LIVE: CCI approves acquisition of shareholding in Air India by Tata Group

The proposed combination envisages acquisition of 100% equity share capital of AI and AI Express, and 50% equity share capital of Air India SATS Airport Services by Talace Private Limited

2:10 AM

UK records 91,743 Covid cases, PM says data under constant review

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said the Cabinet was monitoring COVID-19 data hour by hour as the country recorded another record high of daily coronavirus infections at 91,743.

 

Speaking after a lengthy Cabinet meeting, Johnson told reporters that the government won't hesitate to introduce tougher lockdown measures ahead of Christmas amid an ongoing surge in coronavirus cases.

 

But he declared that some things need to be clearer around the Omicron variant before further action is taken.

 

Unfortunately I must say to people that we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public, to protect public health, to protect our NHS," said Johnson.

10:06 PM

Oil prices plummet as Omicron's rapid spread dims fuel demand outlook

Oil prices slumped more than 5% on Monday as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Europe and the United States stoked investor worries that new restrictions to combat its spread could dent fuel demand.

 

Brent crude futures were down $3.98, or 5.4%, at $69.54 a barrel by 11:01 a.m. EST (1601 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell $4.51, or 6.4%, to $66.35 a barrel.

 

Both benchmarks were at their lowest levels since early December.

 

9:53 PM

Delhi reports 91 new Covid cases, positivity rate increases to 0.20%

The national capital on Monday reported 91 new COVID-19 cases and zero deaths, while the positivity rate increased to 0.20 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

 

On Sunday, the city had reported 107 cases, its highest daily rise since June 25, and one death with a positivity rate of 0.17 per cent. On June 25, Delhi had logged 115 coronavirus cases and four deaths, according to the government data.

 

With the fresh COVID-19 cases, Delhi's tally has increased to 14,42,288. Over 14.16 lakh people have recovered from the disease, the bulletin stated. The death toll due to COVID-19 stands at 25,101, it said.

9:28 PM

Vadodara woman who returned from UK tests positive for Omicron; Gujarat tally 12

A 27-year-old woman with a travel history to the UK was found infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus in Gujarat's Vadodara on Monday, officials said, adding that the patient is asymptomatic.

 

This is the third Omicron case in Vadodara and the 12th in Gujarat.

 

The woman had returned from the UK on December 13 via Mumbai. She had tested negative for coronavirus at both the airports, a health department official said. Later, she complained of fever and gave samples for COVID-19 test, reports of which confirmed the coronavirus infection, the official said.

9:22 PM

Jio adds 17.6 lakh mobile users in Oct; Airtel, VIL lose subscribers: TRAI data

India's largest telecom operator Reliance Jio gained 17.6 lakh mobile subscribers in October 2021 while market rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea lost a cumulative 14.5 lakh users during the month, according to the latest data released by TRAI on Monday.

 

The mobile subscriber base of Reliance Jio surged to 42.65 crore in October. The telco added 17.61 lakh mobile users during the month, the data showed. The second largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel lost 4.89 lakh mobile customers in October, and its subscriber base declined to 35.39 crore. As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) data, Vodafone Idea lost 9.64 lakh mobile subscribers and its user base dipped to 26.90 crore in October.

 

The total number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 1,189.62 million (118.96 crore) at the end of October 2021, a monthly growth rate of 0.04 per cent. Urban telephone subscription decreased to 658.83 million (65.88 crore) at the end of October 2021, but the rural subscription rose to 530.79 million (53.07 crore) during the same period, TRAI said.

9:13 PM

Govt aims to provide tap water supply to all rural households in 9 states, UTs by next year

The Union Jal Shakti Ministry aims to provide tap water supply to all rural households in nine states and Union Territories by next year, a senior official said on Monday.

 

The remaining 16 crore rural households across the country will be provided with functional household tap connection by 2024, said Bharat Lal, the additional director and director-general of Jal Jeevan Mission.

 

According to the data shared by him, the Jal Shakti Ministry aims that all households in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya and Ladakh will be provided with functional household tap connections in 2022.

8:56 PM

Punjab: Farmers block rail tracks, demand complete loan waiver

Farmers on Monday blocked rail tracks at several places in Punjab, demanding complete loan waiver and compensation to families whose members died during the course of the stir against the Centre's farm laws. They also demanded the cancellation of police cases registered against farmers who protested the laws.

 

The train movement was affected in the state due to their rail roko agitation, which started under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.According to railway officials, over 55 trains were affected following the protest by farmers at Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur. They said 27 trains were cancelled, 11 were short-terminated while 17 were halted.

8:48 PM

Bharat Biotech seeks DCGI nod for phase-3 study of intra-nasal vaccine as booster dose

Bharat Biotech has sought permission from India's drug regulator to conduct a phase-3 study for its intra-nasal COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose on participants vaccinated with Covishield or Covaxin, official sources said on Monday. India is yet to approve the use of the intranasal vaccine BBV154 developed by the Hyderabad-based company.

 

The company had in August received the Drug Controller General of India's (DCGI's) nod for conducting phase 2 clinical trials of the nasal vaccine.

 

"Bharat Biotech has put in an application seeking permission to conduct a study titled 'A Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of BBV154 and BBV152 as third dose (booster) to participants previously vaccinated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines'," an official said.

8:43 PM

Competition Commission approves Tata-Air India deal

Competition Commission has approved Tata Group's proposed acquisition of debt-laden Air India as well as its two subsidiaries. The Rs 18,000 crore-deal that includes the winning bidder Talace taking over Rs 15,300 crore-worth debt, is a major step in the government's efforts over the years to revive the ailing airline.

 

Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, emerged as the winning bidder in October. It will buy 100 per cent stakes in Air India Ltd, Air India Express Ltd and 50 per cent shareholding in Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS). Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Talace acquiring shareholding in Air India, Air India Express and AISATS, an official release said on Monday.

8:09 PM

No new Omicron case reported from Maharashtra today

7:17 PM

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan leaves from ED office

6:35 PM

CCI approves acquisition of AI, AI Express and Air India SATS Airport Services by Talace

6:19 PM

28-day open vial policy for Covaxin

6:05 PM

Bharat Biotech claims shelf life of Covaxin is now 12 months from date of manufacture

5:52 PM

World Economic Forum defers Davos meeting amid pandemic

5:30 PM

Davos World Economic Forum called off due to Covid: Report

The planned World Economic Forum in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos has been called off due to surging cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Sky News reported on Monday, citing communication from organisers to delegates.

 

"Next month's gathering of global business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum's annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, has been called off because of surging levels of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, delegates have been told today by the organisers," Sky News city editor mark Kleinman said on Twitter.

5:25 PM

PM Modi interacts with leading CEOs

5:12 PM

Bharat Biotech seeks nod for booster dose of intranasal Covid vaccine: Report

5:06 PM

Gujarat govt extends night curfew in 8 major cities

4:36 PM

With this bill, we'll make it mandatory to sieve out fake voters: Rijiju

4:30 PM

Nadal tests positive for Covid

4:05 PM

Update on ITRs filed so far

3:42 PM

Coal will stay as a major source of energy for India: Parliament told

Coal will stay as a major source of energy in the foreseeable future as it is an affordable source of energy with substantial reserve, Parliament was told on Monday.

Despite push for renewables, the country will require base load capacity of coal-based generation for stability and also for energy security, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

3:26 PM

Lok Sabha clears electoral reforms bill

Electoral reforms bill that links Aadhaar to voter identity among other changes cleared by Lok Sabha amid Opposition protests over Lakhimpur violence, say multiple reports.

3:19 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day as opposition members continue their protests seeking discussion on the police investigation of the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh.

3:16 PM

Global stocks fall on virus concern, tighter Fed policy

Global stock markets and Wall Street futures tumbled Monday amid concern about the latest coronavirus variant and tighter Federal Reserve policy. London and Frankfurt opened sharply lower. Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong also fell at the start of a trading week that will be shortened by Christmas.

3:06 PM

Lok Sabha clears second batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants

Lok Sabha on Monday cleared the second batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants authorising the government to spend an additional Rs 3.73 trillion during the current fiscal amid protest by the opposition over various issues. The extra spending include infusing over Rs 62,000 crore into the company that holds residual assets and liabilities of Air India, Rs 58,430 crore by way of additional fertiliser subsidy, Rs 53,123 crore towards payment of pending export incentives and Rs 22,039 crore to rural development ministry for transfer to National Rural Employment Guarantee Fund.

2:50 PM

50,000 small industries strike work in Coimbatore to protest raw material prices

Some 50,000 small businesses stopped work in Coimbatore district on Monday to protest skyrocketing prices of raw materials. The one day closure resulted in the production loss of around Rs 1,500 crore as the industries manufacture all types of spare parts for two-wheelers to six-wheelers, motor and pumps, defence and naval sectors, wet grinders, foundries and plastic industries, PTI reported quoting industry sources.

2:34 PM

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appears before ED in Delhi

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appears before the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi for questioning in 'Panama Papers' case, says PTI quoting officials. 

2:25 PM

Banks recovered Rs 5.49 trn through resolution of bad loans in 7 years: FM

Banks recovered Rs 5.49 trillion through resolution of bad loans in last seven years, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha. Banks recovered about Rs 13,109 crore from asset sale of fugitive defaulters such as Nirav Modi and Vijaya Mallya.