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11:04 AM

Odisha govt to set up facility to provide affordable accommodation to devotees: Official

The Odisha government was in the process of establishing a huge facility for providing affordable accommodation to pilgrims visiting Shree Jagannath Temple here, a senior official said. This was stated by Odisha's Works secretary-cum- chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Krishan Kumar on Saturday after a high level official delegation visited the holy town to review the ambitious Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) programme.

10:39 AM

US warship sails through Taiwan Strait

The USS Mustin, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer on Saturday sailed through the Taiwan Strait to thwart Chinese expansionist designs in the region. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on December 19 (local time) in accordance with international law, said a release of Commander, US 7th Fleet. "The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows," added the official release.

 

10:28 AM

Cold wave sweeps Delhi, minimum temp dips to 3.4 deg C

A cold wave swept Delhi on Sunday as it recorded the coldest morning of the season so far at 3.4 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. On Saturday, the minimum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, had settled at 3.9 degrees Celsius. "The observatory recorded a minimum of 3.4 degrees Celsius, five notches below the normal, on Sunday morning. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 22 degrees Celsius," an IMD official said. The mercury dipped to 3.3 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, as icy winds from snow-laden Western Himalayas barrelled through the city, the IMD said.

10:03 AM

In Pics | PM Modi's visit to Gurudwara amid Punjab farm protests

9:53 AM

PM Modi visit Gurudwara as Punjab Haryana farmers intensify protests

9:48 AM

Emmanuel Macron's condition 'stable' after testing Covid-19 positive

Emmanuel Macron's condition is stable, the French presidency said on Saturday, two days after the president tested positive for COVID-19. "The medical condition of the president is stable... He presents similar COVID-19 symptoms which do not prevent him from fulfilling his obligations," said the Elysee in a statement. Macron started working in self-isolation from an official residence outside Paris on Thursday after the diagnosis established by "RT-PCR tests carried out as soon as the first symptoms appear," said his office.

9:43 AM

Wounds opened up, Australia can now clean sweep India: Ricky Ponting

 Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting reckons that the hosts now have a very good chance of defeating India 4-0 in the four-match series now after the visitors suffered an eight-wicket drubbing in the first Test. India stumbled to an eight-wicket loss in the first Test of the four-match series. On the third day of the first Test, India was bundled out for 36 in the second innings and Australia was given a mediocre target of 90 runs to go 1-0 ahead. Australia chased down the total comfortably inside 21 overs with eight wickets in hand.

9:32 AM

Cold weather conditions prevail in parts of UP

9:22 AM

Nepal to issue licenses for mountaineering guides for 1st time

In a first, the Nepal government has decided to issue licenses for mountaineering guides to climb the Himalayan mountains. To date, based on the recommendation of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, an institution comprising several stakeholders in the mountaineering sector, the government had allowed the guides to travel with the mountaineers, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

9:09 AM

Farmer agitation enters Day 25

9:02 AM

IndiGo looks to achieve pre-Covid traffic level in first few months of 2021

Roll-out of anti-Covid vaccine along with rise in new travel trends like 'Workation' and growth in regional routes are expected to accelerate existing passenger traffic to pre-pandemic levels within a few months, contended airline major IndiGo. Accordingly, the airline is gearing-up for the expected demand and plans to repeal the 'Leave Without Pay' norm across all departments from January 1, 2021.

8:44 AM

Iraq devalues dinar as oil prices squeeze revenues

Iraq's central bank increased the sale price of U.S. dollars to banks and currency exchanges to 1,460 dinars, from 1,182 dinars, seeking to compensate for a decline in oil revenue due to low crude prices, the bank said on Saturday. The central bank of Iraq said the key reason behind the dinar's devaluation was to close the gap of widened 2021 budget inflation after a collapse in global oil prices, a major source of Iraq's financial resources. "The financial crisis which Iraq suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic caused a decline in oil prices that caused decreasing oil revenues, altogether have caused a large deficit in the federal budget," the central bank said in a statement.

 

8:27 AM

Mexico's leader speaks with US president-elect by phone

Mexican President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador said he spoke with US President-elect Joe Biden by phone Saturday, five days after he sent a tardy and somewhat chilly letter of congratulations to Biden. "We reaffirmed our commitment to work together for the good of our peoples and our countries," Lpez Obrador wrote in his social media accounts. Lpez Obrador and Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, finally congratulated Biden only after the Electoral College vote confirmed his victory.

8:13 AM

AP sources: Trump floats Sidney Powell as special counsel

President Donald Trump floated naming lawyer Sidney Powell, who was booted from his campaign's legal team after pushing unfounded conspiracy theories, as a special counsel investigating allegations of voter fraud. During a Friday meeting at the White House, Trump went as far as discussing getting Powell security clearance, according to two people familiar with the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. It is unclear whether Trump intends to move forward with the effort. Under federal law, the US attorney general, not the president, is responsible for appointing special counsels. 

8:00 AM

Earthquake Of 4.3 Magnitude Hits Afghanistan's Hindu Kush

An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter scale hit the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The first tremor felt at 6:09 am. No casualties have been reported. According to the USGS, the quake hit 36 km south-east of Jurm district of Afghanistan at the depth of 199 km.