LIVE: Kerala sees 9 more Omicron cases, 4 in Jaipur; India's tally now 226

Meanwhile, Haryana decides to allow only fully vaccinated people at public places; Delhi bans gatherings for Christmas, New Year celebrations

11:00 AM

OMCs keep diesel, petrol prices static on Wednesday

Oil marketing companies kept the prices of diesel and petrol unchanged across major Indian cities on Wednesday.

Notably, fuel prices have been steady for the past one-and-a-half months now.

Accordingly, diesel and petrol prices in Delhi stood at Rs 86.67 per litre and Rs 95.41 per litre on Tuesday, respectively.

In the financial capital Mumbai, the rates were unchanged at Rs 94.14 and Rs 109.98.

10:59 AM

UP elections 2021: PM Modi to address convocation ceremony of IIT, Kanpur on December 28

Uttar Pradesh | Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address convocation ceremony of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur on December 28

10:56 AM

Rahul Gandhi to visit his Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be in Kerala on a two-day visit commencing on Wednesday during which he will also visit his Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad.

 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be on a two-day visit to Kerala, from today his parliamentary constituency in Kerala''s Wayanad

 

At 10 am, Rahul Gandhi will attend the remembrance meeting of C Moinkutty, an Ex-MLA in Parish Hall, Engapuzha, Kozhikode. Read on...

10:54 AM

Dollar dips as Omicron leaves currency markets unseasonably volatile

The dollar edged down again in early Asia on Wednesday, starting a third successive session under pressure as investors favoured riskier currencies and asset classes.

 

The New Zealand dollar rose 0.8% on Tuesday, its best day since October, recovering from near a year low to last trade at $0.6757, and the pound gained 0.46% - its best day in a month - last trading at $1.3267.

 

With the dollar also gaining 0.44% on the safe haven yen, Tuesday's currency moves were in keeping with advances in oil and a 1.6% gain in MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe. Read on...

10:48 AM

At least 70 missing after landslide at Myanmar jade mine, reports AFP

At least 70 missing after landslide at Myanmar jade mine, reports AFP News Agency

10:46 AM

Monsoon session 2021 LIVE: PM Modi meets senior ministers in Parliament to discuss government strategy

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Pralhad Joshi, Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, Anurag Singh Thakur and Nitin Gadkari are attending this meeting.

 

10:32 AM

India records 6,317 Covid cases in 24 hours; Omicron tally reaches 213

India has recorded 213 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 15 states and UTs so far out of which 90 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

Delhi has recorded the maximum 57 cases of Omicron variant followed by Maharashtra at 54, Telangana 24, Karnataka 19, Rajasthan 18, Kerala 15 and Gujarat 14 cases.

The ministry data updated at 8 am also stated that India logged 6,317 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 34,758,481, while the active cases declined to 78,190, the lowest in 575 days.

10:22 AM

India's Omicron tally at 213

India has recorded 213 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 15 states and UTs so far out of which 90 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

 

Delhi has recorded the maximum 57 cases of Omicron variant followed by Maharashtra at 54, Telangana 24, Karnataka 19, Rajasthan 18, Kerala 15 and Gujarat 14 cases.

 

The ministry data updated at 8 am also stated that India logged 6,317 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,47,58,481, while the active cases declined to 78,190, the lowest in 575 days.

 

10:15 AM

Global Covid caseload tops 276.2 mn

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 276.2 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.36 million and vaccinations to over 8.76 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University.

 

In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 276,200,632 and 5,368,422, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered has increased to 8,767,449,046.

 

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 51,272,854 and 810,045, according to the CSSE.

10:15 AM

Thane logs 66 new COVID-19 cases

With the addition of 66 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has gone up to 5,71,370, while the death toll remained unchanged at 11,601, an official said on Wednesday.

 

These new cases were reported on Tuesday, he said, adding that the COVID-19 mortality rate in Thane 2.03 per cent.

 

In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count has gone up to 1,39,020, while the death toll stands at 3,307, another official said.

10:14 AM

Akhilesh promises caste census within 3 months if voted to power

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has promised a caste census to give people their rights in accordance with their share in the population.

 

He said that the census would be held within three months if his party is voted in power in the state.

 

Akhilesh, who was addressing people during his Vijay Yatra in Mainpuri, which is also his father Mulayam Singh Yadav's parliamentary constituency, on Tuesday evening, said, "We all are accused of snatching someone's else's rights, but things will become clear once the caste census is done."

 

 

10:14 AM

Pak opposition demands Imran Khan's resignation over bad governance, high inflation

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Imran Khan and said people in every nook and corner of the country are "demanding his resignation owing to bad governance and high inflation".

 

Maryam said Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has faced a major upset in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's local bodies elections due to its poor performance and flawed economic policies, The Express Tribune reported.

 

PML-N Vice President said the PTI-led federal government was the first in the country's history to lose all by-elections and added that no one will be willing to contest the next general election on the ruling party's ticket.

10:10 AM

World could be entering worst part of pandemic: Bill Gates on Omicron surge

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned against the rising Omicron cases around the world, saying that the world could be entering the worst part of the pandemic as the variant will result in the "worst surge" the world has seen so far.

In a series of tweets, Bill Gates said he has cancelled most of his holiday plans after his close friends have been infected with the Omicron variant.

"Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world," he said.

Noting that the "big unknown" is how lethal the variant is, Gates claimed: "Even if it's only half as severe as delta, it will be the worst surge we have seen so far because it's so infectious."

He advised people to take booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, saying it gives the best protection.

10:01 AM

Air quality of Delhi, Gurugram remains in 'very poor' category; Noida's slips to 'critical'

The air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the 'very poor' category on Wednesday with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 385, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

 

Meanwhile, the air quality in Noida has slipped to the 'critical' category, while the air quality in Gurugram is in 'very poor' category.

 

The AQI in Noida and Gurugram stands at 507 and 319 respectively.

 

9:52 AM

Zee Entertainment finalises deal with Sony's India unit to merge services

Sony's India unit and its local rival, Zee Entertainment, have finalised a deal to merge television channels, film assets and streaming platforms, Zee said on Wednesday.

Zee has also approved the appointment of Punit Goenka as chief executive officer of the merged company.