** Hyderabad-startup launches eco-friendly, compostable bags

Hyderabad-based startup SpruceGel is launching its range of eco-friendly and compostable bags today. Their products range from carry bags, garbage bags, shopping bags, grocery bags and apparel bags to disposable pouches. The event is taking place at Shubham Celebration Restaurant in Shapurnagar.

** Hyderabad second most surveilled city in world, beats New York, London

Hyderabad is the second-most surveilled city in the world, beating major cities such as London, Beijing and New York.

Hard to believe? Read on. A study — ‘The Top Surveillance Cities Worldwide’ conducted by Surfshark and published in the South Asia Journal — says Hyderabad has 480 CCTVs per sq km and 30 for every 1,000 people.

** ISRO engineer’s labour of love turns old car into backhoe

He says old vehicles can be transformed into something useful at low cost

Old car means quick disposal for most people. Not for Ben Jacob. Rather than consign his old hatchback to the scrap heap, the young scientist with Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) here chose to convert it into a backhoe/excavator.

Ben Jacob.

** SII to sell first 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine at ₹200 per dose

Mr. Poonawalla said the company been barred from exporting the vaccine for several months.

Serum Institute of India will be selling the first 100 million doses of its coronavirus vaccines to the Union government at a “special price” of ₹200, the comapny’s CEO Adar Poonawalla has said.

The Pune-based vaccine major has entered into a collaboration with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine.