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1. The European Union's reluctance in accepting Indian-made vaccines for its 'vaccination passport' has triggered a face-off with New Delhi. Sources in the foreign ministry say India will begin a reciprocal policy when it comes to exemption from quarantine. This would mean that unless the European Union accepts Covishield and Covaxin certificates, their certificates will not be accepted in the country and people from EU will face mandatory quarantine upon arrival in India. 2. Empty vaccination centres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar raise questions over the availability of vaccines in India. In Uttar Pradesh's Noida, all 34 government vaccination centres remains shut for the two days as the district runs out of vaccine shots. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, too, has sought from the Centre more doses of COVID-19 vaccines, saying the state had run out of Covishield stock and had limited doses of Covaxin. Jharkhand as well faces a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines with a state health department official saying that the state is left with just one day's stock of COVID-19 vaccine. Mumbai too is facing a shortage of vaccines. 3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asks his Council of Ministers to lead by example by strictly following COVID-19 safety rules. He asks the ministers to ensure an atmosphere by their actions where people would to stick to safety measures and do not hesitate to get vaccinated. 4. Landmark judgement: Supreme Court tells the centre that guidelines for compensation to families of COVID-19 victims — including amount of compensation — should be framed by the National Disaster Management Authority within six weeks. 5. A severe heatwave swept the national capital on Wednesday with the mercury settling at 43.5 degrees Celsius, the highest so far this year, the India Meteorological Department has said. A respite from the heat is unlikely anytime soon as the monsoon is at least a week away, according to the IMD. 6. President Xi Jinping hails China's 'irreversible' course from humiliated colony to great power at the centenary celebrations for the Chinese Communist Party, in a speech reaching deep into history to remind patriots at home and rivals abroad of his nation's — and his own — ascendancy. 7. The Covovax shot developed by American vaccine-maker Novavax may be cleared for use in India between July and September, which would make it the fifth vaccine in the country. The vaccine would cost a 'low single dollar' price per dose but is likely to be costlier than Covishield, the company's CEO Stanley Erck says.