Amid rise in Covid-19 cases, the vaccination drive for the 15 and 18 years old population began in Odisha on Monday. A total of 939 dedicated vaccination centres have been set up across the state for the teenage population. Children who have not registered themselves online on the CoWIN portal for the vaccination, can receive the vaccine by doing on-spot registration at the centres, said state nodal officer for Covid-19 vaccination, Bijay Panigrahi.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticised the Central government for "missing" the double vaccination target, saying the government's claims to achieve 100 per cent vaccination turned out to be "Jumla". "The Central government had promised 100 per cent vaccination by the end of 2021... today is the last day of the year, the country is still far from the vaccination target. One more 'Jumla' got shattered," the Congress leader tweeted. Claiming there is a scarcity of Covid vaccines, the Congress said 47,95,00,000 Indians need 59,40,00,000 vaccination doses. "Besides, 25,70,00,000 senior citizens and corona warriors need the vaccine while those in the 15-18 age group need another 35,70,00,000 doses," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said. India's Omicron tally on Friday rose to 1,270 cases and among the 23 states and UTs that have reported the Omicron infection so far, Maharashtra tops the list with 450 cases of this variant.

OMICRON, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, has rapidly overtaken all other variants in the new waves of Covid-19 cases that are emerging in South Africa, the UK, the European Union and the US. More worrying is that Omicron is able to infect those who have received two vaccine doses or already had Covid earlier. This is supported by laboratory evidence though they are still very preliminary results. The good news, if it can be called good news, is that most of those who have been vaccinated do not seem to progress to a critical stage. This indicates that the body's immune system, primed by vaccine and possibly previous Covid infections, is still able to handle the disease from

Bangladesh will administer 40 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines every month from January next year, a Minister has said. "We are taking the initiative to give vaccines in every ward of the country starting next month. Hopefully, we will be able to meet our targets by next May-June," Zahid Maleque, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, was quoted as saying in a report of leading local news agency UNB. Maleque said that Bangladesh has been praised by the world for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. On the spread of the new Omicron variant, the Minister warned that vaccines alone will not contain its surge.

Cost pressure, led by rise in commodity prices, is expected to take India's current account deficit during Q2FY22 to 1.3 per cent of the GDP, India Ratings and Research said on Monday. However, a relatively stable services trade surplus is expected to cushion the deficit. "A stable services trade surplus of $24 billion would help rein in the current account deficit at $10.1 billion in 2QFY22. The current account was in surplus of $6.5 billion in Q1FY22.

After getting jab for second dose of Covid vaccine, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday appealed the people to get them vaccinated at the earliest without showing any sort of complacency to prevent themselves from the possible infection from the new variant of Omicron. Chairing a meeting to review the preparedness to face any eventuality in wake of Omicron here at Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister directed the Health & Medical Education Research departments to work in tandem to intensify the pace of vaccination drive so as to cover the entire eligible population across the state.

THERE are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen. In keeping with this adage, Indian kisans wrote a new chapter in history defying all prophecies of imminent defeat and canards claiming that the united kisan movement was petering out. The united kisan struggle with the unprecedented support of the working class and the masses has won a historic victory forcing the arrogant Narendra Modi led BJP government to

Bayern Munich have announced that players who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 will be subject to wage cuts. Media reports suggest that the record German champions have announced the cuts for unvaccinated players such as Joshua Kimmich, as professional football in Germany is suffering from a rising number of positive infection cases and quarantine orders.

Indonesia on Sunday confirmed 314 new Covid-19 cases, raising its tally of infections to 4,253,412, according to the country's Health Ministry. The death toll from the virus in the country rose by 11 to 143,739, while 331 more people recovered during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 4,101,547.Indonesia started

The number of daily Covid-19 infections in Germany continued to rise strongly, exceeding 65,000 for the first time since the pandemic began, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases has announced Daily infections increased by around 15,000 within one week as the country's seven-day Covid-19 incidence rate climbed to 336.9

Facing the prospects of a probable Third Covid-19 wave, Maharashtra on Tuesday urged the Centre to prioritise a booster jab of Covid vaccine to all healthcare workers. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope made the suggestion to Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya at their meeting in the capital. Besides the booster jabs to the healthcare workers, Tope urged the Central government to roll out the vaccination programme for children below 18 year of age as early as possible.

Facing the prospects of a probable Third Covid-19 wave, Maharashtra on Tuesday urged the Centre to prioritise a booster jab of Covid vaccine to all healthcare workers. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope made the suggestion to Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya at their meeting in the capital. Besides the booster jabs to the healthcare workers, Tope urged the Central government to roll out the vaccination programme for children below 18 year of age as early as possible.

South Korea's domestic demand is expected to improve with eased quarantine measures against Covid-19, a government report said on Friday. The Ministry of Economy and Finance said in its monthly economic report called Green Book that the South Korean economy recently saw a continued recovery in export and employment.

The Deputy Chief Minister directed Health Officials to immediately release the COVID Vaccination incentive to the ASHA workers as promised to them while roping them into the vaccination process."Motivating people in every nook and corner of the State for COVID vaccination, dispelling their doubts about vaccine and ensuring innoculation of the target population is a yeoman's service rendered by the Health Workers. They are delivering as expected and they must be provided the

Tanzanian authorities has said that between 80,000 and 100,000 people will be vaccinated daily against Covid-19 during the second phase of the inoculation campaign. A statement by the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children on Saturday said the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Abel Makubi, revealed the acceleration of the vaccination in a meeting with Regional Medical officers

In an aim to ensure second dose of Covid-19 vaccine due to the beneficiaries, the Odisha government will launch the 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign from November 2, an official said on Monday. During the 'Har Ghar Dastak' vaccination drive, frontline healthcare workers including Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers and ANMs, with the help of self help groups, NGOs and PRI members, will visit every household, said State health and family welfare director Bijay Panigrahi.

Kerala on Saturday registered 8,909 new Covid cases was registered after 86,111 samples were tested in the past 24 hours and the test positivity rate was 10.34 per cent, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement. He also said that 8,780 turned negative while there were 80,555 active cases in the state, of which 9.8 per cent were in hospitals.

These two years since the Modi II government was re-elected saw the consolidation of the process, with renewed vigour, put in motion seven years ago, post-2014 elections, of the realisation of the RSS project of converting India into their conception of a rabidly intolerant, theocratic, fascistic “Hindu Rashtra”. This was its declared objective on its founding in 1925. Savarkar’s coinage of “Hindutva” as a political project having nothing in common with Hindu religion that followed soon and the ideological construct along with an organisational structure to achieve this project advanced by Golwalakar

It was a culmination and a catharsis of all the emotions that had welled up in the hearts and the minds of the people of India during the last seven years of this oppressive regime. May 26, 2021 will always be marked in history for the massive participation of millions of people across the country in the Black Flag Day to denounce the cruel and heartless attitude of the Narendra Modi-led BJP-RSS government towards the ongoing historic struggle of farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha

Latvian President Egils Levits has tested positive for Covid-19, his office said on Thursday. On returning from a visit to Sweden on Wednesday evening, the president took a rapid Covid-19 test, which came positive. Levits will now take a RT-PCR test to verify the diagnosis. Levits was scheduled to welcome Estonia's new president Alar Karis who arrived in Latvia for a visit on Thursday. The Latvian president personally contacted his Estonian counterpart

Russia has confirmed 973 Covid-related fatalities over the past 24 hours, the highest daily count reported in the country since the start of the pandemic, bringing the national death toll to 218,345, the official coronavirus monitoring and response centre said on Tuesday. A total of 28,190 new infections were registered, taking the nationwide tally to 7,832,964. The number of recoveries increased by 20,706 to 6,894,285. Meanwhile, Moscow reported 4,699 new cases, taking the city's total to 1,688,376. The Russian capital has launched 20 free rapid coronavirus test spots and each facility can test about 200 people a day. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said last Friday that

New Zealand has mandated Covid-19 vaccination for teachers and health workers, the two workforces that are critical to preventing the spread of the virus, a Minister said here on Monday. High-risk workers in the health and disability sector are required to be fully vaccinated by December 1, and to receive their first dose by October 30, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement.

Belgium's Consultation Committee made up of the federal government and the governments of the federated entities have decided to relax the mandate to wear facemasks, including dining venues and shops, from October 1.The decision was taken in light of the recent Covid-19 vaccination figures published by the Sciensano public health institute, which showed that 71.94 per cent of the population, or over 8.2 million people, have already been fully inoculated against the virus.However, wearing a mask remains compulsory in healthcare centres, airports and in major events attended by more than 500 people,.

Three mobile vaccine buses launched in New Zealand's Auckland city on Thursday to help people fasten their Covid-19 vaccination. According to local media, 12 such buses in total converted from airport Park and Ride vehicles will be provided to suburbs where access to vaccinations is more difficult. The converted black and orange airport buses have vaccination signs posted on their sides. One reads "Roll up your sleeves, Auckland", and another "Vaccinate for Auckland". Auckland, the biggest and most populated city in New Zealand, is experiencing the fifth consecutive week of Level 4 lockdown, the longest period since Covid-19 outbreak in the country.

In a momentous feat, Ludhiana has achieved highest ever vaccination in a single day with 131993 lakh doses given across district on Sunday. Lauding the untiring and determined efforts of the healthcare workers in recording highest single day vaccination, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said that this will further strengthen the fight

The Indian stock market has not just been on a bull run off late, but it has been scaling new highs. The Nifty50, which has crossed the 17,000 level, has witnessed a rise of around 20 per cent since the middle of April when the second wave of Covid-19 wreaked havoc in several parts of the country and lockdowns and curfews were re-imposed.

With the possibility of India hurtling towards a Covid-19 "third wave", the Maharashtra government on Friday cautioned that the state could witness around 60 lakh cases in such a situation. Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that while around 20 lakh were affected in the first wave followed by 40 lakh in the second, the dreaded next wave may lead to over 60 lakh cases. "Of these, nearly 12 per cent would require oxygen support during treatment... We are trying to achieve 100 percent vaccination as soon as possible," he said. Contending that the

Health Minister Punjab, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu today issued appointment letters to 117 new Community Health Officers (CHOs). While speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sidhu said that Punjab is a leading state in the country in operationalization of Health & Wellness Centers in Country as a total 2700 Health and Wellness Centers

Balram Bhargava, Director, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said on Thursday that Covid vaccines are not 'disease-preventing' but 'disease-modifying', so it is important to continue wearing masks even after the second dose of vaccination. Bhargava was addressing a press conference of the Union Health Ministry on the Covid situation in the country. "Vaccines reduce disease severity, possibility of hospitalisation and also avert deaths to the tune of 98-99 per cent. Full vaccination offers protection against severe disease and death and should be a pre-requisite if attending a gathering," Bhargav said.Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that India is still under the grip of the second Covid wave. In the past 24 hours, India logged 46,000 fresh Covid cases.

Daily passenger volume flowing through the Hyderabad International Airport has tripled in two months, the airport operator said on Tuesday. The airport handled more than seven lakh passengers in July. From around 10,000 passengers on June 1, the number of passengers almost tripled and crossed 29,000 on a single day on July 18.

The Union Health Minister announced on Tuesday that people can now book slots for Covid vaccination using the MyGov Corona Helpdesk on WhatsApp. The messaging app has partnered with the Health Ministry to provide the users vaccination appointment through its platform. The app will also help the users locate the nearest vaccination centre.

Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 40 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total tally in the country to 66,406. The new infections included 36 locally transmitted cases. As many as 19 are linked to previous cases and have already been placed under quarantine. Three are linked to previous cases and were detected through surveillance, while 14 are currently unlinked.

Canada's decision to ban direct flights from India till September 21 while allowing vaccinated family-class passengers and students from all other countries has not gone down well with the Indo-Canadian community.

In a tragic incident, apprehensive of getting infected by Covid-19 and Black Fungus, a married couple ended their lives in Mangaluru district of Karnataka on Tuesday. The deceased are identified as Ramesh (40) and Guna R. Suvarna (35), residents of Baikampady in Mangaluru. According to police, the couple committed suicide by hanging after being apprehensive of getting infected with Covid-19 as they developed few symptoms of the disease. Before committing suicide,

In a bid to administer the COVID vaccine to maximum people across the State, Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government on Saturday launched the 'Mega Vaccination Drive' under which 5.5 lacs persons covered in a day and data is still being compiled. Giving details in the press statement, the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the Punjab Government first time received the quantity of 6,84,240 doses of Covieshield and 61,100 of Covaxin in one instalment on the late evening of July 1st. He said that after receiving the vaccines, the Punjab Government has made the road map of ‘Mega Vaccination Drive’ to cover a minimum of 5 lacs, persons, in one day.