UK to receive 10 Million Covid Vaccine doses from India

UK to receive 10 Million AstraZeneca Covid Vaccine Doses from India. The  vaccine doses made by the Serum Institute of India (SII).The UK government said in a statement  that  Britain  has ordered 100 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, of which 10 million doses will come from the Serum Institute of India. A slew of low-and middle-income countries ranging from Bangladesh to Brazil are dependent on SII's AstraZeneca vaccine, branded COVISHIELD, but demand has been growing from Western countries.  

-ndia and Norway have agreed to jointly work in the area of marine spatial planning in the oceanic space for the next five years. The two countries have decided to extend support for sustainable ocean resources utilisation to advance economic and social development in coastal areas. The initiative known as Marine Spatial Planning will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through National Centre for Coastal Research for India.In this regard, the first project steering committee meeting was successfully conducted virtually recently, after which the two countries have charted out a plan to ensure that human activities at sea take place in an efficient, safe, and sustainable manner in areas such as energy, transportation, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. This is a part of the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2019. Lakshadweep and Puducherry have been identified as pilot sites for the project.

-The big cat will be a reality soon as the government will bring Cheetah back from extinction. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, the government is working on reintroduction of Cheetah, which went extinct in 1952. He said, India has thriving wildlife and biodiversity with 70 per cent  of global tiger population and 70 per cent  of Asiatic Lions. The country also has 60 per cent  of Leopard population.

-Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who is also the in-charge Minister for the finance, on Wednesday, presented state budget 2021-22 with a fiscal deficit of 2.19 percent. Mein said that this year the state has decreased the fiscal deficit from 2.28 percent in previous financial year to 2.19 this time. While presenting the budget in the state Assembly he said that the budget aims to achieve excellence in governance, quality, education, better health services, progressive, changes in agriculture & allied sector, livelihood, activities, ease of doing business, drinking water for all, uninterrupted power supply, good connectivity & communication, promoting tourism, and preserving rich culture and heritage of the society. Mein said that Arunachal Government will initiate a major project to develop three Model Villages on a pilot basis in the Indo-Tibet China border areas - one each in the Eastern, Central and Western part of the State. A provision of Rs. 30 crore has been earmarked for the same in this budget. 

-Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, DIPAM, Tuhin Kanta Pandey has said that the offer for sale of Government shares in Public Sector Undertaking, IRCON International limited has got great response on day one. In a tweet, the Secretary said, the issue subscribed 3.3 times of base size at a clearing price above the floor price by non-retail investors.He said, the government has decided to exercise the green shoe option.

-Railways has accorded permission to Zonal Railways to decide on reopening of retiring rooms at Stations keeping in view local condition including Covid related protocols issued by Government. Railway Board has already permitted for restarting operation of Retiring Rooms, Rail Yatri Niwas and Hotels in October last year, which are managed by IRCTC. Railway Ministry said, at present, various special express and passenger trains services have been introduced in phased manner as per the requirement. Considering the convenience of passengers, Railways has decided to allow operation of retiring room at stations subject to fulfilment of protocols issued by the Government. These conveniences were discontinued post announcement of lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

-Six-time world champion pugilist Mary Kom has been appointed as the Chairperson of the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) champions and veterans committee. AIBA President Umar Kremlev said this in a letter to the 2012 Olympic bronze-medallist. Mary Kom was elected by the Board of Directors of AIBA.The Committee, formed in December last year, consists of most respected worldwide boxing veterans and champions who have achieved significant results and who are ready to share their experience.Mary Kom thanked AIBA President and said she will give her best at the position.