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Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised the Modi government's foreign policy, holding it responsible for the cancellation of work visas for Indians by the Maldives.
He alleged the BJP government's foreign policy was only about "photo-ops" and "no agenda meetings".
"Maldives, once one of our closest allies and beneficiary of massive aid, is cancelling Indian work visas and putting up 'Not Hiring Indians' signs.
"This happens when foreign policy becomes about photo ops and 'no agenda meetings' instead of strategic intent," he tweeted.
Gandhi cited a media report claiming a downturn in the ties with the Maldives had hit Indian job opportunities in the island country. (PTI)
The ED today said it has attached assets worth Rs 17.55 crore of two catering firms in connection with its money laundering probe into the selling of cheaper packaged water in place of Rail Neer in Rajdhani and other super-fast trains, according to a report by PTI.
The agency said it has issued a provisional order for attachment of assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Ms R K Associates and Hoteliers Pvt Ltd, Ms Satyam Caterers Pvt Ltd and five other firms.
"During investigation, it is established that above licensees laundered the amount received from railway department in lieu of supply of the packaged drinking water of other brands, which was proceeds of crime," the agency said in a statement.
India is suffering from 'the worst water crisis' in its history with about 60 crore people facing high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water, NITI Aayog said in a report on Thursday.
The report, titled 'Composite Water Management Index' released by Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari, further said the crisis is only going to get worse.
"By 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 percent loss in the country's GDP," the report noted.
Citing data by independent agencies, the report pointed out that with nearly 70 per cent of water being contaminated, India is placed at 120th amongst 122 countries in the water quality index,PTI has reported.
Sale of pre-GST packaged goods has now been allowed with stickers of revised rates till July 31, the government today said.
After implementing GST from July 1, 2017, the government had allowed use of stickers with revised rates, alongside the printed MRP for pre-packaged items to reflect changes in selling price for three months till September 30. The deadline has been extended several time and the latest was April 30. (PTI)
Rising Kashmir Editor-in-Chief Shujaat Bukharihas been shot dead by unknown people in Srinagar, J&K,CNN-News 18 has reported.
Railways is mulling a proposal to have undercover sleuths manning railway stations and trains to check for anomalies in the services offered by the national transporter, a senior official said today.
Called, "Mystery shoppers" they will look like normal passengers, but will keep a keen eye on the amenities - food, staff behaviour, and quality on trains and at stations - and rate them on their performance, according to a PTI report.
This system was developed in the early 20th Century in the US and the UK by firms wanting to evaluate standards being maintained by employees. Now, it is the chosen method of big companies to rate their services from the standpoint of consumers.
The government has decided to reduce time frame by three months of 300 projects scheduled for completion in June 2019, and now those are likely to be completed by March next year, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
The move, which comes at a time when less than a year has been left for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gadkari said is aimed at fast-tracking schemes to deliver world-class infrastructure to people with no "political interest".
He said the sole intention of the government was to work on a "mission mode" to bolster development. (PTI)
ECBhas lowered the 2018 Eurozone growth forecast from 2.4 percent to 2.1 percent, news agency AFP has reported.
The Odisha government would not implement the Centre's Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission in the state since it is about to launch a similar scheme on its own shortly, a minister said today, according to a PTI report.
"There is no need to join the central government's Ayushman Bharat programme after launching state's own health assurance scheme," Health & Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena said.
He said that Odisha's Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana would be implemented from August 15 this year.
Pervez Musharraf's hope of staging a political comeback by contesting the July 25 polls was quashed today when Pakistan's Supreme Court withdrew the conditional permission given earlier to the former dictator after he failed to appear before it.
Musharraf, the former military ruler has not returned to Pakistan since leaving for Dubai in March 2016 on the pretext of medical treatment, according to a PTI report.
The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chairperson had filed his nomination from the northern district of Chitral after the court last week allowed him to contest next month's general election but made it conditional on his appearance before it on June 13 in a case linked to his lifelong disqualification by the Peshawar High Court in 2013.
SEBI plans to put in place revised norms for recovering investors' money in cases of illegal collective investment schemes, wherein a registered insolvency professional will be appointed as administrator to undertake sale of assets.
A senior official said the regulator is looking to revise the procedures to be followed after passing of orders in cases related to unregistered collective investment schemes, according to a PTI report.
In case an entity is not traceable or is not complying with SEBI directions, the recovery officer can appoint an administrator for the purpose of selling the properties attached. According to the official, only an entity registered with the IBBI as insolvency resolution professional would be considered eligible for appointment as administrator.
Consumer electronics major Samsung India expects the sales of premium televisions in the country to increase by 10-15 percent during the football world cup, which kicks off today.
"With FIFA World Cup coming into play, the market should see 10-15 percent growth in premium TV sales. We will be hopefully more than that," said Piyush Kunnapallil, general manager-consumer electronic business, Samsung India.
As per reports, the total TV market is estimated to be Rs 500 billion, growing at 7-8 percent. (PTI)
