Daily Briefing: Bharat Biotech’s Covid shot is 81% efficient; 3 Army jawans investigated for Northern Command HQ information breach

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Big Story
Covaxin, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech together with ICMR, has demonstrated 81 per cent interim efficacy in part 3 scientific trials in defending contributors with out prior an infection after the second dose. So far, greater than 1,000,000 doses of Covaxin have been administered since January 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria had been amongst those that obtained the Covaxin shot.
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Pakistani intelligence operatives allegedly enticed three Indian Army jawans into gathering delicate operational data pertaining to the Northern Command. A Central intelligence company, sources mentioned, stumbled upon the matter throughout an investigation right into a drug commerce with Pakistani hyperlinks. The company additionally intercepted a lifeless drop of a pen drive containing delicate data. 
The choice to briefly shut down the celebrated Dhrupad Sansthan, a residential music gurukul run by the Gudecha household in Bhopal, is being thought of  after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced in opposition to two of its famed gurus— Ramakant Gundecha and Akhilesh Gundecha. Akhilesh may be suspended from educating and mentoring college students on the institute for a yr. 
From the Front Page 
At least 30 places in Mumbai and Pune linked with actor Taapsee Pannu and film-maker Anurag Kashyap in addition to his companions linked to manufacturing home Phantom Films Pvt Ltd. had been searched by the Income Tax Department. The tax division is verifying Phantom’s money transactions and books that allegedly present “disproportionately low income from superhit movies.”
In a blow to her nephew TTV Dhinakaran’s electoral ambitions, J Jayalalithaa’s shut aide VK Sasikala mentioned she has determined to “step aside” from politics. In a signed letter, Sasikala appealed to AIADMK’s cadres to work in direction of defeating “the evil force DMK”. The sudden choice is anticipated to assist the ruling AIADMK and keep away from splitting of votes.
Must Read 
Rights and civil liberties “have been eroding since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014”, Washington-based suppose tank Freedom House mentioned because it demoted India’s freedom rating from “free” to “partly free”. The organisation decreased India’s rating from 71 to 67, particularly citing assaults on Muslims, use of the sedition legislation and the federal government’s coronavirus response, together with the lockdown. 
The Supreme Court dismissed a plea looking for sedition fees beneath Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code in opposition to former J&Okay CM Farooq Abdullah over a few of his remarks after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. “The expression of a view which is a dissent from a decision taken by the Central government itself cannot be said to be seditious,” the court docket acknowledged.
Meet Kokai, the voice of Congress’s social media marketing campaign within the run-up to the Assam meeting elections. Over the previous month, the Congress’s social media handles function the musings of this previous man, an animated character paying homage to R Okay Laxman’s The Common Man.
UP Police’s Special Task Force (STF) is now looking for permission to gather voice and handwriting samples of Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested final yr for alleged conspiracy to create disturbance in Hathras following the gangrape and homicide of a Dalit lady. The STF claims it discovered a voice message in Malayalam from Kappan’s telephone, and wanted his voice pattern to analyze additional. 
ICYMI 
An influential minister within the BJP authorities, Ramesh Jarkiholi submitted his resignation to Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa, a day after a video CD allegedly involving him and a younger unidentified girl was performed by native tv channels.
Bhavnagar police have nabbed 4 individuals in reference to the homicide of RTI activist Amrabhai Boricha.
The Delhi HC pulled up the Centre  for not taking any choice concerning extension of free training beneath the RTE Act past class VIII for youngsters belonging to deprived and economically weaker sections.
At least 33 protesters had been killed by Myanmar safety forces on Wednesday, the best quantity since a February 1 navy coup, in line with a compilation of native studies.
And Finally 
“Defensive batting in Test cricket is a dying art. You need to focus on your defence to overcome the spin challenge on turning tracks.” Virat Kohli, unperturbed by the “noise” round raging turners, despatched out a message on the eve of the fourth India-England Test, on a Motera wicket anticipated to assist spinners. In the ultimate check, England should pull off one of many biggest comebacks to stage, whereas India must keep away from loss to seal the WTC remaining spot. 
Delhi Confidential: Signs of thaw within the relationship between Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and BJP National Secretary  Sunil Deodhar emerged on Wednesday, at the very least on social media.
In at the moment’s episode of ‘3 Things’, we have a look at why the Hathras killing sparked a political storm between the BJP and SP, the continuing turf conflict at IIM-Calcutta, and at last how BJP swept the Gujarat native physique polls.
Until tomorrow, 
Leela Prasad G and Rahel Philipose
Express Cartoon by EP Unny.