The Delta variant, first detected in India, constituted over 6 per cent of COVID-19 cases tested for virus variants in New York City, according to official data from the city's health department.

The New York City Health Department said in its recent update that out of the 105 NYC COVID-19 cases tested for variant viruses for the week ending June 5, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) constituted 6.7 per cent.

HDFC Bank on Friday said its board has declared a dividend of Rs 6.50 per share for the year ended March 2021.

A dividend of Rs 6.50 per equity share ( 650 per cent on face value of Re 1) out of the net profits for the year ended March 31, 2021, has been recommended, subject to the approval of the shareholders of the bank at its ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM), HDFC Bank said in a regulatory filing.

Legendary athlete Milkha Singh died on Friday (June 19) at a hospital in Chandigarh. He was 91. The former Asian gold medalist was popularly known as 'Flying Singh'.

The 1958 Commonwealth Games champion and 1960 Rome Olympian had tested COVID-19 positive on May 20. Singh was discharged on May 30 but he was readmitted to the Covid ward at PGIMER on June 3 due to dipping oxygen levels. Earlier on Thursday, Milkha Singh had tested negative for Covid-19 and was shifted from the Covid ICU to the medical ICU at PGIMER.

The price of 22-carat gold on Friday slid to Rs 47,350 for 10 gm from Rs 47,410 and silver tanked to Rs 70,300 per kg, according to the Good Returns website.

Gold jewellery price varies across India, the second-largest consumer of the metal, due to excise duty, state taxes, and making changes.

Former Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Christian minority leader Philip C. Tocher has joined Andhra Pradesh's ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP).

Tocher joined YSRCP in the presence of party founder and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday at his camp office.

It’s highly unlikely that any future wave of Covid-19 by the prevailing variants of coronavirus will disproportionately affect children aged two years or older, a serosurvey conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has found.

This comes against the backdrop of a number of officials and health experts raising an alarm about the possible third wave affecting children more than adults.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 frontline workers on Friday at 11 AM via video conferencing.

According to the Prime Minister's office, the launch will commence the programme in 111 training centres spread over 26 states. The launch will be followed by the Prime Minister's address.

By Maureen Ferran,Associate Professor of Biology, Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester (US), (The Conversation) While it's now pretty easy to get a COVID-19 shot in most places in the US, the vaccine rollout in other parts of the world has been slow or inconsistent due to shortages, uneven access and concerns about safety.

With 62,480 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 2,97,62,793, while the death toll climbed to 3,83,490 with 1,587 fresh fatalities, the lowest in 61 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.

The active cases have fallen below 8 lakh after 73 days and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has crossed 96 per cent.

In a bid to ensure that no one is left out of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, a team of Indian Army and health workers reached Kerani village, the last village near the Line of Control (LoC), crossing the difficult hilly terrains of the region and flowing rivers on foot, to conduct door-to-door inoculation.

The Indian Army is collaborating with the Union Territory administration to vaccinate people living in far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

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