Mixing of two COVID vaccines shows better results-ICMR

TOP NEWS IN NUTSHELLS (09 August 2021)

**NATIONAL NEWS**

• FINAL WEEK OF MONSOON SESESSION: With just a week to go before Parliament's Monsoon Session ends, the oppositions sent a message to the Modi Govt. clamouring for a discussion on Pegasus snooping, Farm laws and several other issues. TMC demanded PM Modi to attend the proceedings and listen to the demands of oppositions.
• UNOFFICIAL BLOCKED OF MIZORAM ENDS: Hundreds of trucks carrying essential items to Mizoram finally started moving after two Assam ministers convinced the locals to let them go, ending the undeclared economic blockade of Mizoram since the July 26 clash. The trucks were stranded in Assam for over 10 days following a deadly clash over a border dispute between the two sides that resulted in death of 6 Assam cops and one civilian.
• TWO WOMEN COMBATS IN ITBP: In a first, two women have joined Indo Tibetan Border Police force as combative officers. Prakriti and Diksha were “pipped” as Assistant Commandant during a passing-out parade held at the ITBP Academy in Mussoorie on Suday after completing their 52-week long basic training. They will be posted as company commanders in ITBP battalions.
• ICMR’S REPORT ON VACCINE: The Indian Council of Medical Research on Sunday release a new study on mixing and matching of COVID-19 vaccines. According to ICMR’s study, mixing and matching of two COVID vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield shows better results than two doses of the same vaccine. The Study says, mixing of these two Covid-19 vaccines yields better results and also better immunogenicity moreover it is safe for the people.
• COVID-19 UPDATES: An increase of 442 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.27%. It has been less than 3 % for the last 12 days, said the Union Health Ministry on Sunday.
• DELHI SCHOOLS RE-OPEN: Schools in the national capital partially re-open from Monday. Class 10 and Class 12 students can go to school for admission-related work. The DDMA, however, specified that schools, coaching centres and colleges will remain closed for teaching purposes.
• ARRESTS OVER POST TARGETING JUDGES: Days after CJI rebuked the govt. agencies over not responding to complain by lower court judges about threats, the CBI has made two more arrests in alleged defamatory posts against AP HC judges. Altogether five persons have been arrested in this case.
• BOMB THREAT TURNS HOAX: Bomb threat at IGI Airport although turned out to be hoax, the security has been scaled up ahead of Independence Day. Security agencies declared the bomb threat email “non-specific” but arrangements remained heightened on Sunday.
• 75^TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE Day : Nation celebrates Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate 75th Anniversary of Independence. The Mahotsav will be celebrated as a Jan-Utsav in the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari.
• LAL CHOWK IN TRI-COLOUR: The famous Clock Tower situated at Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar city was illuminated in Tricolour ahead of the forthcoming 75th Independence Day celebrations.
• FREE AIR TRAVEL FOR OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS: Go First and Star Air on Sunday offered free travel to all six Indian athletes and the men's hockey team who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Go First would give free tickets to them for the next five years. Regional carrier Star Air will offer the medal winners a lifetime of free air travel.

**INTERNATIONAL NEWS**

• PM MODI TO CHAIR UNSC MEETING: PM Modi will chair the High-level Open Debate on Enhancing Maritime Security today at 5.30 pm through video conferencing. The Open Debate will focus on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity and strengthened coordination in the maritime domain. PM Modi, will be the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate.
• CONCERN OVER AFGHANISTAN: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared concerns over Afghanistan’s security situation during a meet with Qatar’s Special Envoy Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani in New Delhi. Mr. Majed was on a two-day visit to India to discuss the peace process in Afghanistan.
• DELHI HC JUNCKS 30 ITBP OFFICIALS’ PLEA: The Delhi HC has dismissed a petition filed by 30 ITBP personals for re-deployment in violence ravaged Afghanistan. The court said, it amazes us that any one would be keen to go back there despite the dangerous situation. The petitioners had been deployed in Kandhar before being withdrawn.
• AIR PATROLLING OF KABUL: With the Taliban going rogue over its peace assurances to the US, the US Airforce Qatar based Central Command has stepped up combat air patrolling of Kabul with F-16 fighters to prevent the military objective of the Islamist Sunni Pashtun force from capturing political power. The American planes also bombed the Taliban posts in east and south part of Afghanistan. The Taliban captured two more provincial capitals on Sunday.
• INS VIKRANT: India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant returned to the shore on Sunday after successfully accomplishing its maiden sea voyage. Trials progressed as planned and the system parameters proved satisfactory.
• ZAYED TALWAR 2021: Indian Navy undertook bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar 2021’ with UAE Navy off the coast of Abu Dhabi. INS Kochi, with two integral Sea King MK 42B helicopters, deployed in the Persian Gulf, participated in the exercise.
• COVID-19 ALARM IN THE US: US city Texas left with 6 ICU beds sounds alarm over Covid-19 situation. This warning comes just two days after the capital city of Texas raised its risk level to its highest at stage 5 due to the highly contagious delta variant.
• GREEK FIRES RAGE: More than 1,450 Greek firefighters backed by at least 15 aircraft were battling the blazes, with reinforcements arriving from abroad, the fire service said. With strong winds and temperatures of up to 38 degrees C forecast in some regions on Saturday, the blazes in Greece are expected to continue for some time. And this year's fires have already been far more destructive than in previous years.

***SPORTS***

• TOKYO OLYMPIC CURTAIN DOWNS: After a spectacular 16-day action, curtains came down on World’s biggest sporting event. The 32nd Summer Games conclude with closing ceremony at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. Indian contingent came back with their best ever performance in Olympic games. They have one gold, two silver and four bronze in their kitty from Tokyo Olympics. Medals winners will be honoured today at Dhyan Chand Stadium in Delhi.
• CRICKET: The first Test between India and England at Trent Bridge ended in a draw after rain washed out the final day's play on Sunday. The second match of the five-test series is scheduled at Lord's from 12 Aug.