To ensure hygiene while transporting, the drivers of UberMedic were trained in safety procedures and also provided with personal protective equipment and disinfectants

It further said that although 2020 is a lost year, in terms of trade, India can think long-term and build relations so that it can occupy the space vacated by China.

Swaraj said this while chairing a meeting of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians, a trust established to supplement development efforts.

Bengaluru: The Union Cabinet’s decision to freeze the DA of its employees till July 2021 and Kerala’s decision to absorb a month’s salary of its employees to the CM’s relief fund to fight Covid-19 has put pressure on chief minister BS Yediyurappa to bite the bullet.The chief minister or the Karnataka Cabinet is yet to take a call on reworking pay and compensation package of its employees in the face of a sharp drop in revenues, and enormous pressure on the finance department to meet the rising demand for funds for Covid-19-related activities and the farm sector.The chief minister had told ET last week that he will take a decision in two weeks after assessing the situation.Karnataka’s salary and pension bill per month comes to about Rs 5,500 crore, and the state has been able to hold on because of the impressive GST collections last month on account of good business climate in February. The commercial tax department does not have any hopes of decent collections over the next two months because of the host of relief announced by the ministry of finance to dealers on GST remittances. The department can hope to have considerable collections only in June. All other major revenue sources for the Karnataka government such as liquor sales, property and vehicles registration are nearly dry.Several IT companies such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro have deferred annual increments.

Govt may eye Rs 1.5 lakh crore divestment in FY21: Sources

Covid-19 impact: Govt raises market borrowing limit to Rs 12 lakh cr for FY21

Govt cuts interest rate on small savings schemes by 0.1 pc, effective July 1

Coronavirus lockdown: 97 trains carrying migrants entered state so far, informs UP Govt

​​Fed fund futures are now pricing negative fed rate by June 21.

The gross borrowing programme for the year has been increased to Rs 12 lakh crore.

Cricket Australia is under huge financial pressure due to global lockdown and has laid off 80 percent of its staff. India's four-Test tour in December-January could provide a relief to the struggling bldy

Under the e-token system, customers are given specific time for purchasing alcohol so that there is no violation of social distancing norms by people queuing up outside liquor stores.

The task force has also called for a revamp of financing models for infrastructure and backed a return of development financial institutions, such as IDBI and IFCI, albeit with a sectoral focus. It has argued that banks and NBFCs are unable to meet the massive funding requirement and face several challenges, which is turning the clock back by close to two decades.

A negative list will clearly spell out what’s not allowed, allowing other activities to resume.

Under the e-token system, customers are given specific time for purchasing alcohol so that there is no violation of social distancing norms by people queuing up outside liquor stores.

The plan, which has been in the works for months, is likely to be part of the stimulus package, that is expected to be announced shortly.

It further said that although 2020 is a lost year, in terms of trade, India can think long-term and build relations so that it can occupy the space vacated by China.

A negative list will clearly spell out what’s not allowed, allowing other activities to resume.

All malls have been shut since the lockdown began, and retailers in those malls are not in a position to pay rents because their outlets are shut. This in turn makes it difficult for the malls to pay the banks. About 85% of a mall’s revenue is dependent on rentals.

As per industry estimates, any standalone restaurant from an established chain could have alcohol inventory of ₹10-25 lakh lying with it. For five-star chains, the stocks are worth much more.

Ravi Saxena, MD, Wonderchef emphasizes that it is the best time to award industry status to retail sector for overall economic growth.

According to an official statement, the government released a web link - www.qtoken.in - where people will be designated specific time for purchasing liquor after they fill personal details. The e-tokens will be sent on the mobile phones of the registered persons, it said.

Following instructions from Excise Minister Ram Naresh Agnihotri, principal secretary (excise) Sanjay R Bhoosreddy said that a rate higher than the fixed MRP cannot be charged by liquor vendors under any circumstances.

Under the e-token system, customers are given specific time for purchasing alcohol so that there is no violation of social distancing norms by people queuing up outside liquor stores.

Handset makers and offline traders have urged the commerce and home ministries to allow the sale and service of mobile devices and its accessories through offline stores in the country.

According to the notification, companies that make phones priced at ₹15,000 and above and which make a cumulative investment of ₹1,000 crore over four years, starting with ₹250 crore in the first year, will qualify for an incentive of 6% for the first two years, followed by 5% for the next two and 4% in the fifth year..

"The price cap has been imposed taking into account the sharp increase in prices of raw materials used in making of face masks and hand santizer," Paswan said.

“Now we want distilleries that have their own bottling plants to add a new product line - sanitisers - to their line up of alcoholic beverages. This will put off pressure from hand sanitiser industry which is facing huge challenge to meet the demand,” said a senior food ministry official.

“About 45 distilleries and 564 other manufacturers have been granted permission to produce hand sanitisers. More than 55 distilleries are likely to be given permission in one or two days and many more are being motivated to produce sanitisers in this scenario,” consumer affairs ministry said in a release.

"The total sanitiser licenses issued in the state is 48 and production ramped up to 50,000 litres per day," Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Awanish Awasthi, told reporters.

Germany's top court on Tuesday ruled against the European Central Bank's bond purchases and gave the bank three months to explain how the scheme can be justified.

The Government has updated the SafeWork Australia website with industry-specific guidelines for businesses to re-open and carry on in a "COVID-safe" manner.

The Shire of Narrogin says its proposed amalgamation with the Town of Narrogin will require about $2 million of state funding if it is to go ahead.

The official Government and Legal notices for today [May 8] include liquor licence and notification of planning applications registered. Notices of...

“The three new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Wednesday evening’s press conference were residents in three of our Long Term Care homes,...

The Government is offering free PCR and antibody testing to the general public beginning Saturday, May 9th between 2pm  – 7pm at the Southside...

1. Shah slams Bengal govt for 'not allowing' migrant trains; Centre lying, says TMC  Times of India
2. Not Allowing Migrants' Trains "Injustice": Amit Shah To Mamata Banerjee  NDTV
3. TMC releases 'proof' after Centre alleges blockade of migrant transport in West Bengal  TIMES NOW
4. News updates from Hindustan Times: Have 7-stage plan to bring back migrants, says TMC on Amit Shah’s...  Hindustan Times
5. Bengal Says 8 Trains to Bring Back Migrant Workers Scheduled as Amit Shah Writes to Mamata on 'Injustice'  News18
6. View Full coverage on Google News

BY WADNER PIERRE

Since the CEP published its tainted and most controversial results for the presidential, second round legislative and local elections early last November, thousands have been demonstrated in the streets of Haiti’s largest cities to reclaim a recount of their votes. Religious leaders and international human rights and advocacy groups have also urged the CEP to investigate irregularities and massive electoral frauds that are no longer mere allegations.

As protests widening, diplomatic talks failed and G8 candidates remaining steadfast in their position, to remedy the situation, Haiti’s PM Evans Paul in an one-page letter sent to the President Michel J. Martelly, proposed a formation of an electoral commission to ensure the credibility of the already festered electoral process.

The commission according to the Prime Minister’s letter will have three days to produce recommendations to the government and the Conseil Electoral Provisoire (Electoral Provisional Council), known as the CEP. The head of the government stated,“ …it is necessary to organize credible, transparent, participative and inclusive elections,” as well as “to do whatever it takes” to create a climate of trust for the actors involving in the process.

The CEP shows no sign that it will abide by the recommendations of the government-formed commission. One of its members Marie Carmelle Paul Austin told a radio in the Haiti’s capital that the electoral council members are ready to depart in bloc should the commission interfere in their work. “If this commission’s purpose is to redo or verify the work that the CEP has already done, the council members will resign,” implied council Austin.

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BY WADNER PIERRE

Nearly two months since Haiti’s Conseil Electoral Provisoire (Electoral Provisional Council), know as the CEP, announced the final results for the first round residential, second round legislative and local elections that plagued with massive frauds. The controversial results for the presidential elections placed Haiti’s ruling Party candidate, Jovel Moise at the first place with over 34 percent of the popular and the former 2010 presidential candidate Jude Celestin in second place. Since then protest against those tainted results have been widened through the country.

After candidates and their backers, religious leaders (Catholics and Protestants) and national and international human rights and advocacy groups urged the CEP to form an independent commission to investigate the electoral frauds that were no longer mere allegations, the CEP rejected such proposition and proceeded to schedule the presidential runoff on Dec. 27 with the two candidates obtained the majority of the vote. Celestin, a member of group of eight presidential candidates, known as G8, who have been protesting the CEP’s results, declared he would not participate at the runoff unless the CEP satisfied the demand of G8.

The United States, a staunch supporter of the current administration, and spent over $30 millions for the organization of these log-overdue elections, sent Kenneth Merten, the U.S former ambassador to Haiti and State Department’s Special Envoy to Haiti to convince candidates, most importantly Celestin, to accept the CEP’s results. Merten, a close friend of Martelly, and one the controversial figures that engineered Martelly’s election in the 2010 controversial elections, failed to his mission.

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Govt hikes borrowing limit by over 50% to Rs 12 trn as virus grips economy  Business StandardRaghuram Rajan says monetisation neither a game changer nor catastrophe  LivemintBank credit up 6.74% to Rs 102.69 lakh crore; deposits ris...

Have to learn to live with Covid-19: Govt  Times of IndiaHealth ministry says learn to live with coronavirus as India's COVID-19 count crosses 56,000  LivemintPeople must learn to live with the virus, follow prevention guidelines: G...

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe says that if there is appetite for nuclear power in the market, the SA government will pursue it over the next five years.

The Reserve Bank bought R11.4 billion worth of government bonds from the secondary market during April, as part of its measures to introduce liquidity to the market.