The rupee appreciated by 9 paise to 73.33 against the US dollar in opening trade on Wednesday supported by sustained foreign fund inflows and weakness in the American currency in the overseas market.

At the interbank forex market, the domestic unit opened at 73.35 against the US dollar, then inched higher to 73.33 against the greenback, registering a rise of 9 paise over its previous close.

Amid declining cases, the new and more infectious coronavirus strain has entered Uttar Pradesh. A two-year-old girl in Meerut has been found infected with the mutated COVID-19 strain.

The girl returned from London with her parents and her sample was sent to Delhi for investigation. After this, the health department of the entire state has come into alert mode.

Bharat Biotech said on Tuesday that its vaccine candidate -Covaxin - can offer protection against mutations of coronavirus. Bharat Biotech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella said the protein components of inactive Covaxin will take care of mutations.

His comments came amid growing concerns over new strains of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, especially the variant that was detected recently in the UK.

The Chinese Air Force has conducted heavy deployment of missiles and radars in support of the aggression by their Army along the Eastern Ladakh border, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Tuesday adding that his service has taken all the required actions to handle the situation.

IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria was addressing a webinar on 'National Security Challenges and Air Power' organised by Vivekanand International Foundation.

The Centre and the farmers' unions will hold the next level of talks today at 2 pm at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. On Monday, the government had invited 40 protesting farmer unions for the next round of talks on December 30. Government has said that it wants to find a 'logical solution' to the current impasse over the farm laws.

In a letter to the farmer unions, Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Aggarwal invited them for the talks at 2 pm on Wednesday at Vigyan Bhavan in the national capital.

India on Tuesday has surpassed a crucial milestone in its fight against the global pandemic as the country recorded the lowest daily rise in over six months.

Less than 16,500 daily new cases (16,432) were added to the national tally in the last 24 hours after 187 days. The daily new cases were 16,922 on June 25, 2020, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

Delhi's Safdarjung recorded 3.6 degrees Celsius temperature at 8

Parts of the national capital witnessed fog this morning.

Northwest India is bracing for a chilly New Year's eve as the minimum temperatures are likely to fall in the region by three to five degrees Celsius during the next three days.

After change of guard at the chief executive position in October 2020, there is a possibility that the country’s largest private lender, HDFC Bank, may have a new chairman in January next year.

The tenure of current part-time Chairman Shyamala Gopinath will end on January 1. Gopinath, former deputy governor of the Rese­rve Bank of India, is in the position since January 2, 2015.

Shriram Transport Finance Company on Tuesday said its board will meet next month to consider raising funds through the issuance of debt securities.

The company will consider raising of funds by way of issue of debt securities in onshore/offshore market by private placement basis and/or public issue subject to market conditions.

Telugu star Ram Charan has been tested positive for coronavirus. The actor posted a note on his social media pages and stated that he is asymptomatic and currently quarantining at home. Ram stated, I have tested positive for COVID-19. No symptoms and quarantined at home. Hope to heal soon and come out stronger. On the work front, the Dhruva actor has been shooting for SS Rajamouli's RRR alongside Jr NTR in Hyderabad.

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.