LIVE: Cremation of CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife to be held on Friday

CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday

1:44 AM

Dollar slips, stocks edge up as Omicron fears ease

The dollar eased and global stock markets traded slightly higher on Wednesday as investors became less concerned about the Omicron variant but looked for direction after the prior day's big rally in equities and crude oil prices.

 

Stocks closed lower across Europe while the three main U.S. indices traded near break-even as drugmakers Pfizer and BioNtech said a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine neutralised Omicron in a laboratory test.

 

The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose for a third straight day, climbing above 1.5% for the first time in a week, and gold prices were little changed as investors squared positions before Friday's release of U.S. consumer prices data.

 

1:31 AM

WHO: Omicron could spread faster but it''s still not certain

The World Health Organization says early evidence suggests the omicron variant may be spreading faster than the highly transmissible delta variant but brings with it less severe coronavirus disease - though it's too early to make firm conclusions.

 

The comments come among swirling concerns about the new variant that first emerged in southern Africa last month, prompting some countries to shut their borders and rattling stock markets fearful of the long-term impact of a possible new variant of the virus that has already infected at least 267 million people and killed more than 5.2 million.

 

Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO's chief of emergencies, told reporters Wednesday that data about the omicron variant so far is pointing to a virus that's efficiently transmitting and probably more efficiently transmitting than even the delta variant, which is by far the most widespread and deadly version.

1:11 AM

US Secretary of State Blinken & Defence Secretary Austin mourn demise of Gen Rawat

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday mourned the demise of India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.

 

My deep condolences on the deaths of Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Rawat, his wife and colleagues who perished in today's tragic accident, Blinken said.

 

We'll remember Gen. Rawat as an exceptional leader who served his country and contributed to the US-India defence relationship, he said.

 

Defence Secretary Austin said: General Rawat left an indelible mark on the course of the US-India defence partnership and was at the center of the Indian Armed Forces' transformation into a more jointly integrated warfighting organisation.

11:54 PM

Farmers' stir on Delhi borders to be 'postponed' for now

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of the farmers protesting along the borders of the national capital over agricultural issues, have agreed to the draft proposal prepared by the Central government, and is expected make a "major announcement" on Thursday.

 

Following its meeting on Wednesday, the farmers' body said that their stir has not ended but it has been postponed for now, adding they would continue pressing the government over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) issue.

 

A meeting is likely to be held on Thursday noon to decide the further strategy of the movement.

11:30 PM

Pune district achieves 100% first dose vaccination target

Pune has become the second district in Maharashtra to achieve 100 per cent administration of the first dose of anti-coronavirus vaccines after Mumbai, officials said on Wednesday.

 

As per the data shared by the district administration, the total population of Pune (district) is 1,13,53,633 and the targeted population (above 18) for the first dose was 83,42,700. However, the actual number of people who were given the doses was 83,44,544.

 

The estimation about the percentage is based on the 2019 voters list, the authorities said.

 

As far as the second dose is concerned, the district has achieved 65.7 per cent target as a total of 54,82,018 people have been administered both doses.

10:41 PM

Delhi logs 65 fresh cases, one death; positivity rate 0.11 per cent

Delhi reported 65 fresh COVID-19 cases and one more fatality due to the viral disease in a day, while the positivity rate rose marginally to 0.11 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department on Wednesday.

 

The national capital has recorded two deaths due to the coronavirus infection so far in December. Seven Covid fatalities were reported in November, four in October and five in September.

 

With the new cases, the city's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 14,41,514, including over 14.16 lakh patients who have recuperated. The death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 25,100.

 

According to the health bulletin, 50,023 tests, including 41,272 RT-PCR ones, were conducted on Monday to detect COVID-19.

10:24 PM

Mumbai airport says working with testing labs to explore lowering rapid RT-PCR test charges

Adani group-owned Mumbai airport on Wednesday said it is working with testing labs and other partners to explore the possibility of further lowering the charges for rapid RT-PCR test.

 

This comes a day after the Maharashtra government reportedly raised with the central government the issue of high charges for coronavirus testing at the airport.

 

The private airport operator had on December 4 announced reducing the rates for rapid RT-PCR test at its facility to Rs 3,900, from Rs 4,500 earlier.

 

A normal RT-PCR test costs a passenger Rs 600.

10:11 PM

CDS chopper crash: Gen Rawat's alma mater to hold prayer meeting for him

The alumni body of Shimla's St. Edward's School, the alma mater of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, on Wednesday expressed shock over his death in a helicopter crash and said the school will hold a prayer meeting to pay homage to its "bright star".

 

According to Kapil Dev Sood, president of the Old Boys Association, Rawat and his brother studied at St. Edward's School in the early 70s when their father was posted here by the Army.

 

Sood said he has spoken to the school principal and a prayer meeting will be held on the school premises in a day or two to pay homage to the "bright star".

10:01 PM

Condolences pour in from US, Russia, Pak, other countries over CDS Rawat's demise

Condolences over the demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat poured in on Wednesday from various countries, including the US, Russia and Pakistan.

 

Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other people on board an Indian Air Force helicopter died in a crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the Air Force said.

 

The US Embassy here extended its deepest condolences to the Rawat family and the families of those who perished in the tragic helicopter crash.

 

As India's first Chief of Defence Staff, General Rawat spearheaded a historic period of transformation in the Indian military, the US mission said in a statement.

9:38 PM

RBI to develop UPI for feature phones to boost digital payments

With an aim to increase the penetration of digital payments, the Reserve Bank of India has decided to develop the UPI platform for feature phones.

 

India has one of the largest mobile phone users base, with around 118 crore users. A large part of them use feature phones.

 

"In the first cohort of 'RBI Regulatory Sandbox', some innovators had successfully demonstrated their solutions for feature phone payments, under the theme of 'Retail Payments', the central bank said.

9:38 PM

Cremation of Gen Bipin Rawat and his wife to be done on Friday

9:27 PM

Total Covid vaccine doses administered in India crosses 130 crore, says health ministry

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India crossed 130 crore on Wednesday, the Union Health Ministry said.

 

Over 72 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday till 7 pm, it said.

 

The ministry stated the daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late in the night.

 

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2.

9:26 PM

Gen Bipin Rawat's outstanding service to nation will always be remembered: VP Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday condoled the demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and said his outstanding service to the nation will always be remembered.

 

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other people on board an Indian Air Force helicopter died in a crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

 

"Deeply shocked by the tragic death of Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his spouse Smt. Madhulika Rawat, senior officials of the armed forces & others in a helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu," the Vice President said in a tweet.

 

Naidu said he spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and conveyed his deep anguish.

 

"My thoughts & prayers are with the bereaved family members in this hour of grief. Known for his remarkable leadership and strategic vision, General Rawat added great strength to our defence capabilities and made a stellar contribution to strengthening our national security," the Vice President said.

 

His outstanding service to our nation will always be remembered, he said.

9:04 PM

'Nation has lost one of its bravest sons': Prez, VP, PM condole Gen Rawat's demise

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders across the political spectrum condoled the demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and hailed his contribution to the armed forces as well as the country.

 

President Kovind said it was deeply painful for him to learn of the loss of lives in the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.

 

"I join fellow citizens in paying tributes to each of those who died while performing their duty. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," he tweeted.

 

"I am shocked and anguished over the untimely demise of General Bipin Rawat and his wife, Madhulika ji. The nation has lost one of its bravest sons. His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences to his family," the president said.

8:59 PM

Rajnath to make a statement on IAF chopper crash in Parliament tomorrow