Breaking news: Bihar announces ₹1.30 VAT cut on petrol, ₹1.90 on diesel

The national capital on Wednesday registered 41 new Covid-19 cases, which took the caseload to 1,439,963, according to the health department's bulletin. No patient succumbed to the viral disease and the toll remains at 25,091. 

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a reduction of ₹7 in VAT levied on petrol and diesel, reported news agency ANI. Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb also announced a reduction in VAT. 

In its annual report to Congress on China’s military, the Pentagon warned that China is expanding its nuclear force at a much faster pace than what was originally predicted, reported Reuters.

Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri urged states to add to the “celebration” brought by Centre's reduction of excise duty on petrol and diesel on Wednesday by reducing the amount of VAT charged by states on fuel. “The states should add to this celebration by reducing VAT on fuel to give further relief to consumers,” he tweeted.

Centre announced excise duty reduction on petrol and diesel on Wednesday, reducing the excise duty levied on petrol and diesel by ₹5 and ₹10 respectively from Thursday, news agency ANI reported.

The US Commerce department blacklisted Israel's NSO group citing Pegasus spyware, reported Reuters on Wednesday. The department alleged that the company sold spyware to foreign governments that is being used to target government officials, journalists and others.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that even though China is unlikely to try to militarily seize Taiwan in the next couple of years, they might choose to do so at some point in the future. "Based on my analysis of China, I don't think that it is likely in the near future -- being defined as, you know, six, 12, maybe 24 months, that kind of window," Milley said, reported Reuters.

Delhi's LNJP hospital set up a 10 bed burn ward for treating burn injuries in wake of Diwali celebration. "Firecrackers are banned, so we don't expect many casualties, but if they do, we're fully prepared," Dr. Prabhat Shrivastava told ANI.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out joint flight tests of indigenously-developed smart anti-airfield weapon, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The Technical Advisory Group, convened by the UN health agency, determined that the Covaxin meets WHO standards for protection against coroanvirus disease (Covid-19) and the benefit of the vaccine far outweighs risks. "Covaxin vaccine was also reviewed by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), and recommended use of this vaccine in two doses, with a dose interval of four weeks, in all age groups 18 and above," WHO said in a series of tweets.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) technical advisory team recommended Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for emergency use listing (EUL) on Wednesday. 

Centre released GST compensation of ₹17,000 crores to states on Wednesday, said the finance ministry. So far during the year 2021-22 centre has released ₹60,000 crores as GST compensation to states and UTs.

The Ambassadors of Vietnam, Kenya, and Trinidad performed ‘Rajtilak’ on artists dejecting characters of Lord Ram, Lord Laxman and Goddess Sita during Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya, reported ANI.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav told news agency ANI that his party will attempt to form an alliance with his uncle Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohiya). “It has been the endeavour of Samajwadi Party to stich alliance with smaller parties. Naturally, we are going to forge an alliance with the party of uncle (Shivpal Singh Yadav) as well. Samajwadi Party will give him full respect,” he said. 

At a Covid-19 vaccination review meet with districts Prime Minister Narendra Modi told officials that they "can take help of local religious leaders, make their short videos and circulate it" to help vaccination pick up pace and to dispel any rumours and misinformation amongst the masses, reported ANI.

State Bank of India, the country's largest lender by assets, reported a record quarterly profit on Wednesday as provisions for bad loans more than halved, said a report by Reuters. 

SBI's net profit rose 66.7% to 76.27 billion rupees ($1.02 billion) for the three months ended Sept. 30, from 45.74 billion rupees a year earlier, beating analysts' expectations for a profit of 71.82 billion rupees, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a review meet with the districts having low vaccination coverage, warned that a new crisis will follow, if the country becomes lax after achieving a milestone of administering 1 billion (100 crore) vaccine doses.

“Progress made so far is due to your hardwork. Every member of admn,ASHA workers worked a lot, walked for miles & took vaccination to remote locations. But if we become lax after 1 Billion, a new crisis can come,” news agency ANI quoted PM Modi as saying on Wednesday. Read more

Pakistan has refused its airspace to Go First's Srinagar-Sharjah flight and has raised concerns over the use of their airspace by the airline, news agency ANI reported a government source as saying.

“Matter reported to the concerned ministries. MoCA, MEA & MHA looking into it,” the source further told ANI.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration will soon hand over 122 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India to build a state-of-the-art 25,000 square metre new terminal building at the airport here, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying on Wednesday.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said even though Covid-19 cases have gone down, people should continue to wear masks if they are visiting markets during Diwali festival.

“Dengue cases are also rising. By removing all sources of stagnant water, we can prevent dengue,” he added. 

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that his government is preparing a web portal named Delhi Bazaar for businessmen, industrialists, professionals, through which they can promote their products all over the world.