Breaking News December 8 | Highlights

IT services major Wipro will give wage hikes to junior employees with effect from January 1, 2021.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and HCL Enterprise CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra have been named among the world's 100 most powerful women by Forbes, a list topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the 10th year in a row.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Tuesday said it has expanded its membership programme to all existing customers in the country. Launched in August this year, the Hyundai Mobility Membership initiative until now covered only new car buyers.

"Over one lakh customers have registered on the Hyundai Mobility Membership App since its launch in August 2020, and with the phase two of the initiative, we aim to elevate every customer's retail experience," HMIL MD and CEO SS Kim said in a statement.

In August, the company tied up with 21 brands across lifestyle, travel, education, car accessories, among others.

In the second phase, the automaker said it has added new partners like Biotique, Croma, Cure Fit, Ferns n Petals, Manipal Hospitals, Mylescars, The Man Company, VLCC and Yatra.

Union Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow morning.

The RBI on Tuesday said it has cancelled the licence of The Karad Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd, Karad, Maharashtra, as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.

More than 99 per cent of the depositors of the bank will get full payment of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), the Reserve Bank said in a statement.

The winners in the Bihar Assembly elections bagged an average 25.23 per cent of the total registered votes, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The elections for 243 constituencies took place in three phases on October 28 (for 71 seats), November 3 (for 94 seats) and November 7 (for 78 seats). The National Democratic Alliance won the elections after securing majority.

Private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank on Tuesday said it will be giving a 'fitness allowance' to its employees for their health and wellness. The employees will have to share their health and fitness goals with the bank to get the monthly fitness allowance, it said in a statement.

The bank has also classified employees' roles as full-time or partially remote working ones, and will be giving a 'remote working allowance' as per their role's classification, it said.

Justice Rajesh Bindal appointed as the Chief Justice of High Court for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday said the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has recognized NavIC as a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS).

This recognition was awarded in the 102nd meeting of Maritime Safety Committee of IMO (MSC-102) held in November.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on Tuesday vowed to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment flows and energy security, and decided to create a special task-force to further facilitate investments by the Gulf country into India.

In a telephonic conversation, Modi conveyed his felicitations to the Qatar Amir for the forthcoming National Day of Qatar, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

While thanking Prime Minister Modi for the greetings, the Amir appreciated the enthusiasm with which the Indian community in Qatar participates in the National Day celebrations.

He also conveyed warm greetings to Modi for the recent Diwali festival.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday appointed Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as the Kingdom's new Prime Minister, state media reported. The emir also assigned him to form a government and provide a list of names for approval, Xinhua news agency quoted the state media report as saying.

During a meeting with the emir at Bayan Palace, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah expressed gratitude for the appointment, reiterating commitment to the constitution and laws to serve the best interests of the country and citizens.

On Sunday, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah submitted the resignation of his government to emir after the parliamentary elections in accordance with the Kuwaiti constitution.

The previous day, Kuwait held parliamentary elections with 326 candidates running for 50 seats.

The rupee surged by 30 paise to settle at 73.60 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, buoyed by foreign fund inflows and heavy buying in domestic equities.

At the interbank forex market, the domestic unit opened at 73.83 against the US dollar and witnessed an intra-day high of 73.59 and a low of 73.83.

The local unit finally closed at 73.60 against the American currency, registering a rise of 30 paise over its previous close.

Nepal on Tuesday announced newly-measured height of Mount Everest at 8848.86 meters

Reliance Jio has plans to launch 5G services in the second half of 2021, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Tuesday. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, Ambani said policy steps are needed to accelerate an early rollout of 5G, and to make it affordable and available everywhere."I assure you that Jio will pioneer the 5G Revolution in India in the second half of 2021. It will be powered by indigenous-developed network, hardware and technology components. Jio's 5G service will be a testimony to your inspiring vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," Ambani said. READ MORE 

In view of the call for 'Bharat Bandh' today given by various farmers' organizations protesting the Central agricultural laws, Haryana Police and Delhi Police have issued separate travel advisory stating that people may face traffic blockages on various roads and highways of the state. READ MORE 

India's COVID-19 caseload crossed the 97,000,00-mark on Tuesday, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 91,78,946, pushing the national recovery rate to 94.59 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data. READ MORE

The first phase of Kerala local body polls began today. The elections are being held in 6,910 wards in 395 local bodies in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki districts. According to the state election commission there are 88,26,873 voters in the first phase, including 41,58,395 males, 46,68,267 females and 61 transgender people. READ MORE