The global coronavirus caseload has topped 211.7 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 4.43 million and vaccinations soared to over 4.92 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Monday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload, death toll and vaccination tally stood at 211,798,109, 4,430,661 and 4,922,316,113, respectively.

China's health authority reported on Monday that there were no new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 for the first time since July, offering more signs that the current outbreak which began late last month may be tapering off soon.

The latest outbreak was driven mainly by infections first detected among a few airport workers in the eastern city of Nanjing on July 20. Since then, more than 1,200 people in China have been confirmed to be infected.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday launched COVID-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme to provide assistance to those who had been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.

The scheme was launched by Singh at a function held at Imphal yesterday.

Shares of Aurobindo Pharma zoomed 6 per cent at Rs 720.60 on the BSE in the intra-day trade on Monday after the company terminated the agreement to acquire 51 per cent ownership in Cronus Pharma.

Aurobindo Pharma, on August 12, 2021, had entered into binding agreements with Cronus Pharma Specialities India Private Limited for acquisition of 51 per cent ownership in Cronus Pharma by subscribing to 95 million equity shares of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 34.18 per equity share aggregating to Rs 420 crore.

IPO-bound digital payments firm Paytm and India’s largest private sector bank, HDFC Bank, announced a strategic partnership to build comprehensive solutions across payment gateway, point of sale machines and credit products including Paytm Postpaid which is Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solution, Eazy EMI and Flexi Pay.

The partnership will aim to empower new businesses which have recently ventured online, and enable them to scale up.

In an effort to evacuate Indian nationals in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the capital city Kabul, an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J transport aircraft took off from Kabul with over 85 Indians, informed official sources on Saturday.

An Indian Air Force C-130J transport aircraft took off from Kabul with over 85 Indians. The aircraft landed in Tajikistan for refuelling. Indian government officials are helping in evacuation of Indian citizens on the ground in Kabul, sources told ANI.

A single-day rise of 34,457 COVID-19 cases pushed India's tally to 3,23,93,286 on Saturday, while the number of active cases declined to 3,61,340, the lowest in 151 days, according to Union health ministry data.

The death toll climbed to 4,33,964 with 375 fresh fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am.

A team of researchers has identified an antibody that is highly protective at low doses against a wide range of viral Covid-19 variants.

Moreover, the antibody attaches to a part of the virus that differs little across the variants, meaning that it is unlikely for resistance to arise at this spot.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said Delhi recorded 139 mm rainfall, the highest one-day rain for August in at least 13 years, and issued 'orange alert' for the city.

Officials said heavy rains lashed parts of the national capital that brought the mercury down and provided relief to Delhiites.

The price of 10 gm of 22-carat gold gained Rs 270 to sell at Rs 46,400 on Saturday. In previous trade, gold had closed at Rs 46,130 per 10 grams.

Silver was selling at Rs 62,200 per kg, down by Rs 300, according to the website Good Returns.

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