A history textbook has been withdrawn in the UK after furore over an image in it asking whether the horrific treatment of Native Americans by the US government in the past had been exaggerated. &nbsp;

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I do some history mentoring and while prepping for tomorrow's session i have some questions for you <a href="https://twitter.com/AQA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AQA</a>. 
 
In what world is this is an acceptable question/exercise to ask students to complete on the history of Native Americans in late 1800s US? Actually horrified. <a href="https://t.co/zQRoDWy4DD">pic.twitter.com/zQRoDWy4DD</a>
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A youth worker had found the image in the book.&nbsp;It asked students to balance "criticisms of treatment of Native Americans" with "defence" of their treatment in the late 1800s. &nbsp;

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The period had witnessed some massacres of Native American tribes by the government. The publisher Hodder has now withdrawn the book. &nbsp;

In the textbook, ‘The Making of a Superpower: USA 1865-1975', students are asked "to what extent do you believe the treatment of Native Americans has been exaggerated?"

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-california-wildfire-thousands-of-trees-to-be-removed-423429" hreflang="en">After California wildfire, thousands of trees to be removed</a>&nbsp;

“The exercise was quite problematic. It was deeply shocking to see how ingrained racial injustice is," Hannah Wilkinson, who offers history mentoring sessions at Durham Sixth Form Centre, told the BBC. &nbsp;

"The period we're looking at is a period of American policy where Native Americans were treated terribly. The way the textbook framed it suggests that maybe the treatment of Native Americans has been exaggerated," Wilkinson added. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A history textbook has been withdrawn in the UK after furore over an image in it asking whether the horrific treatment of Native Americans by the US government in the past had been exaggerated.

A history textbook has been withdrawn in the UK after furore over an image in it asking whether the horrific treatment of Native Americans by the US government in the past had been exaggerated. I do some history mentoring and while prepping for tomorrow's session i have some questions for you @AQA. In what world is this is an acceptable question/exercise to ask students to complete on the history of Native Americans in late 1800s US? Actually horrified. pic.twitter.com/zQRoDWy4DD — Hannah Wilkinson (@hannahcw127) October 20, 2021 × A youth worker had found the image in the book. It asked students to balance "criticisms of treatment of Native Americans" with "defence" of their treatment in the late 1800s. Also Read: Picasso artworks in Las Vegas fetch more than $100 million The period had witnessed some massacres of Native American tribes by the government. The publisher Hodder has now withdrawn the book. In the textbook, ‘The Making of a Superpower: USA 1865-1975', students are asked "to what extent do you believe the treatment of Native Americans has been exaggerated?" Also Read: After California wildfire, thousands of trees to be removed “The exercise was quite problematic. It was deeply shocking to see how ingrained racial injustice is," Hannah Wilkinson, who offers history mentoring sessions at Durham Sixth Form Centre, told the BBC. "The period we're looking at is a period of American policy where Native Americans were treated terribly. The way the textbook framed it suggests that maybe the treatment of Native Americans has been exaggerated," Wilkinson added. (With inputs from agencies)

Textbook withdrawn as 'shocking' question on Native Americans draws criticism

At a public rally in Jammu and Kashmir during his three-day visit, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said that the time for sidelining the people of Jammu has come to an end, and now both Kashmir and Jammu will be developed together. &nbsp;

This is Shah’s first visit after the Centre had revoked the erstwhile state's special status and bifurcated it into union territories on August 5, 2019. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shah-in-jk-for-first-visit-since-abrogation-of-article-370-meets-slain-cops-family-423383" hreflang="en">Amit Shah in J&amp;K for first visit since abrogation of Article 370; meets slain cop's family</a>

In the rally in Bhagwati Nagar area, the home minister said no one will now be able to create any hurdle in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. &nbsp;

Addressing the rally, he said Rs 12,000 crore worth of investment has already come to the union territory and the government aims to look at a total of Rs 51,000 crore by the 2022 end. &nbsp;

If the youth join the development of Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists will fail in their sinister plans, he asserted. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-modi-to-visit-italy-and-uk-next-week-423350" hreflang="en">Indian PM Modi to visit Italy and UK next week</a>

The home minister said the government looks to ensure that no civilian gets killed in violence and terrorism is wiped out from the state. &nbsp;

In and around the venue, police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in complete strength. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

At a public rally in Jammu and Kashmir during his three-day visit, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said that the time for sidelining the people of Jammu has come to an end, and now both Kashmir and Jammu will be developed together.

At a public rally in Jammu and Kashmir during his three-day visit, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said that the time for sidelining the people of Jammu has come to an end, and now both Kashmir and Jammu will be developed together. This is Shah’s first visit after the Centre had revoked the erstwhile state's special status and bifurcated it into union territories on August 5, 2019. Also Read: Amit Shah in J&K for first visit since abrogation of Article 370; meets slain cop's family In the rally in Bhagwati Nagar area, the home minister said no one will now be able to create any hurdle in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the rally, he said Rs 12,000 crore worth of investment has already come to the union territory and the government aims to look at a total of Rs 51,000 crore by the 2022 end. If the youth join the development of Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists will fail in their sinister plans, he asserted. Also Read: Indian PM Modi to visit Italy and UK next week The home minister said the government looks to ensure that no civilian gets killed in violence and terrorism is wiped out from the state. In and around the venue, police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in complete strength. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, both Kashmir, Jammu will get developed together, says Indian Home Minister Amit Shah at rally

The daughter of Indonesia's former President Sukarno, Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, will undergo the ritual of converting from Islam to Hinduism on October 26. A CNN Indonesia report made the revelation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

For the conversion, a ritual ceremony will be held at the Sukarno Center Heritage Area in Bale Agung Singaraja, Buleleng Regency, Bali, on Tuesday, the report said on Saturday. &nbsp;

Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai Srimben, the late Balinese grandmother of Sukmawati, seems to have played a major role in influencing her decision to embrace Hinduism, said the report by CNN Indonesia. &nbsp;

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While&nbsp;informing the press about her decision, her lawyer said that&nbsp;she&nbsp;has extensive knowledge of Hinduism. She&nbsp;is also aware of all doctrines and rituals of Hindu theology.&nbsp;

Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, who is 70-year-old, is the third daughter of Sukarno and the younger sister of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

She is also the founder of the Indonesian National Party (Partai Nasional Indonesia-PNI). She was married to Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya Mangkunegara IX, but got divorced in 1984. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-uk-democracies-can-make-world-safer-prosperous-british-foreign-minister-423396" hreflang="en">India, UK democracies can make world safer, prosperous: British foreign minister</a>

In 2018, Sukmawati was accused of reciting a poem, which insulted Islam. The hardline Islamic groups in the country also filed a blasphemy complaint against her. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The daughter of Indonesia's former President had apologised as well, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Islam is the largest religion in Indonesia. The Southeast Asian nation also seems to have the largest Muslim population in the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The daughter of Indonesia's former President Sukarno, Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, will undergo the ritual of converting from Islam to Hinduism on October 26. A CNN Indonesia report made the revelation.

The daughter of Indonesia's former President Sukarno, Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, will undergo the ritual of converting from Islam to Hinduism on October 26. A CNN Indonesia report made the revelation. For the conversion, a ritual ceremony will be held at the Sukarno Center Heritage Area in Bale Agung Singaraja, Buleleng Regency, Bali, on Tuesday, the report said on Saturday. Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai Srimben, the late Balinese grandmother of Sukmawati, seems to have played a major role in influencing her decision to embrace Hinduism, said the report by CNN Indonesia. Also Read: US seeks to contain Beijing anger after Biden vows Taiwan defense While informing the press about her decision, her lawyer said that she has extensive knowledge of Hinduism. She is also aware of all doctrines and rituals of Hindu theology. Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, who is 70-year-old, is the third daughter of Sukarno and the younger sister of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri. She is also the founder of the Indonesian National Party (Partai Nasional Indonesia-PNI). She was married to Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya Mangkunegara IX, but got divorced in 1984. Also Read: India, UK democracies can make world safer, prosperous: British foreign minister In 2018, Sukmawati was accused of reciting a poem, which insulted Islam. The hardline Islamic groups in the country also filed a blasphemy complaint against her. The daughter of Indonesia's former President had apologised as well, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald. Islam is the largest religion in Indonesia. The Southeast Asian nation also seems to have the largest Muslim population in the world. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian ex-President Sukarno’s daughter to convert from Islam to Hinduism

Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has made some bizarre claims about the popularity of his country’s cricket captain-turned-Prime Minister Imran Khan in India.

"Imran Khan is very popular in India. If he holds a rally in Delhi today, it will be bigger than PM Modi's," Chaudhry said in remarks during a press interaction in Dubai ahead of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash in the city.&nbsp;

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Imran Khan is very popular in India. If he holds a rally in Delhi today, it will be a bigger than PM Modi's: Fawad Chaudhry. 
 
First results of govt's bhang policy. <a href="https://t.co/WPsCvpdGbQ">pic.twitter.com/WPsCvpdGbQ</a>
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The video of the remarks has gone viral and attracted some wild reactions.&nbsp;

The minister made the comment while giving a&nbsp;press conference on Saturday at the Pakistani consulate in Dubai ahead of&nbsp;the India-Pakistan cricket clash on Sunday.

He said everyone wants Babar Azam and his men to defeat Virat Kohli’s team. “We all want Pakistan to defeat India and give (something) to celebrate.”&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-clashes-with-tlp-protesters-3-cops-killed-many-hurt-in-pakistans-lahore-423273" hreflang="en">In clashes with TLP protesters, 3 cops killed, many hurt in Pakistan’s Lahore</a>

The minister's remarks come as Pakistan is embroiled in turmoil caused by price rise, banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters, etc. At the press briefing, the minister made all attempts to deviate the attention of the citizens of Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

What one can speculate from the current situation in Pakistan at the moment is that the Prime Minister’s popularity in the home country seems to have nosedived. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

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People arriving at Imran Khan’s Delhi jalsa. <a href="https://t.co/g4jvPH7pp3">pic.twitter.com/g4jvPH7pp3</a>
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In the video, the minister pins the blame of worsening relations between India and Pakistan on PM Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

The video attracted numerous hilarious comments, posts, etc.

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A user, while posting the video, said, “First results of govt's bhang policy.” &nbsp;

Imran Khan was the captain of the Pakistan cricket team when it lifted the World Cup in 1992.&nbsp;

Current captain Babar Azam said on Saturday that Khan had interacted with the team ahead of the T20 World Cup.

"He had shared his experience, about what was his mindset in the 1992 World Cup, what was his and the team's body language," Babar said.

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has made some bizarre claims about the popularity of his country’s cricket captain-turned-Prime Minister Imran Khan in India.

Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has made some bizarre claims about the popularity of his country’s cricket captain-turned-Prime Minister Imran Khan in India. "Imran Khan is very popular in India. If he holds a rally in Delhi today, it will be bigger than PM Modi's," Chaudhry said in remarks during a press interaction in Dubai ahead of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash in the city. Imran Khan is very popular in India. If he holds a rally in Delhi today, it will be a bigger than PM Modi's: Fawad Chaudhry. First results of govt's bhang policy. pic.twitter.com/WPsCvpdGbQ — Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) October 23, 2021 × The video of the remarks has gone viral and attracted some wild reactions. The minister made the comment while giving a press conference on Saturday at the Pakistani consulate in Dubai ahead of the India-Pakistan cricket clash on Sunday. He said everyone wants Babar Azam and his men to defeat Virat Kohli’s team. “We all want Pakistan to defeat India and give (something) to celebrate.” Also Read: In clashes with TLP protesters, 3 cops killed, many hurt in Pakistan’s Lahore The minister's remarks come as Pakistan is embroiled in turmoil caused by price rise, banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters, etc. At the press briefing, the minister made all attempts to deviate the attention of the citizens of Pakistan. What one can speculate from the current situation in Pakistan at the moment is that the Prime Minister’s popularity in the home country seems to have nosedived. People arriving at Imran Khan’s Delhi jalsa. pic.twitter.com/g4jvPH7pp3 — Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) October 23, 2021 × In the video, the minister pins the blame of worsening relations between India and Pakistan on PM Narendra Modi. The video attracted numerous hilarious comments, posts, etc. Also Read: Indian travel blogger killed in Mexico gang shootout A user, while posting the video, said, “First results of govt's bhang policy.” Imran Khan was the captain of the Pakistan cricket team when it lifted the World Cup in 1992. Current captain Babar Azam said on Saturday that Khan had interacted with the team ahead of the T20 World Cup. "He had shared his experience, about what was his mindset in the 1992 World Cup, what was his and the team's body language," Babar said. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Imran Khan will get more supporters than Modi if he holds rally in Delhi, brags Pak minister

With an aim to cut the 'twin pressures' of homework and offsite tutoring in core subjects, China has passed an education law, said the Xinhua news agency on Saturday. &nbsp;

In the new law, local governments are responsible for ensuring that these two pressures are reduced. It also asked the parents to arrange their children's routine in such a manner that they get reasonable rest and exercise, which will help in reducing pressure, said the agency. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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It also looks to curb overuse of the internet. The law has not been published in full. &nbsp; &nbsp;

China seems to be making concerted efforts to exercise a more assertive paternal control this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Being concerned with heavy academic burden on children, it has also cut back on homework and banned after-school tutoring for subjects during the weekend and holidays. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-warns-slovakia-czech-republic-over-taiwan-minister-visit-423090" hreflang="en">China warns Slovakia, Czech Republic over Taiwan minister visit</a>

Earlier, China's parliament was considering a legislation to punish parents if their young children exhibit "very bad behaviour" or commit crimes. &nbsp;

In the draft of the family education promotion law, guardians will be reprimanded and ordered to go through family education guidance programmes if prosecutors find very bad or criminal behaviour in children under their care. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With an aim to cut the 'twin pressures' of homework and offsite tutoring in core subjects, China has passed an education law, said the Xinhua news agency on Saturday.

With an aim to cut the 'twin pressures' of homework and offsite tutoring in core subjects, China has passed an education law, said the Xinhua news agency on Saturday. In the new law, local governments are responsible for ensuring that these two pressures are reduced. It also asked the parents to arrange their children's routine in such a manner that they get reasonable rest and exercise, which will help in reducing pressure, said the agency. Also Read: US seeks to contain Beijing anger after Biden vows Taiwan defense It also looks to curb overuse of the internet. The law has not been published in full. China seems to be making concerted efforts to exercise a more assertive paternal control this year. Being concerned with heavy academic burden on children, it has also cut back on homework and banned after-school tutoring for subjects during the weekend and holidays. Also Read: China warns Slovakia, Czech Republic over Taiwan minister visit Earlier, China's parliament was considering a legislation to punish parents if their young children exhibit "very bad behaviour" or commit crimes. In the draft of the family education promotion law, guardians will be reprimanded and ordered to go through family education guidance programmes if prosecutors find very bad or criminal behaviour in children under their care. (With inputs from agencies)

Parental control? China passes law to check students’ 'twin pressures'

At least 11 of 17 trekkers including tourists, porters and guides were reported dead on Friday after going missing on Monday in Uttarakhand due to heavy snowfall and inclement weather. &nbsp;&nbsp;

They had lost their way in the bad weather. The Indian Air Force is currently conducting a massive rescue operation in the area. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/need-to-ensure-afghan-territory-is-not-used-to-attack-any-country-say-jaishankar-uk-counterpart-423172" hreflang="en">Need to ensure Afghan territory is not used to attack any country, say Jaishankar, UK counterpart</a>

The survivors were given first aid at Harsil and the sent to District Hospital, Uttarkashi. For the rest of the trekkers, the rescue operation will be conducted on Saturday, said sources. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Two members of the team were rescued on Thursday. They were hurt and are currently undergoing treatment, said an official. They had gone missing during a trek to Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh via Harsil in Uttarkashi.&nbsp;

Uttarkashi’s search and rescue teams spotted five bodies of trekkers on Thursday. Two members of the team were also found dead in Himachal Pradesh, said Uttarkashi district disaster management officer Devendra Patwal. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-ambulance-service-employed-to-rescue-people-from-remote-areas-in-himalayan-uttarakhand-state-423163" hreflang="en">Air ambulance service employed to rescue people from remote areas in Himalayan Uttarakhand state</a>

Search is still going on for the two missing members of the team with the help of a helicopter, Colonel Rajendra Prasad of 9 Bihar Regiment said. &nbsp;

The team, which consisted of eight trekkers, went missing on a trek to Chitkul recently. In the team, one person was from Delhi and the rest were from West Bengal and three cooks were also there. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

At least 11 of 17 trekkers including tourists, porters and guides were reported dead on Friday after going missing on Monday in Uttarakhand due to heavy snowfall and inclement weather.

At least 11 of 17 trekkers including tourists, porters and guides were reported dead on Friday after going missing on Monday in Uttarakhand due to heavy snowfall and inclement weather. They had lost their way in the bad weather. The Indian Air Force is currently conducting a massive rescue operation in the area. Also Read: Need to ensure Afghan territory is not used to attack any country, say Jaishankar, UK counterpart The survivors were given first aid at Harsil and the sent to District Hospital, Uttarkashi. For the rest of the trekkers, the rescue operation will be conducted on Saturday, said sources. Two members of the team were rescued on Thursday. They were hurt and are currently undergoing treatment, said an official. They had gone missing during a trek to Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh via Harsil in Uttarkashi. Uttarkashi’s search and rescue teams spotted five bodies of trekkers on Thursday. Two members of the team were also found dead in Himachal Pradesh, said Uttarkashi district disaster management officer Devendra Patwal. Also Read: Air ambulance service employed to rescue people from remote areas in Himalayan Uttarakhand state Search is still going on for the two missing members of the team with the help of a helicopter, Colonel Rajendra Prasad of 9 Bihar Regiment said. The team, which consisted of eight trekkers, went missing on a trek to Chitkul recently. In the team, one person was from Delhi and the rest were from West Bengal and three cooks were also there. (With inputs from agencies)

Uttarakhand: 11 of 17 missing trekkers found dead as IAF’s rescue op continues

We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From&nbsp;US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussing strengthening European defenses over call to Pakistan TV channels being told to stop airing 'hugging scenes' in dramas,&nbsp;we have it all.

You can also read about France offering €100 'inflation bonus' to curb anger against rising fuel prices.

Please click on the headline to read the full story.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-call-biden-macron-discuss-strengthening-european-defenses-423161">In call, Biden, Macron discuss strengthening European defenses &nbsp;</a>

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US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed strengthening European defenses in a telephone call. As per&nbsp;the statement, the two leaders "discussed efforts to enable a stronger and more capable European defense while ensuring complementarity with NATO."&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-pakistan-tv-channels-told-to-stop-airing-hugging-scenes-in-dramas-423167">In Pakistan, TV channels told to stop airing 'hugging scenes' in dramas</a>

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The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed local television channels&nbsp;to "stop airing caress and hug scenes" in dramas&nbsp;on Friday.&nbsp;The authority gave the order&nbsp;in a notification after receiving several complaints against such content.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-offers-eu100-inflation-bonus-to-low-income-people-to-offset-discontent-against-rising-fuel-prices-423165">France offers €100 'inflation bonus' to curb anger against rising fuel prices</a>

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Amid record fuel prices, France has announced to provide €100 “inflation bonus” to the people on low to middle incomes and promised to freeze petrol prices in a bid to contain growing discontent over rising prices and an increase in living costs.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-may-lead-to-global-tension-says-us-intelligence-report-423129">Climate change may lead to global tension, says US intelligence report</a>

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The US intelligence community has warned that climate change will lead to growing international tensions. The first-ever National Intelligence Estimate on Climate Change highlights the impact of climate on national security through to 2040. It warns of the risks if futuristic geo engineering technologies are deployed by some countries acting alone.

&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Taliban launches offensive operation to defeat ISIS-K, a regional affiliate of Islamic State Group

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&nbsp;

We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussing strengthening European defenses over call to Pakistan TV channels being told to stop airing 'hugging scenes' in dramas, we have it all.

We bring you the biggest stories of the day so far. From US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussing strengthening European defenses over call to Pakistan TV channels being told to stop airing 'hugging scenes' in dramas, we have it all. You can also read about France offering €100 'inflation bonus' to curb anger against rising fuel prices. Please click on the headline to read the full story. In call, Biden, Macron discuss strengthening European defenses US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed strengthening European defenses in a telephone call. As per the statement, the two leaders "discussed efforts to enable a stronger and more capable European defense while ensuring complementarity with NATO." In Pakistan, TV channels told to stop airing 'hugging scenes' in dramas The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed local television channels to "stop airing caress and hug scenes" in dramas on Friday. The authority gave the order in a notification after receiving several complaints against such content. France offers €100 'inflation bonus' to curb anger against rising fuel prices Amid record fuel prices, France has announced to provide €100 “inflation bonus” to the people on low to middle incomes and promised to freeze petrol prices in a bid to contain growing discontent over rising prices and an increase in living costs. Climate change may lead to global tension, says US intelligence report The US intelligence community has warned that climate change will lead to growing international tensions. The first-ever National Intelligence Estimate on Climate Change highlights the impact of climate on national security through to 2040. It warns of the risks if futuristic geo engineering technologies are deployed by some countries acting alone. Watch: Taliban launches offensive operation to defeat ISIS-K, a regional affiliate of Islamic State Group ×

Morning news brief: Biden, Macron talk over call, no 'hugging scenes' in Pak dramas and more

In a notification, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed local television channels on Friday to "stop airing caress and hug scenes" in dramas. &nbsp;

The authority said it was receiving several complaints against such content. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/international-community-worried-over-pakistani-nukes-falling-into-talibans-hand-422868" hreflang="en">International community worried over Pakistani nukes falling into Taliban's hand</a>

In the notification, PEMRA said, a "considerable stratum of the society" believes that dramas are not depicting the ‘true picture' of the Pakistani society. &nbsp;

As per the notification, "Hugs, caress scenes, extramarital relations, vulgar, bold dressing, bed scenes, and intimacy of married couple are being glamorised in utter disregard to Islamic teachings and culture of Pakistani society." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/three-islamic-state-terrorists-killed-in-pakistan-422783" hreflang="en">Three Islamic State terrorists killed in Pakistan</a>

The PEMRA directed all TV channels to properly review the content of the dramas through in-house monitoring committee and edit or amend the same by giving due consideration to the reservations and apprehensions of the viewers. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Forgoing in view, all satellite TV licensees are required to stop airing such content in dramas, henceforth, and ensure compliance of PEMRA laws in letter and spirit," the notification added. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
PEMRA finally got something right: 
 
Intimacy and affection between married couples isn’t “true depiction of Pakistani society” and must not be “glamourised” 
 
Our “culture” is control, abuse and violence, which we must jealously guard against imposition of such alien values <a href="https://t.co/MJQekyT1nH">pic.twitter.com/MJQekyT1nH</a>
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) <a href="https://twitter.com/reema_omer/status/1451600005123432449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Legal and human rights professional Reema Omer responded to the notification and said, "PEMRA finally got something right: Intimacy and affection between married couples isn’t 'true depiction of Pakistani society' and must not be 'glamourised'. Our 'culture' is control, abuse and violence, which we must jealously guard against the imposition of such alien values." &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a notification, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed local television channels on Friday to "stop airing caress and hug scenes" in dramas.

In a notification, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed local television channels on Friday to "stop airing caress and hug scenes" in dramas. The authority said it was receiving several complaints against such content. Also Read: International community worried over Pakistani nukes falling into Taliban's hand In the notification, PEMRA said, a "considerable stratum of the society" believes that dramas are not depicting the ‘true picture' of the Pakistani society. As per the notification, "Hugs, caress scenes, extramarital relations, vulgar, bold dressing, bed scenes, and intimacy of married couple are being glamorised in utter disregard to Islamic teachings and culture of Pakistani society." Also Read: Three Islamic State terrorists killed in Pakistan The PEMRA directed all TV channels to properly review the content of the dramas through in-house monitoring committee and edit or amend the same by giving due consideration to the reservations and apprehensions of the viewers. "Forgoing in view, all satellite TV licensees are required to stop airing such content in dramas, henceforth, and ensure compliance of PEMRA laws in letter and spirit," the notification added. PEMRA finally got something right: Intimacy and affection between married couples isn’t “true depiction of Pakistani society” and must not be “glamourised” Our “culture” is control, abuse and violence, which we must jealously guard against imposition of such alien values pic.twitter.com/MJQekyT1nH — Reema Omer (@reema_omer) October 22, 2021 × Legal and human rights professional Reema Omer responded to the notification and said, "PEMRA finally got something right: Intimacy and affection between married couples isn’t 'true depiction of Pakistani society' and must not be 'glamourised'. Our 'culture' is control, abuse and violence, which we must jealously guard against the imposition of such alien values." (With inputs from agencies)

In Pakistan, TV channels told to stop airing 'hugging scenes' in dramas

Across the developing world, hundreds of millions of people are unable to get a vaccine to protect themselves from the ravages of COVID-19, and millions of them have already become infected and died.

Depending on wealthy nations to donate billions of doses is not working, public health experts say. The solution, many now believe, is for the countries to do something that the big U.S. mRNA vaccine makers say is not feasible: manufacture the gold-standard mRNA shots themselves.

Despite mounting pressure, the CEOs of Moderna and Pfizer have declined to license their mRNA technology in developing countries, arguing it makes no sense to do so. They say that the process is too complex, that it would be too time- and labor-intensive to establish centers that could do it, and that they cannot spare the staff because of the urgent need to maximize production at their own network of facilities.

“You cannot go hire people who know how to make mRNA; those people don’t exist,” the CEO of Moderna, Stéphane Bancel, told analysts.

But public health experts in both rich and poor countries argue that expanding production to the regions most in need is not only possible but essential for safeguarding the world against dangerous variants of the virus and ending the pandemic.

Setting up mRNA manufacturing operations in other countries should start immediately, said Tom Frieden, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, adding, “They are our insurance policy against variants and production failure” and “absolutely can be produced in a variety of settings.”

The vaccine needs of poorer countries were supposed to be met through COVAX, a multinational body meant to facilitate global vaccine distribution — but donations have been slow and limited. Wealthier countries have locked up supply. Just 4% of people in low-income countries are fully vaccinated.

Experts in both the development and production of vaccines say the mRNA vaccines involve fewer steps, fewer ingredients and less physical capacity than traditional vaccines. Companies in Africa, South America and parts of Asia already have much of what they would need to make them, they say; the technology specific to the mRNA production process can be delivered as a ready-to-use modular kit.

Most estimates put the cost of setting up production at $100 million to $200 million. A few large pharmaceutical producers in developing countries have these funds at hand; others would need loans or investors. The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. and the International Finance Corp. both have billions of dollars in funding available for this kind of project, as low-interest loans or a share of equity.

The New York Times interviewed dozens of executives and scientists at vaccine, drug and biotechnology companies across the developing world and from those conversations found 10 strong candidates to produce mRNA COVID vaccines in six countries on three continents. The key criteria include existing facilities, human capital, the regulatory system for medicines and the political and economic climate.

The candidates include companies that are already making other COVID vaccines, such as the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker; public institutions that are already testing their own mRNA vaccines for the coronavirus; and firms tapped by the World Health Organization to be regional centers for mRNA development.

Two companies in Asia are already making their own mRNA vaccines against COVID.

Gennova Biopharmaceuticals in Pune, India, has one in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Gennova says that unlike the mRNA shots currently in use, its vaccine can be stored at the temperature of a standard medical refrigerator.

Gennova is headed by Sanjay Singh, a biochemist who worked on malaria vaccines at the National Institutes of Health in the United States for six years before returning to India. The company is negotiating with contract manufacturers to make its vaccine while also working to expand its existing production capacity from 100 million to 1 billion doses a year, and it could be in production with its COVID shot within months, Singh said.

BioNet-Asia, a Thai drugmaker, is producing test batches of a COVID mRNA vaccine developed at Chula Vaccine Research Center in Bangkok that is in phase 2 trials.

If results continue to be positive, the vaccine could go to Thailand’s drug regulator by March, and BioNet would be ready for commercial production on approval, said Kiat Ruxrungtham, who heads the research team making the ChulaCov19 vaccine.

“Having this capability and capacity of this technology platform within the country — the goal is, when you have a new variant spreading or you have the next pandemic, you can start things very quickly instead of waiting to buy vaccines like we have been doing so far,” Ruxrungtham said.

Other drug companies would like to license one of the existing mRNA vaccines — pay a fee to receive the formulation and instructions, then share a royalty on each dose they sell — and start making it as quickly as possible. Stephen Saad, CEO of Aspen Pharmacare in Durban, South Africa, said that with an investment he estimated at $100 million, his firm could be producing 1 billion doses of mRNA vaccine within a year — more than enough to supply all of Africa, across which Aspen already has a distribution network.

Bio-Manguinhos, the immunobiology arm of a venerated Brazilian public health research organization, will soon start clinical trials of an RNA-based COVID vaccine, said Sotiris Missailidis, deputy director of technology development for the research center.

This year, Bio-Manguinhos nearly doubled its production capacity — to 215 million doses — of other vaccines, including AstraZeneca’s COVID shot, which it produces under contract. Brazil has a medical regulatory agency that maintains the same standards as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

A range of factors has restricted access to vaccines in developing countries, including supply chain and shipping bottlenecks, and politics. The Serum Institute was supposed to supply COVAX, but India’s government banned exports at the height of that country’s second wave. Aspen in South Africa won a contract to bottle the Johnson &amp;amp; Johnson vaccine, but it had to export many of the shots right back to Europe and to Canada until activists created a public outcry.

“What we’ve learned through this pandemic is that it really does matter where the doses are coming off the production line,” said Andrea Taylor, who tracks vaccine production for the Duke Global Health Innovation Center.

Making mRNA vaccine shots differs in significant ways from traditional vaccine production. It is an enzymatic process, not a biological one that involves live cells, and in many ways is closer to the work of making drugs, said Zoltan Kis, a chemical engineer who analyzed mRNA production capacity for the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub at Imperial College in London.

In fact, when BioNTech was ready to start production of its vaccine, it went not to a vaccine maker but to a cancer drug plant in Germany. Moderna’s contract manufacturer in Switzerland employed former food scientists from Nestle, enlisted to transfer their chemistry skills.

“It’s a game changer because you don’t have to deal with the same stakeholders anymore,” said Alain Alsalhani, a vaccines expert with Doctors Without Borders’ access-to-medicines campaign.

Moderna’s contract manufacturers use a modular production kit that can make 100 million doses; some in the business compare the concept to an Ikea kitchen.

The COVID mRNA vaccines have already earned more in a single year than any previous product in pharmaceutical history and are on track to bring in more than $53 billion in revenue this year alone. The longer Pfizer and Moderna have a proprietary lock on the technology to make them, the greater the edge they will have on any future vaccine for cancer or other diseases, said Zain Rizvi, an expert on access to medicines with the advocacy organization Public Citizen. When a company has a functioning production line, it is a straightforward process to swap the mRNA content and make vaccines for a different pathogen, such as malaria or HIV.

This argument over manufacturing COVID mRNA vaccines echoes one that was made two decades ago about treatments for HIV. Hundreds of thousands of people died of AIDS in Africa long after antiretroviral drugs were widely available in wealthy nations because the patented medications were being sold at a price far too high for governments in the worst-affected countries to purchase.

Treatment access advocates staged a global campaign demanding that the drugmakers license low-cost producers or release the rights to their intellectual property to allow someone to fill the gap.

Although major Western pharmaceutical companies insisted there was no way to make the drugs more cheaply, Indian, Brazilian, Thai and South African drugmakers said they could do it. Indian generic companies reverse-engineered many of the formulas, and today, the bulk of the world’s AIDS drugs are made in these countries.

Now the WHO has taken on a similar challenge.

Because efforts to win licensing deals or other cooperation from Pfizer and Moderna have been unsuccessful to date, the organization is backing an effort to reverse-engineer Moderna’s vaccine at a technology transfer hub in South Africa, said Martin Friede, who runs the Initiative for Vaccine Research at the WHO. Biotechnology company Afrigen Biologics will make the mRNA, and the Biovac Institute will manufacture the vaccines.

Patrick Tippoo, head scientist at Biovac, which has a contract to bottle the Pfizer COVID vaccine, said the institute would prefer to own the technology to make an mRNA vaccine. But the fastest route to production would be a partnership with the maker of one of the existing mRNA vaccines. If Biovac had access to the “recipe,” instruction from people who have made the vaccine, and were to purchase modular production suites, the company could make the vaccines in 12-18 months, he said.

Instead of sharing its recipe, Moderna announced this month that it would spend up to $500 million to build its own vaccine plant in Africa. (The company did not specify which of the 54 countries it planned to build in or how long it would take.) And BioNTech, the inventor of Pfizer’s mRNA process, has announced plans to build plants in Africa in the next four years.

The Western pharmaceutical industry and some supply chain and health experts say the fastest route to closing the COVID vaccine gap is to focus on a more equitable distribution of vaccines made by the existing players.

“No enforced technology transfer would do more to address equity than what’s already lined up,” said Thomas Cueni, director of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, an industry lobby group in Geneva.

Intent on spreading production across the developing world, the WHO is also working on a second track that will seek partnerships with institutions such as Ruxrungtham’s research center in Bangkok, with their own mRNA vaccines. These vaccines would potentially be cheaper to produce and, critically, could be heat-stable — not requiring ultracold storage — and thus far more appropriate for use in low-resource settings, Friede said.

Some of the efforts are producing innovations that could benefit their regions far beyond the current pandemic.

Gennova in India has worked with a Seattle startup called HDT Bio to develop a new method to deliver mRNA with a lipid nanoparticle, one that does not require extreme cold storage. “We wanted to solve the problem of the scalability issue and the temperature issue,” Singh, CEO of Gennova, said. “If we can solve these problems, we are building a solution not just for India but also a global solution.”

Gennova received seed funding from the government of India, and it plans to use internal resources — and a potential partnership it is negotiating with a large multilateral agency — to take its vaccine forward, Singh said.

While Gennova has the technology, other producers such as the Brazilian and Argentine vaccine makers would need infrastructure — such as the kits Moderna used to set up production with its contractor in Switzerland.

For the producers not yet working with mRNA, the fastest way to start making COVID shots would be a partnership with Pfizer or Moderna, but the technology transfer process would involve hundreds of steps, said Prashant Yadav, a supply chain expert with the Center for Global Development.

“Can you do it for mRNA just by sending the transfer document blueprints and having a few Zoom calls, or a team to visit for a few days? In most cases, probably not,” he said. An experienced team that stayed on site for a period of time would be crucial.

Yadav estimated it would take one of the producers in South Africa or Brazil up to 18 months to have an mRNA vaccine ready to go in arms, with a recipe-share. There would also need to be a parallel process of boosting the capacity of national regulatory agencies, which will be critical to maintaining quality.

Kis said that any manufacturer that had a site at the standard set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-governed system of best practice for pharmaceutical manufacturing could switch to mRNA production in six months, using the pop-up production kits.

“We will build facilities in these regions to enable them to respond to this current pandemic — or maybe the pandemic will be over — but this time, the world has seen what the cost of not being prepared is, so hopefully this time, we’ve got the political will,” Friede of the WHO said. “Richer countries are going to have to put their hands in their pockets and contribute to the construction and maintenance of these facilities. Because in a pandemic, you’re not safe until your neighbor is safe.”

Across the developing world, hundreds of millions of people are unable to get a vaccine to protect themselves from the ravages of COVID-19, and millions of them have already become infected and died.

Across the developing world, hundreds of millions of people are unable to get a vaccine to protect themselves from the ravages of COVID-19, and millions of them have already become infected and died. Depending on wealthy nations to donate billions of doses is not working, public health experts say. The solution, many now believe, is for the countries to do something that the big U.S. mRNA vaccine makers say is not feasible: manufacture the gold-standard mRNA shots themselves. Despite mounting pressure, the CEOs of Moderna and Pfizer have declined to license their mRNA technology in developing countries, arguing it makes no sense to do so. They say that the process is too complex, that it would be too time- and labor-intensive to establish centers that could do it, and that they cannot spare the staff because of the urgent need to maximize production at their own network of facilities. “You cannot go hire people who know how to make mRNA; those people don’t exist,” the CEO of Moderna, Stéphane Bancel, told analysts. But public health experts in both rich and poor countries argue that expanding production to the regions most in need is not only possible but essential for safeguarding the world against dangerous variants of the virus and ending the pandemic. Setting up mRNA manufacturing operations in other countries should start immediately, said Tom Frieden, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, adding, “They are our insurance policy against variants and production failure” and “absolutely can be produced in a variety of settings.” The vaccine needs of poorer countries were supposed to be met through COVAX, a multinational body meant to facilitate global vaccine distribution — but donations have been slow and limited. Wealthier countries have locked up supply. Just 4% of people in low-income countries are fully vaccinated. Experts in both the development and production of vaccines say the mRNA vaccines involve fewer steps, fewer ingredients and less physical capacity than traditional vaccines. Companies in Africa, South America and parts of Asia already have much of what they would need to make them, they say; the technology specific to the mRNA production process can be delivered as a ready-to-use modular kit. Most estimates put the cost of setting up production at $100 million to $200 million. A few large pharmaceutical producers in developing countries have these funds at hand; others would need loans or investors. The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. and the International Finance Corp. both have billions of dollars in funding available for this kind of project, as low-interest loans or a share of equity. The New York Times interviewed dozens of executives and scientists at vaccine, drug and biotechnology companies across the developing world and from those conversations found 10 strong candidates to produce mRNA COVID vaccines in six countries on three continents. The key criteria include existing facilities, human capital, the regulatory system for medicines and the political and economic climate. The candidates include companies that are already making other COVID vaccines, such as the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker; public institutions that are already testing their own mRNA vaccines for the coronavirus; and firms tapped by the World Health Organization to be regional centers for mRNA development. Two companies in Asia are already making their own mRNA vaccines against COVID. Gennova Biopharmaceuticals in Pune, India, has one in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Gennova says that unlike the mRNA shots currently in use, its vaccine can be stored at the temperature of a standard medical refrigerator. Gennova is headed by Sanjay Singh, a biochemist who worked on malaria vaccines at the National Institutes of Health in the United States for six years before returning to India. The company is negotiating with contract manufacturers to make its vaccine while also working to expand its existing production capacity from 100 million to 1 billion doses a year, and it could be in production with its COVID shot within months, Singh said. BioNet-Asia, a Thai drugmaker, is producing test batches of a COVID mRNA vaccine developed at Chula Vaccine Research Center in Bangkok that is in phase 2 trials. If results continue to be positive, the vaccine could go to Thailand’s drug regulator by March, and BioNet would be ready for commercial production on approval, said Kiat Ruxrungtham, who heads the research team making the ChulaCov19 vaccine. “Having this capability and capacity of this technology platform within the country — the goal is, when you have a new variant spreading or you have the next pandemic, you can start things very quickly instead of waiting to buy vaccines like we have been doing so far,” Ruxrungtham said. Other drug companies would like to license one of the existing mRNA vaccines — pay a fee to receive the formulation and instructions, then share a royalty on each dose they sell — and start making it as quickly as possible. Stephen Saad, CEO of Aspen Pharmacare in Durban, South Africa, said that with an investment he estimated at $100 million, his firm could be producing 1 billion doses of mRNA vaccine within a year — more than enough to supply all of Africa, across which Aspen already has a distribution network. Bio-Manguinhos, the immunobiology arm of a venerated Brazilian public health research organization, will soon start clinical trials of an RNA-based COVID vaccine, said Sotiris Missailidis, deputy director of technology development for the research center. This year, Bio-Manguinhos nearly doubled its production capacity — to 215 million doses — of other vaccines, including AstraZeneca’s COVID shot, which it produces under contract. Brazil has a medical regulatory agency that maintains the same standards as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. A range of factors has restricted access to vaccines in developing countries, including supply chain and shipping bottlenecks, and politics. The Serum Institute was supposed to supply COVAX, but India’s government banned exports at the height of that country’s second wave. Aspen in South Africa won a contract to bottle the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine, but it had to export many of the shots right back to Europe and to Canada until activists created a public outcry. “What we’ve learned through this pandemic is that it really does matter where the doses are coming off the production line,” said Andrea Taylor, who tracks vaccine production for the Duke Global Health Innovation Center. Making mRNA vaccine shots differs in significant ways from traditional vaccine production. It is an enzymatic process, not a biological one that involves live cells, and in many ways is closer to the work of making drugs, said Zoltan Kis, a chemical engineer who analyzed mRNA production capacity for the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub at Imperial College in London. In fact, when BioNTech was ready to start production of its vaccine, it went not to a vaccine maker but to a cancer drug plant in Germany. Moderna’s contract manufacturer in Switzerland employed former food scientists from Nestle, enlisted to transfer their chemistry skills. “It’s a game changer because you don’t have to deal with the same stakeholders anymore,” said Alain Alsalhani, a vaccines expert with Doctors Without Borders’ access-to-medicines campaign. Moderna’s contract manufacturers use a modular production kit that can make 100 million doses; some in the business compare the concept to an Ikea kitchen. The COVID mRNA vaccines have already earned more in a single year than any previous product in pharmaceutical history and are on track to bring in more than $53 billion in revenue this year alone. The longer Pfizer and Moderna have a proprietary lock on the technology to make them, the greater the edge they will have on any future vaccine for cancer or other diseases, said Zain Rizvi, an expert on access to medicines with the advocacy organization Public Citizen. When a company has a functioning production line, it is a straightforward process to swap the mRNA content and make vaccines for a different pathogen, such as malaria or HIV. This argument over manufacturing COVID mRNA vaccines echoes one that was made two decades ago about treatments for HIV. Hundreds of thousands of people died of AIDS in Africa long after antiretroviral drugs were widely available in wealthy nations because the patented medications were being sold at a price far too high for governments in the worst-affected countries to purchase. Treatment access advocates staged a global campaign demanding that the drugmakers license low-cost producers or release the rights to their intellectual property to allow someone to fill the gap. Although major Western pharmaceutical companies insisted there was no way to make the drugs more cheaply, Indian, Brazilian, Thai and South African drugmakers said they could do it. Indian generic companies reverse-engineered many of the formulas, and today, the bulk of the world’s AIDS drugs are made in these countries. Now the WHO has taken on a similar challenge. Because efforts to win licensing deals or other cooperation from Pfizer and Moderna have been unsuccessful to date, the organization is backing an effort to reverse-engineer Moderna’s vaccine at a technology transfer hub in South Africa, said Martin Friede, who runs the Initiative for Vaccine Research at the WHO. Biotechnology company Afrigen Biologics will make the mRNA, and the Biovac Institute will manufacture the vaccines. Patrick Tippoo, head scientist at Biovac, which has a contract to bottle the Pfizer COVID vaccine, said the institute would prefer to own the technology to make an mRNA vaccine. But the fastest route to production would be a partnership with the maker of one of the existing mRNA vaccines. If Biovac had access to the “recipe,” instruction from people who have made the vaccine, and were to purchase modular production suites, the company could make the vaccines in 12-18 months, he said. Instead of sharing its recipe, Moderna announced this month that it would spend up to $500 million to build its own vaccine plant in Africa. (The company did not specify which of the 54 countries it planned to build in or how long it would take.) And BioNTech, the inventor of Pfizer’s mRNA process, has announced plans to build plants in Africa in the next four years. The Western pharmaceutical industry and some supply chain and health experts say the fastest route to closing the COVID vaccine gap is to focus on a more equitable distribution of vaccines made by the existing players. “No enforced technology transfer would do more to address equity than what’s already lined up,” said Thomas Cueni, director of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, an industry lobby group in Geneva. Intent on spreading production across the developing world, the WHO is also working on a second track that will seek partnerships with institutions such as Ruxrungtham’s research center in Bangkok, with their own mRNA vaccines. These vaccines would potentially be cheaper to produce and, critically, could be heat-stable — not requiring ultracold storage — and thus far more appropriate for use in low-resource settings, Friede said. Some of the efforts are producing innovations that could benefit their regions far beyond the current pandemic. Gennova in India has worked with a Seattle startup called HDT Bio to develop a new method to deliver mRNA with a lipid nanoparticle, one that does not require extreme cold storage. “We wanted to solve the problem of the scalability issue and the temperature issue,” Singh, CEO of Gennova, said. “If we can solve these problems, we are building a solution not just for India but also a global solution.” Gennova received seed funding from the government of India, and it plans to use internal resources — and a potential partnership it is negotiating with a large multilateral agency — to take its vaccine forward, Singh said. While Gennova has the technology, other producers such as the Brazilian and Argentine vaccine makers would need infrastructure — such as the kits Moderna used to set up production with its contractor in Switzerland. For the producers not yet working with mRNA, the fastest way to start making COVID shots would be a partnership with Pfizer or Moderna, but the technology transfer process would involve hundreds of steps, said Prashant Yadav, a supply chain expert with the Center for Global Development. “Can you do it for mRNA just by sending the transfer document blueprints and having a few Zoom calls, or a team to visit for a few days? In most cases, probably not,” he said. An experienced team that stayed on site for a period of time would be crucial. Yadav estimated it would take one of the producers in South Africa or Brazil up to 18 months to have an mRNA vaccine ready to go in arms, with a recipe-share. There would also need to be a parallel process of boosting the capacity of national regulatory agencies, which will be critical to maintaining quality. Kis said that any manufacturer that had a site at the standard set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-governed system of best practice for pharmaceutical manufacturing could switch to mRNA production in six months, using the pop-up production kits. “We will build facilities in these regions to enable them to respond to this current pandemic — or maybe the pandemic will be over — but this time, the world has seen what the cost of not being prepared is, so hopefully this time, we’ve got the political will,” Friede of the WHO said. “Richer countries are going to have to put their hands in their pockets and contribute to the construction and maintenance of these facilities. Because in a pandemic, you’re not safe until your neighbor is safe.”

Here’s why developing countries can make Covid mRNA vaccines

In a call, US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed strengthening European defences. &nbsp;

The statement said, the two leaders "discussed efforts to enable a stronger and more capable European defence while ensuring complementarity with NATO." &nbsp;

The two leaders are due to meet in Rome later this month. The statement said Biden looked forward to the chance to "take stock of the many areas of US-France cooperation, and reinforce our shared interests." The French presidency also issued a similar statement. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeks-to-contain-beijing-anger-after-biden-vows-taiwan-defense-423109" hreflang="en">US seeks to contain Beijing anger after Biden vows Taiwan defense</a>

This development comes as the US is looking to mend ties after the crisis over AUKUS row. &nbsp;

On September 22, the two presidents had last spoken to each other. It was their first conversation since the spat. &nbsp;

After the call, Macron ordered the French ambassador to return to the US. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Macron and Biden had vowed to initiate 'in-depth consultations' to bring back the friendship and confidence between the two countries. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-american-neera-tanden-appointed-bidens-staff-secretary-reports-423070" hreflang="en">Indian-American Neera Tanden appointed Biden's staff secretary: Reports</a>

"The two leaders agreed that the situation would have benefitted from open consultations among allies on matters of strategic interest to France and our European partners," the statement reads. &nbsp;

Earlier, the French president had openly criticised Australia for ditching a submarine deal with the European nation for a new defence pact with the US and UK, especially without letting Macron know in advance. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a call, US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed strengthening European defences. The statement said, the two leaders "discussed efforts to enable a stronger and more capable European defence while ensuring complementarity with NATO.

In a call, US President Joe Biden and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed strengthening European defences. The statement said, the two leaders "discussed efforts to enable a stronger and more capable European defence while ensuring complementarity with NATO." The two leaders are due to meet in Rome later this month. The statement said Biden looked forward to the chance to "take stock of the many areas of US-France cooperation, and reinforce our shared interests." The French presidency also issued a similar statement. Also Read: US seeks to contain Beijing anger after Biden vows Taiwan defense This development comes as the US is looking to mend ties after the crisis over AUKUS row. On September 22, the two presidents had last spoken to each other. It was their first conversation since the spat. After the call, Macron ordered the French ambassador to return to the US. Macron and Biden had vowed to initiate 'in-depth consultations' to bring back the friendship and confidence between the two countries. Also Read | Indian-American Neera Tanden appointed Biden's staff secretary: Reports "The two leaders agreed that the situation would have benefitted from open consultations among allies on matters of strategic interest to France and our European partners," the statement reads. Earlier, the French president had openly criticised Australia for ditching a submarine deal with the European nation for a new defence pact with the US and UK, especially without letting Macron know in advance. (With inputs from agencies)

In call, Biden, Macron discuss strengthening European defences  

In clashes with workers of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore, three policemen were killed and several others hurt, said officials on Friday. &nbsp;

Lahore DIG (Operation) spokesperson Mazhar Hussain in a statement, identified two slain officials as Ayub and Khalid. The identity of the third official is yet to be ascertained. But a statement from the provincial chief minister said that three cops were martyred. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-pakistan-tv-channels-told-to-stop-airing-hugging-scenes-in-dramas-423167" hreflang="en">In Pakistan,&nbsp;TV channels told to&nbsp;stop airing&nbsp;'hugging scenes' in dramas</a>

The spokesperson said that several others were also injured and taken to the hospitals in critical condition. "Protesters also hurled petrol bombs on officials," Hussain said, while adding that the officials made efforts to prevent them from vandalising and damaging public property. &nbsp;

The angry mob also used sticks and pelted stones. Despite the violence, the officials were showing restraint, added the spokesperson. &nbsp;

TLP media coordinator Saddam Bukhari said the police attacked the peaceful rally that was on its way to Islamabad.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier, more than 1,000 people gathered in the eastern city of Lahore, blocking roads and demanding the release of the TLP leader, Saad Rizvi.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-pak-fm-qureshi-talibans-muttaqi-share-details-with-wion-on-kabul-talks-422844" hreflang="en">Exclusive: Pak FM Qureshi, Taliban's Muttaqi brief WION on Kabul talks</a> &nbsp;

Rizvi was arrested in April, when Pakistan's government outlawed the party in response to violent anti-France protests. &nbsp;

The TLP has said it will not end protests or enter into talks with the government until their leader is released. &nbsp;

Supporters have threatened to move in convoys towards the capital, Islamabad, where police have closed off roads with shipping containers. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

In clashes with workers of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore, three policemen were killed and several others hurt, said officials on Friday. Lahore DIG (Operation) spokesperson Mazhar Hussain in a statement, identified two slain officials as Ayub and Khalid.

In clashes with workers of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore, three policemen were killed and several others hurt, said officials on Friday. Lahore DIG (Operation) spokesperson Mazhar Hussain in a statement, identified two slain officials as Ayub and Khalid. The identity of the third official is yet to be ascertained. But a statement from the provincial chief minister said that three cops were martyred. Also Read: In Pakistan, TV channels told to stop airing 'hugging scenes' in dramas The spokesperson said that several others were also injured and taken to the hospitals in critical condition. "Protesters also hurled petrol bombs on officials," Hussain said, while adding that the officials made efforts to prevent them from vandalising and damaging public property. The angry mob also used sticks and pelted stones. Despite the violence, the officials were showing restraint, added the spokesperson. TLP media coordinator Saddam Bukhari said the police attacked the peaceful rally that was on its way to Islamabad. Earlier, more than 1,000 people gathered in the eastern city of Lahore, blocking roads and demanding the release of the TLP leader, Saad Rizvi. Also Read | Exclusive: Pak FM Qureshi, Taliban's Muttaqi brief WION on Kabul talks Rizvi was arrested in April, when Pakistan's government outlawed the party in response to violent anti-France protests. The TLP has said it will not end protests or enter into talks with the government until their leader is released. Supporters have threatened to move in convoys towards the capital, Islamabad, where police have closed off roads with shipping containers. (With inputs from agencies)

In clashes with TLP protesters, 3 cops killed, many hurt in Pakistan’s Lahore

To reopen travel industry and revive economy, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday ordered frontline workers and tourism staff to be given a third booster shot of Covid vaccine next month. &nbsp;

In a statement, the president's office said, more than one million people will be given third shots of the Pfizer vaccine from November 1. These people include security personnel, healthcare staff and tourism industry workers. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-vaccination-in-india-crosses-1-billion-what-about-its-neighbours-422545" hreflang="en">COVID-19 vaccination in India crosses 1 billion. What about its neighbours?</a>

Till now, Sri Lanka has fully vaccinated over 60% of its 22 million people. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The country, which depends on international tourism, partially rolled back Covid restrictions late last month by allowing fully vaccinated travellers with a negative test to enter without quarantine. &nbsp;

From $4.3 billion in 2018 to just $33 million in first eight months of year, the country’s earnings from tourism plummeted. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lanka-seeks-usd-500-million-loan-from-india-for-fuel-purchase-421459" hreflang="en">Lanka seeks USD 500 million loan from India for fuel purchase</a>

Reviving the industry is crucial for restoring reserves, which is around $2.6 billion at the end of September. &nbsp;

Strong interest has been shown by travellers belonging to countries, such as Russia, Britain, France and Germany, and international flights will also be increased from next month, said Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. &nbsp;

"The target is to have a strong winter season from November to March or April of next year,” Ranatunga told Reuters. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

To reopen travel industry and revive economy, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday ordered frontline workers and tourism staff to be given a third booster shot of Covid vaccine next month.

To reopen travel industry and revive economy, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday ordered frontline workers and tourism staff to be given a third booster shot of Covid vaccine next month. In a statement, the president's office said, more than one million people will be given third shots of the Pfizer vaccine from November 1. These people include security personnel, healthcare staff and tourism industry workers. Also Read: COVID-19 vaccination in India crosses 1 billion. What about its neighbours? Till now, Sri Lanka has fully vaccinated over 60% of its 22 million people. The country, which depends on international tourism, partially rolled back Covid restrictions late last month by allowing fully vaccinated travellers with a negative test to enter without quarantine. From $4.3 billion in 2018 to just $33 million in first eight months of year, the country’s earnings from tourism plummeted. Also Read: Lanka seeks USD 500 million loan from India for fuel purchase Reviving the industry is crucial for restoring reserves, which is around $2.6 billion at the end of September. Strong interest has been shown by travellers belonging to countries, such as Russia, Britain, France and Germany, and international flights will also be increased from next month, said Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. "The target is to have a strong winter season from November to March or April of next year,” Ranatunga told Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

Frontline workers, tourism industry to get Covid booster shots in Sri Lanka  

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