LIVE: West Bengal govt extends existing Covid restrictions up to Jan 15

Restrictions related to the movement of people and vehicles between 11 pm and 5 am shall be relaxed for Christmas and New Year celebrations

12:38 AM

US faces a double coronavirus surge as omicron advances

The new omicron coronavirus mutant speeding around the world may bring another wave of chaos, threatening to further stretch hospital workers already struggling with a surge of delta cases and upend holiday plans for the second year in a row.

 

The White House on Wednesday insisted there is no need for a lockdown because vaccines are widely available and appear to offer protection against the worst consequences of the virus.

 

But even if omicron proves milder on the whole than delta, it may disarm some of the life-saving tools available and put immune-compromised and elderly people at particular risk as it begins a rapid assault on the United States.

11:37 PM

UK sees highest COVID daily cases amid Omicron spread

The UK on Wednesday recorded the highest number of daily COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 78,610 new cases largely due to the Omicron variant alongside the dominant Delta variant.

 

The previous record was 68,053 on January 8 when the UK was still in full lockdown. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed a Downing Street press conference to warn that the Omicron cases were now doubling at a rate of less than two days but stressed positive signs that the boosted booster dose campaign, a tool not available during the previous COVID spike, will help combat the impact of the infections.

 

"Let's keep going, let's keep giving Omicron both barrels and let's slow its spread and give the vaccines more time," said Johnson.

10:09 PM

Coronavirus pandemic: Tamil Nadu reports first Omicron variant case

A 47-year-old man who had arrived from Nigeria, along with six of his family members a few days ago, has tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, marking the first such case being reported in Tamil Nadu, according to the State Minister Ma Subramanian.

 

The passenger who arrived here from Nigeria via Doha on December 10 had tested Covid-19 positive and six of his family members too had tested positive for the virus, the Minister for Medical and Family Welfare said.

 

The passenger, along with his family members who were asymptomatic, were admitted to the The King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research in Chennai and were "doing fine".

 

"In the initial level of testing of their sampling, there was S-gene drop raising the suspicion of being infected by Omicron. Now, we have the received the results sent from the National Institute of Virology. The passenger has tested positive for Omicron," Subramanian told reporters.

 

"With the result of the passenger confirmed, we suspect six of his family members, along with a 16-year-old child, also to be positive (for Omicron). We received the result confirming Omicron variant of the passenger a few minutes back," he said.

10:01 PM

Maharashtra reports 925 new COVID-19 cases, four of them of Omicron variant; 10 fatalities

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 925 new coronavirus positive cases, four of which were of Omicron variant infection, and 10 fresh fatalities, the health department said.

 

With this, the statewide caseload rose to 66,46,061, while the death toll increased to 1,41,298, it said in a health bulletin.

 

On Tuesday, the state had reported 684 new COVID-19 cases and 24 fatalities.

 

According to a report released by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV), four persons were found infected with the Omicron strain, the health department said. With this, the tally of Omicron cases in the state reached 32.

9:41 PM

Odisha reports 218 new COVID-19 cases, 2 more deaths

Odisha recorded 218 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the tally to 10,52,145, while the COVID-19 death toll mounted to 8,439 with reports of two more fatalities, the health department said.

 

On Tuesday, the state had registered 175 new cases and a fatality.

 

Khurda district, where Bhubaneswar is situated, reported 117 COVID-19 infections, while Cuttack reported 15.

 

Twenty-eight children were among those infected, the health bulletin said.

9:31 PM

Why don't you give ads like other states: SC raps UP govt on ex-gratia for Covid deaths

The Supreme Court Wednesday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over disbursal of ex-gratia compensation for COVID-19 deaths and said it should give advertisements in all local newspapers in each district.

 

Expressing dissatisfaction over the advertisements, a bench comprising justices M R Shah and B V Nagarathna said victims should be apprised about a web portal on which they can make an online application for getting the compensation.

 

"Why don't you give advertisements like other states stating that this is a portal, this is a grievance redressal committee and you can contact. In each district, you are supposed to give advertisements in local newspapers. This the grievance redressal committee with their particulars, portal details etc. We don't find any advertisements in any newspapers," the bench said.

9:16 PM

Omicron cases likely to surge across Maharashtra in January: Health official

More cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus are likely to come to the fore in January next year in Maharashtra, a senior public health department official said on Wednesday.

 

The Omicron variant of coronavirus is spreading fast in the world and Maharashtra is likely to see a surge in cases infected by it in January next year. The cases of Omicron infection will be found in rural areas as well as in cities, Maharashtra public health department's additional chief secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas said while making a presentation in the Maharashtra cabinet meeting in Mumbai.

 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has instructed officials to take extra efforts to complete the administration of the second dose of anti-COVID-19 vaccines to all eligible people.

8:26 PM

West Bengal govt extends existing Covid restrictions up to Jan 15

8:25 PM

UP Govt raises dearness allowance for state govt employees from 28% to 31%

8:16 PM

Maharashtra detects 4 new Omicron cases

8:03 PM

Group Captain Varun Singh's mortal remains to be airlifted to Bhopal tomorrow

7:34 PM

Durga Puja highlights the best of our traditions and ethos: PM Modi

5:41 PM

I want to see BJP lose across the country in 2024, says Mamata

4:18 PM

Kovind meets Sheikh Hasina

3:32 PM

Union Cabinet approves implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for 2021-26

3:22 PM

A scheme has been approved to provide incentives to encourage digital transactions: Thakur

3:17 PM

West Bengal reports its first Omicron case

3:15 PM

More about Rs 76,000-cr incentive scheme for semiconductors

3:10 PM

Cabinet clears Rs 76,000-cr incentive scheme for semiconductors

2:58 PM

Cabinet briefing by Union Ministers shortly

2:30 PM

EU official: Omicron to be dominant variant by mid-January

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January.

 

The head of the EU's executive branch said the bloc is well prepared to fight omicron with 66.6% of the European population now fully vaccinated against the virus.

 

Von der Leyen said she is confident the EU has the strength and means to overcome the disease although expressing her sadness that once again Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic.

1:56 PM

Shah, Kovind express condolences at Varun Singh's death

1:34 PM

He fought a tough battle like a true soldier for a week: Piyush Goyal on Group Captain Varun Singh

Koo App

Deeply anguished by the passing away of Group Captain Varun Singh, the sole survivor of the tragic helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu. He fought a tough battle like a true soldier for a week. My respects to the departed soul for his services to India & condolences to his family.

View attached media content

- Piyush Goyal (@piyushgoyal) 15 Dec 2021

1:26 PM

Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Group Captain Varun Singh: Nitin Gadkari

Koo App

Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Group Captain Varun Singh Ji who was injured in the unfortunate helicopter crash on 08 Dec 2021. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti

 

- Nitin Gadkari (@nitin.gadkari) 15 Dec 2021

1:25 PM

Group Captain Varun Singh's rich service to nation will never be forgotten: PM Modi

12:48 PM

Group Captain Varun Singh dies days after the chopper crash, which killed General Bipin Rawat, 12 others

12:12 PM

As polls approach, BJP wears religious spectacles and sees everything on the basis of religion: Akhilesh Yadav

"As elections approach, BJP wears religious spectacles and sees everything on the basis of religion...BJP should suspend their MoS Home (Ajay Mishra)" says SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on SIT calling the Lakhimpur Kheri incident a planned conspiracy to kill protesting farmers

11:58 AM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2pm

Lok Sabha proceedings on Wednesday were adjourned till 2 pm amid vociferous Opposition protests over the findings of the SIT report on the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh. Opposition members also demanded sacking of Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni whose son Ashish Mishra is an accused in the case.

10:59 AM

Skoda Volkswagen India MD quits

Auto maker Skoda Auto Volkswagen India on Wednesday said its Managing Director Gurpratap Boparai has resigned from the company with effect from January 1, 2022. Christian Cahn von Seelen will take interim charge of the VW Group's Indian operations from January 1, 2022, in his capacity as Chairman of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd (SAVWIPL), the automaker said in a statement. Boparai's will be announced shortly, PTI reported quoting the statement.

9:58 AM

Paytm's shares tumble over 13%

Digital payments firm Paytm's shares tumbled over 13% as a lock-in period for the company's institutional investors ended on Wednesday, piling more pressure after a dismal debut last month. Paytm shares crashed more than 27% in India's largest public offering last month. Since the listing on Nov. 22, the stock has logged losses for 13 of the 18 sessions, Reuters reported.