India releases new anti-COVID drug 2DG as cases decline

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday released a new anti-Covid drug after clinical trials showed it aided the recovery of hospitalized coronavirus patients and reduced dependence on supplemental oxygen. This came as the country's daily spike of coronavirus cases remained below the 300,000-mark for the first time since April 21 on Monday. Security forces on Monday neutralised two Al-Badr terrorists in an encounter near Srinagar city in India's Jammu & Kashmir. This came a week after three terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit were gunned down in a similar encounter in Anantnag district of the territory. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday emphasised the need for expanded bilateral ties and cooperation with the United States. Talking to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over phone, Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast support for the Afghan peace process. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz said on Sunday that if speaking for the supremacy of Constitution and the law is an act of treason, then  her party PML-N will continue to commit the crime.