LIVE: WHO approves Covovax for emergency use; 8 new Omicron cases in Maha

'This is yet another milestone in our fight against COVID-19, Covovax is now WHO approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy,' tweets Serum CEO

10:40 AM

Bhutan confers highest civilian to Modi

Bhutan has conferred its highest civilian to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The landlocked nation said the award highlighted the “unconditional friendship” and support that India, under Modi's leadership, had extended to Bhutan over the years and particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

9:43 AM

Shares open lower on global inflation concerns

Indian shares edged lower on Friday as warnings from central banks over rising global inflation spooked investors, with auto and banking stocks leading the decline. The NSE Nifty 50 index fell 0.3% to 17,202 by 0353 GMT and the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.26% at 57,753.60, with losses capped by gains in IT stocks.

9:32 AM

India logs 7,447 new cases of Covid-19

India reports 7,447 new cases of the Coronavirus, says health ministry.

9:18 AM

US judge tosses $4.5 bln deal shielding Sacklers from opioid lawsuits

A federal judge overturned a roughly $4.5 billion settlement that legally shielded members of the Sackler family who stand accused of helping fuel the U.S.

opioid epidemic, a decision that threatened to upend the bankruptcy reorganization of their company, OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP. US District Judge Colleen McMahon said in a written opinion on Thursday the New York bankruptcy court that approved the settlement did not have authority to grant the Sacklers the legal protection from future opioid litigation that formed the linchpin of Purdue's reorganization.

8:46 AM

Modi meets UP BJP MPs for breakfast

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meeting 40 Uttar Pradesh BJP MPs for breakfast this morning, part of an outreach programme before India’s most populous state holds elections next year. Modi inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi on Monday and the next day he chaired a meeting of BJP chief ministers and deputy chief ministers in his parliamentary constituency.

8:21 AM

Cold wave predicted for North, West India

Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely over Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, parts of Gujarat and north Rajasthan over the next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. The mercury is predicted to drop by two to four degrees Celsius in most parts of northwest India, adjoining central India and Gujarat over the next four to five days, it said.

 

7:46 AM

Political parties flag worries for Punjab elections: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said on Thursday political parties in Punjab have said they fear bias by local administrations and the misuse of liquor, cash and drugs in Assembly elections next year. Some political parties also complained that the local administration was not granting permission for holding rallies at designated government grounds in a free manner," Chandra said in Chandigarh.

7:15 AM

Typhoon Rai weakens after hitting Philippines

Typhoon Rai, one of the most powerful tropical storms to hit the Philippines this year, has weakened after hitting southern and central parts of the Southeast Asian country, with one death reported so far, authorities said. Rai, which at one point intensified into a category 5 storm, the highest classification, toppled power and communication lines, damaged homes and displaced hundreds of thousands of people as it passed through the western portion of Visayas and mainland Palawan, said Reuters.

6:19 AM

Alia Bhatt didn't violate Covid rules in traveling to Delhi: BMC official

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has not violated any quarantine rule when she travelled from Mumbai to Delhi, a senior official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) told PTI on Thursday. She had a negative Covid-19 test report before going to Delhi and was not under quarantine, said the unnamed official after social media comments claimed had Bhatt traveled to Delhi for a film shoot in breach of quarantine rules.

5:51 AM

Churchill Capital in talks with Byju's to provide $4 bn

India's Byju’s, rhe world’s most valuable edtech startup, is in talks with Churchill Capital to raise $4 billion and go public through the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) route. The round is expected to more than double the valuation of the Bengaluru-based firm to about $48 billion. More here