LIVE: Merck's Covid pill secures green light from UK regulator

Live news updates: Bharat Biotech's home-grown Covid-19 vaccine now many be used for Covid-19 inoculation in poor countries.

1:55 PM

Bihar CM announces reduction of VAT on fuel prices

1:40 PM

India records 12,885 new Covid cases, 461 deaths in a day

India saw a single-day rise of 12,885 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's infection tally to 3,43,21,025, while the count of active cases has declined to 148,579, the lowest in 253 days, according to Union Health Ministry data on Thursday.

 

The death toll due to the disease has climbed to 459,652, with 461 more fatalities being recorded, the data updated at 8 am showed.

 

The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 27 straight days, and less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 130 consecutive days now.

1:07 PM

Diwali 2021: PM Modi distributes sweets among army soldiers and interacts with them at Nowshera

1:01 PM

The role played by this brigade during the surgical strike fills everyone with pride: PM Modi

The role played by this brigade during the surgical strike fills everyone with pride. I will remember that day forever as it was decided that all soldiers should return before sunset... I was sitting beside phone & was asking about whereabouts of every soldier...: PM Modi

12:48 PM

Watch video: PM Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers

12:41 PM

I have spent each Diwali with soldiers guarding our borders, says PM Modi

I have spent each Diwali with soldiers guarding our borders. Today, I have brought along with me the blessings of crores of Indians for our soldiers here.

12:39 PM

Our soldiers are like 'suraksha kawach, says PM Modi

Our soldiers are the 'suraksha kawach' of 'Maa Bharti'. It is because of you all that people of our country can sleep peacefully and there is happiness during festivals: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Nowshera

12:30 PM

Connectivity in border areas has improved: PM Modi at Nowshera, J&K

Connectivity in border areas has improved- be it from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, Jaisalmer to Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This has helped us enhance our deployment capability: PM Modi at Nowshera, J&K

 

11:31 AM

Pakistan eases Covid-19 curbs on air travel, allows inbound air traffic at full capacity

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said inbound air traffic will now operate at full quantum with effect from Nov 10, 2021, Dawn reported.

The forum further stated that five countries had been placed in category C on the basis of high positivity, high daily Covid-19 cases/deaths and low vaccination rate. These countries are Armenia, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Iraq and Mexico.
 

On the other hand, Mongolia, Slovenia, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Ukraine have been included in high-risk countries.

10:32 AM

Coronavirus in India: Latest update by MoHFW

India reports 12,885 new Covid-19 cases, 15,054 recoveries and 461 deaths in the last 24 hours.

 

10:12 AM

Haryana government reduces VAT on petrol and diesel in the state

10:06 AM

Travellers fully vaccinated with Covaxin can enter US from Nov 8

Travellers fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with Covaxin have been given the green light to enter the US from November 8.

 

Talking to ANI over updating the approved travel list for Covaxin, CDC press officer, Scott Pauley said, "CDC's travel guidance applies to FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines and encompasses any new vaccines that may be added to either of those lists over time."

 

The last-minute addition comes less than one week before the US launches its new travel system, which grants entry to foreign travellers who have received a vaccine that has been approved for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or WHO. Read on...

10:04 AM

Army Chief General Naravane extends greetings to people on Diwali

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane on Thursday extended his greetings to people on the occasion of Diwali.

 

Taking to Twitter, Additional Directorate General of Public Information- Indian Army said, "General MM Naravane COAS and All Ranks of IndianArmy extend greetings on the occasion of Diwali. On this day, let us remember the valour and sacrifice of our Bravehearts."

 

This year Diwali is being celebrated on Thursday, that is, November 4. People celebrate the festival by decorating their houses, exchanging gifts, and offering prayers in order to commemorate the "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance."

10:01 AM

Samvat 2078: More bang than whimper for rupee, bond this new year

It was a Samvat like no other for the Indian bond market. Be that as it may, Samvat 2078 could be even more interesting for the rupee, say experts.

 

The 10-year bond yield was at 5.88 per cent at the beginning of Samvat 2077 - a result of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI's) extraordinary liquidity measures and active intervention to keep yields below 6 per cent to make it easy for the government and the corporate entities to borrow. The 10-year yields closed at 6.34 per cent on Wednesday - a rise of 48 basis points.

 

By the end of Samvat, although the RBI had relaxed its tight grip on the market, it had stopped additional liquidity infusion. It is expected to make liquidity draining operations more durable, mainly through simultaneous secondary market bond sales sometime later in the year. Read on...

9:58 AM

UP CM thanks PM Modi for excise duty cut on petrol, diesel; calls it 'Diwali gift'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reducing excise duty on petrol and diesel and termed it as a gift on the occasion of Diwali.

 

"We are thankful to the Prime Minister that excise duty on diesel and petrol has been reduced. When inflation comes into people's lives, diesel and petrol contribute to it. This is a great relief. This is the gift of the Prime Minister on the occasion of Diwali," Adityanath told reporters today.

 

The Chief Minister today offered prayers at the Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya. He also offered prayers to 'Ram Lalla' at Ram Janambhoomi in Ayodhya.

 

On the occasion of Diwali, the CM extended his greetings to the people and said, "I express my best wishes to the people of the state for a very happy Diwali."