Cabinet decides to extend term of anti-corruption committee secretariat

India raises COVID jab production amid sharp dip in cases

With an ambitious goal to inoculate its entire adult population of more than 940 million by the end of the year,?India is focusing on stepping up vaccine production even as a deadly second wave of COVID-19 has abated?in recent weeks. Two of India’s domestic vaccine manufacturers — the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest producer,?and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech — have been the main providers of doses for the country’s inoculation drive, which began on Jan.?16. The govern

19 Jul, 2021

Daughter of Afghan envoy kidnapped and injured in Pakistan

The daughter of Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan was briefly kidnapped and injured by unknown assailants, officials say. Silsila Alikhil was seized on her way home in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday and held for several hours. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said she was “severely tortured”. Later it said senior diplomats including the ambassador had been recalled. Relations between the two neighbours have long been strained. Pakistani officials said Silsila Alikhil, who is in h

19 Jul, 2021

Most of Chinese companies responsible for air pollution, says ministry report

One out of every two Chinese companies?was found to have numerous air pollution issues, revealed the environment ministry during its inspection. A Chinese media outlet?Caixin?reported citing the?Ministry of Ecology and Environment that one out of every two Chinese companies inspected by regulators were found to have numerous air pollution issues, with those in the building materials and chemical and pharmaceutical sectors among the biggest culprits. ?Of the 1,582 companies inspected in 30 citi

19 Jul, 2021