the death toll has topped 5.05 lakh. In India, the number of infections spiked to 5,66,840 and the death toll rose to 16,893.

 

Meanwhile, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Japan and Seoul ended with significant gains. However, stock exchanges in Europe started on a tepid note. International oil benchmark Brent crude futures fell 1.36 per cent to USD 41.28 per barrel. On the currency front, the rupee settled 7 paise higher at 75.51 against the US dollar.

5:08 PM

Rs 90,000 crore to be spent more on providing free ration to poor for five more months, says PM Modi

5:01 PM

Centre's ban on Chinese apps draws mixed reaction from citizens

As the Central government on Monday banned 59 mobile apps including Tik Tok, some people opined that government should provide some time to save the videos and data that have been uploaded on these apps, before banning them while others strongly believe that such apps should be uninstalled from the mobile phones right away.

 

"It should happen, it's necessary. A lot of people have become famous by using these apps so at least a time period should be given of around two to three months before banning these apps," said Ajay Kumar from Chandigarh. "I do not have knowledge about Tik Tok app but many people used to upload their videos on it. According to me, these apps should not be operational," said Anil Kumar.

 

A Lucknow resident told ANI, China keeps on bothering us and attacks our country so it's a good decision. We should delete such apps. "I have deleted all these apps," he added. "It's a good decision, we will never tolerate if someone dares to harm our country. We are using such apps which are made by other countries and they are harming our country. I wish that the government should ban these apps as soon as possible. Some alternatives should also be planned," said Sneha.

4:53 PM

Coronavirus LIVE: Recovery rate of Covid-19 patients nearing 60%, says Union Health Ministry

The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in the country is fast approaching 60 per cent, with the Union Health Ministry attributing it to collective and focussed efforts of the Centre and states for containment and management of the pandemic.

 

As on date, there are 1,19,696 more recovered patients than COVID-19 active cases. The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 2,15,125, while 3,34,821 patients have been cured/discharged.A total of 13,099 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.

 

"This has resulted in the recovery rate amongst COVID-19 patients further improving to 59.07 per cent," it said on Tuesday.

 

The number of diagnostic labs is continuously increasing and India now has 1,049 labs dedicated to COVID-19. These include 761 labs in the government sector and 288 private labs. According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 86,08,654 samples have been tested up to June 29 with 2,10,292 samples tested on Monday.

4:48 PM

Uttarakhand wildlife advisory panel approves transfer of forest land for 3 roads near China border

Amid the continuing tension with China along the LAC in Ladakh, the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Advisory Board has approved proposals for transfer of 73.36 hectares of forest land within the protected Gangotri National Park for construction of three strategically important roads near the India-China border, PTI reported.

 

The roads will reduce the distance to the border considerably and make easier the movement of Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel, who at present have walk up to 25 kms to reach there, officials said.

 

The proposals were approved on Monday during the 15th meeting of the board chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Principal Secretary (Forest) Anand Vardhan told PTI on Tuesday. A recommendation for a final clearance will now be sent to the National Board for Wildlife within a week, Vardhan said.

 

The three stretches include the 17.60-km Mandi-Sangchola road, the 11.85-km Sumla-Thangla road and the 6.21-km Tripadi-Rangmachgaad road. The roads are to be developed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in the protected Gangotri National Park area in Uttarkashi district. Around 73.36 hectares of forest land at different sites within the Gangotri National Park are to be transferred for construction of the roads, Vardhan said.

 

The board unanimously agreed that proposals for the construction of roads which are important from the point of view of national security should be sent to the National Board for Wildlife for final clearance, the officer said. The panel also decided to send a recommendation to the National Board for Wildlife for transferring forest land for the expansion of Dehradun's Jollygrant Airport, he said.

4:45 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Zomato rechristens membership programme Gold to Zomato Pro

Online restaurant guide and food ordering platformZomato on Tuesday said it hasrechristened its membership programme Zomato Gold to Zomato Pro to include more discounts and privileges, PTI reported.

 

"All Zomato Gold members across 10 countries will automatically get upgraded to Zomato Pro starting August 1, 2020," ZomatoCo-founder and COOGaurav Gupta said in a blog post.

 

The company has launched an initiative to rechristen Zomato Gold to Zomato Pro and make it a bigger, better all-encompassing membership that unlocks amazing privileges and discounts at the best restaurantsacross dining out and delivery,he added.

 

This is in addition to some never-seen-before exclusive privileges on the Zomato app and a unique money-back guarantee for all Pro members, Gupta said. Zomato Pro members will continue to enjoy existing offers (on Zomato Gold) across a wide selection of restaurants, he added. Zomato Pro has been designed to be much more friendly for a wider variety of restaurant businesses, Gupta said.

 

"We have signed up around 50 per cent more partner restaurants on Zomato Prothan what we had on Zomato Gold across dining out and delivery," he added.

 

The restaurant industry is struggling during the COVID-19 crisis, and "we hope that Zomato Pro can be one of the most important levers to drive growth, and help restaurant businesses cover up the losses incurred in the last few months," Gupta said.

4:42 PM

PM Modi extends PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana till end of November

In his televised address to the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana until the end of November. The scheme will cover around 800 million people. Explaining the steps taken by his government in dealing with the impact of Covid-19 in India, the PM said that we are at a stage, especially after lockdown, where we needed to take more precautions to stay safe from the coronavirus.

 

"We are entering a time when we all become prone to common illnesses. So, I urge everyone to take good care of themselves," he said. "So far as coronavirus is concerned, India is better placed than the rest of the world, said the PM. The timely implementation of the lockdown in India saved many lives," he added.

 

The Prime Minister also delivered a word of caution when he noted that since Unlock 1 has been implemented, we are becoming more and more careless. Measures like wearing maks and maintaining social distancing are not being followed strictly, he said.

 

"The need of the hour is that everyone take the same level of precaution as during lockdown, especially in containment zones. We will have to take it upon ourselves to caution and advise everyone who is not taking the precautions. We saw recently that the PM of a country was fined the equivalent of Rs 13,000 for not wearing a mask at a public place. He advised local administrations to adopt a similar attitude.

 

4:38 PM

In address to the nation, PM Modi asked people to be careful against cough and cold in the rainy season

4:28 PM

Govt able to provide free food grains to the poor and the needy, the credit goes to farmers and honest taxpayers: PM Modi

Today, if the government is able to provide free food grains to the poor and the needy, the credit goes to two sections. First, the hardworking farmers of our country and second, the honest taxpayers. I thank you from my heart: PM Narendra Modi

4:17 PM

Hard work and dedication of honest taxpayers and farmers allowed India to tide over such a grave crisis: PM Modi

The hard work and dedication of you — honest taxpayers and farmers — is what has allowed the country to tide over such a grave crisis for the financially weaker sections of the country

4:14 PM

LIVE: PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana will be in force till Diwali and Chhath, says PM Narendra Modi

4:13 PM

Every member of household will get 5 kg or rice or flour every month until the end of November: PM Modi

Every member of household will get 5 kg or rice or flour every month until the end of November, in addition to 1 kg chana every month for each family: PM Narendra Modi

4:13 PM

LIVE: PM Garib Kalyan Rozgar Yojan to continue till November end, says PM Narendra Modi