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Pfizer, Moderna effective against new Covid variant in India: Study

The new research has found that Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines should be highly effective against two coronavirus variants first identified in India, said the US scientists.

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The new research has found that Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines should be highly effective against two coronavirus variants first identified in India, said the US scientists.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone Center, conducted the lab-base study, which is considered preliminary since it has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

According to the senior author Nathaneil Ned Landau, the vaccine’s antibodies are a little bit weaker against the new variants, but not enough that it will affect the protective ability of the vaccines, he said.

The study was performed on people who were vaccinated with either of the two shots of Pfizer and Moderna. The researchers took blood samples from these people and exposed them in a lab to engineered pseudovirus particles that contained mutations in the spike region of the coronavirus, which were particular to either the B.1.617 or B.1.618 found in India.

The mixture was then exposed to lab-grown cells, to find out how many could become infected. In order to know how many cells are infected, the engineered pseudovirus particles contained an enzyme called luciferase which helps to know based on light measurements.

The results showed that for B.1.617, there is almost four-fold reduction in the amount of neutralising antibodies-Y shaped proteins the immune system creates to stop pathogens from invading cells. For B.1.618, the reduction was found to be three-fold.

Some of the antibodies don’t work anymore against the variants, but you still have a lot of antibodies that do work against the variants. There is enough work that we believe that the vaccines will be highly protective,  said Landau, adding that this kind of lab investigation cannot predict what the real world efficacy might look like. 

Landau’s team showed the India-dominant Covid variants were able to bind more tightly to the receptor called ACE2, like other variants of concern. This might be linked to its increased transmissibility compared to the original strain. The recent lab-based results lend confidence that current vaccines will provide protection against variants identified to date, the team concluded.

Read Also: India lost 50 doctors in a day due to Covid second wave, IMA claims over 200 doctors death

However, the they do not preclude the possibility that newer variants that are more resistant to vaccines will emerge. In addition, they highlighted the importance of widespread vaccination at the global level.

India News

PM Modi changes social media profile pictures to mark Operation Sindoor anniversary

PM Modi changed his social media profile pictures to commemorate one year of Operation Sindoor, with several NDA leaders following the move.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday updated the display pictures of his social media accounts to mark the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The new image was seen across his profiles on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp channels.

The updated profile picture carries the text “Operation Sindoor” on a black background along with elements of the Indian tricolour. One of the letters in the word “Sindoor” has been stylised using vermilion, commonly associated with married Hindu women.

Operation Sindoor was launched a year ago by Indian defence forces and the Border Security Force along the western border. The anniversary was also marked by several Union ministers and NDA leaders, who changed their social media profile pictures in a similar manner.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior leaders were among those who adopted the commemorative display image on social media platforms, according to reports.

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Congress, BJP attack Bhagwant Mann over remarks on Punjab blasts

Congress and BJP have jointly criticised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann after he linked recent blasts near defence sites to political motives, triggering a controversy.

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Bhagwant Mann

A political row has erupted in Punjab after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann linked recent blast incidents to political motives, drawing sharp criticism from both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The controversy follows two low-intensity explosions reported within a short span of time — one near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar and another close to an army cantonment area in Amritsar. The incidents raised concerns over security, particularly given the sensitive nature of the locations.

In response, Mann suggested that the blasts could be part of a larger political strategy. His remarks triggered a strong backlash, with opposition parties accusing him of politicising a serious security issue.

Leaders from the Congress criticised the Chief Minister’s statement, calling it inappropriate and alleging that such comments undermine the gravity of the situation. They stressed that matters related to national security should be handled with caution and responsibility.

The BJP also joined the criticism, questioning the basis of Mann’s claims and urging the state government to focus on investigation and law enforcement instead of making political allegations.

The developments have led to an unusual moment where both Congress and BJP appear aligned in their criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in the state.

Meanwhile, the blasts themselves have intensified concerns over safety in border regions, with authorities continuing their investigation into the incidents. No casualties were reported, but the proximity to defence establishments has made the issue particularly sensitive.

The episode has further escalated political tensions in the state, with security and accountability emerging as key points of debate.

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Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam chief minister, oath ceremony likely after May 11

Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam Chief Minister after BJP-led NDA’s victory. He will continue as caretaker CM until the new government is sworn in after May 11.

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Himanta sharma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned from his post on Wednesday, paving the way for the formation of a new government after the BJP-led NDA secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Sarma submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Lok Bhawan in Guwahati. The Governor accepted the resignation and asked him to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until the new government takes charge.

The resignation comes after the NDA’s strong electoral performance, where the alliance won a clear majority in the 126-member Assembly, ensuring its return to power for another term.

Oath ceremony expected after May 11

Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Sarma said the swearing-in ceremony for the new government is likely to be held after May 11.

He indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend the ceremony but is unavailable until May 11, which has influenced the tentative schedule.

Decision on next chief minister soon

Sources suggest that central observers, including senior BJP leaders, are expected to arrive shortly to oversee the selection of the legislature party leader. The newly elected MLAs will then decide on the next Chief Minister.

Despite the formal resignation, party sources indicate that Sarma is likely to continue in the role for another term, given the BJP’s strong mandate in the state.

The move marks the beginning of the government formation process in Assam following the election results declared earlier this week.

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