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3:16 PM

Eight core industries' output contracts 9.6% in July

Contracting for the fifth consecutive month, the output of eight core infrastructure sectors dropped by 9.6 per cent in July due to decline mostly in production of steel, refinery products and cement. The production of eight core sectors had expanded by 2.6 per cent in July 2019, data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday showed.

 

Barring fertiliser, all seven sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity -- recorded negative growth in July. The output of steel, refinery products, cement, natural gas, coal, crude oil and electricity declined by 16.5 per cent, 13.9 per cent, 13.5 per cent, 10.2 per cent, 5.7 per cent, 4.9 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively.

3:09 PM

43% Covid-19 cases from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka: Health Ministry

3:09 PM

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan met flood-affected people in Hoshangabad; distributed relief material

3:02 PM

Enforcement Directorate questions suspended AAP leader Tahir Hussain in Delhi riots case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday brought suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain for questioning from Tihar jail in connection with its probe into the northeast Delhi riots and the Tablighi Jamaat case, according to an IANS report. According to top ED officials, Hussain was brought from Tihar jail to the agency's headquarters in south Delhi's Khan Market area for questioning in connection with its ongoing money laundering probe into the northeast Delhi riots in February this year.

 

The official said that Hussain will also be questioned about funding for the Delhi riots. The official added that he is also being questioned about which hawala operators he was in touch with to collect the money for the riots. He will also be interrogated about his relations with Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad.

3:01 PM

Health Minister Harsha Vardhan inaugurates Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Karnataka

2:58 PM

Eight infrastructure sectors' output contracts 9.6 per cent in July: Govt data

2:56 PM

Department of Telecommunications nod for Rs 25,000-crore RJio-Brookfield tower deal

The Department of Telecommunications has approved the Rs 25,215 crore deal between Reliance Jio and Brookfield Infrastructure. A SEBI filing said: "The DoT through its letter dated August 11, 2020 has approved Rs 1,053.50 million downstream foreign investment for acquisition of the remaining 49 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital of Tower Co. from RIL by the Trust."

 

Further, the department has also approved the increase in foreign investment in Tower Co. to 100 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital, according to an IANS report.

 

In December last year, Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Limited (RIIHL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) entered into an agreement under which it will receive Rs 25,215 crore investment by Canadian entity Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners in its tower infrastructure trust. As per the deal at the closing of the transaction, the trust will own 100 per cent of the issued and paid up equity share capital of Reliance Jio lnfratel Private Limited (RJIPL).

2:42 PM

Latest News LIVE: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan surveys flood-affected areas

2:40 PM

US to provide military assistance if China attacks in South China Sea: Philippines

In a strong message to China, the Philippines have made it clear that it would turn to the US for military help during ongoing flare-ups between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, news agency ANI reported.

 

Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said Manila would invoke its defence agreement with the US if China attacks its naval vessels in the disputed waters. "If something happens that is beyond incursion but is, in fact, an attack on say a Filipino naval vessel.....means then I call up Washington DC," he added.

 

Since 1951, the US and the Philippines have had a Mutual Defence Treaty that commits them to support each other in the event if either is attacked.

2:28 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Sensex, Nifty slide on border tensions with China

Indian shares fell sharply on Monday afternoon, as a fresh flare-up on the disputed border between India and China wiped all gains that stemmed from optimism around the latest government directives to open up the country's economy further, news agency Reuters reported. The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index dropped 2.03% to 11,411.05 by 0815 GMT and the S&P BSE Sensex slid 1.92% to 38,710.37. Both indexes had climbed more than 1% earlier in the session.

 

India said it had foiled an attempt by Chinese troops to change the status quo on the ill-defined border between the two nuclear-armed countries.

 

2:24 PM

Days before fresh transgression attempt, China redeployed J-20 fighter jets near Ladakh

Days before the Chinese Army tried to carry out fresh transgressions near the Southern bank of Pangong Tso lake, the People's Liberation Army's Air Force (PLAAF) redeployed its J-20 fifth-generation fighter aircraft near Ladakh for operational deployment and they are still carrying out extensive flying there.

 

On the intervening night of August 29-30, the Indian Army noticed the movement of Chinese troops and thwarted an attempt by them to transgress into new areas near the southern bank of the Pangong Tso lake east of Chushul in Ladakh area.

 

"The J-20 has been deployed by the PLAAF at the Hotan air base and they have been flying close to the Indian territory near Ladakh and adjoining areas. The deployment of strategic bomber aircraft is also still on by the Chinese," government sources told ANI.

 

2:19 PM

Rupee pares early gains, settles 21 paise down at 73.60 (provisional) against US dollar

2:10 PM

Landslides block Jammu and Kashmir highway, 300 vehicles stranded

Landslides and mudslides triggered by heavy rains blocked the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway at several places in Ramban district on Monday, officials said. Over 300 vehicles were stranded at several places on the highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, according to a PTI report.

 

The men and machines of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have started clearance of the landslides to restore the traffic on the highway, they said. However, the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road, which connects UTs of J-K and Ladakh, is open for traffic.

1:49 PM

Supreme Court slaps Re 1 fine on Prashant Bhushan for committing contempt

The Supreme Court on Monday slapped Re 1 fine on senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan in connection with a suo motu criminal contempt of court case over his tweets. A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, said that Bhushan should be barred from practicing law for a period of three years and imprisoned for three months if he defaults on paying the fine, according to an ANI report.

 

The bench said that the court's decisions cannot be influenced by the publications or opinions in the media and noted that Bhushan's statements to the press even before they were considered by this court was to influence the proceedings. Freedom of expression is there but the rights of others should also be respected, the bench said.

 

Also noting that the press conference by four Supreme Court judges in January 2018 was wrong, the bench said, "judges are not supposed to hold a press conference".

1:33 PM

Japan mulls picking new Prime Minister on September 17 to succeed Abe

Japan is considering to hold an extraordinary parliamentary session on September 17 to pick the country's new Prime Minister to succeed Shinzo Abe, local media reported on Sunday.

 

According to public broadcaster NHK, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is expected to decide when and how to choose its next leader in a General Council meeting on September 1.

 

Meanwhile, LDP top officials are making final arrangements to have its members in both houses of the Diet meet around September 13-15 to choose the party's president. Then, the party plans to call an extraordinary parliamentary session to elect the new prime minister on September 17, according to the report. Read on...