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Developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and National Institute of Virology, Covaxin got the nod for human clinical trials from the Drugs Controller General of India last month. Besides Covaxin, another experimental shot developed by Zydus Cadila has also begun human clinical trials. Earlier this week, AIIMS, Delhi, administered the first dose of Covaxin to a 30-year-old man. Even as Phase 1 human trials of Biotech’s Covaxin India’s first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine candidate, are on at most of the 12 sites selected by ICMR across the country, the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, has claimed “encouraging”…

New Delhi: The Indian government has banned 47 more Chinese apps, after 59 China-based apps were banned in June-end. The order to ban the 47 apps was issued on Friday, sources said. Among the newly-banned apps are Tiktok Lite, Helo Lite, SHAREit Lite, BIGO LIVE Lite and VFY Lite. These 47 apps were acting as clones of the 59 Chinese apps that were banned earlier. The government had issued the order to ban 59 apps with Chinese links on June 29, stating that these were prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. The banned apps included popular ones like…

Scientists in Singapore have developed a method to improve the speed of obtaining Covid-19 laboratory test results in 36 minutes or by up to four times. The new method, developed by scientists at the Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, has demonstrated a way to improve “the speed, handling time and cost of Covid-19 laboratory tests”, the university said on Monday. The current testing method requires highly trained technical staff and can take a few hours befo results are finalised.

Budding Kashmiri actress Farhana Bhat shines in BollywoodKashmiri youth are reaping the benefits of opportunities they are getting post abrogation of Article 370. Farhana Bhat, a budding actress from Srinagar received fame after her casting in Bollywood film 'Laila Majnu'. Six-years ago, she joined local group of artists and started working in different commercials. “I started as a junior actor in the background, after which I got offers for commercials, and my profile built gradually," Farahana Bhat said. Bhat's life changed after she was called for 'Laila Majnu' audition. “When I auditioned for 'Laila Majnu', I bagged role of the…

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said that leadership is recognised in times of crisis but the BJP government at the centre has made its intention clear by attempting to topple the governments elected by the people when the country is facing pandemic.Taking part in the online campaign #SpeakUpForDemocracy launched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Twitter, Priyanka Gandhi tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi): "Leadership is recognised in times of crisis. In coronavirus national crisis, the country needs a leadership that works in the public interest. But the BJP government at the centre has made its intention and its character…

A Gurgaon court has summoned Chinese company Alibaba and its founder Jack Ma in a case filed by a former employee who alleges he was wrongfully fired after objecting to what he saw as censorship and fake news on company apps, documents seen by Reuters showed.The case comes weeks after India cited security concerns in banning Alibaba's UC News, UC Browser and 57 other Chinese apps after a clash between the two countries' forces on their border. Following the ban, India sought written answers from all affected companies, including whether they censored content or acted for any foreign government. "We…

At least 38 employees of a national bank's main branch in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, have tested positive for coronavirus, officials from the bank and the local civic body have said.According to the officials, the customers who visited the bank have also been advised to voluntarily appear for coronavirus tests. Earlier, a senior official of the branch who was suffering from other complications, had died of COVID-19. The positive cases came to light after a mass medical screening camp was held at the bank recently, the officials said. Senior bank officials said the disinfection process had been completed and the bank…