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Shashi Tharoor warns nation, says vaccine decision is premature before final trials

By
Harshit
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Just after the Drug Controller brief on the approval of Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN and Serum’s COVISHIELD vaccine.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also warned people on his social media handle about using the vaccine. He said that the vaccine approval was premature and the government is risking the lives of the citizens as the COVAXIN has not done with the Phase 3 trials.

“The Covaxin has not yet had Phase 3 trials. Approval was premature and could be dangerous,” Shashi Tharoor tweeted.

He urged people to avoid the use of the vaccine till the final trials are over and asked the Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan to clarify the entire situation.

Film exhibitors write to Salman khan urging him to release Radhe in theatres

By
Shivani Negi
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The world has witnessed a great change in every aspect of life in year 2020 as Covid-19 halted the work and routines of everyone around the globe. The entertainment industry is no different from it, we witnessed a major shift to OTT platforms for the release of the big banner movies and a surge in the OTT platform content which was already very popular even before Covid-19 restrictions.


Despite theatres reopening, no Hindi film has so far managed to pull in the crowds. Apart from masala entertainer films like Indoo Ki Jawaani and Suraj Pe Mangal Bhaari, there has been no big ticket Bollywood release.


As 2021 has arrived and with the news of Covid-19 vaccines being approved all over the world the film industry is expecting to return to its usual norms, film exhibitor associations are now requesting Salman Khan to not release his action flick Radhe- Your Most Wanted Bhai on the OTT platform. Several association heads have come together to write a letter to the star urging him to not choose the streaming way.


In the letter, the associations referred to Salman’s Eid releases and mentioned how Radhe’s release in theatres can serve as a great ‘Eidi’ for the survival of cinemas.
A part of the letter reads, “Films are to theatres what fuel is to a car. Without a constant supply of content that is relevant to its audience, running a cinema hall is close to impossible. For over a decade now, your films have played an important role in bringing audiences to single screen cinemas, which are otherwise starved for content that caters to the sensibilities of people who patronize them.
Your film RADHE – YOUR MOST WANTED BHAI is among the few that are capable of resurrecting the fortunes of independent / single screen cinemas across the country. A film like that, if released widely can give not just financial support & relief, but also a ray of hope to owners & employees of theatres in the context of their future. We request you to plan the film’s release at every cinema in the country on Eid 2021, as there cannot be a better eidi than that for us film exhibitors & more importantly for millions of your fans, whom we cannot wait to welcome back at the theatres!”

As of now there is no statement from Salman Khan, neither denying or confirming the rumors.

Adar Poonawalla hails DCGI’s approval to Covishield, ensures it’s ‘safe and effective’

By
Shivani Negi
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As the year has arrived the people across the globe have positive expectations for the treatment of Covid-19 and the vaccination that follows. For India there is also good news as the “Covishield” vaccine has been approved in India for emergency use.


Adar Poonawalla, the chief of the Pune-based vaccine manufacturer, tweeted that “Covishield” vaccine — developed by Serum Institute of India in partnership with the Oxford University and pharma major AstraZeneca – is “safe and effective” against coronavirus and added that the vaccine “is ready to roll out in the coming weeks”.

Shortly after the drug regulatory body of India cleared the vaccine for emergency uses in India. Apart from Covishield, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has been granted permission for “restricted use”. Restricted use approval is normally granted if there is sufficient evidence to suggest the drug is both safe and effective.
“We’ll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 110 per cent safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine,” Drug Controller General of India VG Somani said while granting permission to the vaccine makers for “restricted use”.
Minutes later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to say that it would make every Indian proud that the two were “made in India”. “It would make every Indian proud that the two vaccines that have been given emergency use approval are made in India! This shows the eagerness of our scientific community to fulfil the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, at the root of which is care and compassion,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
According the Serum Institute, immunogencity and efficacy data of over 73,000 participants and found 70.42 per cent efficacy. The firm is conducting Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials on 1,600 participants in India. They submitted data of trials abroad also. Recommendation was made for restricted use and the trials will continue, he added.
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, meanwhile, has conducted Phase I and Phase II trials in around 800 subjects and the results demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response. The Phase III trial was initiated in India in 25,800 volunteers and till date, 22,500 participants have been vaccinated.
India is the world’s second most-infected nation with more than 1.03 crore cases and almost 150,000 deaths, although its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak of more than 90,000 cases daily.
This approval is expected to start on the world’s biggest vaccination drives in coming days.

Mexican doctor hospitalised after receiving Pfizer shot

By
Shivani Negi
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Recently in a strange turn of events, a 32 year old female doctor was hospitalized to intensive care unit of a public hospital.
She was vaccinated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, after receiving the vaccine she experienced seizures, difficulty breathing and a skin rash.

The incident took place in northern state of Nuevo Leon, where the female doctor is hospitalized. The authorities have not released the name of the doctor yet, this could be a setback for Covid-19 vaccination. If more number of such cases are encountered in coming days it might halt the speed of vaccinations being given to the people to break the chain of Covid-19.

“The initial diagnosis is encephalomyelitis,” the Health Ministry said in a statement released on Friday night. Encephalomyelitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

The ministry also added that the doctor has a past history of allergic reactions
and said that there is no evidence from clinical trials that anyone has developed an inflammation of the brain after the vaccine’s application.

As of now there is no official comments from the Pfizer and BioNTech on the incident.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, have an efficacy of 95% and it was first approved in U.S.A on 11th December 2020.
The vaccine require two shots a priming dose, followed by a booster shot and the interval between both the doses is 21 days.

Bajrang Dal supporters protest against demolition of temples in Pakistan

By
Jyoti B
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Bajrang Dal supporters in  Aligarh on Saturday protested against the demolition of Hindu temples in Pakistan by raising slogans against Pakistan.

The Protesters raised slogans against the Pakistan government and condemned the attack on temples there.

The video of the temple vandalisation at Terri village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district of Pakistan was being shared widely on social media.

In a shocking incident of religious intolerance in Pakistan, a shrine of Hindu saint Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj in the Terri village of the Karak district was desecrated and set on fire by a mob on Wednesday.

Reportedly, there was an opposition to the expansion work of the temple. Strongly condemning the incident, Pakistan’s Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi claimed that some people were trying to defame the country.

Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan termed the attack on the temple as “an unfortunate incident” and directed the immediate arrest of the culprits.

The Pakistani Police had taken 26 people into custody in connection with vandalisation of a Hindu temple in northwest Pakistan. Those arrested belonged to a radical Islamist party.

PM Modi hails India’s vaccine approval

By
Harshit
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The Drug Controller General of India approved two vaccine for emergency use in India.

The two vaccines are namely COVAXIN and COVISHIELD by Bharat Bio-tech and Serum Institute. Vijay Somani in his press conference said that COVISHIELD has 70.42 percent efficacy rate, however, he didn’t said anything about efficacy rate of COVAXIN.

We’ll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 100 per cent safe,” Mr Somani said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed India’s vaccine approval and congratulated the scientists and innovators for their contribution in the making of vaccine.

The World Health Organisation has also praised India’s move on the vaccine and said they will it will help and strengthen the fight against pandemic.

“The use of vaccine in prioritised populations, along with continued implementations of other public health measures and community participation will be important in reducing the impact of COVID-19. It will help intensify and strengthen the fight against the pandemic in the region ,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

United States saw its highest number of coronovirus cases recorded in 24 hours

By
Neha Kumari
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The United States saw its highest number of coronovirus cases recorded in a single day, with more than 277,000 infections on Saturday.

The United States, the toughest country in the world by the epidemic, has marked 20.4 million cases in total and has caused only 350,000 deaths.

Infection has increased in recent months, with top US government scientist Anthony Fauci warning days after Christmas that the worst of the pandemic is yet to come, taking the country to a “critical point” as holiday travel spreads the virus is.

While India reported 18,177 new infections in the last 24 hours – 4.7 percent less than yesterday – consuming a total of 1,03,23,965 coronavirus on Sunday, government data showed at this point. The total death toll in the country rose to 1,49435, with 217 deaths related to communicable diseases at the same time. Coverage of COVID-19 patients is estimated at 1.45 percent. The number of live cases in the country increased from 2,47,220, while the number of recurrences was 99.27, 310 with 20,923 people recovering from the disease in 24 hours. first.

Former umpire Daryl Harper urges ICC to ban Umpires’ call system

By
Harshit
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Former umpire Darl Harper has said that umpires’ call should be removed from the Decision Review System (DRS), as it has failed in terms of decision making most of the times.

Former Australian umpire Darl Harper said to the Sydney Morning Herald, “I have seen a lot of umpires’ calls. Let’s ban it. Get rid of this controversy. Any way the ball contacts the stumps will blow the gills, 48 ​​percent, not 49 percent.”

Darl Harper said, “The truth is that it has been there for 12 years and people have not yet understood it well, the players are also worried about it. It shows that there are some shortcomings either in telling or understanding. He said, ‘Some work should be done on behalf of the ICC as well.”

DRS goes with the umpires’ call when the umpire is not clear about his decision whether the batsman is out or not. Sachin Tendulkar, one of the great batsmen, who urged to ICC about for this.

Savitrabai Phule Birth Anniversary: know about Savitrabai who suffered stone-pelting for women’s education

By
Neha Kumari
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A tribute to India’s first female teacher, social reformer and Marathi poet Savitribai Phule on her birthday.

Savitribai Phule was born on 3 January 1831 in Naigaon in Satara district, Maharashtra.

At that time, women did not have the freedom to study, but Phule not only completed her studies with courage, but in 1848 the first women’s school was opened in Pune by her.

It is said that when she went to school, the people who were against female education used to throw stones, throw dirt on her. The reading of women was considered a sin at that time. Savitribai used to take a sari in her bag so that she could change her dirty sari after reaching school.

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, husband of Savitribai Phule, is known as the most important leader of the social reform movement in Maharashtra and India. – Jyotiba spent his entire life educating and advancing women and backward castes.

Savitribai Phule, along with her husband Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, made revolutionary efforts to educate the rights of women and educate them.

Savitri Bai Phule and Jyotirao Phule did many other things for the society. She opened a child care restrictive home care center for women who used to be pregnant, but for some reason were not able to raise a child. In such a situation, she was forced to throw or kill them. Savitri Bai Phule and Jyotirao Phule had no children. In such a situation, they adopted and raised Yashwantrao, the son of a widowed woman.

The plague spread to Pune in 1897. The Phule couple opened a clinic to serve the patients of this epidemic. Here she herself served patients. She also used to bring affected people living far away. During this time she herself got hit by the plague. Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died on 10 March 1897.

Her entire life was spent fighting for the rights of poor, deprived, Dalit sections and women. As a poetess, Savitribai Phule also wrote two poetic books ‘Kavya Phule’, ‘Bawanakashi Subodharatnakar’ to bring a new awakening in the society. She was also honored by the then British Government in 1852 for her contribution. Also, the Central and Maharashtra governments instituted several awards in memory of Savitribai Phule and also issued a postage stamp in her honor. One of her Marathi poem translated lines in Hindi- ‘All is lost without knowledge, without knowledge we become animals, so do not sit empty, go and learn.’

Sourav Ganguly is stable after undergoing angioplasty

By
Neha Kumari
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The health of BCCI president Sourav Ganguly suddenly worsened, after which he was admitted to the Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata. Ganguly’s health deteriorated on Saturday morning. According to the information, Ganguly suffered chest pain while doing a workout in his home gym on Saturday morning. After this, the family immediately admitted him to the Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata.

48-year-old Sourav Ganguly underwent angioplasty. The Woodlands Hospital issued a statement giving good news, ‘Sourav Ganguly’s condition is now stable. Ganguly underwent angioplasty after which a stent was inserted into the veins of the heart. At the moment, Sourav Ganguly is perfectly fine. Thanks to God.’

He has undergone an early angioplasty and is now awake.

Doctors in the hospital said that there is a history of ‘ischemic heart disease’ in Ganguly’s family. In this disease, chest pain or discomfort arises due to insufficient blood in any part of the heart. This occurs mostly during euphoria or excitement when a greater flow of heart blood is needed.

Doctor told that the decision to give more stents will be taken later on seeing his condition. He said, “His condition will be closely monitored over the next few days. What to do next, it will be decided only by seeing his condition. All his other parts are well and he will have to stay in the hospital for the next three to four days. He added , “He has acute myocardial infarction but his condition is stable.” Three blocks were found in his heart. He has been given dual anti platelets and statins.

He has undergone early angioplasty and is now awake. His condition is stable.

Covaxin gets clearance by expert panel

By
Jyoti B
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Covaxin, the coronavirus vaccine from Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, has been recommended for “restricted use in emergency situation in public interest” by a government-appointed panel, which submitted its findings to the Drugs Controller General of India on Saturday evening.

Covaxin has been indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) has made recommendations with respect to the ‘Accelerated Approval Process’ request of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech International Ltd as well as about Phase-III Trials of Cadila Healthcare Ltd,” an official statement said.

According to sources, the committee, however, stated that the firm shall continue the ongoing phase 3 clinical trial and submit data emerging from the trial as and when available.

The committee noted that the vaccine is an inactivated whole virion, coronavirus vaccine, having potential to target mutated coronavirus strains, a source said. The data generated so far demonstrates a strong immune response (both antibody as well as T cell) and in-vitro viral neutralisation.

Recommendation for Covaxin comes a day after the panel had recommended emergency licensure for Serum Institute of India’s Covishield, but subject to certain conditions.

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had started its phase 3 efficacy study of 26,000 participants only in mid-November and, considering that the second dose is given 28 days later and the immune response only two weeks after that, there is no clarity on availability of its interim efficacy data.

The company is now carrying out third and the largest phase of the clinical evaluation of the indigenous vaccine. During the trial, the efficacy of the vaccine would be compared to an unvaccinated group of people who are also part of the trial.

Out of 26,000 volunteers that it plans to recruit for the trial, 13,000 plus have been enrolled for the study.

Dirt biker who appeared in HBO drama charged with murder

By
Jyoti B
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A renowned Baltimore dirt bike rider who appeared in an HBO drama about the city’s riding scene faces murder charges for the stabbing death of her partner on New Year’s Day, police said.

City police said officers were called around 4:15 a.m. Friday to the 1200 block of North Stricker Street for a report of a cutting. Police said officers found Tiffany Wilson, 33, suffering from stab wounds to the chest. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.

Doughty is regarded as a pioneer for breaking into Baltimore’s male dominated 12 O’Clock Boys dirt bike culture. She was featured in the an HBO movie “Charm City Kings,” which premiered this fall.

Authorities say she was charged with first- and second-degree murder for killing her 33-year-old partner, Tiffany Wilson, on Friday in West Baltimore.

Detective Donny Moses tells the Baltimore Sun that it was a “domestic situation” in which the two had an argument. The 26-year-old Doughty called 911 after the stabbing, but Wilson died at the scene nearly four hours into the new year.

It is the city’s first homicide in 2021. 

CBI charges Shakti Bhog Foods for frauds of Rs 3,269 crore

By
Jyoti B
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The CBI has booked Delhi-based Shakti Bhog Foods Limited for an alleged fraud of Rs 3,269 crore on a consortium of 10 banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI), officials said on Friday.

On SBI complaint, the agency has changed the managing director of the company, Kewal Krishan Kumar, and other directors Siddhrath Kumar and Sunanda Kumar, they added.

According to the SBI complaint, the directors allegedly falsified accounts and forged documents to siphon off public funds.

According to the FIR, the fraud came to light when forensic auditors submitted their final report in June 2019 on the transactions from April 2013 to March 2017. The account with an outstanding of ₹2,016 crore had turned non-performing asset in March 2015, it said.

The forensic report disclosed alleged manipulation of the account statements and stock status. In the audited financial statement for 2015-2016, the account mentioned that inventory costing ₹3,035.52 crore was damaged due to pest and, therefore, had to be sold at substantially low rates.

Russia to conduct clinical trials of Sputnik V in Ukraine

By
Jyoti B
-

Russia is ready to conduct clinical trials in Ukraine of a COVID-19 vaccine combining its Sputnik V with a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca together with Oxford University, the head of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Saturday.

Russia’s sovereign RDIF, which is marketing the Sputnik V vaccine abroad, announced in December trials to test a combination of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the Sputnik V shot to see if this can boost the efficacy of the British drugmaker’s vaccine.

Sputnik V is the first registered vaccine against COVID-19.

However, Only 1 per cent of Argentinian citizens, who received the Russia-developed Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, has shown a mild adverse reaction to the shot, the TN broadcaster reported on Saturday, citing the country’s Health Ministry.

According to the media outlet, 317 patients reported fever and headaches of the total 32,013.

Tibetan refugees to cast votes today

By
Jyoti B
-

Around 80,000 exiled Tibetans will participate in the first phase of the global election for Sikyong — president of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) — and members of the 17th Parliament-in-exile on Sunday amid the pandemic.

Though Beijing has just warned it against playing the “Tibet Card”, New Delhi is all set to tacitly send a message to China at the beginning of 2021 itself by allowing the Tibetan refugees in India to cast votes to elect the new political leader of the exiled community.

The final round of the two-phase election will be held on April 11, 2021. The votes will be cast through ballot.

The two candidates who will secure a maximum number of votes in the primary election will contest the final polling on April 11. The winner of the April 11 poll will take over as the political leader fo the exiled Tibetans for a period of 5 years.

The polling for the primary and final elections to the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE) will take place along with the presidential elections simultaneously.

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