Raksha Bandhan 2020: Delhi markets loaded with varieties of rakhis

Covid update: Russia mass vaccination from Oct plan; Delhi 2nd sero survey

From the Russian government planning to roll out a mass vaccination drive from October 2020 after getting vaccine clearance by August, to India's case fatality rate dropping to 2.15%, the lowest since the lockdown began - here are the top news updates on the Covid-19 pandemic. India's total case tally has crossed the 16.95 lakh-mark, with over 36,500 deaths so far. The national capital has kickstarted its second round of serological survey, aimed at gauging the extent of the virus' spread. The first survey had suggested that almost a quarter of Delhi's population had been exposed to the Covid-causing virus. Meanwhile, the Assam government is planning to reopen schools, colleges and other education institutions by September 1. However, the final decision would be taken by the Union government, said Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In international news, the United States of America is still struggling to get on top of the virus wave, even as expert Anthony Fauci expressed 'cautious optimism' about a vaccine being available by the end of the year. Watch the full video for the other updates on the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.

PM Modi's Pakistani sister sends him 'rakhi'

Ahead of the auspicious occasion of 'Rakshabandhan', Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sister from Pakistan Qamar Mohsin Shaikh, who lives in Ahmedabad, sent him 'rakhi' by post. Qamar Mohsin Shaikh said, "I have come to know that my rakhi and book reached to Prime Minister Modi. I wished that I could tie 25th rakhi to Prime Minister personally but due to corona, everyone is facing a problem. Whatever it may be, I'll pray that the next five years go so well for him that the whole world recognizes the positive decisions he made."Qamar also sent a book 'Qamar Jahan', by a famous writer along with 'rakhi'.