As the world is battling a new strain of coronavirus, experts have now turned their attention to making sure the existing vaccines work against the new variant too.

Oxford University and AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine will protect "95% of patients" who get it, Pascal Soriot said.

The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 79.8 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.74 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Saturday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 79,802,494 and 1,749,995, respectively.

State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) is set to diversify into non-coal mining areas as well as make major investments in clean technology in 2021 after demand for the dry fuel remained muted for most of this year amid the coronavirus pandemic impacting economic activities.

Against all odds, including the slump in coal demand, the government opened up the country's mining sector for private players by auctioning 19 blocks.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Guwahati on Friday midnight and thanked people for the warm welcome.Reached Guwahati! I wholeheartedly thank people of Assam for such warm welcome, Shah said in a tweet today.

Braving the cold weather thousands of people, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP's National Vice-President Baijayant Jay Panda, who is also the Assam in-charge for the saffron party, state party President Ranjit Kumar Dass among other leaders received Shah at the airport.

The ban on 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir has been extended till January 8, said an order issued by the Union Territory's administration on Friday.

The internet speed shall be continued to be restricted to 2G, except the districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur, where mobile internet connectivity shall be continued to be made available without any speed-related restrictions, said a statement issued by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

India, which appears to have been pushed back to being the world's sixth biggest economy in 2020, will again overtake the UK to become the fifth largest in 2025 and race to the third spot by 2030, a think tank said on Saturday.

India had overtaken the UK in 2019 to become the fifth largest economy in the world but has been relegated to 6th spot in 2020.

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Saturday approved the Religious Freedom Bill 2020, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said. After the approval by the cabinet, the bill will now be presented in the state Assembly.

The bill provides for prison term of up to 10 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh for conversion through marriage or by any other fraudulent means.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the AB-PMJAY SEHAT scheme for residents of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday via video conferencing, which will provide benefits to 21 lakh eligible people on the basis of Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, officials said.

The Prime Minister's Office said on Thursday that the scheme will ensure universal health coverage, and focus on providing financial risk protection and ensuring quality and affordable essential health services to all individuals and communities.

The year 2020 is nearing to an end. However the coronavirus pandemic remains the biggest challenge even in the coming year. Amid this scenario, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is worried that the pandemic can negate the global health progress made during the last 20 years.

The World Health Organisation has stated that next year, along with fighting against COVID-19, countries across the world need to work hard to boost their health care system to fight against various diseases. It has listed out several global health issues that need to be tracked next year.

Union Minister Amit Shah will visit Guwahati and Imphal from December 26 to 27.

Shah will lay the foundation stones for the development of `Batadrava Than` as a cultural and tourist destination, new medical college in Guwahati and nine law colleges to be established across Assam.

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