PM Narendra Modi  |  Photo Credit: PTI
Key Highlights
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New Delhi: PM Modi was scheduled to visit the UAE in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. On Wednesday, new Omicron cases were reported from several states, adding to India’s COVID-19 tally. Below are the day’s biggest headlines.
PM Narendra Modi’s visit to UAE next week postponed amid Omicron scare
Amid growing concern over the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been postponed. The Prime Minister was scheduled to visit the Gulf nation on January 6, sources said.
PM Modi was to visit the UAE as the two countries were looking at celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
The Omicron variant of coronavirus, which is more transmissible than the Delta strain, has caused panic across India and the world. So far, India has reported nearly 800 cases of the new strain. Read More
Omicron Live Updates: No amber alert in Delhi for now, DDMA to take decision on fresh curbs at next meeting
As India’s COVID-19 tally continues to rise, fresh Omicron cases were reported from several states on Wednesday. Delhi has reported 238 cases belonging to the new heavily mutated variant, followed by Maharashtra with 167 cases.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked officials to review the state’s overall COVID-19 situation and identify containment zones.
With cases rising sharply in some parts of the country, Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray said that Mumbai may see over 2000 cases today. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope also indicated that curbs were likely in the state if COVID-19 cases continued to rise.
Delhi which recently implemented a ‘yellow alert’ will not be escalating curbs at present. Following a meeting with Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the DDMA has decided to take a ‘wait and watch’ approach. Read More
Anil Deshmukh named as main accused in ED’s 7000-page supplementary chargesheet
In a major setback to the Nationalist Congress Party, the Enforcement Directorate has named former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh as the prime accused in the 7,000-page supplementary chargesheet in a money-laundering case filed in Mumbai’s special PMLA court. The case is linked with an alleged extortion racket in the Maharashtra Police. Deshmukh’s two sons have also been mentioned in the chargesheet. Read More
Sensex falls 90 pts, Nifty settles below 17,250 amid volatile trade; SBI, Vedanta drop up to 2% each
Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty50 closed flat on Wednesday. Caution prevailed among investors globally amid concerns about the Omicron variant of COVID-19. At close, the Sensex was down 90.99 points or 0.16% at 57,806.49, and the Nifty was down 19.70 points or 0.11% at 17,213.60. Read More
Reliance Jio to raise Rs 8,000 crore via bond sale to clear past dues
Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm is mulling to raise upto Rs 8,000 crore via bonds in the local market, which may start as early as next week. The corporate bond sale proceeds will be utilised to clear previous dues for purchasing spectrum in the 2014 and 2015 auctions by the government. Read More
My father would cycle 30km to take me at coaching camp: Mohammed Shami recalls family’s struggles
After becoming only the fifth Indian pacer to take 200 Test wickets, Mohammed Shami credited his father for his successful journey in international cricket. In a press conference after the end of play on Day 3, Shami recalled that his father used to cycle him 30 KM every day to the coaching camp as his village did not have adequate facilities. Shami took a five-wicket haul in the Centurion Test match and became the third quickest Indian fast-bowler to reach the 200 wicket mark in Test cricket after Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath. Read More
Shah Rukh Khan’s unseen photo with actor Diganta Hazarika goes viral; leaves fans excited for Pathan
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is all set to make his comeback with YRF’s action film Pathan. While the Zero actor hasn’t released an official statement about the project, a lot has been reported over the last few months. The film which also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham is currently being shot at an unknown location. A picture of SRK from the sets of a project has gone viral on social media. It shows him posing with actor Diganta Hazarika and fans believe that the photo is from the sets of Pathan. Read More