Gujarat: PM Modi reviews vaccine development at Zydus Cadila facility

India-EU FTA will be negotiated at aggregate level: Swedish envoy

Sweden Ambassador to India, Klas Molin, on March 06 said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and India will be negotiated at an aggregate level as per the special mechanism set up during the last summit. "Trade agreements, as Sweden is member of EU, is negotiated by European Commission. Talks on for investment and trade, special mechanism was set up during last summit between India and EU so agreements on it will be negotiated at aggregate level," said Molin. On Mar 05, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual interaction with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven where the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and called for further cooperation on climate change.

Vaccine Maitri: 'Made in India' COVID vaccines arrive in Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

India provided COVID-19 vaccines to Saint Lucia on March 01. 'Made in India' vaccines was received by the Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia. India provided 25,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine to the island nation Saint Lucia. The consignment of coronavirus vaccine reached under India's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative. The 40,000 doses of 'Made in India' coronavirus vaccines also arrived in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It was received by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on March 01. They received Serum Institute of India (SII)'s Covishield doses today. Earlier, India supplied COVID-19 vaccines to neighbouring countries Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

Covid vaccine: How to register, where to go, what you need | All key details

Phase 2 of India's Covid-19 vaccination drive was launched in high-profile manner on March 1 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi becoming one of the first beneficiaries. The second phase of the programme involves inoculation of those aged 60 and above, and those aged 45+ with comorbidities. The process for registration involves entry of mobile number and identity card details on the government's dedicated Co-win platform. India currently has 2 vaccines in use - Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, and Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield, being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. Watch the full video for more.

These temperature-controlled trucks set to transport COVID vaccine from Serum Institute of India

As COVID-19 vaccination drive in India is set to rollout on January 16, the responsibility to transport the Covishield vaccine from Serum Institute of India's main hub to government depots is given to Kool-ex. The task is very crucial as the vaccine needs to be maintained on a specific temperature. Kool-ex is using its trucks which are equipped to maintain the temperature at low degrees. At least 350 trucks are ready to transport the vaccines. The trucks are equipped with temperature as well as GPS tracker. The state governments are also providing security escort to the respective border. Kool-ex will also be transporting vaccines for Bharat Biotech, Zydus Cadila and Russian sputnik vaccine. The Central government recently said India will launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive from January 16.

Congress wiped out: Prakash Javadekar after BJP sweeps in Gujarat municipal polls

After emerging victorious in Gujarat municipal corporation and zila panchayat elections, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar held a press conference on March 03. Stating number comparison between results of 2015 and 2021 elections, Javadekar said that Congress has been completely wiped off. "Last week in Gujarat MCD elections over 6 seats, and BJP emerged victorious on all seats. But the results that came out yesterday for over 31 district panchayat, which basically includes voters who belong to villages and are farmers. Last time in 2015, Congress won 22 district panchayat seats and BJP was at 9. But this time, BJP has won all 31 seats and Congress has been wiped out completely. BJP has won 80% seats out of 979," said Prakash Javadekar.

Virat Kohli: England's defeat down to 'bizarre' display of batting, not pitch

India captain Virat Kohli has reacted angrily to ongoing debates around the pitch in Ahmedabad, blaming England’s two-day defeat in the third Test solely on “a bizarre display of batting”.Kohli has overseen two successive thumping victories on big-spinning surfaces since England took the series opener in gentler conditions in Chennai, concluding in a two-day finish last week.There has been no shortage of critique around the pitches, though much of the argument has settled along partisan lines, with most of the disapproval coming from outside India and the case for the defence coming from within the home camp.

AstraZeneca effective against Brazil variant – source

Preliminary data from a study conducted at the University of Oxford indicates that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca is effective against the Brazilian variant of the disease. Colette Luke has more.

EU, Italy stop AstraZeneca vaccine exports to Australia

Australia appeals to EU over Italy's vaccine block

Australia has asked the European Commission to review a decision by Italy to block a shipment of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, while stressing on Friday the missing doses would not affect the rollout of Australia's inoculation programme. Flora Bradley-Watson reports.

Fire breaks out at godown in Pune

A massive fire broke out at a godown in Bibvewadi area of Pune on March 03. Six fire engines rushed to the spot and fire is under control now. No casualty has been reported in the incident.