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DGCI and Subject Expert Committee on COVID gives approval for mixing Covishield and Covaxin

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The Commune
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India J&J vaccine Quad COVID-19 patent waiver

In a significant development and in a bid to have enough and improved vaccines to counter the Wuhan virus, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the study on mixing of two Covid-19 vaccines – Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin as recommended by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the DCGI on 29 July granting approval to the study.

The expert committee is granting permission to CMC, Vellore in Tamil Nadu for conducting the Phase-4 clinical trial on 300 healthy volunteers for mixing of Covid-19 vaccines Covaxin and Covishield, reports India Today.

The study will determine if a person can be given two different vaccine shots to complete the vaccination course.

Also, the SEC had in July gave its approval to Bharat Biotech to conduct a trial that will involve combining the doses of Covaxin and Hyderabad-based firm’s other nasal COVID-19 vaccine.

Bharat Biotech is presently conducting trials of its intranasal COVID-19 vaccine in the country and the SEC has given its approval to conduct the phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, administering a dose each of Covaxin and the adenoviral intranasal vaccine with an interval between the two jabs.

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Kabul could fall in 90 days to the Taliban as per intelligence assessment made by US

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The Commune
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In the last week, the Taliban has overwhelmed the Afghanistan national forces, and according to an intelligence assessment made by the US, the Taliban could isolate Kabul in 30 days and take control of the national capital in 90 days.
 
However, this is also not a foregone conclusion as the Afghan security forces have what it takes to reverse the momentum by putting up more resistance against the insurgent group.
 
In a very short period of time, the Taliban forces have taken control of eight provincial capitals and the last two cities to fall were Farah, capital of the same-named province, and Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan and now the Taliban eyes its biggest prize as they set their sights on Mazar-i-Sharif, the region’s biggest city.

Already the moral is law after the mass surrender of Afghan soldiers in the Kunduz province which is another provincial capital.

Also, disturbing reports have emerged that the Taliban are going door to door in areas under its control to get their hands on girls as young as 12 years old to be sex brides for its jihadist. 

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“Al-Mohed Al-Hindi 2021”: Indian Navy’s stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kochi joins Saudi Arabia in navel exercise in Gulf

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The Commune
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In a significant development for the Indian Navy, the warship, INS Kochi is holding the first naval exercise with Saudi Arabia, which is a reflection of of the growing defence ties between the two countries in the strategically important Gulf region.

The name of this exercise is “Al-Mohed Al-Hindi 2021” which commenced on Monday (August 9) comprises a number of shore and sea-based exercises between the two friendly navies, according to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.

INS Kochi is an indigenously designed Kolkata class stealth guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Western Naval Fleet. This ship arrived at Port Al-Jubail on Monday after conducting a naval drill with the United Arab Emirates off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

“The arrival of the ship heralds a new chapter in the bilateral defence ties with the commencement of the harbour phase of first Naval Exercise between the two countries – ‘Al-Mohed Al-Hindi 2021′,” the statement said.

On the ship’s arrival at the Jubail port, it was given a warm welcome by officials of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Border Guards and the Indian Embassy staff.

The exercise comes after Indian Army chief General M M Naravane’s became the first senior Indian officer to Saudi Arabia in December last year and his tour also had included the strategically important Gulf countries of the UAE.

The visit was closely viewed by Pakistan which for decades was the traditional allies of Saudi Arabia and much to its dismay, Gen Naravane’s visit was seen as a reflection of India’s growing strategic ties with the two key Gulf countries which have now opened up new avenues for cooperation in the defence and security sphere.

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Complaint filed against Church pastors for forcefully converting tribals by giving them death threats

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The Commune
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In a blatant and ruthless incidenit of proselytization, a group of Church pastors forcefully trespassed Chenchu tribal hamlets instigating and forcefully imposing Christianity on the indigenous community by issuing serious death threat to them.

The said incident reportedly happened on 4th August 2021 in the village hamlet of nomadic Chenchu tribals named ‘Chenchu Colony’ in Balijepalli Village of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.

Prior to this, on 28th July 2021, a group of pastors had visited the same tribal hamlet allegedly for proselytization activities. The tribal people had welcomed the pastors with their traditional tribal honours and requested not to thrust Christianity upon them and destroy their ancestral faith and beliefs.

Despite the appeal by the tribal community, a mob of pastors had come from faraway places and trespassed into the tribal hamlet. They allegedly issued death threats by saying that nobody would be left alive if they don’t believe in Jesus.

They had also challenged tribal people to try and stop them and deliberately sang Christian gospel songs in order to instigate the them. They had allegedly forced upon Christian views to tribal women and children and convert them.

The SC ST Right Forum, a non-profit organization working for the rights of Scheduled Castes, has revealed that the said activities were being supported financially by a pastor named Mr. Vijay Kumar who belongs to CGTI Ministries of Ravulapalem Town located in East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh,

Along with him, one Vijay Kumar, infamous for his hate speech against Indian nation and Hindu Gods and Goddesses for which he was arrested by police is also said to be supporting the pastors. Vijay Kumar has been booked under sections 153A, 153B and 295A of the IPC in December 2017.

Mr. Peter Putta, another instigator in this incident maintains a group named Freedom For Christian Integretay (FFCI).

The SC ST Rights Forum has requested the District Collector and Superintendent of Police of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh to conduct an inquiry into the matter and take suitable measures to safeguard tribal communities from Christian missionaries.

Karnataka Congress threatens to blacken nameplates of BJP leaders if Indira Canteen is renamed

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The Commune
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Karnataka Congress Govt Mulls 4% Muslim Quota In Public Contracts, Total Quota May Hit 47%.

After the Modi government changed the name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award that left many in the Congress party incensed, the Congress party in Karnataka have made it very clear that any attempt to change the name of Indira Canteens (government-run canteens offering subsidised food to poor) will be met with reprisal.

On Tuesday (August 10) the Congress party issued a stern warning it will blacken the nameplates of all the projects named after BJP and Sangh Parivar personalities in the state after BJP national General Secretary C T Ravi had proposed to change the name of Indira canteens.

In a tweet on Saturday, August 7, the Chikkamagaluru MLA wrote, “Request CM Sri @BSBommai to rename Indira Canteens across Karnataka as Annapoorneshwari Canteen at the earliest. Don’t see any reason why Kannadigas should be reminded of the dark days of Emergency while they are having food.”

Senior Congress leaders and former minister Ramalinga Reddy and former Rajya Sabha member B K Hariprasad said there will be consequences if Indira canteens’ name is changed.

“There is Atal Sarige, Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaay’s name given to Yeshwanthpur flyover, and Yelahanka flyover has been named after RSS icon Veer Savarkar. If the name of Indira canteen is going to be changed, then names of all these projects should also change. We will smear all name plates with black colour,” Ramalinga Reddy warned.

“Respect has to be shown to the person who ruled the country for 16 years as the Prime Minister. BJP leaders should be cautious while talking and tweeting… we are capable of giving answers in their fashion,” he added.

Hariprasad said: “BJP leaders have reduced themselves to the level of name changers But, they claim that they are game changers. We will blacken the name plate of Veer Savarkar, who is alleged of carrying out anti-national activities, in the Bengaluru flyover.”

“BJP wants to divert people’s attention from fuel price rise. The project launched by Congress is successful and that is why BJP wants to change the name,” he claimed.

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah called the renaming of Indira Canteen “vengeance politics.”

Siddaramaiah said, “Demanding a change in the name of Indira Canteen is nothing but vengeance politics. There are so many programmes (named) after the leadership of BJP. Did we demand to change those names?”, reports ANI.

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US acknowledges India’s constructive role in Afghanistan

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The Commune
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As the Taliban surge continues, India’s positive and constructive role in Afghanistan has been acknowledged by the United States (US) Department of Defence.

At his daily news conference, the Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters, ”India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in the past in terms of training and other infrastructure improvements,”.

When Kirby was asked about the cooperation between India and the US in Afghanistan, he said that all efforts are being made to ensure stability and good governance in Afghanistan and India is ‘always welcome’.

On the question of the Taliban getting support from Pakistan, Kirby said that the US is also holding talks with the Pakistani leadership over the existence of safe havens across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“We are also mindful that Pakistan and the Pakistani people also fall victim to terrorist activities that emanate from that region,” Kirby’s statement from a press briefing was quoted in a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

He added, “So, we all have a shared sense of the importance of closing down those safe havens and not allowing them to be used by the Taliban or other terrorist networks to sew discord.”

The US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin who was recently in India has claimed that the Afghan forces have the capability to counter the Taliban and make a big difference on the battlefield and assured them of America’s support when and where feasible.

“But where and when feasible will continue to support them with airstrikes, for instance,” Austin added.

However, Austin made it very clear that the US will round up the drawdown by the end of August and at the same time conduct a separate bilateral relation with the Afghan forces by providing them financial and logistical maintenance support from outside the country.

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Indian Army dedicates 100 ft tall National Flag in Gulmarg in J&K to mark India’s 75 years of Independence

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The Commune
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To mark India’s 75 years of Independence, a 100 ft tall National Flag was dedicated to the nation at Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (August 10).

The ceremony was presided over by Lt. Gen. Y.K. Joshi, Army Commander Northern Command and during the ceremony Gen Joshi also honoured the next of kin of soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation.

The Army Commander also felicitated some members of the civil society who have contributed immensely towards nation-building and peace initiatives through various endeavours and the flag has already become a major draw for the tourists.

During the ceremony, the Army Commander said, “The Flag is a tribute to the countless Kashmiris who have made the ultimate sacrifice while safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation.”

Gulmarg was one of the most volatile regions in Kashmir as it is near Line of Control and Pakistan has used this particular area to infiltrate troops and non-state actors since 1965. 

However, there is an interesting story of individual valor during the 1965 war when young shepherd Mohd Din, alerted the security forces about the same and the Indian Army was able to prepare and stop Pakistan’s aggression.

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One DMK functionary breaks head of another in a dispute over getting tender

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The Commune
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Feature Image Courtesy: Dinamalar

In the Govanur constituency of the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu, a clash happened between DMK Deputy District Secretary Sengai Maran and constituency organizer Soman resulting in  the latter having a broken skull.

The 6-hour long tender auction of ₹3.50 crore was for the maintenance work of the drinking water board at the Tamil Nadu Drinking Water Drainage Board office at Tondi Road. The tender was for 27 works in the rural areas of Sivagangai and 6 works in Ramanathapuram – a total of 33 works. A dispute between Sengai Maran and Soman led to blows getting exchanged. 

In a statement to a Tamil daily, Soman stated that Senkai Maran and his party people had attacked him and then left when the police started arriving.

Senkai Maran stated he had nothing to do with the incident. “I had left at 3.30 pm as soon as the tender process was completed.”, he said.

The tender organizer, Janan collaborated on the statement by saying the tender was completed without any problems.

(With inputs from Dinamalar)

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Hemant Soren’s Govt unleashes brute force on class 12 girl students for protesting against State Education Minister

By
The Commune
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A video in social media has gone viral where the Jharkhand police attacked class 10 and 12 class girl students who had gathered to protest before State Minister Banna Gupta over dissatisfaction with board results.

In the video, one can clearly see the police had ordered a lathi-charge to disperse the students after they expressed their displeasure over the board examination results declared by the Jharkhand Academic Council and demanded reconsideration over the results.

https://twitter.com/iAnkurSingh/status/1424796779275440132

It has been alleged that the girls had entered the hall where Gupta was chairing a meeting to register their protest. 

State Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto in an interview with the ANI said, “There’s a well-established procedure for reassessment. If any unsuccessful student wants to pass the exam, he/ she should approach the grievance cell.”

In the aftermath of this incident, the video was severely criticised on social media as it was clear that the police used disproportionate force on the young girls and BJP state president from Ranchi Deepak Prakash has now demanded strong action from the state government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. 

“The oppressive government of Jharkhand wants to suppress the voice of the people, yesterday’s lathi charge on girl students in Dhanbad is a shameful act. The public will answer them soon,” said BJP in a series of tweets on the incident. 

“The students are having tough times for two years now because of the pandemic. Instead of being compassionate, the government is letting its police take action against them. is shameful,” Prakash said.

When the police attacked the girls, it resulted in two girls fainting and as many as six of them sustained injuries.

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Eight-year-old non-Muslim boy in Pakistan faces possible death at hands of Muslims for blashphemy

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The Commune
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The ugly head of blasphemy laws has again reared its head in the Islamic State of Pakistan where an eight-year-old Hindu boy from the Rahim Yar Khan district in Pakistan’s Punjab faces death for urinating in a madrasa library.

In Pakistan Blasphemy carries the death penalty as per the Sharia law and now this Hindu boy faces possible public execution for allegedly urinating in a madrasa library.
 
After the boy was arrested he spent a week in jail and was later released on bail. “He [the boy] is not even aware of such blasphemy issues and he has been falsely indulged in these matters. He still doesn’t understand what his crime was and why he was kept in jail for a week”, The Guardian quoted the boy’s family member.
 
He added, “We have left our shops and work, the entire community is scared and we fear backlash. We don’t want to return to this area. We don’t see any concrete and meaningful action will be taken against the culprits or to safeguard the minorities living here.”
 
After the alleged urination incident, Muslims in that area turned violent and attacked a Hindu temple and videos of this attack has now gone viral.
 
“The attack on the temple and blasphemy allegations against the eight-year-old minor boy has really shocked me. More than a hundred homes of the Hindu community have been emptied due to fear of attack,” The Guardian quoted Kumar.

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TheCommune
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