delta variant

A striking report from the World Health Organization estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in around 22.1 million excess deaths globally between 2020 and 2023, far exceeding those officially reported. These excess deaths, including those from strained healthcare resources and broader societal impacts, soared in 2021.

Talking about the powertrain, the outgoing model for reference is powered by a 1.2-litre Dual VVT NA petrol engine with 90hp and 113Nm, which comes paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT option. There's also a CNG option with 77.5hp, 98.5 Nm, and it comes paired with a manual gearbox only.

14:01 Lumio has launched the Vision 9 (2026) Smart TV in India in 65-inch and 55-inch variants, priced at ₹72,999 and coming in May, respectively. The TV features a QD MiniLED display, 144Hz gaming support, and a 50W six-driver audio system. Alongside, Lumio refreshed the Vision 7, announced TLDR 2.0—its AI-powered content discovery platform—and unveiled Project Neo, which lets users build their TV watchlist straight from WhatsApp.

The recently launched Tata Punch facelift, priced from Rs 7.55 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Pure plus AMT trim. The Punch AMT is powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 88 PS and 115 Nm of torque. There’s also a new 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 120 PS of power and 170 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual.

Turbocharged petrol engines are increasingly being offered in affordable SUVs in India, with several compact and sub-compact models under Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom) now available with this option, offering improved performance over conventional engines. Automakers are introducing turbo-petrol variants in more accessible trims, expanding options in this segment. As a result, these SUVs offer a mix of performance, features and everyday practicality for budget-conscious buyers.

After the detection of a new and reportedly more contagious mutation of the Covid-causing delta variant (Delta AY 4.2) in MP's Indore, the Institute of Life Sciences here has swung into action to gauge its infectivity and possible presence in Odisha, which has largely two variants of the Delta virus (Delta AY 4 and Delta AY 12).

The delta variant, identified for the first time in India, could account for 90 percent of new Covid cases in the European Union in the coming months, the bloc's disease control agency said Wednesday. "It is very likely that the delta variant will circulate extensively during the summer, particularly among younger individuals that are not targeted for vaccination," Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), said in a statement.

The delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, which led to a massive number of viral infections during the second Covid-19 wave, remains the dominant strain in circulation in the national capital.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky says she expects the delta variant will become the dominant coronavirus strain in the United States. The delta variant, first detected in India, has become dominant in Britain.

The delta variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus has been found to be a major factor for breakthrough infections — Covid infection in persons who have received one or both doses of the vaccine — among healthcare workers at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in south Delhi.

The delta variant, which was first detected in India, is more infectious than the Alpha variant, first detected in the UK. “Our data indicates B.1.617.2 shows high transmissibility and surges without any increase in case fatality rate (CFR). We estimate the transmissibility to be as much as 50% greater than B.1.1.7. Viral load of B.1.617.2 appears to be higher than B.1.1.7,” said their study in its conclusion.

The World Health Organisation's Europe director warned that the highly transmissible Covid-19 variant first identified in India is “poised to take hold in the region”, as many countries prepare to ease restrictions and allow more social gatherings and travel across borders.

The highly transmissible delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, first identified in India, has become the most prevalent variant among new Covid-19 cases in the United States, according to California-based genomics company Helix.

The delta variant was first detected in India leading to the devastating second wave. It now appears to have made its way to other parts of the world

The number of delta variant infections has jumped by 33,630 in a week to hit a total of 75,953 in the UK, with the highly transmissible variant first identified in India now making up 99 per cent of all Covid-19 cases in the country, health officials warned on Friday.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the Delta, a highly transmissible Covid-19 variant first identified in India, as a "variant of concern." "The B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), B.1.427 (Epsilon), B.1.429 (Epsilon), and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants circulating in the United States are classified as variants of concern.

The delta variant is the second most prevalent coronavirus mutation in the US and is predicted to become the predominant one in the coming weeks, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky said on Thursday (local time).

“Development of vaccines against Delta may be warranted,” in the light of evidence that the strain’s spike protein has mutated to a point where antibodies raised by current shots are becoming less effective, according to a UK study.