Delta plus a Covid-19 'variant of concern' in India: Health ministry

NEW DELHI: The Union health ministry on Tuesday alerted Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh governments on the Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 after certain districts reported the presence of the virus in some of the samples tested from these states. It advised the authorities to strictly enforce the Covid-19 protocols and intensify containment measures in the districts where the variant has been found....more

António Guterres secures second term as UN Secretary-General

By Deepak Arora

UNITED NATIONS: António Guterres was on Friday re-appointed to a second term as UN Secretary-General, pledging as his priority, to continue helping the world chart a course out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking the oath of office in the General Assembly Hall, Guterres said he was aware of the immense responsibilities bestowed on him at this critical moment in history....more

Delta Covid-19 Variant Becoming Globally Dominant: WHO

GENEVA: The Delta variant of Covid-19, first identified in India, is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Friday. Swaminathan also voiced disappointment in the failure of CureVac's vaccine candidate in a trial to meet the WHO's efficacy standard, in particular as highly transmissible variants boost the need for new, effective shots....more

U.S. Navy says carrier group operating in S. China Sea

TAIPEI: A U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday, at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, which claims most the disputed waterway. China frequently objects to U.S. military missions in the South China Sea saying they do not help promote peace or stability, and the announcement follows China blasting the Group of Seven nations for a statement scolding Beijing over a range of issues....more

Jet Airways is back! NCLT approves Kalrock-Jalan consortium's resolution plan

MUMBAI: The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on June 22, approved the Kalrock-Jalan consortium's resolution plan for Jet Airways, with riders. The Mumbai bench of the NCLT has given the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) 90 days from June 22 to allot slots to the airline, CNBC-TV18 has reported. The civil aviation regulator will make the final decision on allotment of slots....more

Nato summit: leaders declare China presents security risk

BRUSSELS: Nato leaders have declared China presents a security risk at their annual summit in Brussels, the first time the traditionally Russia-focused military alliance has asserted it needs to respond to Beijing’s growing power. The final communique, signed off by leaders of the 30-member alliance at the urging of the new US administration, said China’s “stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order”....more

India Plans To Restore 2.6 Crore Hectares Of Degraded Land By 2030: Modi

NEW DELHI: India is working towards restoring 2.6 crore hectares of degraded land by 2030 and assisting fellow developing countries to develop land-restoration strategies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a high-level United Nations dialogue today. Asserting that land degradation affects over two-thirds of the world today, Modi said if left unchecked, it will erode the very foundations of our societies, economies, food security, health, safety and quality of life....more

China sends record 28 fighter jets toward Taiwan

TAIPEI: China flew a record 28 fighter jets toward the self-ruled island of Taiwan on Tuesday, the island's defense ministry said, the largest such display of force since Beijing began sending planes on a near daily basis last year. Taiwan's air force deployed its combat air patrol forces in response and monitored the situation in the southwestern part of the island's air defense identification zone with its air defense systems, the Ministry of National Defense said....more

IFFCO develops world’s 1st Nano Urea

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI: World’s 1st Nano Urea Liquid is introduced for the farmers across the world by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) in the presence of its RGB members in its 50th annual general body meeting held online-offline mode. This is an inspiration taken from the call of the Prime Minister of India for reducing the use of Urea in the soil. The Nano Urea Liquid is indigenously developed after many years of dedicated and sincere research of IFFCO’s Scientists and Engineers through a proprietary technology developed at Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Kalol, in the tune of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Krishi’.

Amarnath Yatra Cancelled For The Second Year In A Row Amid COVID-19

NEW DELHI: The Amarnath Yatra has been cancelled for the second year in a row amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, in view of the evolving COVID-19 situation, registration for Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended. The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board had said that the situation is being constantly monitored. The 56-day Amarnath Yatra was due to start simultaneously on both routes from June 28 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan, August 22....more

After first infection, Covid-19 risk reduces for up to 10 months: Study

LONDON: The risk of contracting the coronavirus disease after a previous infection will substantially reduce for up to 10 months, according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal. The research, which published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity on Thursday, looked at rates of Covid-19 infections between October last year and February this year among over 2000 care home residents and staff in England....more

Covishield produced more antibodies than Covaxin, claims study

NEW DELHI: Covishield triggered more antibodies than Covaxin, claims a preprint of the first Indian study involving doctors and nurses who received both doses of either of the two Covid-19 vaccines. The study by Dr AK Singh and his colleagues states that both vaccines elicited a good immune response. Unpublished data had earlier indicated that Covishield was found to be 70 per cent effective after the first dose. At the same time, preliminary data from its phase 3 trial put Covaxin's efficacy rate at 81 per cent....more

AstraZeneca shots should be halted for over-60s: EMA official

MILAN: Countries should avoid giving the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to people over 60 in addition to younger age groups, the head of the EU drug regulator's COVID-19 task force was quoted on Sunday as saying, amid fears over rare blood clotting and as alternative vaccines become available. The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) position is that the AstraZeneca shot is safe and can be used for all age groups over 18. However several European Union member states have restricted its use to those in the age range 50 to 65, due to rare cases of blood clotting, mainly among young people....more

'Delta' Variant Of COVID-19 Mutates Into 'Delta Plus'

NEW DELHI, June 15: The 'delta' variant of COVID-19 - a version first detected in India - has evolved to form the 'delta plus' or AY.1 variant. Scientists say it has acquired a mutation associated with escaping immunity but stress there is "no cause for concern yet". The 'delta plus' variant is a mutated version of the more aggressive B.1.617.2 strain that drove the second wave of infections in India. It is characterised by the K417N mutation in the spike protein of the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease....more

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The Story of a Carpet is a short film portraying the making of luxury handmade rugs at Unlimited Style Rugs' factory in India.
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