Air India stops hiring, promotions before stake sale: Report
Air India, laden with ₹58,000-crore debt, has reportedly frozen promotions and fresh appointments of employees ahead of the government’s plan to divest stake in the airline. Reports said the carrier’s books of accounts have been closed till July 15 and these financials would be used while seeking bids. The government aims to complete Air India’s disinvestment within next four-five months.
Grey sales of high-end phones causing ₹2,500 cr revenue loss: ICEA
The sale of high-end mobile phones in the grey market is causing an estimated loss of ₹2,500 crore annually, mobile industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) has claimed. It suggested imposing a maximum customs duty of ₹4,000 on handsets priced above ₹20,000 to stop the practice. Currently, a basic customs duty of 20% is imposed on imported handsets.
MS Dhoni’s request to train with Army approved: Reports
MS Dhoni’s request to train with Indian Army has been approved by Army chief General Bipin Rawat, as per reports. The 38-year-old would train with Parachute Regiment battalion and some part of his training is also expected to take place in J&K, reports added. The Army won’t allow Dhoni to be part of any active operation, reports further stated.
Keep sprinting, keep shining: President Kovind to Hima Das
Congratulating Hima Das for winning five gold medals in 19 days, President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted, “Three weeks, five gold medals! You’re incredible, Hima…Keep sprinting, keep shining and may this success set the pace for glory at the 2020 Olympic Games.” Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “Congratulations to Hima and best wishes for her future endeavours.”
No blanket ban on crypto trading in India yet, says govt
There is no blanket ban on cryptocurrency trading in India yet, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur said. “Presently, there’s no separate law for dealing with cryptocurrency-related issues. Hence, all concerned departments and law enforcement agencies…take action as per the relevant existing laws,” he added. In 2018, RBI had barred banks from serving firms dealing with cryptocurrencies.
Piramal raises ₹1,500 cr from StanChart via NCDs: Reports
Ajay Piramal-led Piramal Enterprises (PEL) has reportedly raised ₹1,500 crore from Standard Chartered Bank through non-convertible debentures (NCDs). The funds will be utilised to meet PEL’s working capital needs and upcoming debt-related payment obligations, reports said. Recently, the company had made principal and coupon payments on outstanding debt of reportedly around ₹1,700 crore.
Woman delivers baby on NDRF rescue boat in flood-hit Bihar
A woman delivered a baby girl on NDRF’s rescue boat with the help of NDRF nursing assistant, ASHA workers and relatives in flood-hit Bihar, officials said. They added that the team was taking her to a health centre but decided to assess her on the boat after she reported severe labour pain. She was later admitted to the health centre.
Won’t allow AC, TV for Nawaz Sharif in jail: Pak PM in US speech
During his speech at an indoor arena in the US, Pakistan PM Imran Khan said he won’t allow AC and TV for former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in jail. “In a country where half the population has no AC or TV, what kind of punishment would this be?” Khan said. Sharif has been jailed over corruption charges.
Yukiya Amano, chief of UN nuclear watchdog IAEA, dies aged 72
Yukiya Amano, the Director General of UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has passed away at the age of 72. Amano, a Japanese diplomat, was reappointed in 2017 to a third four-year term. Amano’s health had declined since the IAEA announced last September that he had undergone an unspecified medical procedure.
Protestors raise slogans during Pakistan PM’s speech in US
A video showing protestors raising slogans during Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s speech in the US has surfaced online. The protestors raised slogans against Pakistan and in favour of an independent Balochistan during Khan’s address. People from Balochistan living in the US have been raising their voice against alleged atrocities and human rights violations in Balochistan by Pakistani security forces.
Iran captures 17 CIA spies, sentences some to death: Reports
Iran has captured 17 spies working for the US’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and some have been sentenced to death, Iranian media reported on Monday. “The identified spies were employed in sensitive and vital private sector centres in the economic, nuclear, infrastructural, military and cyber areas…where they collected classified information,” Iran’s Intelligence Ministry reportedly said.
Pirates steal cash, sailors’ shoes in attack on S Korea-flagged ship
Pirates attacked a South Korea-flagged cargo ship near the Singapore Strait on Monday, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and the sailors’ shoes, South Korean authorities said. The pirates also took away belongings including mobile phones and clothes from the cargo ship’s 22 crew members. Officials said the ship was sailing normally after the robbery.
Lightning strikes kill 32 in UP, CM Yogi announces ₹4L compensation
As many as 32 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh due to lightning on Sunday, said officials. Thirteen others were injured due to lightning, the statement added. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued orders to the respective district magistrates to give a compensation of ₹4 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
Hotels body complains about OYO to CCI over broken promise
The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has filed a complaint with the Competition Commission of India against OYO. It alleged that three months after OYO promised partners an 18% interest on delayed payments, the issues continue to be unresolved. “Environment created by OYO has forced hoteliers to cut ties with it,” FHRAI’s honorary Joint Secretary said.
Avengers beats Avatar’s ₹19,250cr record to become top-grossing film
With earnings of $2.790 billion (₹19,257 crore) ‘Avengers: Endgame’ beat ‘Avatar’ in its 13th weekend of release to become the highest-grossing film of all time. ‘Avatar’, which held the record for 10 years, had total earnings of $2.789 billion (₹19,250 crore). “Thank you to…fans around the world who lifted Avengers: Endgame to these historic heights,” said Disney co-chairman Alan Horn.
India’s 2nd Moon mission Chandrayaan-2 successfully launched by ISRO
ISRO on Monday successfully launched ‘Chandrayaan-2’, India’s second Moon mission and the world’s first-ever mission aimed towards a soft landing on the Moon’s south polar region. India’s most powerful launcher GSLV MkIII-M1 was assigned to carry Chandrayaan-2 to its designated orbit. Chandrayaan-2’s lander ‘Vikram’ will execute the soft landing on the Moon and ‘Pragyan’ rover will communicate with it.
Govt wants antitrust review of ‘Big 4’ audit firms: Reports
The government reportedly wants antitrust body Competition Commission of India (CCI) to assess whether the “Big Four” auditing firms and affiliates are hurting competition in India. CCI may have to check whether PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, and Ernst & Young are abusing their dominant market position, reports said. The four firms audit for nearly 60% of top 500 companies on NSE.
Hard to say when the NBFC crisis will be over: RBI Governor
It is difficult to say when the crisis in the non-banking finance company (NBFC) sector will be over, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said in an interview. He added RBI is making efforts to ensure there isn’t a collapse of “another systematically important NBFC”. The NBFC sector saw a liquidity crunch, sparked by IL&FS defaulting on its debt repayments last year.
Will retaliate if US imposes sanctions over Russian S-400: Turkey
Turkey would retaliate against what it called an unacceptable threat of US sanctions over the country’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence system, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said. “This is not a threat or a bluff,” he added. However, Cavusoglu further said he thinks US President Donald Trump wants to avoid such measures.
