The UK economy grew at double the pace expected in the fourth quarter, capping a year that delivered the worst slump since 1709.

Gross domestic product rose 1 per cent from the third quarter, fuelled by a boom in construction and government spending. That averted the risk of a second recession early this year but left a 9.9 per cent contraction for the whole of 2020, the biggest slump since a Great Frost killed crops across Europe.

The Shiv Sena, which is in power in Maharashtra, on Saturday accused state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari of toeing the BJP's line, and said that if the Centre wants the Constitution to be upheld, it should recall him.

The party also asserted that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) dispensation is stable and strong, and added that the Centre cannot use the governor's shoulders to take aim at the state government.

The TMC on Friday called party leader Dinesh Trivedi "ungrateful" after he resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat, while the BJP, jubilant over his decision, invited him to join its camp.

Trivedi's resignation dealt yet another blow to the Mamata Banerjee camp, which is grappling with exodus of party members ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls.

A high-level committee headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday approved around Rs3,113 crore to five states that faced natural disasters and pest attacks in 2020.

The states and union territory that will get the additional central assistancefrom the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF)are AndhraPradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Madhya Pradesh, a home ministry statement said.

Vistara on Saturday said it will start flights between Mumbai and Male from March 3 onwards under the air bubble arrangement formed between India and the Maldives.

The airline will deploy its three-class A320neo aircraft on this route, said its press release.

India's tally of Covid-19 cases rose to 108,92,746 with 12,143 new infections being reported in a day, while the recoveries crossed1.06 crore, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday.

The death toll increased to 155,550 with 103 daily new fatalities, data updated at 8 am showed.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is replying to the discussion on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha today, February 13. Saturday also marks the end of the first part of the Budget session of the Parliament.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is being procured by the government at a lower price of Rs 210 per dose, the Lok Sabha was told on Friday.

Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey was responding to a question on whether the government is aware that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is being sold to European Union nations at comparatively lower price that to India.

A total of 97.72 lakh healthcare workers and 71.64 lakh frontline workers have been registered on Co-WIN application till February 9, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Till 9th February 2021, a total of 65.28 lakh beneficiaries have received 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine, he said in a written reply.

Shares of Ashok Leyland on Friday tumbled 8 per cent after the company reported a net loss of Rs 19 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020.

The stock tanked 8 per cent to Rs 124.10 on BSE.

On NSE, it plunged 6.77 per cent to Rs 125.90.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.