Zydus Cadila, the Ahmedabad-headquartered pharmaceutical company, has approached India’s top drug regulator for restricted emergency approval for ZyCov-D, its three-dose Covid-19 vaccine.

If approved for use, this would be the world’s first DNA vaccine against Covid-19.

The vaccine, which was tested in late-stage human clinical trials involving over 28,000 participants, has been found to have a primary efficacy of 66.6 per cent so far — this means it was able to bring down symptomatic cases of Covid-19 in those who received the vaccine by nearly 67 per cent compared with those who did not receive a vaccine.

Even though this efficacy is lower than that of most other Covid-19 vaccines approved in India, the strength of ZyCov-D lies in its effectiveness against the Delta variant of the virus, Zydus Cadila managing director Dr Sharvil Patel said.

“The study was performed at 50 different clinical sites spread across the country during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19, which reaffirms the vaccine’s efficacy against the new mutant strain, the Delta strain,” Patel said at a press conference on Thursday evening.

The company is testing the vaccine against other variants of concern and interest and, depending on the results and whether these other strains become more infectious or virulent, will decide whether to “upgrade” the vaccine.

Almost 27.61 crore people have been inoculated with at least one dose of vaccine in India so far, the bulk of them being Serum Institute of India’s Covishield. A little more than 28.61 lakh shots were administered on June 30, but vaccinations have averaged over 55.6 lakh doses every day over the 10 days since June 21, when the new vaccination policy kicked in.

Zydus Cadila has also tested ZyCov-D’s safety and ability to prompt an immune response in a trial involving 1,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years. However, it is unclear at this stage whether the company is pushing for approval for this age group.

Actor Jacqueline Fernandez says not just her film releases, even her shooting schedule has been affected due to the pandemic.

The pandemic has dealt a blow to the entertainment industry. In the last year and a half, delays in releases and sporadic shoots have wreaked havoc on the lives of all those associated with the film and television industries. Acknowledging the same, actor Jacqueline Fernandez feels that adapting is going to be key.

Talking about what is the way forward for Bollywood, which is also reeling under a lot of stress because of the situation, she says, “Right now the only way forward for the film industry is to adjust. I think that is what it is going to be for everyone. We need to adjust to a new working way of life and the new working way on sets. We need to adjust to the schedules being disrupted.”

Just like most others in the industry, the actor’s release schedule, too, has gone for an absolute toss, owing to the pandemic and subsequent restrictions.

“Work has been affected for everyone,” she points, adding, “For me personally, of course there are movies that needed to be released this year, but the release dates are going to get changed and we can’t do much about it.”

The 35-year-old, whose last release was web film, Mrs. Serial Killer (2020), says not just the release dates, even her shooting schedule has been affected to a large extent.

“There are quite a few films in production stage. There is Cirkus that needs to be completed, and same is the case with Bhoot Police. I had just started the shoot of Ram Setu when the second wave hit us, so that also of course will have to get pushed now,” she laments.

However, Fernandez is not delving too much into these things, as she feels that “health and safety for all” is what should be paramount at present.

“I guess right now, the priority is the war against Covid-19 and making sure that we bring down the cases, and most importantly, get vaccinated. We need to really see to that before we do anything else. When we do decide and when we are finally able to start again, we have to make sure that we are adhering to new ways of doing things,” she concludes with a word of caution.

Kareena Kapoor has shared a video asking Ranbir Kapoor to recreate the towel scene from Jab Se Tere Naina in Saawariya. Watch the video.

Kareena Kapoor has made a special request to her cousin, actor Ranbir Kapoor on Friday. The actor shared a video on her Instagram account, asking Ranbir to recreate his ‘towel item number’, aka Jab Se Tere Naina from the movie Saawariya.

In the video, Kareena Kapoor said, “Oye, you should have thought twice na before taking requests, Ranbir. Anyway, how about reenacting your famous item number. Arre, the one with the towel ya, for both me and Lolo (Karisma Kapoor). And by the way, your item numbers are even more famous than ours.”

Kareena shared with the caption, “I’ve sent my request… now we’ll just have to wait for the famous item number!!” Her video was released as a part of a social media promotional activity for a mobile brand. The brand has roped in Ranbir Kapoor as their brand ambassador. The actor has requested his fans to participate as well.

While it is to see if Ranbir recreates the scene or not, the actor had once revealed that he had taken 70 takes before the shot was passed.

Speaking with Film Companion in 2018, Ranbir had said, “There was a shot in this so-called ‘towel song’ Jab Se Tere Naina, where I had to roll back on this chair and fall down and the towel had to fall in a certain way with my leg showing and there was one shot where I was lying down laughing and I had to get up and sing a song and he’s very particular about what beat you catch, (Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s) a very musical director – you fall on this beat, you lift your head here, you laugh here – everything is musical. I did 45 or 50 takes one day and my back really broke. The next morning when I came back, he said, ‘No, I’ve not got it’ and I had to do another 70 takes.”

The following are the basic fundamentals of information security:

1. Confidentiality
2. Integrity
3. Availability

Every aspect of a security program (and every security control implemented by an organization) should be designed to meet at least one of these principles. The CIA Triad is their standard term.

What is Confidentiality?

Confidentiality measures are in place to prevent unauthorized disclosure of data. The confidentiality principle’s goal is to ensure that private information stays private and can only be read or accessed by those who require it to perform their job obligations.

If an unauthorized individual has access to communication, the message’s confidentiality is jeopardized. Confidential information must be safeguarded. To protect the confidentiality of its data, a business must guard against harmful acts.

Interception causes loss of message confidentially.

What is Integrity?

Integrity refers to the protection of data from unauthorized changes (e.g., additions, deletions, or changes). The integrity principle is intended to ensure that data can be trusted to be accurate and that it has not been tampered with in any way.

An interruption in the system, such as a power surge, might cause undesired changes in certain information, which is not always the consequence of a criminal act.

Modification causes loss of message integrity.

What is Availability?

The term “availability” refers to protecting the operation of support systems and ensuring that data is fully accessible at the point in time (or for the specified duration) when it is required by users. The goal of availability is to guarantee that data is available for decision-making when it is needed. The information must be updated on a regular basis, which demands its accessibility by authorized parties. Information inaccessibility is just as damaging to a company as a lack of secrecy or integrity.

Interruption puts the availability of resources in danger.

The balancing idea is represented in the diagram. To design a safe system, the three aims must be balanced correctly. If the goals aren’t balanced, an opening is created for attackers to undermine the other security goals. If a system is highly secret yet has limited availability, it is not secure.

Example: An organization collects or generates sensitive data for use in its commercial activities. Because the information is sensitive, it should only be accessible to those inside the company who require it to do their duties. Unauthorized persons should not be able to access it. This is an example of the confidentiality principle in action.

When the person who requires that data to execute a work responsibility is ready to use it, it must be easily available (i.e. online) in a fast and reliable manner so that the job assignment may be performed on time and the company’s operations can proceed. This is how the availability concept works.

Finally, the data will be utilized in computations that will influence the organization’s business choices and investments. As a result, data accuracy is important to ensure correct computations and outcomes, which will be used to make judgments. The principle of integrity ensures that data has not been tampered with inappropriately and can thus be trusted when performing computations and making choices.

Arjun Kapoor has spoken about facing a hard time when his best friends in school asked him about his ‘new mom’, late Sridevi. He said that he ‘fought through it’.

Actor Arjun Kapoor has recalled when his best friends in school would ask him about his ‘new mom’, late actor Sridevi. He said that growing up, he went through ‘personal anguish, trauma and upheavals’.

Arjun Kapoor is the son of Boney Kapoor and Mona Shourie Kapoor. He also has a sister Anshula Kapoor. Boney later married Sridevi and had two children with her–Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor.

Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, Arjun said, “I have gone through personal anguish. I have gone through personal trauma. I have gone through personal upheavals…Growing up as a kid I had to go through the separation of parents…At that point, it was very hard because my father was a high profile man…and the woman he chose to be with was the biggest superstar India has seen if you combine perhaps all the stardom of all the young actors today you would have her star status. So it was very very high profile.”

He continued, “To be asked by kids, your best friends in school ‘how does it feel having a new mom?’ it’s not easy. It makes you go into a shell. You become more vulnerable about things. Again this is not to create sympathy or a sad story. This is the reality…I fought through it.”

Arjun celebrated his 36th birthday on June 26. A few days later sharing a picture of himself on Instagram he wrote, “Was caught lost in thought at the birthday lunch…What a difference a year makes…A year ago I was deflated, tired & confused, today I sit ready with new energy, vigour & determination to face any curveball life throws my way… I just want to acknowledge all those close to me who have believed in me, supported me & cared for me. My work mates, fans, friends, family & my baby thank u for standing by my side. Photo credit – @malaikaaroraofficial (she makes me look good).”Arjun will be next seen in the Mohit Suri-directed thriller Ek Villain 2 and comedy Bhoot Police. He had two releases–Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar with Parineeti Chopra and Sardar ka Grandson along with Rakul Preet Singh this year.

Irrfan Khan’s unreleased film from 2005, Dubai Returns, is all set to release in India, on YouTube. The late actor’s son Babil has made the announcement.

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A post shared by Babil (@babil.i.k)

Irrfan Khan’s 2005 film Dubai Return is all set to release, more than 15 years after it was completed in 2005. The movie will get a digital release on Saturday, July 3.

Babil, son of late actor Irrfan Khan, took to his Instagram page Friday evening to announce the long-pending release of Dubai Return. He shared a poster of the film and wrote, “Releasing tomorrow on YouTube!”

Directed by Aditya Basu Bhattacharya, Dubai Return features Irrfan Khan as a hitman. It also stars Razak Khan and Divya Dutta. The movie earlier had its world premiere at New York Indian Film Festival. It will now be showcased on Bandra Film Festival’s YouTube channel starting Saturday.

The film was also showcased at the International Film Festival of India in 2005, and was all set for a theatrical release which was cancelled due to unspecified reasons. “I would love to release the film, it’s my great desire to do so. One has been trying to release it over the years. There were technical and legal reasons why we could not release the film at the time, and those reasons still hold. One is trying to see how one can get around these issues,” producer Manya Patil Seth had told Scroll last year.

Irrfan Khan was last seen in Homi Adajania’s Angrezi Medium which released before the pandemic hit Indian shores last year. He has few other unreleased movies, including Anup Singh’s Songs of the Scorpions.

Irrfan died April 29, 2020, after a two-year-long long battle with neuroendocrine tumour. His son, Babil, often treats fans to glimpses from the late actor’s private life. He posts throwback pics and videos from Irrfan’s younger days.

Taapsee Pannu has said that she has ‘bigger and better’ things to do than to respond to comments made against her by a certain ‘A-list actress’, ostensibly Kangana Ranaut.

• Taapsee Pannu has said that she has ‘bigger and better’ things to do than to respond to comments made against her by a certain ‘A-list actress’, ostensibly Kangana Ranaut.
• Taapsee Pannu has said that she has ‘bigger and better’ things to do than to respond to Kangana Ranaut’s comments against her. Without Kangana’s name being taken, Taapsee was asked about the trolling she has to endure at the hands of a certain ‘A-list actress’.

She said in an interview that she’s targetted because she ‘matters’. In the past, Taapsee Pannu has been called a ‘B-grade’ actor, and a ‘sasti copy (cheap knockoff)’ by both Kangana Ranaut and her sister, Rangoli Chandel.

Taapsee was asked how she feels about this. She told Bollywood Bubble, “I matter a lot. What I say, what I do, matters a lot. I don’t even have to do much to get the attention. Just my sheer presence is stirring. I am very glad that my presence can have that much of an impact. I don’t have that much of time to give that attention back. I have bigger and better things to do in life.”

On Tuesday, Taapsee had told Hindustan Times in an interview that Kangana is ‘irrelevant’ to her personal life. Asked if she misses Kangana’s presence on Twitter, Taapsee said, “No, I don’t miss her… She’s an actor, she’s a colleague in that respect. But more than that, she doesn’t hold any relevance in my life. I don’t have any feelings for her, good or bad…”

Kangana and Rangoli both reacted to the comments and launched a new attack against Taapsee in separate posts on Instagram. Kangana wrote that Taapsee ‘begs’ producers to be cast in films rejected by her, Kangana.

Taapsee will next be seen in Haseen Dillruba, which releases on Netflix on Friday. Her co-star in the film, Vikrant Massey, has also been on the receiving end of Kangana’s comments in the past. Responding to being called a ‘cockroach’ by her, he told Bollywood Bubble that he makes a conscious effort to avoid negativity in his life, and said that all he can do about the ‘ignorant’ is to pray for them.

Taapsee Pannu’s Netflix movie Haseen Dillruba opened to less than favourable reviews on Friday, giving Kangana Ranaut’s sister Rangoli Chandel a cause to celebrate.

Actor Kangana Ranaut’s sister Rangoli Chandel is gloating at the negative reviews received by Taapsee Pannu’s Haseen Dillruba. Kangana and Taapsee have long been at loggerheads and Rangoli leaves no opportunity to diss Taapsee for the comments she makes about her sister.

Haseen Dillruba released on Netflix on Friday. Starring Taapsee Pannu in the lead with Vikrant Massey and Harshvardhan Rane, the film has been panned by critics for its ‘weird’ and ‘faux-edgy’ tone. Rangoli shared a snippet from one such review on Instagram Stories and wrote, “Mafia created fraud is being exposed but only in hush – hush whispers no one is openly saying it, so I decided to do the deed, a single tone actor who has absolutely no screen presence no range no real persona or screen presence, is being pitted against one of the greatest actors Indian cinema ever saw … not only she openly mimics and copies Kangana but also calls her irrelevant and double filter, aaj isko bhi critics ne nanga kar diya. Ye gubbara bhi footna hi tha, foot gaya (the critics have shown her the truth. This balloon had to burst someday and it did),” she wrote and tagged Taapsee in the post.

Message shared by Rangoli Chandel.

In Haseen Dillruba, Taapsee plays a housewife who is accused of murdering her husband. The Hindustan Times review for the movie read, “Directed by Vinil Mathew, Haseen Dillruba is, it can be argued, a bigger blot on star Taapsee Pannu’s post-Pink career than even Judwaa 2. You knew what you were getting into with that film, but Haseen Dillruba has the nerve to promise something more meaningful — under the pretence of pulp thrills, it has aspirations for prestige.”

In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Taapsee was asked if she misses Kangana on Twitter. She said, “No, I don’t miss her. I didn’t miss her, or want her, also before. She’s too irrelevant for me, in my personal life. She’s an actor, she’s a colleague in that respect. But more than that, she doesn’t hold any relevance in my life.”

Kangana was irate at her comments and wrote in an Instagram post, “She calls producers and begs kangana ji ne kuch chhoda hai toh mujhe dedo please, aur aaj iski aukat dekho, jo kabhi gareeb producer ki Kangana kehlane mein bhi proud feel karti thi… aaj mujhe he irrelevant keh rahi hai ha ha insaan aur uski fitrat ajeeb hai (She calls producers and begs them to give her any films I turned down, and look at her today. She was once proud to be called the Kangana for poor producers and today, she calls me irrelevant. Haha, people and their strange nature) anyway all the best with your film girl @tapaseepannu try promoting it without my name.”

Aakanksha Singh, who has three OTT projects lined up for release, talks about why OTT is the future and how she’s excited about working again with Telegu superstar Nani.

Having worked with Telugu superstar Nani in Devadas (2018), Akanksha Singh is pleased to have bagged his next production, an anthology.

“Work is the only thing that keeps us going. Covid has hit all of us hard and now is the time to get back to work,” says Aakanksha Singh, who shot for a new OTT project.

Having worked with Telugu superstar Nani in Devadas (2018), Singh is pleased to have bagged his next production, an anthology. Talking about her association with Nani, she shares, “He is an amazing actor and so effortless. I look forward to collab with him. Now I am glad that we are working together. I was excited to be on board this film as it is an anthology and on OTT. I knew I was going to do it at any cost. The stories in the film are beautifully written by Nani’s sister, Deepthi Ganta who is also the director of the film. I shot for the film and it was wonderful. ” She is looking forward to three OTT projects this year, including the anthology.

The IOC finally relented on Friday to let Olympic athletes make gestures of protest in their field of play at the Tokyo Games.

A third update within 18 months of Olympic guidelines that try to limit where and how athletes express opinions included for the first time greater scope within their event arena.

The latest guidance appears to let athletes copy the iconic Black Power raised fist gestures of American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

However, they should be allowed in Tokyo only “prior to the start of the competition” and not on the podium at medal ceremonies as Smith and Carlos did. The American 200-medal medalists were expelled from the Olympics.

Gestures will now be allowed in Tokyo by athletes “after leaving the ‘call room’ (or similar area) or during the introduction of the individual athlete or team,” the IOC said. This should include at the starting blocks or starting line.

Athletes still face disciplinary action if their gesture is “targeted, directly or indirectly, against people, countries, organizations,” or is disruptive, the IOC said.

Disruption could include disturbing an opponent’s concentration or preparation, by unfurling a banner or a gesture during a national anthem.

In an era of renewed athlete activism and gestures such as taking a knee, the IOC has struggled to adapt the long-standing Rule 50 of its Olympic Charter.

It states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

The IOC Athletes’ Commission’s re-enforcing of Rule 50 in January 2020 was criticized at the time by some athlete groups, and it looked outdated after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.

A review of the rule was promised by the IOC amid a global wave of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and calls for more social equality.

Before his 200-meter race in Monaco last August, American world champion Noah Lyles stood at the starting blocks with his head bowed and raised his black-gloved right fist. Lyles, who is Black, will race the 200 in Tokyo.

When results of the next Rule 50 review were announced in April, the guidance to athletes still fell short of what activist groups wanted.

The consultation overseen by the athlete representative on the IOC’s executive board, Olympic champion swimmer Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, concluded athletes wanted the field of play and podiums protected. The process had talked mostly to athlete groups from officially recognized channels such as national teams and sports governing bodies.

One IOC concession was that athletes could wear apparel displaying words like “peace,” “respect,” “solidarity,” “inclusion” and “equality,” but slogans such as “Black Lives Matter” would not be accepted.

Athlete groups and player unions responded by promising legal representation to anyone who was disciplined for their actions in Tokyo.

The IOC’s update was limited to the Tokyo Olympics that open in three weeks, and did not refer to the potentially controversial 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

Having left Manchester United almost a decade ago, it’s no surprise that international soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to bid farewell to his home in the affluent English village of Alderley Edge, just 15 miles away from his former playing ground at Old Trafford.

Mr. Ronaldo, who now plays forward for Italian club Juventus, listed the five-bedroom, three-story brick house on Monday for £3.25 million (US$4.1 million), according to listing records.

The Portuguese footballer is set to take a £600,000 loss if it sells for that asking price. Mr. Ronaldo, 33, purchased the house for £3.895 million over a decade ago, according to a title document filed with the Land Registry in 2007.