Biological E. Limited (BE), a Hyderabad-based vaccine and pharmaceutical firm, announced on Tuesday that the World Health Organization (WHO) has granted Pre-qualification (PQ) status to its Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). This achievement marks BE’s 10th pre-qualified vaccine. The nOPV2 vaccine, a next-generation oral polio vaccine, plays a crucial role in combating circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks. It is specifically designed to address the persistent threat of cVDPV2 by offering improved genetic stability. Compared to its predecessor, the Sabin poliovirus type 2 (mOPV2), nOPV2 significantly lowers the risk of seeding new outbreaks in environments with low…
Author: Akancha Mishra
Akancha Mishra
Akancha has been a journalist for about twenty years, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in English Honors and a Master's Degree in Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She and her husband and children Supriya and Alok currently call New York City home.
When Alia Bhatt first met Ranbir Kapoor at the age of nine for a photoshoot related to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film *Balika Vadhu*, neither could have predicted the future. Though the film was never made, their paths would cross again. Years later, Bhatt, who had often spoken about her admiration for Kapoor, would eventually fall in love with him. The two, who married in April 2022 after a four-year relationship, are now parents to their daughter, Raha Kapoor, who has become a favorite of the media. In a recent podcast interview with Nikhil Kamath on *People WTF*, Ranbir Kapoor shared…
Manika Batra made history on Monday by advancing to the round of 16 in the Olympic Games singles competition, marking a first for Indian table tennis. The 29-year-old, who previously won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, achieved a decisive 4-0 victory over the higher-ranked French player Prithika Pavade in Paris. In a match that showcased her exceptional skills, Manika won 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 against the 19-year-old Pavade, whose parents originally hailed from Puducherry before moving to France in 2003. This achievement set a new standard for Indian women’s table tennis at the Olympics, surpassing her previous best performance…
On Sunday, India and Saudi Arabia explored various opportunities for bilateral investments across multiple sectors, including refining, petrochemical plants, new and renewable energy, and power. This discussion took place during the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia High-Level Task Force on Investments. The virtual meeting was co-chaired by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The task force reviewed progress from technical team discussions, focusing on promoting mutual investments in both the public and private sectors. The sectors discussed included refining, petrochemicals, renewable energy, power, telecom, and…
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) unveils ‘UPI One World’ Wallet for Global Travelers in India. This new initiative aims to provide a seamless digital payment experience through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), allowing visitors to explore India’s cultural and scenic treasures effortlessly. The service will also be available to delegates at the World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi from July 21-31, 2024. UPI, a popular mobile-based payment system in India, facilitates instant transactions for both personal and merchant payments. With the UPI One World wallet, foreign travelers can enjoy India’s rich culture, cuisine, and other experiences without…
India is preparing to receive a delivery of 120 advanced surface-to-air missiles from Russia, a development following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Moscow for their annual summit. These 40N6 missiles are designed to target airborne threats, including bombers and hypersonic missiles, and will enhance India’s military capabilities, providing a strategic edge over Pakistan. The decision to acquire these missiles came in the wake of the Balakot airstrike on February 26, 2019, where Indian Mirage 2000 jets targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan in retaliation for the Pulwama attack. The supply of these missiles has faced delays due to…
Ashwin Ramaswami, a candidate for the Georgia State Senate in District 48, has spoken out against the recent racist attacks targeting South Asian individuals in the US, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Usha Vance. He expressed deep concern over the racist incidents involving Hindu American Usha Vance and Sikh American Harmeet Dhillon at the GOP Convention, as well as the derogatory comments made by Republicans towards Vice President Harris based on her race. Ramaswami emphasized the importance of respecting diverse perspectives and differences, a value rooted in his Dharmic traditions as a practicing Hindu American. He pledged to promote…
India’s Reliance Industries has secured approval from the United States to resume importing oil from Venezuela, despite ongoing sanctions. This development follows the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector in April due to President Nicolas Maduro’s failure to uphold election promises. Although the U.S. had reimposed sanctions, some companies were granted licenses to continue trading with Venezuela. The U.S. Treasury Department did not provide any comments, and Reliance has yet to respond to inquiries about the approval. Bloomberg first reported the news. Before the sanctions were enforced in 2019, Reliance was a major buyer of Venezuelan crude, second…
Kartik Aaryan recently impressed fans with his remarkable transformation in the sports drama ‘Chandu Champion’. Reflecting on his journey from loneliness and failed auditions to stardom, Kartik shared his early struggles on the second season of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ hosted by Nikhil Taneja. He described the harsh reality of the audition process, saying, “It is very harsh. It’s like you don’t exist. Lagta tha ki aapki koi value hai nahi.” The constant fear of being deemed ‘unfit’ weighed heavily on him, adding to his frustration with the industry. However, Kartik found solace in the unwavering support of his fans,…
Tulsi Gabbard, a Hindu-American former congressman, has voiced strong reservations about Kamala Harris potentially becoming the Democratic party’s presidential nominee following President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election in November. Gabbard contends that Harris lacks the qualifications and fitness required to assume the roles of president and commander-in-chief, expressing deep concerns over the potential dangers her leadership could pose to the nation. In a video statement, Gabbard asserted, “Biden’s out, Kamala is in. Don’t be misled: policies won’t change. Just as Biden wasn’t the one calling the shots, neither will Kamala Harris.” She described Harris as the latest figurehead…
