** Proud to contribute to 1 bn vaccinations: Bharat Biotech

Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech on Thursday said it was proud to contribute to India reaching the one billion-mark of Covid vaccinations.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine maker said that reaching the one billion-mark in just nine-months is a remarkable achievement for India.

“Bharat Biotech is proud to have contributed to this historic landmark. This is a unified effort of the Government, vaccine manufacturers, healthcare workers and all the vaccinated citizens of India, making it a true success story of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Asaid Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech.

** Gurugram hospital removes world’s largest chest tumour at 13.85 kgs

A team of doctors at Fortis Memorial Research Institute successfully removed the world’s largest chest tumour weighing 13.85 kgs from the chest of a 25-year-old male patient.

As per the available medical literature and published papers, the largest chest tumour removed till date, prior to this case, was in Gujarat in 2015 weighing 9.5 kgs, the hospital said in a statement on Thursday.

Patient Devesh Sharma came to Fortis with breathlessness and extreme uneasiness in the chest. He wasn’t able to sleep straight on the bed due to breathing trouble since the last 2-3 months.

** Telugu man appointed Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Trade and Development Agency

Former diplomat and prominent Telugu in the United States, Vinai Thummalapally, has been appointed as the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

The appointment was made by U.S. President Joe Biden. Mr. Thumalapally was the first Indian-American to serve as a U.S. Ambassador when he was appointed as the Ambassador to Belize. He also served as the Executive Director of SelectUSA, a U.S. Department of Commerce initiative that facilitates job-creating business investment into the country, from 2013 to 2017.

** Singing her way to success

This 10-year-old singing sensation is releasing her new single for which she will collaborate with Grammy nominee, Shontelle Layne

 Megan Rakesh, the little Bengaluru-based pop sensation has had a flurry of a month with the formation of her band, the release of her first single, and Grammy-nominated artiste Shontelle Layne, one of her role models and inspirations, announcing a remix of her single. All this just days before her 10th birthday.

** India’s Tallest Lord Subramanyeshwara Swamy Statue To Be Installed At Gattevadi Near Nanjangud

Plans have materialised to install India’s tallest Lord Subramanyeshwara statue (54-ft) at Gattevadi village under Doddakavalande hobli in Nanjangud taluk.

The 18-ft statue of the Snake God will be placed on a 36-ft stone pedestal and the initiative has been taken by Thapobhoomi Trust.

** IIT Kanpur team identifies a novel target to treat prostate cancer

The DLX1 protein is found at elevated levels in prostate cancer patients, the reason why the DLX1 protein has been used as a urine-based biomarker. Now the team of researchers led by Dr. Bushra Ateeq, Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, IIT Kanpur has found that the DLX1 protein, which is expressed at higher levels in the prostate cancer cells, has a huge role in the growth and development of the tumour and the spread of the cancer to other organs in the body (metastasis).

** Jaishankar unveils plaque at ‘Bhoodan Grove’ in Israel

Dr. S. Jaishankar also visited the Indian Cemetery at Talpiot in Jerusalem and paid homage to the brave Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifie during World War I.   | Photo Credit: PTI

** Dubai expat’s rare collection of Apple products traces evolution of tech giant

Jimmy Grewal claims he has every major Apple product that was ever launched since the company was founded in 1976.

** Meet Debanjali Kamstra, the UAE’s first Mrs World contestant

It’s a good time to be a beauty queen in the UAE. Following the historic announcement  earlier this month that the UAE will be sending its first contestant to the Miss Universe pageant , a Dubai entrepreneur and mother-of-two will soon make history as the first to represent the Emirates at another global competition: the Mrs World contest.

Debanjali Kamstra, 35, an Indian businesswoman who’s called the UAE home for the past 13 years, will be among 72 contestants who compete for the crown, which the organisation says “celebrates the uniqueness of married women”.

To be held in Las Vegas in January, Kamstra says she was taken aback by the enthusiastic response she received from the organisers in September.