Pfizer Inc. And BioNTech said their vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. "Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine's ability to prevent COVID-19. We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen. With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis. We look forward to sharing additional efficacy and safety data generated from thousands of participants in the coming weeks" Pfizer Chairman and CEO, Albert Bourla had said.

PM Modi launched the first seaplane service in India between the Statue of Unity near Kevadiya and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 31. The 19-seater plane will take nearly 40 minutes to cover a distance of around 200 kms. The service is operated by SpiceJet's fully-owned subsidiary, Spice Shuttle. As of now, daily two flights will be operated on the Ahmedabad-Kevadiya route from November 1. SpiceJet is also exploring other routes and destinations for the seaplane service, including Port Blair to Havelock, Delhi to Haridwar, Delhi to Rishikesh and Naini Lake, Udaipur, Dal lake, Leh and backwaters in Kerala.

Heidi Sarna of Quirky Cruises, a famous travel writer wrote a lovely article in the newly launched seven nights river cruise experience through the Kerala Backwaters. A highly experiential cruise from Kochi, down South and then up to Alleppey is a very culturally immersive voyage. One experiences apart from the destination of Kochi, martial arts and Kathakali dance Centres, coir and brass making and fishing villages, bird sanctuary, temples, churches, traditional boat building yard, canoe rides and sailing through narrow canals and many more lovely experiences. All this on-board the wooden nine cabin river cruise boat Vaikundam with en-suite comfortable cabins offering all required amenities and facilities. With a sun deck, lounge and bar, restaurant, massage room, this is indeed luxury and comfort all together.

Read full article

Khichan is a little Indian village in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan and it has been home to migratory cranes from Mangolia since the early 1970s. At around October each year when winter comes to their breeding grounds, around 35000 of them fly almost 5000 kilometres across the mighty Himalayas. Upon reaching warmer Khichan, they make it their home for the next 6 months.

Click here to read full article

Russian tourist charter operators have expressed interest in flight landing slots at Goa's Dabolim International Airport, for the upcoming tourism season. Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat after a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Port Minister Michael Lobo said we are expecting chartered flights from the rest of Europe too. But Russian (charter operators) have asked for slots for landing in Goa. We welcome this interest, but we need a green signal from the Centre Government," Lobo said. Russian travellers account for the largest chunk of foreign tourists to Goa, a popular beach and nightlife tourism destination, followed by the UK.

A new terminal building will soon be coming up at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, which is a major hub for travel around Northeast India. Cruising on the Brahmaputra River offers an immersive travel experience to explore Assam and the best way to access the remote and unexplored part of this beautiful state of North East. Guwahati airport currently handles over six million passengers annually, after the construction of the new terminal building the airport will be capable to handle 4300 domestic and 200 international passengers during peak hours and about 10 million passengers annually. Serving to the one of the fastest growing cities in India, Guwahati Airport also has connectivity with the South East Asia region and is going to attract more passengers in the coming years. With the government’s increasing focus to make the Northeast more accessible through various air connectivity schemes, the biggest and the busiest airport of the Northeast will be witnessing infrastructural development.

The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has reopen on November 1, almost 15 days ahead of its schedule, with Covid restrictions. However, wildlife enthusiasts will not be able to enjoy the elephant safaris that have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the forest officials, tourists would be made to go through thermal scanning and those younger than 10 years and those above 65 years have been barred from entering the reserve.

Also, jeep rides have been made expensive due to reduced seating capacity, officials said. There will be a fine of Rs 500 for those not wearing a mask and tourists would have to carry a personal sanitizer.

Only four tourists will be allowed in every safari jeep other than the driver and forest guide. There would be limited food items in the canteen and different timetables would be given to tourists for entering the canteen to ensure social distancing.

In its latest announcement, India has now entered into an air bubble agreement with the Netherlands and Tanzania, taking the number of countries with which such an arrangement has been made to 20. The air bubble with the Netherlands is effective from November 1, 2020.

On the air bubble with the Netherlands, a circular from the Ministry of Civil Aviation read, "India has created an air bubble with the Netherlands w.e.f 01 st November 2020 and would remain valid till resumption of scheduled international flights between the two countries." The circular also mentions that Indian nationals or nationals of Nepal or Bhutan stranded in any country in the EU/Schengen area, South America or Africa as well as all OCI cardholders and PIO cardholders holding passports of any country, can travel on the flights from the Netherlands to India. All foreign nationals (from any country in the EU/Schengen area, South America or Africa only) intending to visit India for any purpose (including their dependents on the appropriate category of dependent visa) except those on Tourist Visa and seamen from EU/Schengen area, South America or Africa can also travel on these flights.

International passengers taking their flights from the Delhi airport can now get themselves tested for Covid-19 right before their departure.

The Covid-19 testing facility, which started operating on September 12 at the Delhi airport, was available only for arrival passengers till date.

The facility has now been extended to air travellers leaving India for other countries. Notably, international travel rules require passengers travelling from one country to another to produce Covid negative reports.

The lab uses RT-PCR tests and provides reports within 4-6 hours. It means that the travellers should arrive at the airport 7-8 hours before their scheduled flight to take the test.