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Here is a masonry blog layout with no sidebarIxigo clocks 10 lakh searches for travel bookings, 3 lakh for vaccine slots
The travel app has witnessed a surge in both flights as well train bookings fuelled by people returning to metro cities from tier two and three cities like Patna, Darbhanga, Ranchi, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
Even leisure travel queries are also picking up for popular summer getaway destinations like Leh, Ladakh, Shimla and Mussoorie. Industry data shows there is a sharp reversal from recent weeks with the number of domestic air passengers hovering around 1.1 lakh per day. Daily train bookings stand at over 9 lakh.
Novel method to accurately, quickly detect COVID-19 from phone swabs
The new method, described in the journal eLife on Tuesday, detected the COVID-19 virus on the phones of 81 to 100 per cent of contagious people with a high viral load, suggesting it is as accurate as antigen tests.
The researchers noted that globally active screening for COVID-19 is still a priority as new variants keep emerging and the vaccination rollout is not guaranteed in many countries.
However, testing is expensive and can be physically unpleasant, both of which are significant hurdles on the road to an effective test and trace system, they said.
Antibodies triggered by Chinese COVID-19 shots less effective on Delta variant: researcher
Genetic study of liver cancer reveals new drug target
The conclusion of the new study analyzing the genetics of HCC tumours was published in the journal PLOS Genetics by Augusto Villanueva of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and colleagues.”The study uncovered the role of cancer-testis antigens, specifically MAGEA3, in liver cancer progression,” Villanueva adds.
Govt extends I-T compliance deadlines; exempts tax on COVID treatment cost, ex-gratia payments from employers
U.S. approves Roche drug for emergency use against severe COVID-19
The drug can be used to treat patients who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the FDA said, adding studies showed Actemra helped reduce the risk of death and speed recovery.
For months already, the medicine has been given to severely ill COVID-19 patients on a compassionate-use basis, generating hundreds of millions in sales for Roche.
Pfizer halts distribution of anti-smoking drug after finding carcinogen
The drugmaker is recalling a number of lots of anti-smoking drugs. The U.S. drug regulator has in the past reached out to companies whose drugs had N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) over accepted levels.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year found high levels of NDMA in some versions of the popular diabetes drug metformin. NDMA contamination was responsible for the recall of the heartburn drug Zantac sold by Sanofi SA in 2019.
Third wave of coronavirus unlikely to be as severe as second wave: ICMR Study
Presenting a vaccine ramp-up scenario where 40 percent of the population has received two doses within three months of the second wave peak, and further that the effect of vaccination is (conservatively) to reduce severity of infection by 60 percent, the study said it illustrates how vaccination could substantially reduce the overall burden during the possible third wave.
Oz, Israel were Covid success stories till Delta strain struck
In Australia, around a million people in four eastern and central Sydney neighbourhoods, which include Bondi Beach, were ordered to stay home for at least a week as total infections in an outbreak connected to the Delta variant topped 60. The lockdown is a shock for a population that had returned to relative normality after months of recording few cases.
Israel, which has prided itself on having one of the world’s most successful vaccination campaigns, has seen infections surge since dropping a requirement to wear masks in enclosed public places 10 days ago.
SII making first batch of Covovax: Poonawalla
LIC, SBI Life, Canara Bank pick up stakes in Indian Bank
The country’s largest and the only state-owned life insurer, LIC, picked up 17.80 per cent of the shares issued under the qualified institutional placement (QIP), which closed on Thursday.
It was followed by SBI Life Insurance (11.87 per cent), SBI Mutual Fund and its various schemes (11.87 per cent), Societe Generale and its various schemes (9.74 per cent) and Canara Bank subscribing to 5.93 per cent of the shares offered in the issue, according to the regulatory filing by Indian Bank.
Policybazaar.com opens 15 retail stores for broking business
To drive the business, the company has roped in former executive director of SBI Life Insurance Rajiv Gupta to lead its expansion plans in the offline space.
The brick-and-mortar stores will serve as experience centres for customers and provide them with the comfort of a local physical presence to help resolve any queries or service requests, it said.
Fake vaccine scam unearthed in Mumbai and Kolkata, police probe on
Intel CEO says chip shortage to hit bottom in second half of 2021
“I don’t expect the chip industry is back to a healthy supply-demand situation until ’23,” he said in an interview. “For a variety of industries, I think it’s still getting worse before it gets better.”
Longer-term, the chip industry is positioned for a period of growth, Gelsinger predicted. Over the next decade, the increasing uses for chips – including 5G phone systems, electric vehicles and expanded artificial intelligence – will drive strong demand, he said.
Merchant ship crews still stuck at sea amid Pandemic
Some have been stranded for as long as 20 months, which contravenes the International Labor Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention, which allows a maximum of 11 monthsMore than 80% of world trade is transported by sea, meaning seafarers play a critical role in global commerce. The International Chamber of Shipping estimates that 200,000 are affected by travel restrictions, either stuck at sea or unable to leave home to get to their ships.
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On climate change frontline, indigenous provide pointers to save planet
After an analysis of the growing threats confronting the communities and their sustainable ways of life, the authors of the report maintained that indigenous peoples worldwide play a vital role in countering global threats such as the destruction of nature, climate change, biodiversity loss and the risk of future pandemics.
Many large e-comm firms have blatantly flouted laws of land: Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that many of the practices which these companies follow are against the interest of consumers and the government has recently come out with draft rules for e-commerce companies or marketplace models, which are applicable to all entities including Indian.
These rules are to protect consumer interest, he said at a webinar.
Ambani and Adani. Two billionaires, one green ambition
Mukesh Ambani said he’s undertaking his life’s “most challenging” mission by investing $10 billion in clean power and fuel over three years.
Gautam Adani, who earlier this year took his spot behind Ambani as Asia’s second-richest man, wants to be the world’s largest renewable energy producer by 2030