The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 82.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.80 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Thursday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 82,625,514 and 1,802,560, respectively.

New Delhi [India], December 31 (ANI): With India confirming at least 20 cases of the new UK strain of Covid-19, All India Institute of Medical Sciences director Randeep Guleria on Wednesday said that it is a possibility that the new mutation could have been present in the country even in November as the mutant strain was reported in the United Kingdom in September and there might be people who would have been infected.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked the US Supreme Court to overturn his election loss in Wisconsin, his second appeal in as many days to the high court over the result in the key battleground state.

Trump's newest appeal is over the loss of a lawsuit he filed in federal court seeking to void the state's election and have the Republican-controlled Legislature appoint electors to cast the state's 10 electoral votes.

Infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Thursday said its construction arm has received orders in the overseas and domestic market.

The company did not provide the value of the contracts, but said the orders fall under the 'significant' category, which ranges between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 2,500 crore, according to the classification of contracts.

India's COVID-19 caseload increased to 1,02,66,674 with 21,822 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 98.60 lakh pushing the national recovery rate over 96 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The death toll increased to 1,48,738 with 299 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Shares of APL Apollo Tubes rose 2 per cent to hit a new high of Rs 853 on the BSE in Thursday's early trade. The stock has gained 4 per cent in the past two days after CARE Ratings revised the long-term ratings assigned to the bank facilities of the company with a stable outlook.

The stock was trading higher for the seventh straight day and has rallied 18 per cent during the period. During the calendar year 2020, it has logged 128 per cent gains, as compared to a 16-per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.

Gold price today climbed to Rs 53,300 from Rs 53,230 per 10 gm, while silver price was trending at Rs 68,400 per kg, 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 changes.

The rupee appreciated by 19 paise to 73.12 against the US dollar in opening trade on Thursday supported by sustained foreign fund inflows and weakness of the American currency in the overseas market.

At the interbank forex market, the domestic unit opened at 73.15 against the US dollar and inched higher to 73.12 against the greenback.

Amid the new strain of the coronavirus, no public gatherings will be allowed in Delhi on December 31 and January 1 between 11 pm and 6 am as the state government has announced a night curfew to restrict the New Year celebrations.

Ahead of the New Year, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Thursday imposed a night curfew in Delhi, disallowing celebrations and the assembly of over five people at public places in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the new strain of the virus.

As India reported 20 cases of the new COVID-19 strain from the UK, the government has extended the suspension of flights from the country till January 7.

Declaring the extension, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the details for resumption will be announced shortly.

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