India reported an 18 per cent decrease in the new COVID-19 cases along with a 13 per cent decline in the number of deaths during the week of October 11 to 17, the WHO has said, highlighting that all the regions globally, except the European Region, reported a fall in new weekly cases of the deadly virus.

The COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, released by the World Health Organisation on Tuesday, said that with just over 2.7 million new cases and over 46,000 new deaths reported during the week of October 11 to 17, the global number of new cases and deaths remained similar to that of the previous week.

India logged 14,623 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,41,08,996, while the active cases declined to 1,78,098, the lowest in 229 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The death toll climbed to 4,52,651 with 197 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.

Shares of Bata India hit a record high of Rs 2,202.10, up 4 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade on Wednesday in an otherwise range-bound market on hopes of revival in revenue growth trajectory as and when the impact of the pandemic gets phased out.

Meanwhile, institutional investors led by domestic mutual funds (MFs) and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) increased their stake in footwear company during July-September quarter (Q2FY22).

A majority of Americans view that former US president Donald Trump abused his presidency and attempted to subvert a peaceful transfer of power, the White House has said.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference on Tuesday that Trump's actions represented a unique and existential threat to the US democracy that Americans do not feel can be swept under the rug.

Ten gram of 24-carat gold was on Wednesday selling at Rs 47,510, down Rs 560 from yesterday’s trading price. Silver was at Rs 64,200 per kg, up Rs 600 from yesterday’s trading price, according to the Good Returns website.

Gold jewellery price varies across India, the second-largest consumer of the metal, due to excise duty, state taxes, and making charges.

Shares of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) slipped 18 per cent to Rs 4,371 on the BSE in Wednesday’s intra-day trade, amid heavy volumes, falling over 30 per cent in the past two trading days on account of profit booking.

The stock of the state-owned travel support services tanked 32 per cent from its record high level of Rs 6,393 touched in Tuesday’s intra-day trade amid buzz that the government is appointing a regulator for the rail sector.

Shares of Mastek tanked 15 per cent to Rs 2,903 on the BSE in Wednesday's intra-day trade after the company reported muted set of July-September quarter (Q2FY22) numbers. With today's decline, the stock has corrected 21 per cent from its 52-week high level of Rs 3,666, touched in Tuesday's intra-day trade.

In Q2FY22, the company's dollar revenue increased 2.6 per cent quarter on quarter (QoQ) to $72 million (up 3.9 per cent in constant currency (CC)) while rupee revenue increased 3.4 per cent QoQ at Rs 533 crore.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday authorised the district collectors to alienate agricultural land to a non-agriculturist for extending the primary activity on a larger commercial scale.

The Administrative Council (AC), which met here today under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, authorised the District Collectors to grant permission to an agriculturist to alienate land to a non-agriculturist subject to certain conditions and procedure for extending primary activities on larger commercial lines and reap benefits under economy of scale, an official spokesman said here.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case on Tuesday released pictures of six people standing near an SUV, which was set ablaze during the October 3 incident.

It has assured that details of those giving information will not be revealed besides informers will be given due rewards.

Uttarakhand reported at least 42 rain-related deaths on Tuesday with many people still trapped under the rubble after landslides, while Uttar Pradesh saw four fatalities, even as heavy downpours in Kerala filled several dams to the brim and left multiple districts on alert.

5 missing in #uttarakhandrains. Rs 4 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased, those who lost their houses will be given Rs 1.09 lakh, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told news agency ANI.

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