Breaking News, December 30

West Bengal Govt decides to suspend all flights coming from UK to Kolkata airport from January 3

CISF apprehended a passenger carrying a high volume of foreign currency worth approximately Rs 43 lakhs at IGI Airport, New Delhi. The passenger was handed over to customs: CISF

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the last date for periodic KYC update till March 31, amid Omicron uncertainties and has advised banks and other regulated entities not to take restrictive action against customers till the fiscal end. 

"In view of the prevalent uncertainty due to new variant of COVID-19, the relaxation provided in the ... circular (relating to Periodic Updation of KYC – Restrictions on Account Operations for Non-compliance issued in May) is hereby extended till March 31, 2022," the RBI said on Thursday.

Earlier in May, the RBI had extended the last date for updation of KYC by regulated entities till December-end because of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

In order to ease overcrowding on December 31 on New Year's Eve, people would not be allowed to exit from Rajiv Chowk Metro station from 9 pm onwards, stated a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Thursday. However, the entry of passengers will be allowed till the departure of the last train from the station. The Metro Department has requested the commuters to plan their journey accordingly so that they don't have to face trouble due to changes in schedule. 

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel during the pre-budget meet on Thursday demanded the continuation of GST compensation grant for the next five years and reimbursement of Rs 15,000 crore expenditure on the Central Security Forces deployed in Maoists eradication.

Two children were injured in an explosion at a garbage vat in Salt Lake's Nayapatti area on Thursday morning, police said. The children were playing near the vat, kept aside a ground, when the low-intensity blast happened around 11.30 am, they said.

The injured children were admitted to the Bidhannagar Sub-divisional Hospital. Their conditions are stated to be stable, a police officer said. Forensic experts visited the spot and collected samples to ascertain the cause of the blast, he said. The explosion rocked the area, triggering panic among residents of the nearby slum.

An earthquake of 4.1 magnitude struck Pithoragarh district post-midnight on Thursday but no damage has been reported. The earthquake that occurred at 12.39 am had its epicentre at a depth of 10 km in Askot, District Disaster Management Officer Bhupendra Mahar said. "No damage has been reported so far as the earthquake was of mild intensity," Mahar said.