Department Financial News

Read all the latest updates on Cyclone Tej at Mint's LIVE blogIn 2022, no tropical storm was formed over the Arabian Sea during the post-monsoon season, while the Bay of Bengal witnessed two tropical storms -- Sitrang and Mandous.Cyclones in the Arabian Sea have a history of uncertain tracks and timelines, according to Skymet Weather.Once the cyclones are over the central parts of the Arabian Sea, their preferred track is towards Somalia, the Gulf of Aden, Yemen, and Oman. However, on a few occasions, these cyclones take a detour and head towards the Gujarat and Pakistan coastline, Skymet said.Cyclone Tej will be followed by the Iran-named Cyclone Hamoon – whenever it may occur.

By Sharon Bernstein

Two senior Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have called on the Biden administration to tighten export controls on advanced semiconductors to China. The lawmakers, Michael McCaul and Mike Gallagher, chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Select Committee on China respectively, expressed concerns over the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) lax enforcement of existing rules. The call for action comes amid advancements by China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and Huawei Technologies.

Eyes partner Canada in urging India not to insist on a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and have expressed concern over Ottawa's withdrawal of 41 diplomats amid the dispute over the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. «We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian government's demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India,» US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Friday. In a near simultaneous statement, a spokesperson for Britain's Foreign Office said, «We do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India.» Washington has said it took Canada's allegations seriously and, along with London, urged India to cooperate with Ottawa in the murder probe even as Western powers have been reluctant to openly condemn India given their growing strategic ties with New Delhi. However, Friday's statements from the US State Department and Britain's Foreign Office have been the most direct criticism by Washington and London of New Delhi thus far in this case. «Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground.

Akasa Air flight travelling from Pune to Delhi was diverted to Mumbai for an emergency landing, after a passenger onboard claimed that there is a bomb in his luggage, the airline officials said on October 21. The incident took place in the wee hours of the day, shortly after the flight took off from Pune. However, after landing at the airport, the bomb threat was found to be a “hoax", officials added.

Shakti scheme that provides free travel for women across the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed officials to purchase 5,600 buses for the state road transport corporation. According to a statement issued by the CM's office, the Chief Minister said Rs 500 crore has been provided in the state budget for acquiring new buses, and therefore ordered that the purchase process be completed soon. There has been a 15 per cent increase in the number of passengers travelling by State Road Transport Corporation buses since the launch of the Shakti Scheme. The CM also said that additional schedules and buses should be announced to provide passengers with better services. A discussion was held in the meeting about the revenue target collection of the transport department and the financial management of the road transport corporations, it said, adding that CM was informed that Rs 83 crore fine has been collected from vehicle inspections. Under the Karnataka government's 'Shakti' scheme, women residents of the state can avail free travel in state-run buses, but 50 per cent seats are reserved for men. Along with women, transgender persons can also travel for free. The Congress in its election manifesto had promised free rides for women in non-luxury government buses and said this was one of the five poll guarantees that would come into effect the day it comes to power in the state.

Movement Against Anaemia" campaign have emphasised the need for comprehensive and multi-lateral action to curb the high prevalence of anaemia in India. The health movement campaign was jointly launched by the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Council, a health think-tank, and Aishwarya Healthcare, a pharmaceutical firm, on Friday to counter the rise in anaemia in the country and create relevant awareness on the same.

UK government has expressed its disagreement with Indian government decisions, which it believes resulted in the departure of Canadian diplomats amid an ongoing standoff between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh separatist. The move impacted the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Friday.

Biden administration in the United States has proposed changes in the H-1B visa program to streamline eligibility requirements and make it more efficient and flexible. The changes have been proposed by the US Department of Homeland Security, which stated that the changes will also lead to a reduction in cases of misuse and fraud. «The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would modernize the H-1B speciality occupation worker program by streamlining eligibility requirements, improving program efficiency, providing greater benefits and flexibilities for employers and workers, and strengthening integrity measures,» the department said in a statement. The US Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N Mayorkas said that the priority of the Biden administration is to attract global talent and reduce undue burdens on employers. «DHS continues to develop and implement regulations that increase efficiency and improve processes for employers and workers navigating the immigration system,» the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N Mayorkas said. He added, «The Biden-Harris Administration's priority is to attract global talent, reduce undue burdens on employers, and prevent fraud and abuse in the immigration system.» According to the department, the proposed changes would streamline eligibility requirements.

Chicago and the union representing its rank-and-file police officers have reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract that would provide about a 20% raise for officers, the two sides announced Friday. The deal, which would extend the current contract by two years through June 30, 2027, doubles from 2.5% to 5% the annual pay raise that officers are scheduled to receive in 2024 and 2025.

New York cops this week arrested and charged a 26-year-old for committing a hate crime against a Sikh teenager. According to reports, the man — identified as Christopher Philippeaux — attacked the victim on a New York City MTA bus.

Pakistan's ballistic missile program. A U.S. State Department statement identified the firms as General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd, and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. It said General Technology had worked to supply brazing materials used to join components in ballistic missile rocket engines and in the production of combustion chambers; Beijing Luo Luo had worked to supply mandrels and other machinery, which can be used in the production of solid-propellant rocket motors, the U.S.

Also Read: Amid Mumbai's worsening air quality, BMC warns to halt construction sites The National Capital Region, which includes Noida and Ghaziabad, is significantly affected, with AQI values of 316 and 274. Allahabad, located in Uttar Pradesh as well, ranks as the ninth most polluted city, with an AQI of 305.

Federal law that prohibits insurers from denying healthcare based on preexisting conditions, or kicking dependents off their parent’s coverage until age 26 is now codified separately into Michigan law

By Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas

India and said that it expects New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India after it threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity by Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist.

By Andrew Chung

box office, moviegoers are in for a duel of pop culture titans: iconic director Martin Scorsese and global sensation Taylor Swift. Both Scorsese and Swift are offering cinematic experiences this weekend with "Killers of the Flower Moon" and «Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,» respectively.

By Jonathan Landay and Simon Lewis

tax demands going back more than 15 years, long paid and closed, are popping up as new claims. In the past few weeks, several individuals have been slapped with notices from the Income Tax (I-T) department asking them to cough up the amounts within a week. While the department’s records show the demands as 'unpaid', tax payers who have received the notices are confident they have no such outstanding with the tax office. Some of the notices pertain to assessment years 2003-04 and 2004-05. Many are clueless how to go about handling the notices as the old payment challans and rectification orders, which can serve as proof of tax payment, have been misplaced.

Maharashtra government has decided to scrap the policy of hiring employees on contractual basis in the state government departments. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the government would scrap the previous government's policy to empanel nine agencies that would provide employees to the state government on contractual basis. «I have spoken to CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Ajit Pawar and have told them that we should scrap the move.