Breaking news March 20 | As it happened

Markets regulator SEBI on Friday announced measures to control the high volatility which has plagued the country's stock markets.

he CBI booked four former officials of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and 25 companies, including Adani Power Limited, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, ACC and Vedanta, for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 97 crore to the public sector undertaking in the supply of coal from it and carried out searches at 10 locations on Friday, officials said.

Rain accompanied by strong winds and hail hit Kallam tehsil of Osmanabad in Maharashtra on Friday, damaging grape and mango plantations, and rabi crops like jowar, wheat and gram, officials said.

The telecom department on Friday met telcos and associations to discuss critical issues around business continuity of communication networks, as industry sought the government's intervention for allowing movement of essential field staff and sought other waivers to keep services up-and-running amid the coronavirus outbreak.

A racket involving sending people from Gujarat to United Kingdom on fake passports was busted by Mumbai Crime Branch after a couple was detained at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on February 26, said an official on Friday.

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday announced it would undertake additional purchase of government securities worth Rs 30,000 crore through open market operations (OMO) in a bid to increase liquidity and enhance confidence in the financial markets that remain under stress over COVID-19 related dislocations.

Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma on Friday presented a Rs 19,891 crore tax-free Budget for 2020-21, containing several new plans including setting up a NITI Aayog-type state body, new schemes for farmers, children and students besides for rural areas.

Justice Bhushan P Dharmadhikari was on Friday sworn in as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

A majority of Rajya Sabha members on Friday supported a resolution for bringing out an employment guarantee law namely Shaheed Bhagat Singh National Employment Guarantee Act to deal with joblessness among educated youth.

Six people were killed and four injured in a fire at a private fireworks factory in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district, police said on Friday.
 

Seven persons were arrested from near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district with over 21 kg gold, officials said on Friday.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday accorded sanction to establishment of four fast track special courts (FTSCs) for effective implementation of the Criminal Law Amendment Act by ensuring targeted disposal of pending rape and POCSO cases.

Moments after the Kamal Nath government fell in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, a senior BJP leader said Independent MLAs as well those from BSP and SP had shifted their support to the saffron party.

The Delhi government has taken a slew of steps to ensure women's safety, including installation of CCTV cameras, street lights to light up dark spots and deployment of marshals in buses, after the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape-and-murder case.

Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed underwent angioplasty at a hospital in Lahore after he complained of chest pain, officials said on Friday.

Industry body COAI on Friday said the government is well aware of the implications of leaving the stressed telecom sector without a relief package, as it urged policymakers to use "tools" available to find appropriate solutions expeditiously.

International Data Corporation (IDC) on Friday said it has appointed Vasant Rao as Managing Director for India and South Asia with effect from March 18, 2020.

The Reserve Bank of India today appointed R Gandhi (former Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India) and Ananth Narayan Gopalakrishnan (Associate Professor, S P Jain Institute of Management&Research) as Additional Directors on board of Yes Bank with effect from March 26 for a period of 2 years.

Gold prices on Friday jumped Rs 1,395 to Rs 41,705 per 10 gram in the national capital following rally in the international prices of the precious metal, according to HDFC Securities.

Two persons were killed and one injured when lightning struck them in Chhattisgarh's Surajpur district, police said on Friday.

Markets regulator Sebi has barred Trinity Tradelink Ltd, its senior officials and promoters from accessing securities market for three years for allotting equity shares in violation of public issue norms.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) on Friday said its new study shows that concrete made from clay fly ash, and limestone hold promise as replacements for cement.

A bill which seeks to confer the status of Institution of National Importance (INI) to five Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) was introduced in Lok Sabha on Friday.

A-24-year-old daughter of rebel Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh Suresh Dhakad allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling at her matrimonial house in Rajasthan's Baran district, a senior police officer said on Friday.

Sensex recovers by 1915.80 points, currently at 30,204.03. Nifty at 8,831.05, up by 567.60 points.

Delhi High Court refuses to entertain stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's petition challenging the flying ban imposed on him by IndiGo, Vistara and other airlines observing that "his behaviour of heckling in-flight cannot be allowed."

Shimla: The Firozpur railway division has cancelled 14 trains in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra Valley after the state government banned entry of all tourists to the state over the coronavirus pandemic, a railways spokesperson said.

However, the Ambala railway division is running its trains on Kalka-Shimla and Sirhind-Daulatpur Chowk routes on Friday as usual, Ambala senior DCM Hari Mohan said.

Shimla station superintendent Prince Sethi told PTI that the Ambala division is running its trains so that the tourists stuck in Himachal Pradesh may reach their respective destination and the state's residents of may reach their native places.

(PTI)

MP Assembly Speaker said: "I had accepted 16 resignations last night. Now I have also accepted resignation of Sharad Kol (BJP MLA). He had earlier said that he was forcefully made to resign but after looking at his documents&that he didn't meet me personally, it didn't seem like that."

Congress MLAs arrive at the residence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, ahead of floor test in the Assembly today.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over to discuss the "increase in prices of essential commodities."

PC Sharma said: "This time they (BJP) didn't do horse trading, they indulged in elephant trading. We'll prove the majority. We have 'Formula 5' with us. Revelations will be done at 12 PM (at MP CM's press conference). It'll be revealed how 16 MLAs were held captive."

"It will be revealed how Pohari MLA Suresh Dhakad's daughter has committed suicide in Shivpuri. It will be revealed how Kurwai MLA was not allowed to go even when his nephew died. This is the heights of hunger for power," he added. 

Digvijaya Singh, Congress when asked if Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath is resigning said: "Chief Minister is holding a press conference, wait for it."

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Alok Kumar moves Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order for registration of FIR against him for allegedly inciting violence against members of the minority community.Trial court order came on a complaint filed by social activist Harsh Mander

Congress legislative party meeting to be held today at the residence of Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath at 11 AM. Floor test will be held at the state assembly today, as per Supreme Court's order.

Sensex at 28,499.92, up by 211.69 points; Nifty at 8,372.20, up by 108.75 points.

NCP MP Vandana Chavan has given short duration discussion notice in Rajya Sabha over the issue of child pornography.

BJP MP Sushil Kumar Singh has given Zero hour Notice in Lok Sabha over "shortage of essential commodities in the market and illegal hoarding by shopkeepers due to Coronavirus."

Amita Upreti, Director General of Uttarakhand Health Department said: "Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy has been put under lock-down after two India Forest Service (IFS) trainees were found COVID19 positive."

Los Angeles mayor orders residents to stay home amid COVID-19 crisis.

According to the official statement of White House, Donald Trump replaces G7 Camp David summit with video conference.

Amid the exponentially rising cases of coronavirus, Argentina orders mandatory self-quarantine until March 31. 

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said: "Respecting the appeal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 'janta curfew', we have decided to postpone the Zila Panchayat elections from 22nd March to 24th March."

Madhya Pradesh Assembly publishes the list of businesses for today (March 20). Floor test, as per the Supreme Court's order has been mentioned.

A Pakistani doctor, who had "expressed his desire to go to Syria" to fight for dreaded terrorist organisation ISIS and conduct lone wolf terror attacks in the US was arrested on Thursday, according to Department of Justice.

Dr. Muhammad Masood, 28, was arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) when he was to board a flight to Los Angeles where he was going to meet a person who could possibly help him travel via cargo ship to ISIS territory in Syria, the Department said.