UK has also approved  the Covid-19 vaccine developed by American pharma giant Pfizer

New Delhi

Director of the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Dr Randeep Guleria has said that he is hopeful of that by the end of this month or early next month, India will get emergency use authorisation for a coronavirus vaccine.

In an interview with ANI, Dr Guleria, who is also a member of the national task force on Covid-19 management stated: “In India, we now have a vaccine which is in the final phase of the trial. Both the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech vaccines are in their phase three trials. So we are very hopeful that by the end of this month or early next month, we should get the emergency use authorization from the Indian regulatory authorities to start giving the vaccine to the public.”

The Covid vaccine developed by American pharma giant Pfizer, was cleared by the United Kingdom on Wednesday and will be rolled out to the public early next week.

While stressing on Indian vaccines and their authorisation Dr Guleria stated that “this is great news that one vaccine has finally being floored and within the span of one year. This is a big boost to all the vaccine manufacturers. Now there are good chances of the vaccine being available.”

The AIIMS director said that there is good data available that the vaccines are safe. “70,000-80,000 volunteers were tested with the Covid-19 vaccine and apart from one case in Chennai, no significant adverse effects were seen on the volunteers. The data showed that in the short term, the vaccine is safe,” he said.

 On the distribution of vaccine, Dr Guleria said “work is going on at war-footing both at the centre and the state level for vaccine distribution plan in terms of maintaining the cold chain, having appropriate storehouses available, developing strategy, training vaccinators and availability of syringes.”

 Dr Guleria said that in the beginning as vaccines won’t be available in sufficient doses to give everyone, the Centre is working on adopting strategies to prioritise the list.

 “We need a priority list to see that we vaccinate those who have high chances of dying due to Covid-19. Elderly, people with comorbidities and front line workers should be vaccinated first.”

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has over the past week visited vaccine manufacturing facitilites in three cities and held multiple meetings with all stakeholders to review efforts to create and distribute a coronavirus vaccine.

 Covid-19 cases reached to 95,34,965, including 4,22,943 active cases and 89,73,373 recoveries. As many as 526 new fatalities were reported escalating the death toll to 1,38,648 on Thursday.

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Dhindsa was presented the Padma Bhushan by President Ram Nath Kovind in March 2019

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India]: After former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) chief and rebel Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Thursday announced that he would be returning his Padma Bhushan award in solidarity with the farmers who are protesting central farm laws.

Dhindsa was presented the Padma Bhushan by President Ram Nath Kovind in March 2019. Earlier in the day, SAD patriarch Badal, former Union Minister and five-time Chief Minister of Punjab returned the Padma Vibhushan award “in protest” against the “betrayal of the farmers by the Government of India” and for the “shocking indifference and contempt” with which the government is treating the ongoing peaceful and democratic agitation of the farmers.

“I am who I am because of the people, especially the common farmer. Today when he has lost more than his honour, I see no point in holding on to the Padma Vibhushan honour,” said the Akali stalwart in his letter to President Ram Nath Kovind.

Badal, in his letter to the President, further described the “the black laws now implemented by the government” as “the proverbial last nail in the coffin of the country’s annadata.”

This comes as thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at the borders of Delhi against the recent farm laws passed by the Central government. The farmer leaders and the Centre are engaged in talks to resolve the differences over the laws.

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The fourth round of talks commenced between the Centre and representatives of farmers

New Delhi –

Amid the fourth round of discussion between the Centre and the farmers over the three farm laws at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan on Thursday, farmer unions decided to boycott government-served food and beverages.

 “We are not accepting food or tea offered by the government. We have brought our own food, we will eat that,” a farmer leader said during lunch break.

The fourth round of talks commenced between the Centre and representatives of farmers‘ today afternoon at Vigyan Bhawan, with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister Piyush Goyal representing the Central government.

Before the meeting, the Union Agriculture Minister while talking to the media hoped that the fourth round of dialogue will bring some positive outcome to the farmers’ issues.

“Government is constantly discussing issues with farmers. Today is the fourth round of talks and I’m hoping for a positive outcome,” said Tomar while talking to media.

The government had held the third round of talks with farmer representatives on Tuesday. During the talks, the Centre offered to set up a committee, which the farmers’ unions rejected, and instead demanded a special session of Parliament to repeal what they have called “black laws” made to favour corporate bodies. Farmers said they will continue their protest till their issues are resolved.

 Notably, farmers have warned that Thursday’s talks are the “last chance” for the government to take a decision on the laws.

“Thursday is the last chance for the government to take a decision to repeal the laws. Otherwise, this movement will become huge and the government will fall,” Pratibha Shinde of the Lok Sangharsh Morcha said.

 Meanwhile, two farmers, who were participating in the agitation died on Wednesday. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of the farmers, hailing from districts Mansa and Moga respectively.

 The farmers are protesting against The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.  

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Piramal Mahalaxmi bestowed with Luxury Project of the Year at 12th Realty+Conclave & Excellence Awards 2020

Mumbai, Maharashtra, [India]: Piramal Mahalaxmi, the luxurious South Mumbai project by Piramal Realty has been awarded Luxury Project of the Year at 12th Realty+ Conclave & Excellence Awards 2020, West for its uber-luxury project that is an epitome of impeccable design, flamboyance and lavish lifestyle.

The event focused on bestowing accolades to notable projects in the western region, including Piramal Mahalaxmi. Additionally, the virtual evening delivered insightful discussions between esteemed real estate leaders on the revival of the sector, urban planning, Mumbai commercial realty and the housing market. Piramal Mahalaxmi is a landmark development which embodies the spirit of Mahalaxmi and mirrors the essence of South Mumbai. It offers luxurious private residences with lifetime views of the 225 acres Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the Arabian Sea.
The luxury residences are designed to create a healthy lifestyle and are an ultimate physical manifestation of the signature ‘framed window’ concept, which doubles up as a viewing observatory deck.

The apartments are outlined keeping in mind the philosophy of biophilia which seamlessly integrates natural light, space, ventilation and greenery to create a harmonious environment that promotes wellbeing and community living. Spread across 4 acres, Piramal Mahalaxmi is set to be one of the largest premium residential developments in South Mumbai.

“Piramal Mahalaxmi is our flagship project and is designed to provide customers with luxury residences. This development offers a home with lifetime views Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Arabian Sea and a locality rich with heritage and culture. It is our commitment to offering the best conveniences and luxuries to our residents. At Piramal Realty, we aim to enrich lives by setting gold standards for customer centricity, architectural designs, quality and safety,” said Gaurav Sawhney, Chief Operating Officer, Piramal Realty, on this achievement.

For the last 12 years, the Realty+ Conclave & Excellence Awards have been evaluating exemplary work in design and architecture, project development, brand development and acknowledges the growing significance of corporate brands as a treasured business asset.
The 12th Realty+ Conclave & Excellence Awards 2020 focused on ‘Building Resilience’ featuring live-streaming knowledge sessions on the road ahead for Real Estate, and a virtual awards evening felicitating the top performers in Indian Real Estate.

Piramal Mahalaxmi is a testament to Piramal Realty‘s aim to make a positive impact on the lives of customers. Last year, Piramal Mahalaxmi added a feather to its cap where it won the title of ‘Asia’s Best Property Brand’ at Transform MENA Awards in Dubai. Piramal Mahalaxmi is a joint development project between Piramal Realty and Omkar Realtors.
Founded in 2012, Piramal Realty, the real estate development arm of Piramal Group is one of India’s leading developers with 17 million square feet of residential and commercial under development in and around Mumbai. In 2015, Warburg Pincus and Goldman Sachs two of the world’s most respected private equity investors invested USD 235 million dollars for a minority stake in the company.

Piramal Realty aims to be the gold standard in design, quality, safety and customer centricity in both residential and commercial real estate. Piramal Realty’s developments, while being cutting edge and contemporary, focus on embracing a more intuitive definition of luxury, which celebrates nature, greenery, space, light, ventilation, art, culture and community living.

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Official DDC Polls figures available with Digpu revealed that voting percentage in Kashmir was 33.34 and that in Jammu was 65.54.

SRINAGAR —

1. In the second phase of the ongoing eight-phased District Development Council (DDC) polls, over 48 per cent voting was recorded across Jammu and Kashmir UT on Tuesday, as per official data.

2. Official figures available with Digpu News revealed that 33.34 per cent voting was recorded in Kashmir division while 65.54 per cent polling was recorded in Jammu division.

3. The 2014 J&K Assembly polls had seen one of the highest polling percentages — 56 per cent — while the 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw a turnout of only 19 per cent, the lowest in two decades.

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Rafer Johnson, USA flagbearer and decathlon gold medalist at the Olympic Games Rome 1960 have passed away at the age of 86.

No cause of death was given. A statement from the school said he died at his Sherman Oaks, California, home surrounded by family, CNN reported. According to USA Track and Field (USATF) Rafer Johnson, who was a native of Texas, was born in Hillsboro on August 18, 1934, and moved to California when he was in middle school. The family settled near Fresno in Kingsburg, where Rafer Johnson was an excellent athlete in football, baseball, basketball, and track.

An outstanding sprinter and long jumper, he gravitated to the decathlon after seeing two-time Olympic champion Bob Mathias compete in 1948 and ’52.

Rafer Johnson, who was the first Black captain of the US Olympic Team, had won two California high school decathlon titles and by 1955, in his fourth attempt at the event, he scored 7,608 points, displacing Mathias as the world record holder.

That same year, he won the decathlon at the Pan-American Games. In 1956, he qualified for the Olympic team in both the long jump and decathlon, but because of a knee injury, he limited himself to the 10-event competition. At Melbourne, he finished second to fellow American and Hall of Famer Milt Campbell.

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