LIVE: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengal record marginal dips in fresh Covid cases

24,383 new cases in Delhi; 11,317 in Mumbai, 22,645 in Bengal

1:10 PM

HC asks Bengal Election Commission to consider deferring municipal elections

The Calcutta High Court on Friday asked West Bengal’s Election Commission to consider deferring municipal elections by four to six weeks due to rising Covid-19. The Commission will respond within 48 hours, say multiple news reports.

12:35 PM

Australia cancels Novak Djokovic's visa again

Australia's government cancelled Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time on Friday, saying the world tennis No. 1, unvaccinated for COVID-19, may pose a risk to the community. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used discretionary powers to again cancel Djokovic's visa, after a court quashed an earlier revocation and released him from immigration detention on Monday, said Reuters.

12:24 PM

Hong Kong suspends transit flights from most of the world

Hong Kong will suspend for a month transit flights from around 150 countries and territories considered high risk because of the coronavirus, deepening the global financial hub's isolation. The move comes as the city has seen around 50 cases of the fast-spreading Omicron variant since the end of last year, Reuters reported.

12:11 PM

Aditya Birla Fashion to buy 51% stake in Masaba Lifestyle

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail said on Friday it will buy a 51 per cent stake in House of Masaba Lifestyle for about Rs 900 million ($12.14 million), Reuters reports.

11:39 AM

Bengal train crash caused by 'locomotive equipment glitch': Railway Minister

11:28 AM

Kerala bishop acquitted on charge of raping nun

A court in Kerala on Friday acquitted Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the charges of raping a nun in a convent in the southern state. The Additional District and Sessions Court II acquitted Mulakkal after judging that the prosecution failed to produce evidence against him, PTI reported.

11:23 AM

Some Covid patients could spread virus after 10 days: UK study

Some people with Covid were able to transmit the virus to others after the 10-day mark, at least in the early days of the pandemic, a new UK study shows.

That’s according to research by the University of Exeter, which used an adapted test that can detect whether the virus remains active in those with previously confirmed infections. It found that 13% of 176 people studied had levels high enough to be potentially infectious even after 10 days, Bloomberg reported.

11:12 AM

Most Covid-19 deaths in Delhi among unvaccinated: Minister

As many as 75% people who died of Covid-19 in Delhi in the current wave of infections were unvaccinated, says state health minister Satyendar Jain. Delhi expects to log is expected to record fewer than 2,500 cases today after clocking 28,867 yesterday, ANI quotes him as saying.

10:36 AM

Microsoft to make sexual harassment investigation public

Microsoft says it will review its policies regarding sexual harassment and gender discrimination and publicly release the results of investigations into allegations involving members of the board of directors and senior leadership, including Bill Gates, the AP reported.

 

10:14 AM

Citi to sell retail arms in 4 SE Asia markets to Singapore's UOB

Citigroup has agreed to sell its consumer business in four Southeast Asian markets to United Overseas Bank (UOB) for S$4.915 billion ($3.65 billion), bringing the U.S. bank closer to its goal of exiting retail operations in 13 markets. The proposed acquisition by UOB will be its biggest in two decades, Reuters reported.

9:25 AM

Death toll in Bengal train crash increases to 9

Two more people have died of injuries suffered in the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train crash in Bengal on Thursday. Total deaths increased to 9, PTI reports quoting an India Railway official

9:16 AM

India logs 264,202 new cases of Covid-19

India recorded 264,202 new cases of Covid-19 overnight, said the health ministry on Friday, marking a 6.7 per cent increase in daily cases since Thursday.

9:10 AM

Doctors, health workers test positive as COVID-19 infections surge in Telangana

Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in Telangana, several doctors and health workers have also been infected with the coronavirus.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Sambit, HOD of Critical Care at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) said, "We are getting 50 cases every day, out of which 25-40 are in-patients. A few doctors have also been afflicted, but most are either asymptomatic or mildly afflicted."

He said as a precaution, doctors with infections have been advised to be in isolation and not report to duty until they are well.

9:09 AM

US forced to activate more resources to deal with surging Covid-19 infections

The federal government of the US is sending medical teams to New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan and New Mexico to help hospitals overburdened by Covid-19, state media has reported.

US President Joe Biden is to announce the deployments on Thursday when discussing steps the administration is taking to address a surge in infections driven by the Omicron variant, according to USA Today.

"His remarks come as hospitalisations for Covid-19 are setting records," said the report, adding that some hospitals are delaying elective surgeries as states are deploying National Guard members to healthcare facilities.

9:08 AM

Different festivals being celebrated today signify India's vibrant cultural diversity: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted people on the occasion of various festivals associated with the harvest and sun's northward journey, being celebrated in different parts of the country.

People are marking different festivals across India which signify the country's vibrant cultural diversity, he said, extending his greetings.

"Pongal is synonymous with the vibrant culture of Tamil Nadu. On this special occasion, my greetings to everyone and especially the Tamil people spread all over the world. I pray that our bond with nature and the spirit of brotherhood in our society are deepened," Modi said on Twitter.