Amid declining COVID-19 cases in the country, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr JA Jayalal said on Tuesday (August 31) that the coronavirus risk is quite negligible at the moment and it is the right time for the government to reopen the schools.

Considering possibility of spread, the risk is quite negligible at this moment unless some very catastrophic events take place. It’s the right time when government should come forward and take a calculated risk and open the schools in an appropriate way, he told news agency ANI.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday said it is too premature to congratulate ourselves over the UN Security Council adopting a resolution on Afghanistan, and cautioned that the possible axis of China, Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is a cause for worry.

His remarks came after the UN Security Council, under India's Presidency, adopted a strong resolution demanding that the territory of Afghanistan not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists and that it expects the Taliban will adhere to commitments made by it on regarding the safe and orderly departure from the country of Afghans and all foreign nationals.

Nine new judges, including three women, were on Tuesday administered oath of office as judges of the Supreme Court, taking its strength to 33.

It is for the first time in the history of the apex court that nine judges took oath of office at one go.

India has administered over 64.05 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses so far, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

As many as 59,62,286 COVID vaccine doses have been administered in the last 24 hours. With this, the country's COVID-19 vaccination coverage reached 64,05,28,644, as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 68,50,464 sessions.

Reliance Industries (RIL) is looking to speed up its entry into the new materials and renewable energy business through fresh acquisitions. RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani had announced that the company will be going global under its new energy business during the 44th Annual General Meeting in June this year.

RIL is believed to be closing in on a deal to buy out the REC Group, a Norway-headquartered solar module maker with links to the Chinese government-owned China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina). The deal with RIL is estimated at around $ 1.2 billion.

Shares of Aptech hit an over three-year high of Rs 304 as they rallied 5 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade on Tuesday ahead of the board meeting today to conduct the business transactions to introduce or launch a new online business for the company.

The stock of information technology (IT) services provider was trading at its highest level since April 2018. It had hit a record high of Rs 449 on December 11, 2007.

The price of 10 gm of 24-carat gold decreased by Rs 160 to Rs 47,500 on Monday. In previous trade, gold had closed at Rs 47,660 per 10 grams.

Silver was selling at Rs 63,600 per kg, falling by Rs 200 since Monday’s trade, according to Good Returns website.

Shares of Bharti Airtel were trading higher by 3 per cent at Rs 639.25 on the BSE in intra-day trade on Tuesday, up 8 per cent in the past two days after the telecom services provider on Sunday announced a fund raise of Rs 21,000 crore by way of the rights issue, primarily to fund its dues linked to adjusted gross revenue (AGR). Further, according to a media report, Google is now in talks to make large investments in Airtel, thus boosting the stock further. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 644 on August 16, 2021.

Shares of HCL Technologies hit a new high of Rs 1,193.15, up 3 per cent on the BSE in the intra-day trade on Tuesday, after the company announced investment of $1.25 million in Series A preferred shares of Austin GIS Inc., a Delaware-based entity.

Austin GIS, Inc., a newly formed entity, is raising funds via Series A preferred shares investment from shareholder investors. This is to tap growth opportunity in Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G RAN industries, which complements HCL's services as an IT service provider.

The Indian rupee appreciated 4 paise to 73.25 against the US dollar in opening trade on Tuesday, tracking a positive trend in domestic equities.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 73.26 against the dollar, then inched higher to 73.25, up 4 paise over its previous close.

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