
Narendra Modi takes first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, lauds contribution of doctors and scientists
The prime minister said it is 'remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19'

'Do you miss me yet?': Donald Trump returns to address Conservatives, pledges unity in GOP
A handful of Republican lawmakers have urged the party to move on from Trump, most prominently Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming

Qatar Open to go ahead as scheduled despite rising COVID-19 cases, high-profile withdrawals
Qatar has pressed ahead with events despite seeing an uptick in virus cases, staging the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this month with stadiums at 30 percent capacity.

Taylor Swift officially cancels Lover Fest concerts, confirms it won't be rescheduled
Taylor Swift said she has to cancel all of her pending tour dates due to the “unprecedented pandemic"

India records 16,752 COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours; biggest single-day jump in 30 days
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,07,75,169, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.10 percent

Odisha makes week-long home isolation mandatory for people coming from five 'high-risk' states
The five high-risk states are Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the state's additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, said

Centre caps COVID-19 vaccine price at Rs 250 per dose, releases list of empanelled private hospitals
While eligible beneficiaries will be able to register in advance on CO-WIN 2.0 portal and Aarogya Setu app, there will be a facility for on-site registration at identified vaccination centres for inoculation

Recent surge in Maharashtra offers clues of how COVID-19 pandemic may move through rest of India
In October 2020, Mumbai appeared to show the future pathway — and potential end-point — for the COVID-19 pandemic. That certainty has been irreparably dented

Indian economy exits technical recession as GDP grows at 0.4% in Oct-Dec quarter
However, the annual GDP estimate for the fiscal year ending 31 March has been revised to an 8 percent contraction, deeper than an earlier estimate of (-) 7.7 percent

British government plays down 'speculation' that UEFA could stage Euro 2020 solely in England
The competition was postponed last year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but is due to begin on 11 June.

How will COVID-19 vaccines adapt to the new COVID-19 variants emerging?
If a variant with a mutated spike protein crops up that the original vaccine can’t recognize, companies would swap out that piece of genetic code for a better match.

COVID-19 vaccination phase 2 to begin on 1 March; cost of vaccine at private hospitals to be decided soon
The Union Health ministry said the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to healthcare and frontline workers has crossed 1.23 crore in the country

Cash-strapped Pakistan offers $50 mn new credit line to Sri Lanka to boost defence cooperation
PM Imran Khan announced the new credit line during his two-day visit to Sri Lanka even as his govt is arranging finances from world bodies to tide over the coronavirus crisis

France rugby team suspends training after another player tests COVID positive
The French Rugby Federation said the unnamed player tested positive following another round of tests late Wednesday, prompting their medical committee to suspend training.

Indie music insiders on their one big takeaway from COVID-19 crisis' impact on the live performance scene
Here’s some pithy (and pertinent) advice shared by artists, managers and other industry folk.

Ghana becomes first African country to receive COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX alliance
Ghana's food and drug authority has already authorised the use of the Indian-made vaccines as well as Russia's Sputnik V.

Phase II of COVID-19 vaccination begins on 1 March; senior citizens, people above 45 with comorbidities to get dose
While the vaccine will be given for free at government centres, it will be available for a charge, to be decided later, at many private hospitals

Centre rushes teams to Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat to help curb COVID-19 spike
The three-member multidisciplinary teams are headed by joint secretary-level officers in the health ministry

Teaser of Alia Bhatt's Gangubai Kathiawadi unveiled; Sanjay Leela Bhansali film to release on 30 July
Gangubai Kathiawadi, which is Bhansali's tenth directorial venture, is adapted from one of the chapters of author Hussain Zaidi’s book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai.

COVID-19 in Maharashtra: 39 students, five staff test positive for coronavirus at Latur hostel
The infected students and employees have been quarantined at a government hostel near the city in central Maharashtra, an official said