Housing finance major Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC) on Tuesday announced reduction in its floating loan interest rates by 45 basis points for women and 40 basis points for others.

In a statement, the company said loans up to Rs.75 lakh for women would be charged an interest rate of 8.65 per cent for women and 8.70 per cent for others.

In case of loans over Rs.75 lakh, the interest rate will be 8.70 per cent for women and 8.75 per cent for others.

The new interest rates are applicable from January 3, 2017.

"Over the past couple of months, we have seen a drop in our marginal cost of funds, and as always, the HDFC has ensured that benefit is passed on to its customers," Renu Sud Karnad, Managing Director, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and the state Congress legislators reached Delhi on Tuesday to meet President Pranab Mukherjee over the ongoing tensions, caused due to the economic blockade by Naga groups.

The blockade started soon after creation of seven new districts in the state.

"The Chief Minister and all the Congress MLAs have reached Delhi. They have sought an appointment to meet the President tomorrow (Wednesday)," said a senior officer at Delhi's Manipur Bhawan.

The Manipur legislative assembly has 49 Congress members in the house of 60.

Informed sources told IANS: "The CM may talk against the imposition of President's Rule demanded by the United Naga Council and also about postponement of upcoming elections in the state." 

The Imphal Valley is simmering after violent protests broke out following the creation of seven new districts — Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Tengoupal, Pharzol, Kakching, Noney and Kamjongin. 

A blockade was called by Naga groups to oppose the state's decision to create Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged districts. 

The United Naga Council — the representative group of all the Nagas in Manipur — said creation of new districts would bifurcate the ancestral lands of the Nagas living in Manipur.

Although Jiribam was made a district, the same could not be done with Sadar Hills due to strong opposition from the Nagas.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said demonetisation by the Narendra Modi government has failed in curbing both the black money and corruption.

Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s real motive behind the recent demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes was to help banks waive off loans worth nearly Rs.8 lakh crore to big businessmen and industrial houses.

“It (demonetisation) didn’t end black money or corruption. It’s still going on the same way. Then why did he (Modi) do it? Banks had non-performing assets (NPAs) worth Rs.8 lakh Crore. Rs.1.44 lakh Crore of it was waived off during past two years. The Centre government is yet list of this to the Supreme Court,” he said.

“Banks were going bankrupt because of NPAs. So this has brought Rs.14 lakh Crore into the banking system. So now this money will be used to waive off loans worth Rs.8 lakh Crore,” Kejriwal added.

The AAP leader alleged as many BJP men have been caught with huge amounts of new currency notes, it’s clear that the saffron party used demonetisation to make money on commission basis. “As banned currency deposited in the banks is more than the currency that was in circulation, it’s clear that even the fake currency notes have also been deposited in banks. It’s a massive scam,” Kejriwal said.

He said that the BJP has shared the demonetisation with its party leaders as the party bought land with old currency notes days before 8 November when the move was announced.

“They (BJP) have made huge money out of it,” Kejriwal alleged. Questioning the Reserve Bank of India’s role in the demonetisation, the Delhi CM said Modi government is playing with every institution in the country.

Actor Arjun Rampal has suffered an eye injury. He finds it "disorienting", but says it's "nothing serious".

"Now I know how a one-eyed pirate sees the world. A minor eye injury. Nothing as serious as it looks. Hugely disorienting. See you soon," Arjun posted on his Instagram page.

The 44-year-old actor posted an image featuring him with a bandage on one eye, and a stubble.

The actor's last release was "Kahaani 2". He will next be seen in "Daddy," based on the life of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli.

Seeking to make an impact in the upcoming Goa Assembly election, AAP has promised creation of 50,000 jobs in the next five years through entrepreneurial development and supporting existing and new industries if it is voted to power in the coastal State.

"An AAP Government will create 50,000 jobs in five years through entrepreneurial development and supporting existing and new industries which are conducive to local youth like hospitality, infotech, food processing, farming, bio- pharmaceutical and entertainment sectors," according to the AAP Goa Youth manifesto released in run up to the polls.

The AAP has also assured that single window clearances along with tax holidays will be provided to companies looking to set up eco-friendly facilities in Goa.

"Special incentives will be offered for hiring local workforce and necessary skill building and infrastructure would be provided on a war footing." 

The Delhi-based fledgling outfit, gearing up to fight its first Assembly election in Goa, has promised to set up two start-up incubation centres with Rs.2 crore of annual funding.

"Aam Aadmi Rojgar Yojana for loans up to Rs.50 lakh with simple application process would be introduced for self employment," the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has said.

The party has promised high quality education and infrastructure in Government schools, state-wide reading campaigns and teacher outstation training programmes.

"Estate managers would be hired to maintain school premises. Teachers will be freed from non-academic activities such as surveys, election duties and others." 

The outfit has promised to set up Goa's first universities for sports, agriculture and skills development.

Legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday backed former national team captain Saurav Ganguly to take over as interim president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI is currently undergoing an administrative crisis following the sacking of President Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke by the Supreme Court.

Both Thakur and Shirke were on Monday removed from their posts for their failure to implement the Justice R.M. Lodha committee's recommendations in running the board.

Following the duo's ouster, various names have cropped up to take over the reigns of the national cricket board.

Since the sacking of the duo, many names including that of Ganguly — the current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President — have been doing the rounds to succeed Thakur on an interim basis.

Ganguly also fits the bill as the Lodha Committee, in its initial recommendations, had stressed that former players should administer the BCCI.

"BCCI has got very good bench strength to take up the bigger roles and one name that comes to my mind is Sourav Ganguly," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by a news channel.

"Remember, in 1999-2000 when Indian cricket was gripped by the match-fixing saga, Ganguly was given the Indian team captaincy and he turned it around," the diminutive former opener added.

A bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud in their order said that as an interim arrangement, the senior most Vice President of the BCCI would act as the President and the Joint Secretary would be the Secretary.

Ganguly, however is not a vice-president and would even complete a three-year tenure in office in CAB and hence could be ineligible for the post. 

An Indian chief executive of a forex trading company in Dubai who promised to double investors' money was arrested for suspected fraud, authorities said.

Sydney Lemos, 36, from Goa was the owner of Exential, a forex trading company here and was behind the failed Dh50 million ($13.6 million) foreign exchange scheme, the National daily reported.

His company was closed by the Department for Economic Development in July last year. 

The daily said his clients lost money after his firm failed to pay out after promising 100 per cent returns on a Dh91,800 ($25,000) investment.

Legal experts issued new warnings to potential investors after Lemos circulated an email encouraging new investment in an "advisory service", trading under the Exential banner.

Lemos was arrested on December 21, said a spokesman for Carlton Huxley, British fraud investigation specialists who were working with a law firm to recover funds.

"We are working with various authorities both inside and outside Dubai, and looking at the alleged laundering of more than Dh50 million by one individual," the daily quoted a Carlton Huxley spokesman as saying.

Exential has earlier claimed that delays in processing investors' funds were due to anti-money laundering and compliance investigations in Australia, according to the report.

John Rynne, a Carlton Huxley director and former senior officer with the Metropolitan Police in London, warned people about investing in schemes they know little about.
 

Hoping to see light at the end of the tunnel, Aditi Chauhan, the torchbearer of Indian women football, has called for "greater participation of private sector" and felt a cultural shift is taking place for better as far as the game is concerned.

In 2015, the 24-year-old Aditi became the first Indian female footballer to play for a professional club in the United Kingdom, but had to return to India in January after her student visa expired.

She made a stellar comeback when Loubourough University, where she was studying, gave her a part-time job, which offered her a chance to continue representing West Ham Ladies.

Right now, the goalkeeper is in Siliguri guarding the Indian team post in SAFF Championships.

"The AIFF (All India Football Federation) has put in a lot of effort towards developing women's football and it will be even better if the private sector also contribute a bit more," Aditi told PTI.

With the introduction of women's I-League, Aditi felt the game is headed in the right direction here.

She feels the recent spurt in activities around women's football is due to India's prolonged dominance in the South Asian region.

"Over the years (women) football in India has grown, especially the SAFF tournament, which we have always won. Our dominance in South Asia shows that there is huge potential. Hopefully, we will keep getting better and play at the top level in Asia soon. Women's I-League is a step in the right direction," she said.

Asked how different is the setup in England from India, she said, "The standard is quite high there and the most important think is that the setup is very clear and structured. Lot of leagues are taking place and available for everyone – either as hobby or professionally throughout the year. That sort of culture is coming to India.

"We (women football) don't have a very long history in India. But a lot of things have changed for better, lot more girls have started playing the game, lot more opportunities are there now. That's a major boost for us," Aditi said.

"Doing well in South Asia… that's always been there, there has to be a constant growth and I hope we will win the AFC qualifiers and keep the momentum."

The South Asian Games gold medallist team has already entered the final of ongoing SAFF Championships, and is gunning to retain the title.

A charge sheet has been filed by CBI against social activist Teesta Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand and a company run by them for alleged violation of foreign funding rules.

The charge sheet, which has listed the firm Sabrang Communications and Publishing Private Limited and a man named Sushma Raman, was filed on Saturday in a court in Mumbai, CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said.

The probe agency had in July 2015 registered a case against Setalvad, who was at the forefront of campaign for 2002 Gujarat riot victims, and others for alleged violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in receiving funds from abroad without taking prior permission from the Home Ministry.

The charge sheet has been filed under Section 120 B of Indian Penal Code (criminal conspiracy) along with FCRA 2010 and FCRA 1976, the spokesperson said.

Back in action after recovering from a knee injury, star shuttler Saina Nehwal says she needs good match practice to be at her best in the prstigious All England Championship in March.

"I am happy with my improvement. My movements are still sluggish. I still need good match practice," she told reporters here late on Monday after losing to top-ranked shuttler Carolina Marin in a Premier Badminton League (PBL) match.

Saina had sustained an intra-articular injury (inside the joint) in her right knee and had lost in the group stage in the Rio Olympics. She later underwent a surgery and was on rehab.

She made a comeback in the China Open, but lost in the opening round in a grueling contest. Subsequently, she took part in the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament, where she lost in the quarterfinals.

Saina, who lost to Marin 14-15, 5-11 in the women's singles match between Awadhe Warriors and Hyderabad Hunters, said she could have won the first game.

"I gave her a tough fight. I could have won the first game. The Gachibowli stadium (venue of the match) is fast. I could not control the shuttle. She (Marin) already played here (the previous day). She was used to the conditions," said the 26-year-old Saina, who is playing for Awadhe Warriors in the ongoing PBL.

Marin was quick and sharp on the court in the match, she said, adding that her court movement still needed improvement.

Saina, who is currently ranked 10th in BWF world rankings, hinted that she could next play in the Malaysia Open at the end of this month.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday approved a Pradesh Election Committee for Uttar Pradesh, with state party chief Raj Babbar as its Chairman and Nirmal Khatri as Co-Chairman.

The party's 36-member Pradesh Election Committee also has chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit, Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Mathur, state leaders Sanjay Singh, Pramod Tiwari, Salman Khursheed, P.L. Punia and Sriprakash Jaiswal as its members.

"Congress President Sonia Gandhi has approved the Pradesh Election Committee for Uttar Pradesh," said a statement released by party's General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to elect a new assembly early this year. 

A wheelchair-bound Algerian "militant" with alleged links to Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden on Tuesday won a 21-year legal battle to stay in Britain, the media reported.

A judge ruled that the threat of deportation had been bad for the mental health of the man, known only as 'G', The Telegraph said.

The government had repeatedly tried to expel ‘G', accusing him of helping to send young British Muslims abroad to train as jihadists.

The man had lost two previous appeals against deportation but human rights laws prevented his deportation to Algeria.

However, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission has now found that the man no longer poses a risk to national security in Britain.

The ruling was another blow for Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who lost a series of court cases involving the deportation of suspected terrorists last year.

A Home Office spokesperson told the Telegraph that the government was now considering other options.

A wheelchair-bound Algerian "militant" with alleged links to Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden on Tuesday won a 21-year legal battle to stay in Britain, the media reported.

A judge ruled that the threat of deportation had been bad for the mental health of the man, known only as 'G', The Telegraph said.

The government had repeatedly tried to expel ‘G', accusing him of helping to send young British Muslims abroad to train as jihadists.

The man had lost two previous appeals against deportation but human rights laws prevented his deportation to Algeria.

However, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission has now found that the man no longer poses a risk to national security in Britain.

The ruling was another blow for Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who lost a series of court cases involving the deportation of suspected terrorists last year.

A Home Office spokesperson told the Telegraph that the government was now considering other options.

Stung by the arrest of TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using CBI, ED and Income Tax department against those who raised voice against demonetisation and dared him to arrest her and all TMC MPs.

She asserted that their protest against note ban would continue.

"I just can't think that Sudip Bandopadhyay, who is our party's leader in the Lok Sabha will be arrested. I also have information that Modi wants to arrest many other TMC leaders like Abhishek Banerjee, Sovan Chatterjee (city mayor) and Firhad Hakim (minister)," she told reporters immediately after Sudip's arrest by the CBI in connection with the alleged Rose Valley chit fund scam.

"I am shocked, but not scared. Let him arrest all of us.

I openly challenge him to arrest me. Let me see his guts. He may silence others, but not me. He can't suppress our voice.

He can't bulldoze people's voice," she said.

"We will fight legal battle in every case," she said.

Earlier, at a meeting in Medinipur she charged Modi with using CBI, ED and IT against persons who protested against demonetisation.

The TMC supremo also convened an emergency meeting on Sudip's arrest to chalk out the party's action plan.

TMC would launch dharnas to protest against Sudip's arrest from on Wednesday, she said, adding "politics cannot be done by resorting to vendetta".

She alleged that Bandopadhyay was arrested due to "pressure from the PMO" and asked "why should Narendra Modi and Amit Shah not be arrested?

"The party is behind Sudip. He has not done anything wrong. Even if he is in jail, the people of Bengal will keep him in their heart," she said.

The TMC chief also said that it was the duty of the Centre, the Sebi and the RBI to keep a check on ponzi schemes in which they have "failed completely".

"I challenge Modi directly. You cannot do anything because Trinamool Congress is right and you are wrong. You cannot suppress the voice of the people. you have to withdraw restrictions (on withdrawal of cash)… Modi has no clue where this political vidictiveness will take him. We are not scared and will continue our demonstration against demonetisation," she said.

As many as 18 government colleges of Himachal Pradesh were on Tuesday connected with Wi-Fi facility in first phase.

Launching the Wi-Fi facility, Virbhadra Singh said the Wi-Fi facility would be launched in as many as 30 government colleges of the state to make college campus digital.

“Eighteen government colleges were connected with Wi-Fi facility and in the next phase 12 more colleges would be connected,” he said.

The Chief Minster said that Himachal has become one of the first states in the country to connect its district headquarters with high speed Wi-Fi facilities provided. He said development was incomplete if it did not touch the educational institutions, which he hoped, would provide more learning facilities to the students besides helping them in research and reference works. He urged the students to use the facility wisely and for the learning purpose only.

“Himachal is committed to transform the digital landscape and so to create world-class digital infrastructure in all its schools and colleges in times to come,” Singh said, adding empowering the students with the new technology and infrastructure would help in developed Nation as well.

The colleges connected with internet facility in first phase are Government College, Solan, Hamirpur, Sujanpur, Nalagarh, Rampur Bushahr, Government Degree College, Sanjauli, Theog, Shahpur, Nagrota Bagwaan, Palampur, Ghumarwin, Chaura Maidan (Kotshera), Nahan, MLSM College, Sundernagar and Haripur besides, Shivalik Nursing Institute, Kamlanagar and RKMV, Shimla.

The CBI on Tuesday arrested Trinamool Congress parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay in connection with the alleged Rose Valley chit fund scam, the second of a party MP within a week.

Bandopadhyay, who arrived at the CBI office here at around 11 am, was subjected to more than four hours of intensive interrogation by CBI, after which he was arrested.

The TMC MP had been summoned thrice earlier by the investigation agency.

His arrest in the alleged Rose Valley scam came close on the heels of the arrest of another Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal on Friday. Paul, an actor-turned politician, is now in the CBI custody in Bhubaneshwar.

On reaching the CBI office on Tuesday, Bandopadhyay told waiting reporters that he had come to face interrogation and know what the charges were against him.

Mithali Raj will lead a 14-member Indian squad to the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Colombo from February 3-21.

The Indian team last played in the Asia Cup T20 in Bangkok where it defended its title with an unbeaten run.

Their two main players, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, are currently playing the Big Bash in Australia.

India's next big event will be the World Cup qualifier.

They are in Group A alongside Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Thailand while South Africa lead Group B comprising Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland and PNG.

India will play a warm-up match against South Africa before their opening Qualifier against Sri Lanka on February 7.

Each side will play four matches in the first round, following which the top three sides from each group will progress to the Super Six stage, while also carrying forward points they earn against sides which have progressed to the Super Six stage from their group.

The top four sides from the Super Six stage, in which each side will play three matches against teams from the other group, will complete the eight-team line-up for the ICC Women's World Cup 2017, while the top two sides will battle it out for the title in the February 21 final.

The World Cup will be staged in the UK from June 26 to July 23.

Team: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Thirush Kamini, Veda Krishnamurthy, Devika Vaidya, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Sukanya Parida, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Deepti Sharma.