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Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government may soon open schools for teachers of Classes 1-8 and academic staff. The schools have been shut till date in view of the 2nd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The schools will open for teachers who will be called for departmental work and holding of the online classes. Students are unlikely to be called to schools for now. Lucknow division’s AD Basic Pratap Narayan Singh said that teachers have been allowed to be called back to schools, however, they will be called only when necessary and no one will be forced to come, reported Zee News. Prior to this, over 1.5 lakh schools, under the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Board (UPBEB), were permitted to reopen for teachers and academic staff from July 1. An order issued by UPBEB secretary Pratap Singh Baghel, however, said schools will remain shut for students till further orders. “Schools may call teachers and employees based on requirement,” the order said. After reopening, government schools will und

Shimla: After over a month and a half of suspension, the state-run Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) resumed its interstate operations, including luxury buses, on Thursday. The public transport was suspended on May 10 with the imposition of statewide restrictions to check the spread of Covid-19. An official statement quoting Transport Minister Bikram Singh said to facilitate the people 317 interstate buses started. Out of these, 15 would be Volvo buses, four deluxe and 298 ordinary buses. Covid-19 protocols would be ensured in the buses. The routes on which the buses have started include Delhi, Chandigarh, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Ambala, among others. Earlier, HRTC resumed operations on June 14 on 1,226 intrastate routes. (Except the headline, India.com has not edited this copy) source https://www.india.com/news/india/himachal-road-transport-corporation-hrtc-resumes-interstate-operations-of-buses-4780441/

New Delhi: In a major development, pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila has applied for the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the launch of its DNA Covid-19 vaccine that can be administered to children aged 12 years as well as adults. The vaccine has completed the third phase of clinical trials. The company plans to manufacture up to 120 million doses of the shot annually. The development comes as a great relief for children who are waiting to be vaccinated amidst the possibility of the third wave of Covid-19, which experts have warned may affect the kids primarily. The Centre had earlier informed the Supreme Court that Zydus Cadila had concluded the clinical trials of its vaccine for the 12+ age group, and the shots would be available soon. “It is submitted that Zydus Cadila which is developing DNA vaccines has concluded its clinical trial for between the age group of 12 to 18 years of age and subject to the statutory permission

Mumbai: Coronavirus vaccination will not be conducted on Thursday (July 1, 2021) due to a shortage of jabs at the civic-run as well as government-run centres in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced. that In a statement issued on Wednesday, the civic body said the vaccination drive will resume once it receives a fresh stock of vaccines. “The citizens of Mumbai will be informed about the extent to which the stock of vaccines will be available. Vaccination will be resumed once vaccine stocks become available,” said a statement issued by the BMC on Wednesday. According to the BMC, so far 54,35,731 citizens have been inoculated in the metropolis. Of these, 10,72,578 beneficiaries have received the second dose as well. On Wednesday, 63,579 citizens got the jabs, including 20,259 second doses, the civic body said. Presently, there are 399 active COVID-19 vaccination centres in Mumbai – 281 operated by the BMC, 20 government-run and 98 private centres. Mahar

New Delhi: Days after the Serum Institute of India (SII) authorities applied for permission from the Drug Controller and General of India (DCGI) to conduct a clinical trial of the Covovax vaccine among paediatric population, an expert panel recommended against it. The SII had sought permission to conduct the phase 2/3 trial of the Indian version of US-based Novavax Inc-developed vaccine named Covovax on children aged two to 17 years, sources said. The SII wanted to conduct the trial of Covovax on 920 children, 460 each in the 12-17 and 2-11 age groups, at 10 sites. “The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which deliberated on the application, noted that the vaccine has not been approved in any country,” a source said. “It also recommended that the Pune-based company should submit the safety and immunogenicity data (of Covovax) from the ongoing clinical trial in adults for considering the conduct of a clinical trial i

New Delhi: With the European Union (EU) relaxing travel restrictions under its ‘Green Passport’ scheme and the ongoing controversy over its move to not include India’s Covishield and Covaxin for its Digital Covid Certificate, India has requested EU member states to individually consider extending the exemption to Indians who have taken Covishield and Covaxin. The EU’s reluctance in accepting India-made vaccines for its ‘vaccination passport’ has also prompted the nation to come up with a reciprocal policy for recognition of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, said sources. The sources said India has requested the EU member nations to accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal. The European Union’s Digital COVID certificate framework to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic is to come into effect on Thursday (July 1). Under this framework, persons who have taken vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be exempted from trave

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today address the medical fraternity on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day. The event is being organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The Doctors’ Day is observed in the honour of noted doctor and former West Bengal chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy, whose birth and death anniversaries fall on July 1. Meanwhile, a severe heatwave swept the national capital on Wednesday with the mercury settling at 43.5 degrees Celsius, the highest so far this year, the India Meteorological Department said. A respite from the heat is unlikely anytime soon as the monsoon is at least a week away, according to the IMD. In a major relief to aspirants, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to provide “opt-out” option to a candidate in the CA exams scheduled from July 5, on account of Covid-related difficulties faced by them or their family members. Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for latest news

Delhi Unlock Latest News : Saying that they have suffered a severe loss due to the lockdown, the gym associations on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to waive fixed electricity rental charges for the next six months. They have written a letter to Kejriwal government and said that they have received electricity bills with fixed charges for the last few months even though the gyms were closed during this time due to the lockdown. This electricity bill has added to their woes during this pandemic time, they said in the letter. Granting their request, the Kejriwal government had on June 28 allowed the gyms to reopen after a months-long closure due to the pandemic. The Delhi government has allowed them to open at 50 per cent capacity at present. “Gyms have been closed for almost two-and-a-half months but we have still got electricity bills with fixed charges for the lockdown period. Our industry is one of the most impacted and with these fixed charges, our survival is becomi

New Delhi: To mark National Doctor’s Day during this pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the medical fraternity on Thursday at a time when they played a crucial role in saving the lives of lakhs of people as the whole country has been passing through the worst ever health crisis. Notably, PM Modi’s address will begin at 3 PM via video conferencing to show his gratitude towards them for their tireless support amid the crisis. The event will be hosted by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Since the Covid-19 pandemic has struck, the importance of doctors has been realised worldwide. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “India is proud of the efforts of all doctors in fighting Covid-19. 1st July is marked as National Doctors Day. At 3 PM tomorrow, will address the doctor’s community at a programme organised by @IMAIndiaOrg.” India is proud of the efforts of all doctors in fighting COVID-19. 1st July is marked as National Doctors Day. At 3 PM tomorrow, will address the d

Canada has been reeling under catastrophic heatwave leaving over 200 dead in British Columbia. It was an “unprecedented time,” according to the province’s chief coroner. According to the country’s weather service, Environment Canada, the deaths came as Canada set a new all-time high-temperature record for the third day in a row Tuesday, reaching 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49.5 degrees Celsius) in Lytton, British Columbia, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) east of Vancouver. At least 134 people have died suddenly since Friday in the Vancouver area, according to figures released by the city police department and the Royal Canadian Mounted police. The Vancouver Police Department alone said it had responded to more than 65 sudden deaths since Friday, with the vast majority “related to the heat.” The deaths came as Canada set a new all-time high-temperature record for the third day in a row Tuesday, reaching 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49.5 degrees Celsius) in Lytton, British Columbia, about 155

Maharashtra Lockdown Latest News: Even as the state asked the districts to impose further curbs in view of the Delta Plus Variant, the Aurangabad district administration on Wednesday relaxed the lockdown curbs and allowed the historic monuments to open for tourists till 4 PM. The district administration has issued fresh guidelines in this regard. This decision to unlock the district was taken as Aurangabad is home to Ajanta and Ellora Caves, a world heritage site, as well as Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, Daultabad (Devgiri) fort, Aurangabad caves among others. Notably, these monuments were reopened on June 18 after remaining shut for over three months amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Two days back, the district administration capped the number of people permitted to enter monuments at 500 people per session in the morning and afternoon, half of what was being allowed earlier. After the monuments reopened, tourists are allowed to visit them from sunrise to sunset. However, as pe

New Delhi: After the Brazilian government announced temporary suspension of its 20 million dose COVID-19 vaccine contract with Bharat Biotech following allegations of irregularities in the deal, the hydrabad-based drug maker said it had followed a ‘step-by-step’ approach towards contracts and regulatory approvals with the country. “In the specific case of procurement of Covaxin by the Ministry of Health, Brazil, since the first meetings during Nov 2020 until June 29, a step-by-step approach has been followed towards contracts, and regulatory approvals, during this eight-month-long process,” Bharat Biotech said in a statement. “EUA received on June 4. As of June 29, Bharat Biotech has not received any advance payments nor supplied any vaccines to MOH Brazil. Bharat Biotech has followed a similar approach towards contracts, regulatory approvals and supplies in several countries worldwide, where Covaxin is being supplied successfully,” added the vaccine maker. Furthermore, it asserted

New Delhi: Four men were arrested for allegedly robbing Rs 2.37 lakh from a cash collection agent of an e-commerce company by threatening him with a toy pistol in south Delhi’s Maidan Garhi area, police said on Wednesday. Accused Pradeep (21), Sonu (22) and Neeraj (21) executed the robbery on Tuesday based on information provided by a person identified as Sanjeev (24), they said. They planned the robbery to fund their drug addiction, the police said. According to the police, the victim, Ganesh Sahani, works with a cash collection company based in Mohan Estate on Mathura Road. After collecting Rs 2,37,774 cash from an e-commerce company in Saidulajab on Tuesday, Sahani was on his way to Mehrauli on his motorcycle when three men threatened him with a toy pistol and robbed him, a senior police officer said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Atul Kumar Thakur said, “We registered a case and during the course of investigation, we found that the three men who committed the robbery wer

Kiev: Couples who are unable to have children on their own are now flocking to Ukraine, a country where the commercial surrogacy industry has boomed so much so, that they are now referred to as ‘baby factories’. Notably, Ukraine is one of the few places in the world where commercial surrogacy is allowed and because of that, surrogacy birth industry has literally exploded. According to experts, around 2,500 and 3,000 children are born every year through surrogacy in Ukraine for foreign parents and about a third of the customers are Chinese, AFP reported. Ukraine especially boomed as a key player in this segment especially after India and Thailand outlawed commercial surrogacy for foreigners. Some estimates suggest that the global commercial surrogacy market is now worth five billion euros. Price to pay for a baby According to the deal, intended parents are generally required to be married heterosexual couples and to have proof of their infertility diagnosis. The average price of a s

Thiruvananthapuram: Anil Kant, a 1988 batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Kerala, reported news agency ANI. He will replace outgoing Kerala police chief Lokanath Behera who is slated to retire on Tuesday day after a 36-year-long career. Kant is said to be a low profile officer and has been serving as ADGP South zone. Hailing from Delhi, Kant is set to get himself into record books by becoming the first from the Dalit community to become the top police officer in Kerala. Expressing happiness, Kant said women security would be his top priority, as always has been the case. “We will work towards ensuring women’s security in the state. Maintaining law and order will be a priority,” Kant was quoted as saying by news platform Manorama. Kant will be heading Kerala’s 50,000-strong police force. According to local reports, the names of Sudesh Kumar, B Sandhya and Kant were on the final list that was sent to the state by the Union Public Servic

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has tightened curbs for travellers coming from neighbouring state of Maharashtra amid rising concerns over delta plus variant of coronavirus. Most of the 50-odd cases found till date in the country are from Maharashtra. The Karnataka government has said that a negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours or vaccination certificate of at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine needs to be compulsorily produced by passengers coming to the state from Maharashtra. “Negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours or vaccination certificate of at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine shall be compulsorily produced by the passengers coming to Karnataka by flight, bus, train, taxi, personal transport, etc. This will also be applicable for all the flights originating from Maharashtra to Karnataka,” state chief secretary P Ravi Kumar said in an order, according to news agency PTI. Here are the fresh guidelines issued by Karnataka govt for travellers from

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ascertain within 6 weeks the ex-gratia amount that can be paid to the family members of those who died due to COVID-19 as per the minimum standards of relief. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan stated that the NDMA, by not providing ex-gratia amount, has failed in discharging its statutory duty. The top court order came on PILs which were filed by advocates Gaurav Kumar Bansal and Reepak Kansal seeking court’s intervention for payment of Rs four lakh ex-gratia amount to the Covid victims’ families. Bansal cited Section 12(iii) of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) providing for ex-gratia monetary compensation for the families of those who died during a notified disaster. Meanwhile, the bench also comprising Justice MR Shah emphasized that the guidelines should be put in place within six months. “What reasonable amount to be provided is left to wis

Dilip Kumar Hospitalised: Legendary actor Dilip Kumar has been rushed to hospital in Mumbai after complaining of breathlessness. Dilip Kumar has been admitted into (ICU) and is currently stable, as per agency reports. As per the report in Indian Express , a source told: “Dilip Kumar was brought to the hospital yesterday (Tuesday), he had the same complaints that he had last time. So his family probably thought it was best to bring him to the hospital, considering his age and also because he was previously admitted with the same complaint. Today the doctors will see him again and take a call on his line of treatment. He is in the ICU so that we can continuously monitor him. He is under observation and he is stable. There is nothing to worry.” “He was admitted yesterday during the day due to breathlessness. Given his age and recent hospitalisation, the family decided to take him to the hospital as a precautionary measure. He is fine. He is in the ICU so that the doctors can monitor him

New Delhi: Covaxin, an indigenously developed vaccine by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) generates antibodies that effectively neutralise both Alpha and Delta variants of coronavirus, the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the United States said in a statement. National Institute of Health further asserted that the results from two studies of blood serum from people who had received COVAXIN suggest that the vaccine generates antibodies that effectively neutralize the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617 (Delta) variants of SARS-CoV-2. The top health research institute stated that an adjuvant developed with funding from the NIH has contributed to the success of the “highly efficacious” COVAXIN COVID-19 vaccine, which roughly 25 million people have received to date in India and elsewhere. It said that the adjuvant used in COVAXIN, Alhydroxiquim-II, was discovered and tested in the laboratory by the biotech company ViroVax LLC of Lawrence, Ka

Prague: Czech President Milos Zeman has sparked outrage and controversy after calling transgender people “disgusting” in a recent TV interview. Notably,  Zeman was responding to questions about a recent law passed in Hungary which bans the public portrayal of homosexuality. He said he backed the legislation, which has been condemned by EU leaders. “If you undergo a sex-change operation you are basically committing a crime of self-harm,” Zeman told CNN Prima. “Every surgery is a risk and these transgender people to me are disgusting.” “I can understand gays, lesbians and so on. But do you know who I do not understand at all? These transgender people,” he later told CNN, describing transgenders as “intrinsically disgusting to me”. Zeman’s comments came as several cities around the world celebrated Pride with parades and marches aimed at gaining visibility for the LGBTQ community and marking the 1969 Stonewall riots. Prague’s Pride festival is planned for the first week of August. M

New Delhi: Day after the Indian Army thwarted drone activities at Ratnuchak-Kaluchak Military Station in Jammu, security personnel spotted two drones in Kaluchak and Kunjwani areas on Tuesday morning, news agency ANI reported. Official sources informed a leading news channel that an unidentified flying object was seen hovering over Kaluchak at around 4:40 AM. At 4.52 am, another drone activity was spotted near the Air Force station signal in the Kunjwani area of Jammu. Jammu | Two drones spotted in Kaluchak and Kunjwani areas early morning hours today; details awaited — ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2021 This was the fourth straight day when drones were seen hovering over military stations in the outskirts of Jammu. On the intervening night of June 26-27, in a first of its kind terrorist attack in the country, two drones were used to drop explosives at the vital military installation. Two consecutive explosions took place within a gap of five minutes at the high-security Jammu Air Force

New Delhi: The East Delhi District administration has shut down Laxmi Nagar main market till July 5 PM as ‘people did not adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour’. An order issued by East district magistrate Sonika Singh and Delhi Disaster Management chairperson stated, “Stretch from Vikas Marg to Lovely Public School, Kishan Kunj and its surrounding markets, like Mangal Bazaar, Vijay Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Jagatram Park, Guru Ramdas Nagar, etc would remain shut from 10pm on June 29 till 10pm on July 5 or till further orders”. It added, “As per the Preet Vihar SDM’s report, shopkeepers, vendors and the general public in Laxmi Nagar main bazaar were not following Covid-appropriate behaviour. Due to large footfall, the market association and shopkeepers were unable to ensure Covid protocols last Sunday.” Delhi | Laxmi Nagar main market and surrounding markets like Mangal Bazaar, Vijay Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Jagatram Park, Guru Ramdas Nagar shut till 10pm of 5th July for not following

Islamabad: Midsummer temperature in Jacobabad, a city in Pakistan’s Sindh province, which is situated at the Tropic of Cancer, can soar up to 52°C (126 Fahrenheit). The city with 200,000 population has been known for its scorching heat.  The severe heatwaves force residents to retreat inside their homes. “People do not come out of their houses and streets are mostly deserted when the temperature goes beyond 50°C”, Abdul Baqi, a shopkeeper told The Telegraph . “You can’t even stay on your feet, it gets that hot”, a resident told the portal. Most of the hospitals in the city get flooded with heatstroke cases from those whose livelihoods mean they must venture out. Experts recently told a leading daily that with the mixture of heat and humidity the city has now officially surpassed the temperature threshold that the human body can withstand. Last year, Matthews, who is a lecturer in climate science at Loughborough University with his colleagues had analyzed global weather station data

Bengaluru: As part of its efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, the Karnataka government has announced that a negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours or a vaccination certificate of at least one dose of COVID 19 vaccine needs to be compulsorily produced by passengers coming to Karnataka from Maharashtra. As per an official circular on the matter, all passengers boarding the train from Maharashtra to Karnataka are requested to have a negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours or a vaccination certificate of at least one dose of COVID 19 vaccine before boarding. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that relaxations related to COVID restrictions in the state will be discussed with experts and Cabinet members and will be announced after July 5. As per the Union Health Ministry, Karnataka reported 3,450 fresh COVID cases, 5,933 discharges and 93 deaths yesterday. source https://www.india.com/news/india/karnataka-makes-negative-rt

Breaking News LIVE Updates, June 30: As the number of Delta Plus variant cases of COVID-19 goes above 50 in the country, the US’ National Institute of Health has said that India’s Covaxin, a vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) effectively neutralises both Alpha and Delta variants of coronavirus. The NIH said results of two studies of blood serum from people who had received Covaxin suggest that the vaccine generates antibodies that effectively neutralise the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617 (Delta) variants of SARS-CoV-2, first identified in the UK and India, respectively. On the other hand, the government at the Centre on Tuesday granted approval to the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to enter the Indian market as the fourth vaccine in its arsenal to fight the deadly pandemic, adding that the next in line is the Pfizer vaccine. The entry of the Moderna vaccine is a significant move amid India’s accelerated vaccination drive to i

Maharashtra SSC Result 2021 Latest Update : As per the previous announcement of the Maharashtra government, the Maharashtra Class 10 Result 2021 or Maharashtra SSC Result 2021 is expected to be announced by July 15. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, MSBSHSE will release the Class 10 Board Result 2021 on the official website — mahresult.nic.in. Giving further details, Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad had said that the board exam results for Class 10th will be based on exams conducted in Class 9th & 10th (internal marks). “We will try to declare the results by the end of June. Those who aren’t satisfied with their results can write CET exams later,” she had said. Maharashtra SSC Result 2021: Websites to check score mahresults.nic.in sscresult.mkcl.org maharashtraeducation.com Maharashtra SSC Result 2021: How to check score Step 1: Go to the official website of the board. Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link which say

New Delhi: European Union Ambassador to India, Ugo Astuto, on Tuesday clarified that there is no ban in the EU on Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. He said the European Union had set up a new system of Digital Covid Certificate which was meant to facilitate travel within the European Union. Astuto told ANI in an interview that Pune-based SII has apparently not yet applied to European Medicines Agency (EMA) with a request for approval of the COVID-19 vaccine. Asked why ‘Vaxzervria’ vaccine, also developed by AstraZeneca has been permitted in EU and not Covishield, he said every approval process must be conducted on its own merit. “Obviously these are medical sensitivities, medical experts will be better placed to respond. Every approval process of vaccine must be conducted on its own merit. No matter how close the process is, it is because vaccines are biological products so even a tiny difference in m

Thiruvananthapuram: With no satisfactory dip in COVID-19 cases, the Kerala government on Tuesday decided to extend lockdown restrictions for one more week. The state reported 13,550 new cases on Tuesday, taking the cumulative cases to 29,10,507 while the toll mounted to 13,093 with the addition of 104 recent deaths. Briefing the media after the COVID review meeting, Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it has been decided to make small changes in the classification of areas according to the spread of the disease. The LSG bodies have been reclassified on the basis of the average (Test Positivity Rate (TPR) for the last seven days. Accordingly, there are 165 local bodies in the A category (TPR less than 6 percent), 473 in the B category (6 -12per cent TPR), 316 in the C category (12-18 per cent TPR) and 80 in the D category (TPR more than 18 per cent). The new restrictions would come into effect from Thursday, Vijayan said. “The average TPR is still above 10 per cent, but down from a

PUBG Mobile 1.5 Beta Version: Before releasing any major update, the PUBG Mobile developers first release a beta version of it. And in this, they try to include all exciting features to attract mobile gamers. These beta versions are released to extensively test the upcoming features before it is implemented. Notably, the PUBG Mobile 1.5 Beta Version went live earlier this month. PUBG Mobile 1.5 Beta Version has exciting features such as unique Erangel Transit System, new firearm MG3, Air Conveyor Launcher and more. More interestingly, a new Punjabi voice has been added to PUBG Mobile 1.5 beta, which is likely to make its way into the game with the update. PUBG Mobile 1.5 Beta Version of PUBG Mobile features numerous voice packs that players can use within the game and it is called ‘Bhola Record Voice Pack.’ As suggested by the name of the voice pack, it has supposedly been recorded by a popular YouTuber from Pakistan, Bhola Record. To listen to the Punjabi voice pack, the gamers nee

Johannesburg: The South African Constitutional Court on Tuesday found former President Jacob Zuma guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to a 15-month jail term. A BBC report says that Zuma has been given five days to hand himself to the police. The country’s State Capture Inquiry accused Zuma of accepting bribes, gratification and unauthorised payments from other parties in relation to the procurement of the arms worth billions in 1999. Zuma’s time in power, which ended in 2018, was dogged by graft allegations. Businessmen along with politicians were accused of conspiracy in influencing the decision-making process. The former President made one appearance at the inquiry into what has become known as “state capture” but then refused to appear subsequently. The inquiry headed by Justice Raymond Zondo asked the Constitutional Court to intervene. Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe was damning in her ruling. Zuma refused to come to the court to explain his actions, she said

Patna : Eleven people were killed while six were injured in various parts of Bihar upon being struck by lightning on Tuesday, the disaster management department said. According to the department, West Champaran and East Champaran districts accounted for three deaths each followed by Patna (two) and Nalanda, Madhepura and Aurangabad (one each). Besides, four people were seriously injured in East Champaran and another two in Patna districts. According to the department, the state has received 339 mm of rainfall since the onset of monsoons, which is 139 per cent above normal. This has led to floods in at least four districts of north Bihar West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj and Saran where nearly 80,000 people in 65 villages have been affected. No loss of life has been reported from the flood-hit areas so far but 10,916 people have been rescued from marooned places. Four teams of the NDRF and three of the SDRF have been pressed into service for the rescue operations. Altogethe

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday night issued fresh set of guidelines for states and UTs and asked them to focus on the five-fold strategy for effective COVID-19 management. The Centre also said that the process of relaxing restrictions should be carefully calibrated. In the advisory to all the state governments and Union Territory administrations, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the states should regularly monitor the districts with a high number of active coronavirus cases per million (10 lakh) population as it is an important indicator to predict the need for upgrading the health infrastructure and logistics, so that early and prompt action can be taken. The Home Ministry also said with the decline in the number of active coronavirus cases, many states have started relaxing the restrictions. Bhalla said the process of relaxing the restrictions should be “carefully calibrated”, and prompt and targeted action needs to be taken by the states, in line w

New Delhi: With Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine getting approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use, a roadmap has been paved for other international vaccine makers like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson to deliver in India. The drug regulator on Tuesday granted permission to Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Cipla to import Moderna’s American-made COVID-19 vaccine, making it the fourth vaccine to be available in India for emergency use. While details of the rollout plan are yet to be released, reports said that for now, Cipla will be importing donated vaccines by Moderna as commercial agreements are still being processed. So far, Serum Institute’s Covishield, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Russia’s Sputnik were cleared for the vaccination drive. “Cipla Limited is supporting Moderna Inc with the regulatory approval and importation of vaccines to be donated to India. At this stage, there is no definitive agreement on commercial supplies,” the Mumbai-base

New Delhi : Starting from SBI ATM withdrawal charges to ITR filing, 5 things are going to change from next month. Apart from this, many other changes are also going to happen in the banking sector in July 2021. As per updates, the State Bank of India has revised its charges and rules for cash withdrawals from its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and branches. And the Central government said that certain taxpayers may face Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) at higher rates from next month. Moreover, the LPG cylinder prices will also be revised from next month. Here’s a detailed list of key changes that will come into effect from July 1. SBI ATM withdrawal charges : For the SBI customers, it must be noted that charges will be imposed against cash withdrawals from SBI’s ATMs as well as the branches. The Bank has already mentioned that the account holders will be eligible for four free cash withdrawals from the bank’s ATMs and branches. After exhausting the free withdrawals, the SBI will charg

New Delhi: The Covishield vaccine, developed by US-based AstraZeneca and manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) “does not currently have a marketing authorisation” in Europe and the matter would be considered when an application is received for it, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Monday. People vaccinated with Covishield are unlikely to be eligible to travel to the European Union member states under the ‘Green Pass’ scheme as the vaccine is yet to be cleared by the EMA. The EU Digital COVID certificate or ‘Green Pass’ will be mandatory to travel to European countries and the document is likely to serve as proof that a person is vaccinated against COVID-19. Travel under ‘Green Pass’ to non-EU citizens may be rolled out in a phased manner from July 1. However, individual European Union member countries may have separate rules and norms for travellers. The EMA has already approved four COVID-19 vaccines, which include Vaxzevria, the AstraZeneca vaccine ma

New Delhi: Hours after it sought approval, the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCA) on Tuesday granted consent to Cipla to import Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. ANI news agency stated that the Centre is likely to make a detailed announcement soon. Notably, Cipla is a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Mumbai. It was earlier in the day reported that the DGCA may soon grant restricted emergency use authorisation for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, official sources said on Tuesday. Moderna has also informed that the US Government has agreed to donate a certain number of doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX to the Government of India for use and has sought approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for these vaccines. Cipla/Moderna gets DCGA (Drugs Controller General of India) nod for import of #COVID19 vaccine, Government to make an announcement soon: Sources pic.twitter.com/zsAIo6y70s — ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2021 Mumbai-b

Indore : The Central government on Tuesday inaugurated Asia’s longest high-speed test track located in Pithampur, Indore. It was virtually inaugurated by Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Prakash Javdekar. Measures 11.3 km in length, the NATRAX facility is part of a world-class proving ground that comprises other test tracks for automotive and component testing. Considered as longest in Asia and fifth-largest in the world, the new high-speed test track is oval-shaped and 16 metres wide with four independent lanes. As per the latest updates, the new facility will ensure that vehicles can be tested and evaluated in India and do not need to be sent overseas for the same. More interestingly, this high-speed track is also open to having vehicles from overseas being evaluated here as part of the testing process. This has been designed for neutral speeds up to 250 kmph and a maximum speed of up to 375 kmph on curbs with no limit to maximum speed on the straight patch

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to postpone July-scheduled Chartered Accountant Examinations (CA exam 2021). While hearing a batch of pleas seeking its direction for the postponement, an opt-out option, extra attempt and increased exam centres for the ICAI CA examinations, scheduled to be held from July 5, a three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the institute to consider opt-out options for those COVID-affected candidates. Senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan, appearing for the ICAI said that the top court’s suggestion will be implemented. The apex court will hear the plea on ICAI CA aspirants’ for final disposal tomorrow. The SC said that it will take the note by ICAI on record and dispose of the matter accordingly. What Transpired Inside The Court Today A three-judge bench of the top court said that ‘Opt-out’ has to be for a good reason. “Someone has to certify and ultimately institute will take a call on that. Otherwise, it will be an unending proce

Chennai: Even though the southern state of Tamil Nadu, received 2 lakh doses of vaccine on Monday evening, the state is still facing a shortage of vaccines for inoculation on Tuesday as well. Earlier on Monday, the state had to stop vaccination process in many parts of the state including Chennai. Despite receiving the 2 lakh doses, the possibility of an accelerated vaccination in the state remains remote. Issuing an official statement on the matter, Tamil Nadu minister for medical and family welfare, Ma Subramanian, said that while a high level of awareness has been created in the state, even among the tribes and the illiterate people, the shortage of vaccines is creating a letdown of the good work done by the public health department and other departments of the state. Tamil Nadu is expected to receive 75 lakh doses of vaccines in July and the state has now touched a vaccination level of 4.3 lakh vaccines a day during the last week of June except for Monday when it could vaccinate

New Delhi:   The travellers from India can rejoice as Switzerland will now allow fully vaccinated tourists into its border. The government’s Federal Council of Public Health has informed that persons from countries with a variant of concern like India, who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19, will be permitted entry without the need for a negative test or quarantine. Check out the latest COVID guidelines, quarantine rules and more However, for those people who are arriving from a country with a variant of the virus of concern, they will be permitted entry as long as it is certain that the vaccination offers good protection. Those who have neither been vaccinated nor have recovered must present a negative PCR test or rapid antigen test and go into quarantine on entry, said the Federal Council. What does this mean? Well, this means that people who have been vaccinated or who have recovered do not have to produce a negative test even when travelling from countries w