Amid doubts over Australian Open participation, Novak Djokovic included in Serbia squad for ATP Cup

Novak Djokovic is likely to begin his 2021 season in Sydney as he was named in the Serbia squad for ATP Cup in January. The 20-time Grand Slam champion was named in the squad for ATP Cup even as he is yet to commit to the Australian Open following the organisers’ mandate for Covid-19 vaccinations. Novak Djokovic…

With 2.5 Crore Vaccinations, India Creates World Record On PM’s Birthday

New Delhi:  India crossed 2.5 crore Covid vaccinations in a day for the first time on Friday as the government raced to deliver a record on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. At 11:58 pm, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted to confirm the “historic” figure.. Earlier, the Prime…

Global Travel To Be Based On Covid Testing, Not Discrimination On Vaccine: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that people who are tested before and after international travel is a good enough basis but some countries have now introduced the issue of vaccination, stressing on the need to reach some understanding. Mr Jaishankar, addressing a joint press interaction following…

No antibodies against Delta variant in 16% samples after two doses of Covishield: Study

A new study claims that neutralising antibodies against the Delta variant (B1.617.2) of Covid-19 were not found in 16.1 per cent samples from those who had been administered both doses of the Covishield vaccine. Further, neutralising antibodies were not observed in 58.1 per cent of serum samples from those who had been…

PM Modi reviews vaccination progress, lauds rise in daily jabs, stresses on pace of testing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a review meet on Covid-19 vaccines on Saturday. The virtual meeting, which began at 5 pm, was attended by senior officials in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Health Secretary and NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul. Officials made a presentation on the progress of…

“Just Give Us The Vaccines”, WHO Pleads, As Poor Countries Lack Doses

Rich countries are opening up societies and vaccinating young people who are not at great risk from COVID-19, while the poorest countries cruelly lack doses, the World Health Organization said on Friday, condemning a global failure. The situation in Africa, where new infections and deaths jumped by nearly 40% last week…

Tax Relief On Money Received For Covid Treatment From Employers

The government on Friday extended deadlines for various income tax compliances and said the amount paid by an employer to employees for COVID-19 treatment would be tax-exempt. Also, payment received from employer by family members in case of death of an employee due to COVID-19 would be exempt from income tax. The…

Bihar nurse jabs man with empty syringe during busy vaccine drive, video goes viral

A man who went to get vaccinated in Chhapra of Bihar was injected with an empty syringe by a nurse working in haste. A video that has gone viral shows the nurse talking to others and swiftly pushing in the needle without any vaccine dose in it. The incident took place in Chhapra city’s ward number 1 near the Bada…

Sputnik V vaccine protects from all known variants of Covid: Head of Russia’s Gamaleya Institute

HIGHLIGHTS Sputnik V has received emergency use approval in India Highly transmissible Delta variant has further mutated to form Delta Plus Antibodies developed after vaccination with Sputnik V protect from all variants: Gintsburg Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine protects against all known variants of Covid-19, said…

Covaxin, Covishield effective against Delta variant of Covid-19: Centre

HIGHLIGHTS 29 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to date 22 cases of Delta Plus variant have been reported in India: Rajesh Bhushan Genome sequencing of a total of 45,000 samples has been conducted at 28 INSACOG labs Covaxin and Covishield are effective against the Delta variant of coronavirus,…