LIVE: Govt is alert, taking proactive action, says PM at Covid review meet

Centre on Thursday in an advisory cautioned states to observe all precautions and don't let the guard down in view of the rise in Omicron variant cases

7:36 AM

Africa's COVID-19 cases exceed 9.25 million

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 9,259,813 as of Wednesday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

 

The specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU) said the death toll across the continent stood at 226,536 and 8,405,631 patients had recovered from the disease.South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Ethiopia are among the countries with the most cases on the continent, said the Africa CDC.

 

According to the latest figures from the Africa CDC, the African continent represented 3.3 percent of all COVID-19 cases reported globally, as well as 4.3 percent of all COVID-19 related deaths globally.

7:35 AM

Indian companies looking towards Nepali market as economy recovers

Indian companies are looking towards the Nepali market to expand their business as the post-COVID scenario continues to improve the economic conditions and increase developmental activities in the Himalayan Nation.

 

The Enterprize India Exhibition which is being held at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall, Kathmandu from December 21 has mainly focused on expanding the market and improving the bilateral relations between the two nations.

7:34 AM

Guj govt postpones class 9 to 12 exams by a fortnight

The Gujarat government on Wednesday has postponed the prelims exam of class 9 to 12, board exams of class 10 and 12, practical exam and annual exam of class 9 and 11 to take place in the academic year 2021-22 for the students of the schools approved by Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB).

 

These exams have been postponed by a fortnight.

 

The state government stated that the decision was taken to provide adequate time for the completion of the syllabus and to give more time for the preparation of the board exams to the students of class 10 and 12.

7:34 AM

UK to offer COVID-19 Pfizer shots to at-risk children aged 5-11

The UK Health Security Agency allowed on Wednesday the use of smaller doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines in children aged 5 to 11 who are at a higher risk from COVID-19.

 

"Children aged 5 to 11, who are in a clinical risk group or who are a household contact of someone (of any age) who is immunosuppressed, should be offered a primary course of vaccination," it said.

7:34 AM

Tiananmen massacre statue barricaded at Hong Kong university

A monument at a Hong Kong university that commemorated the 1989 Tiananmen massacre was boarded up by workers late Wednesday, prompting fears over the future of the monument as the city's authorities crack down on dissent.

 

The 26-foot (7.92-meter) tall Pillar of Shame, which depicts 50 torn and twisted bodies piled on top of each other, was created by Danish sculptor Jens Galschit to symbolise those that lost their lives during the bloody military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

7:33 AM

276 police cases against protesters during farmers' stir, most will be dropped: Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said 276 cases were registered against protesters in the state during the year-long stir against the farm laws and the process to drop these, barring those of serious offences, is underway.

 

Replying to an issue regarding withdrawal of cases against farmers in the state during their stir against the legislations that have now been repealed, Khattar said in the State Assembly that as per police records, 276 cases have been registered during the agitation.