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10:19 AM

Rupee falls 35 paise against US dollar amid heavy selling in equities

The rupee declined 35 paise to 82.63 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday as heavy selling pressure in domestic equities and a strong greenback in the overseas market weighed on investor sentiments.

Besides, foreign fund outflows and rising crude oil prices in the international market impacted the domestic unit, forex traders said.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened weak at 82.54 against the dollar, then lost further ground to quote at 82.63, registering a fall of 35 paise over its previous close.

On Friday, the rupee settled 10 paise higher at 82.28 against the US dollar.

 

10:06 AM

Air quality in Delhi remains in 'very poor' category with AQI at 301

The air quality in the national capital here remained in the 'very poor' category with AQI recorded at 301 on Monday.

The areas near Delhi university saw an AQI of 314. As the mercury dropped in the national capital the smog levels increased. In the NCR region, the air quality peaked in Noida with an AQI of 351. The AQI in Gurugram was recorded at 156.

On December 7, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decided to revoke Stage III of the GRAP in the entire NCR immediately after the overall air quality in Delhi improved.

The CAQM, a Union government panel that recommends steps to control air pollution in the national capital, chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR on December 7.

9:52 AM

Modi has a clear vision that India should not go towards shortcut politics: Ashwini Vaishnaw

"PM Narendra Modi has a clear vision that the country should not go towards shortcut politics but good governance. PM has prepared a digital structure to make sure that good governance reaches every person in the country," says Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

He adds, "Former PM Rajiv Gandhi had once said that only 15 paise of every rupee meant for welfare of poor reaches them. But today, hundred per cent of the amount reaches the beneficiaries through DBT."

9:41 AM

India logs 159 new Covid cases, zero deaths in 24 hours

India reports a single-day rise of 159 Covid infections; the active case count declines by seven to 3,906. Zero deaths reported in the last 24 hours, and the nation's fatality toll from the pandemic is at 530,658.

9:22 AM

Centre to move SC, ST Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha today

Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda is to move 'The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022' in the Rajya Sabha to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 28, 2022. It was passed in the Lok Sabha in April.

The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Uttar Pradesh) Order, 1967 (ST Order) and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (SC Order) with respect to its application to Uttar Pradesh.

 

9:01 AM

EAM Jaishankar to inaugurate India Global Forum 2022 in UAE today

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will inaugurate the India Global Forum UAE 2022 that gets underway here on Monday.

It is a gala five-day event that will bring together leading political, business and cultural personalities from India, the UAE and across the world.

This is the first major international event following India's ascendency to the G20 Presidency, and will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from December 12 to 16.

India formally assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1.

 

8:29 AM

India one of the leading countries in terms of economic growth: Russian FM

"India is one of the leading countries in terms of economic growth, maybe even the leader. Its population will soon be bigger than any other country. India has vast diplomatic experience in settling various kinds of problems," says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Lavrov adds, "India is part of a range of integration structures in South Asia within SCO and it takes an active role in United Nations. India is a country that not only aspires to be but is at the essence of the forming of a multipolar world as one of its most important poles."
"India and Brazil have been promoting their applications to join UN Security Council together with Japan and Germany, which is a sign of multipolarity. We see what added value India & Brazil can bring to UNSC knowing their stances on global & regional issues," Lavrov says.

8:14 AM

Nasa's Orion capsule returns from moon, lands in Pacific Ocean off Mexico

7:58 AM

Musk threatens to sue Twitter employees for leaking company info to media

Elon Musk has reportedly threatened to sue Twitter employees who leak company information to the media, and has told them to sign a pledge indicating they've understood him clearly. An email by Musk to employees, accessed by Platformer's Zoe Schiffer, has earned them that Twitter will "immediately seek damages" if they violate their non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). "As evidenced by the many detailed leaks of confidential Twitter information, a few people at our company continue to act in a manner contrary to the company's interests and in violation of their NDA," read the email.

7:37 AM

UK trade minister in India to kickstart sixth round of FTA talks

UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch arrives in New Delhi on Monday to kickstart the sixth round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and hold bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal. The new round marks the first formal meeting between the India-UK negotiating teams since July and the first since Rishi Sunak took charge as British Prime Minister. Sunak's Trade Secretary will address both teams of senior negotiators ahead of the sixth round of formal negotiations, scheduled to take place throughout the week.

7:18 AM

BJP's Bhupendra Patel to take oath as Gujarat CM for second term

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupendra Patel will take oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second consecutive time in Gandhinagar on Monday. Patel will be administered the oath as the 18th Chief Minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat in Gandhinagar at 2 pm. The ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of BJP-led states.