LIVE News Updates: Kerala reports 5,445 new COVID-19 cases, 2,56,850 total cases

India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Thursday said that the department will soon launch a dynamic, impact-based cyclone warning system, aimed at minimising economic losses and damage to property due to the cyclones that hit Indian coasts every year.

The post-monsoon months of October and November offer favourable atmosphere and sea conditions for the occurrence of cyclonic storms, which mainly affect coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal on the east coast and Gujarat on the west coast.

Mohapatra pointed out that the damage caused to infrastructure due to cyclones is increasing the world over. "With India's growing economy, we aim to reduce the damage and economic losses caused to property and infrastructure. The dynamic, impact-based cyclone warning will be commissioned from this season," he said.

Kerala reports 5,445 new COVID-19 cases, 24 fresh fatalities, and 7,003 more recoveries. Infection tally rises to 2,56,850, death toll 930. A total of 90,579 patients are currently undergoing treatment in the state.

A further 696 people on Thursday tested Covid-19 positive in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the Union Territory to 81,793.

A statement issued by the Information and Public Relations Department said of 696 people tested positive on Thursday, 276 are from Jammu division while 420 are from Kashmir division.

Rajasthan records 2138 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths today. The total cases in the state rise to 1,52,605, including 1605 deaths and 21,382 active cases: Government of Rajasthan

UAE: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) win the toss against KingsXI Punjab (KXIP), opt to bat first at Dubai International Cricket Stadium

190 new COVID-19 cases & 3 deaths reported in Manipur today. Total positive cases now at 12,679, including 2877 active cases, 9,719 recoveries & 83 deaths till date. Recovery rate is 76.65 %: Govt of Manipur

Uttar Pradesh reports 3,376 new COVID-19 cases, 45 more fatalities. The infection tally rises to 4,27,459, death toll climbs to 6,245. There are 42,552 active cases of the disease in the state now.

With 37 more fatalities, COVID-19 death toll mounts to 5,653 in Delhi; 2,726 fresh cases push tally beyond three lakh: Authorities

A woman attempted self-immolation inside the office complex of the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Gurugram at around 2 p.m. on Thursday.

The incident took place on the second floor of the building, where the office of the CP is also located. The Commissioner was out on lunch break when the incident took place.

The woman claimed that she took the step in protest against police inaction on a rape complaint filed by her on Sunday at the women's police station in Sector 51.

Tamil Nadu reports 5088 new COVID-19 cases, 5,718 discharges and 68 deaths today. Total cases in the state rise to 6,40,943, including 5,86,454 discharges and 10,052 deaths: Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.

The Met department has forecast isolated thunderstorms and lightning across coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Yanam over the next four days on Thursday.

Heavy thunderstorms are expected in some places on Saturday and Sunday.

"A fresh low pressure area is very likely to form over north Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal by Friday. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression over central Bay of Bengal during the subsequent 24 hours," said a Met official.

Amazon India on Thursday launched its largest specialised fulfilment centre in the country with a storage capacity of more than 1.2 million cubic feet.

Launched ahead of the festive season, the new fulfilment centre in Karnataka is specialised to store and manage customer orders from the large appliances and furniture category.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Thursday announced his government's decision to make wearing of masks mandatory in outdoor spaces in an effort to curb the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his announcement, Conte said that latest measure was required to avoid returning to another economically devastating lockdown in Italy, one of the worst-hit countries in Europe, the BBC reported.

"From now on, masks and protective gear have to be brought with us when we leave our house and worn. We have to wear them all the time unless we are in a situation of continuous isolation," he was quoted as saying.

Dejected over the death of his wife owing to cancer, a widower in Punjab hanged himself after killing his three minor children, police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred in Hamirgarh village in Bathinda district on Wednesday evening.

The accused was identified as Beant Singh, 35. His three children were in the age group of one to six years.

Police said Singh, who earned his livelihood by driving a rehra (wooden cart), was depressed after his wife died in August.

A suicide note said he was upset over his wife's untimely demise.

Plea In Court Seeks To Allow Special Marriage Act To Apply To All Couples, reports NDTV

Around 100 kg of ganja and three kg of hashish oil were seized from two pickup trucks near here on Thursday and four people arrested in this connection, according to the Kerala excise enforcement squad.

"The seizure of the narcotic worth Rs four crore in the international market was made at Attingal. Four people were apprehended and the two vehicles impounded," the Excise Department said in a press release.

Riyas and Jaseem, both from Thiruvananthapuram, and Faisal of Thrissur and Koni of Konnie were the arrested, the release said.

Republic TV included in BARC's analytical report which shows suspicious TRP trends, says Parambir Singh, Mumbai Police Commissioner briefs media

PM bought a plane worth 8,400 crores for himself.

With this amount, so much could have been purchased for our soldiers posted on the Siachen-Ladakh border:

Warm clothes: 30,00,000

Jacket, gloves: 60,00,000

Shoes: 67,20,000

Oxygen cylinder: 16,80,000

PM is only concerned about his image and not soldiers, tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

I would like to ask the CM that is he so scared and frustrated that he would level false allegations? Will Nitish Kumar apologise for the press conference at the JD(U) office where their spokespersons levelled baseless allegations?: Tejashwi Yadav, RJD

8 new COVID-19 cases reported in Dharavi area of Mumbai today, taking the total number of cases to 3,300 including 187 active cases and 2,820 discharges: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)

The air quality of the national capital remained in the poor category on Thursday as forecast said AQI will likely deteriorate in the next three days by Sunday. This could prove acutely hazardous for Covid patients in the capital.

Particulate matter of diameter of 2.5 micrometers that is too small to be filtered out of the body remained the main pollutant.

The System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), which comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has attributed the increase in pollution to gradual increase in stubble burning in the adjoining states. Synergized fire count was 399 on October 7.

Nepal reported 3,439 new coronavirus, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic hit the Himalayan country earlier this year, taking the overall infection tally to 94,253, according to the Health Ministry.

Among the new cases reported on Wednesday, 1,684 were registered in the Kathmandu Valley alone. reports The Himalayan Times.

Currently, the number of total active cases in the country has reached 25,007.

SC pulls up Centre for its "evasive" & "brazen" affidavit on alleged motivated media reporting on Tablighi Jamaat issue

Creating a narrative that defames a woman’s character and holding her somehow responsible for crimes committed against her is revolting and regressive. A heinous crime has been committed at Hathras, leaving a 20-year-old Dalit woman dead.

..Her body has been burned without the participation or consent of her family. SHE DESERVES JUSTICE NOT SLANDER., tweeted Priyanka Gandhi.

Odisha's COVID-19 tally rises to 2,44,142 with 3,144 new cases; 16 fresh fatalities push death toll to 974: Health official

195 police personnel tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking total positive cases to 24,581 in the force, including 21,862 recoveries, 2,462 active cases, and 257 deaths: Maharashtra Police

Telangana reported 1,896 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally of infections to 2,06,644, while the death toll rose to 1,201 with 12 more fatalities, a state government bulletin said on Thursday.

Confrontation between the 49th battalion of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel and Nepalese citizens has taken place near Sundar Nagar village in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district, which has led to tension in the area.

A man was allegedly hacked to death using a knife in Mahimapur village in Gauriganj area, police said on Thursday.

The COVID-19 tally of Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose to 3,935 on Thursday as 23 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

A man was allegedly hacked to death using a knife in Mahimapur village in Gauriganj area, police said on Thursday.

Tripura's COVID-19 tally rose to 27,759 on Thursday as 214 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

India's COVID-19 tally crosses 68-lakh mark with a spike of 78,524 new cases & 971 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. Total case tally stands at 68,35,656 including 9,02,425 active cases, 58,27,705 cured/discharged/migrated cases & 1,05,526 deaths: Union Health Ministry

US Ambassador to India Ken Juster congratulates Indian Air Force on their 88th anniversary on Thursday. He says, "Defence cooperation is a cornerstone of the US-India relationship, as we work together to secure a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the Indian Air Force on its foundation day, saying the courage, valour and dedication of its soldiers to protect the country inspire everyone. In a tweet on the Air Force Day, he lauded the force and said its brave soldiers do not only protect Indian skies, but also play a leading role in serving humanity during any crisis.

A man died and two others were injured after unidentified miscreants opened fire at them near Sudama crossing here, police said on Thursday. The incident took place on Wednesday evening when Gopal Chauhan (47) and his brother were traveling on a bike, Superintendent of Police Shripathi Mishra said.

Jharkhand's COVID-19 tally rose to 89,702 on Thursday as 829 more people tested positive for the infection, a health official said.

Fifty six fresh coronavirus cases were reported in Agra in the last 24 hours taking the total number to 6,110, the state authorities said on Thursday.