India News
Adar Poonawalla’s Serum Institute to invest 240 mn pounds in UK to set up vaccine plant
SII has also begun phase one trials of a one-dose nasal vaccine for Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. The announcement of setting up a new facility in Britain comes ahead of virtual talks between Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
The Serum Institute of India, the largest vaccine maker in the world is all set to invest in facilities in the United Kingdom and could even manufacture vaccines in the UK by setting new production plants in future, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.
Boris Johnson’s Downing Street office said the 240 million Great British Pounds (334 million dollars) project would innclude a sales office, research and development, clinical trials, and possibly manufacturing of vaccines. Johnson’s office also said the vaccine maker’s plans were a part of trade and investment deals with India worth $1 billion that it expects to create over 6,500 jobs.
SII has also begun phase one trials of a one-dose nasal vaccine for Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. The announcement of setting up a new facility in Britain comes ahead of virtual talks between Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
This comes at a time when India is grappling with the unprecedented second wave of Covid-19 pandemic and the country’s vaccine needs are immediate.
With its massive population and growing economy, India has been high on London’s list of trade deal targets since Britain withdrew from the European Union last year. But a prevailing Covid-19 situation in India has left the health system in splits with ongoing oxygen shortage, hospitals running out of beds and ventilators, forcing Johnson to shelve a planned visit this month.
Before the current wave of Covid-19, India was exporting tens of millions of SII-made AstraZeneca shots via through the Covax scheme supplying poorer countries. Last month New Delhi froze exports to prioritise jabs at home.
Britain said Sunday it was sending an extra 1,000 oxygen ventilators to India, having already sent 495 oxygen concentrators, 200 ventilators and three larger production units dubbed oxygen factories.
Poonawalla attracted criticism for heading to London just before Britain put India on a red list of banned countries.
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In an interview with a British daily, Poonawalla said he had joined his wife and children in Britain because highly-placed Indians were pressuring him to provide them with jabs first. However, he said he is heading back to India.
India News
Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti 2023: History, Date and Significance
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement.
On 2nd October 2023, India also celebrates the birth anniversary of another great leader, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The day holds special significance as India remembers the legacy and life of the man who served as India’s second Prime Minister. Lal bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. He is a symbol of dedication and selfless service to the nation.
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement. He was sent to the prison several times by the British government. After India got its independence in the year 1947 he served in many important ministerial positions in the government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born into a lower middle class family. His father’s name was Sharda Prasad Srivastava who was also a teacher. Ram Dulari Devi was a house wife. He was born with the name Lal Bahadur Srivastava. He earned the title Shastri due to his academic excellence. He was commited to education during his entire life. He went on to become not only a leader but also an academic and an activist.
Lal Bahadur Shastri showed unwavering dedication to the Indian National Congress political party. He served as the second Prime Minister of India from 1964 until his death in 1966. His tenure as Prime Minister marked a significant progress and change in India.
He held many important positions which included Minister of External Affairs and Railways. His tenure had many notable achievements which included signing of the Tashkent Agreement. The Tashkent aimed to ease tensions between India and Pakistan.
This diplomatic respect earned him respect on the global arena. Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan which means hail the soldier and hail the Farmer. The slogan means emphasizes on the vital contributions of farmers and soldiers to the country’s prosperity.
India News
Rahul Gandhi visits Amritsar, offers sewa at Golden Temple
Rahul Gandhi went to Amritsar for personal and spiritual visit, as per Punjab Congress leader.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited to the Punjab’s Golden Temple today. Rahul Gandhi participated in kar sewa after making prayers at the Golden Temple. He was observed washing dishes alongside other party members and volunteers from the Gurudwara.
He will stay the night in the city, according to a representative of Congress.
Let’s respect his privacy because this is a personal and spiritual visit from him. Request that none of the party’s employees show up in person for this visit. Amarinder Singh Raja Waring, the head of the Punjab Congress, wrote earlier in the day on X, formerly known as Twitter. He also added, you all can express your support in spirit and see him the next time.
The arrest of MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has caused a rift between the Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is why Rahul Gandhi is in Amritsar.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a Congress leader, was detained by the Punjab police last week on suspicion of taking part in money laundering and narcotics trafficking.
The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP have both been called thirsty for blood by the Congress leader. He said, he won’t be shocked if he gets me physically eliminated as well.
According to the AAP government, Khaira was arrested as a result of fresh evidence in a 2015 case.
The national leadership of the AAP and the Congress may support the INDIA alliance, but Khaira’s arrest has exposed regional rivalries that may make it challenging for the two to cooperate.
The release of the video coincides with Rahul Gandhi expanding his network of supporters in advance of the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress leader was recently spotted performing the part of a farmer and engaging in crop transplantation. Later, he tried the coolie and even tried his hand at carrying passengers baggage on his head. Most recently, he even gave carpentry a try as well.
India News
Bihar government releases caste survey report, 27% backward classes, 36% extremely backward classes
Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state.
Nitish Kumar led Bihar government released a caste-based survey report on Monday. The report indicated that 36 per cent of the state’s population are from Extremely Backward Classes, 27.1 percent are from Backward Classes, 19.7 per cent are from Scheduled Castes and 1.7 per cent are from Scheduled Tribes. The general population accounts for 15.5 per cent.
Among the OBCs, Yadavs comprise 14.26% of the surveyed population, Kushwaha 4.27% and Kurmi 2.87%. The release of the caste based survey data comes at a time when the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions challenging a Patna High Court’s judgement that paved the way for this controversial caste-based headcount.
Speaking about the caste survey report, Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state. He added that the Bihar government should have given a report card that Nitish Kumar ruled the state fr 18 years and Lalu Yadav ruled the state for 15 years but they did not develop the state.
Earlier today Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he plans to call all nine parties that are part of the ruling coalition, including Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, to discuss next steps, which could include dealing with decisions to increase OBC quotas at 27 per cent.
Reports said that around 2.64 lakh enumerators fanned out across the state, documenting the details of 29 million registered households on 17 socio-economic criteria, ranging from employment, education, marital status, land holding and property ownership and caste. Enumerators will have to choose between 214 pre-registered castes that have been allotted to individual codes.
