NEWS

A top vaccines official at the World Health Organisation says the agency expects to make a decision next month on an emergency authorisation for the Indian-made Covid-19 vaccine made by Bharat Biotech, a shot that has yet to be authorized by any Western regulatory authorities.

Dr. Mariangela Simao, a WHO assistant director-general for vaccines, says the UN health agency's assessment of the Bharat Biotech vaccine was "quite advanced" and officials hoped for a decision by mid-September.

Few studies have been published on the shot. Indian researchers have yet to share any advanced research about the vaccine, which has been authorised and used in India. Scientists in India say the vaccine is about 78% effective, but there are some questions about how the vaccine performs in the real world, including against Covid-19 variants.

Nine properties in Kashmir that were vacated by Hindus who were forced to move out in the wake of terrorist violence decades ago, have been restored to these migrants, the home ministry has told the Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a question on Wednesday, MoS Nityanand Rai said as many as 520 Hindu migrants had returned to Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, for taking up jobs under the Prime Minister’s development package announced in 2015.

“Regarding restoration of properties in Kashmir to its rightful and original owner, 9 properties have been restored, as per the information provided by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir,” he added.

Andhra Pradesh BJP general secretary S Vishnu Vardhan Reddy took oath at the ancient Sri Sri Swayambhu Varasidhi Vinayaka Swamy temple refuting allegations of corruption levelled against him by YSR Congress Party.

Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said he had been accused of corruption by YSRCP MLA Rachamallu Siva Prasad Reddy and visited the temple to take an oath to prove his honesty.

He took an oath in front of the deity, saying he had never indulged in corrupt practices in his 25 years of political career.

The monsoon session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly was adjourned sine die on issues such as 27% quota to OBCs and inflation in Bhopal on Tuesday. The question hour was disrupted as Congress MLAs took to the well of the House over the prices of petrol and diesel, forcing speaker Girish Gautam to adjourn the proceedings till noon.

As the House met again, the Congress MLAs wore aprons in support of the OBC quota, taking to the well of the House, the opposition MLAs engaged in sloganeering and did not let the House take the normal business.

As the protesting MLAs charged the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of being anti-OBC, the chief minister and members of the Treasury benches retaliated, accusing the Congress of engaging in drama. “The Kamal Nath government deliberately for the matter of OBC reservation stayed in the court and now you are engaging in drama,” said Chouhan.