After sitting over the recommendation by the Maharashtra cabinet to nominate Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the Legislative Council, Governor BS Koshyari on Thursday requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to declare polls for nine vacant seats of the Upper House of the state legislature.

A statement from Raj Bhavan said that Koshyari has requested the ECI to declare elections to the nine vacant seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council ‘at the earliest’.

The death toll due to COVID-19 touched 1,075 on Thursday with the number of infected cases rising above 33,000 in the country, according to the Union Health Ministry.

As per the latest update provided by the ministry, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India stands at 24,162 as 8,372 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated. A total of 33,610 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in India.

The Centre on Thursday said only RT-PCR test has to be used for the detection of coronavirus infections, capacity for which has been scaled up progressively in the country.

Speaking during the media briefing on Thursday, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, said, As far as testing and treatment protocol is concerned we have to use RT-PCR test only.

Oil prices surged more than 10 per cent on Wednesday after US crude stockpiles grew less than expected and gasoline posted a surprise draw, feeding optimism that fuel consumption will recover as some European countries and US state ease coronavirus lockdowns.

Crude prices crashed earlier this month, with global fuel tanking roughly 30 per cent due to efforts to slow the spread of the virus.

Markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday imposed a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on two persons for circulating unpublished price sensitive information pertaining to quarterly results of Bajaj Auto through WhatsApp prior to official announcement by the company.

In an order, the regulator levied a fine of Rs 15 lakh each on Neeraj Kumar Agarwal and Shruti Vishal Vora.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday told Supreme Court that right to internet access is not a fundamental right and the state can curtail the freedom of speech and right to trade through internet.

The administration opposed the restoration of 4G services in the union territory, saying a very reasonable quantum of restrictions have been imposed by reducing the speed of internet to protect the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked for help regarding his nomination to the State Legislative Council.

According to news agency ANI, Thackeray said he will have to resign if it doesn't happen. PM Modi, as per the report, said he will look into the matter.

Hindi film veteran Rishi Kapoor, 67, died at a Mumbai hospital on Thursday after he complained yesterday of not feeling well.

The news was shared by actor Amitabh Bachchan on Twitter.

In partial relief to Vodafone Idea, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Income-Tax (I-T) department to refund the telecom company Rs 733 crore, pending for the assessment year (AY) 2014-15, within four weeks. The court also asked the department to conclude proceedings relating to the firm's demand of refunds in respect of AY 2016-17 and 2017-18 as early as possible.

Actor Rishi Kapoor has been admitted to H N Reliance hospital on Wednesday after feeling unwell. His brother and actor Randhir Kapoor confirmed the news to PTI.

He is in the hospital. He is suffering from cancer and he has some breathing problem, so he has been admitted to the hospital. He is stable now, Randhir Kapoor said as quoted by PTI.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.