The Subcontinent: 11 March 2021
USA Gave India Equipment during the LAC crisis: Admiral Philips Davidson
Pfizer Wants to Produce COVID Vaccine in India
Pak Balloon Lands in India
2 BAFTA Nominations for 'The White Tiger'
Bangladesh's 1st Transgender TV Anchor
1. US Provided India Equipment During the LAC Crisis: Admiral Philips Davidson
The United States supported India during its confrontation in Ladakh by providing "information, cold-weather clothing and some other equipment to India during its recent border crisis with China," Admiral Philips Davidson, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, informed the US Senate (NDTV) .
What Else Did He Say
PLA has not yet withdrawn from several forward positions it seized (Zee News)
PLA forward-deployed roughly 50,000 soldiers along the LAC (Hindustan Times).
His 41-page statement is here (Armed Service Senate).
Also Read: Secretary Austin's Visit to India
The first overseas visit of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will focus on the Indo-Pacific, as he travels to Hawaii, Japan, Republic of Korea, and India. While he will be joined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Japan and Korea, in India, Secretary Austin will meet Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (DoD Advisory).
2. Pfizer Wants to Produce COVID Vaccine in India
Pfizer has expressed its desire to manufacture its COVID vaccine in India. It has sought faster regulatory clearance and freedom on pricing and exports (Mint).
Pfizer and Moderna were reportedly hesitant due to price control mechanisms and export restrictions being placed by India on COVID vaccines.
Reuters also states that the Quad Alliance plans to announce financial agreements to increase India's vaccine manufacturing capacity. This could involve Novavax and Johnson and Johnson vaccines for SouthEast Asia (The Times of India).
3. Two BAFTA Nominations for 'The White Tiger'
'The White Tiger' has earned two nominations two British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) Nominations. Adarsh Gourav earned a nomination in the Best Actor category, while the film has Best Adapted Screenplay (Filmfare).
The White Tiger
The movie is an adaptation of Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name.
Earlier BAFTA Winners
Suraj Sharma: Rising Star Award (2013)
Indian origin British actor Dev Patel: Best Supporting Actor (2017)
Rohini Hattangadi: Best Actress in Supporting Role in Gandhi (1982).
4. Pak Balloon Lands in India
A balloon carrying the signature of Pakistan's beleaguered airline, the PIA has landed in India. Shaped like an airplane, it descended at Sotra Chak village of Hiranagar (Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir) (India Today).
Not a Pigeon
The Indo-Pak is often the arena of many such landings and sightings, and some of them bordering on hilarity. In 2015, a 'spy pigeon' was captured in India when the bird was spotted carrying some markings in Urdu (Dawn).
5. Bangladesh's 1st Transgender TV Anchor
Tashnuva Anan Shishir made her debut as a news anchor on International Women's Day, the first transgender TV anchor in Bangladesh. She read her first three-minute daily news bulletin for a private television channel, Boishakhi TV l (BBC).
Tell Us about Tashnuva
Tashnuva is a dancer, model, voice artist, and social worker who has acted in feature films. She has faced sexual abuse, bullying, and torture, and even attempted to take her life.
Also
In 2018, Marvia Malik became Pakistan’s 1st Transgender News Anchor: CNN
Read More
Breaking the glass ceiling: The Daily Star
Meet Tashnuva Anan Shishir: The Independent
I must overcome: USA Today
I was shaking inside: Al Jazeera