Covid LIVE: Maharashtra sees 46,393 new cases; Delhi reports 45 more deaths

Till date, a total of 2,759 patients infected with Omicron Variant have been reported in Maharashtra; out of these 416 cases were reported today.

7:52 AM

Assembly elections 2022: EC to decide today whether ban on physical rallies should continue

The Election Commission would meet today to decide whether the ban imposed by it on physical rallies and roadshows to prevent the spread of coronavirus should continue.

 

Announcing dates for elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur on January 8, the poll panel had announced a ban on physical rallies, road and bike shows, and similar campaigning events till January 15.

7:32 AM

Coronavirus in India: Maharashtra reports 48,270 new cases

48,270 new coronavirus cases were reported in Maharashtra today, the highest so far during the Omicron variant-driven third wave. Besides, 52 ovid-19 deaths were also reported in the state today. Yesterday, the state had reported 46,197 cases and 37 deaths. Moreover, 144 patients with Omicron variant have also been reported in the state today. The Omicron count in Maharashtra now stands at 2,343.

7:28 AM

Energy major Shell sheds 'Royal Dutch' from name

Energy giant Shell has dropped from its name the 'Royal Dutch' part, which it had carried for 130 years, following plans of a major overhaul announced recently.

It is anticipated that Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange will reflect the change in name on January 25. New York Stock Exchange will show the changed name on January 31.

According to a statement on Friday, the board's decision to change its name to Shell plc on December 20, 2021, has now taken effect.

7:27 AM

PM Modi to interact with DMs of various districts today at 11 am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with District Magistrates (DMs) of various districts today at 11 am, via video conferencing, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

According to a PMO press release, the Prime Minister will take direct feedback about the progress and present the status of the implementation of government schemes and programmes in the districts.

The interaction will help review the performance and ascertain the challenges that are being faced, added the PMO's statement.

7:26 AM

UN chief calls for action to put out '5-alarm global fire'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday raised five alarms for the world for 2022 and urged countries to forge a new, more hopeful and equal path at a time when "the only certainty is more uncertainty".

"We face a five-alarm global fire that requires the full mobilization of all countries," he said, referring to the raging COVID-19 pandemic, a morally bankrupt global financial system, the climate crisis, lawlessness in cyberspace, and diminished peace and security.

He stressed that countries "must go into emergency mode", and now is the time to act as the response will determine global outcomes for decades ahead, UN News reported.

7:26 AM

J-K reports 5,720 new COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths

Jammu and Kashmir reported 5,720 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths on Friday.

According to the health bulletin, there are 34,882 active cases in the Union Territory and 1,877 recovered cases.

82,903 COVID-19 samples were collected on Friday.

7:25 AM

Coronavirus in India: Kerala reports 54 more cases of Omicron variant

Kerala on Friday reported 54 more Omicron, a variant of coronavirus, and took the total affected by the variant to 761, said the State Health Department.

 

Of the 54, one, belonging to Karnataka, came to Kerala from the UAE.

7:09 AM

Karnataka registers over 48,000 new Covid-19 cases

Karnataka on Friday registered 48,049 new Covid-19 infections along with 22 deaths and 18,115 recoveries.