Latest news with #PBS
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Palamur Biosciences Faces Scrutiny Amid PETA Allegations, Awaits Official Inspection Report
Mahabubnagar: Palamur Biosciences Pvt. Ltd. (PBS), a leading preclinical research facility in Mahabubnagar, has recently come under public scrutiny following complaints submitted by PETA India. The allegations, reportedly based on claims from a former employee, were widely circulated before PBS was given an opportunity to present its side. In response, a multi-agency inspection involving the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) and the Animal Welfare Board of India has thoroughly reviewed PBS operations. The organization is now awaiting the committee's official findings. Despite the controversy, PBS maintains that it operates with full regulatory compliance and transparency. Recognized by international and national bodies such as GLP, CDSCO, AAALAC, and OLAW, PBS has been a cornerstone of India's biomedical innovation ecosystem for over 15 years. It is the country's only large-animal testing facility and one of the few in Southeast Asia, playing a vital role in the development of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, vaccines, and agrochemicals. PBS is also home to India's first large-animal-based medical device evaluation center, supported by BIRAC under the 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives. It has validated breakthrough technologies such as artificial hearts, dialysis systems, heart valves, and stents—contributing significantly to India's healthcare advancement. The Directors of PBS emphasized their commitment to ethical research, scientific excellence, and animal welfare, stating, 'We are confident the inspection will confirm our long-standing adherence to the highest standards. Baseless allegations can severely harm India's R&D ecosystem, especially startups that rely on domestic preclinical services.' PBS has urged media, regulators, and the public to await the official report and engage in discourse based on facts, not speculation, to protect the integrity of India's innovation landscape.
Sydney Morning Herald
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
And Just Like That recap: Carrie joins the ‘sisterwives'
This story contains spoilers for season three, episode four of And Just Like That... The rooster crows, waking Carrie up from her night in Aidan's guest house. Once Wyatt sticks his head in the window and reports that she's awake, she has to step gently over the floor strewn with Gatorade bottles and free dumbbells. Is this the manosphere I've been hearing so much about? Carrie left her bags in the rental car, you'll remember, which is why we must witness a gorgeous woman with perfect hair insist that she's stinky and repulsive in front of literal teenage boys in the morning. Virginia is not the place our girl belongs, even as she insists on riding an ATV into town to buy Batsheva dresses at a 'sisterwives dress shop'. She gives Miranda an update on the phone, and suggests she invite BBC Joy's friends over to the Gramercy house so Miranda can still go on her first date with her work crush. But that's before another c-word gets in the way. Don't worry, I'm not going to beat this dead horse as much as the show's writers did. But to recap: after learning to breathe an episode ago, Miranda pauses during her big on-camera live cross – right in the middle of the word 'countryside'. Did she just –? She did. And you'll keep hearing it. Over and over. In memes and phone calls. In puns about the word 'context'. The humiliation of Miranda Hobbes is without end, but at least she and Joy share a smooch (which Carrie watches on her Ring doorbell app) by episode's end. Small victories. Seema and LTW are also having work dramas this episode, but when are they not? I wish I cared more that Seema turned down the offer to work for Ryan Serhant (of Million Dollar Listings fame) and has to leave her office, but I just don't. It feels low-stakes and drawn-out. At this point I'm surprised we didn't get a subplot with the assistant she tried to poach who'd never heard of Jerry Maguire. LTW, meanwhile, is yelling the word 'hey!' in her sleep, causing her husband to sleep on the couch. She's anxious and hasn't hired a new editor, but a candidate called Marion might be her saving grace. But – plot twist – he's a hunky man. LTW thinks she'll get cancelled for having a man work on a series about unsung black women. 'Let's move this along, I don't want this conversation played back to me in court,' her PBS editor tells her when she speaks this ridiculous thought out loud.
The Age
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
And Just Like That recap: Carrie joins the ‘sisterwives'
This story contains spoilers for season three, episode four of And Just Like That... The rooster crows, waking Carrie up from her night in Aidan's guest house. Once Wyatt sticks his head in the window and reports that she's awake, she has to step gently over the floor strewn with Gatorade bottles and free dumbbells. Is this the manosphere I've been hearing so much about? Carrie left her bags in the rental car, you'll remember, which is why we must witness a gorgeous woman with perfect hair insist that she's stinky and repulsive in front of literal teenage boys in the morning. Virginia is not the place our girl belongs, even as she insists on riding an ATV into town to buy Batsheva dresses at a 'sisterwives dress shop'. She gives Miranda an update on the phone, and suggests she invite BBC Joy's friends over to the Gramercy house so Miranda can still go on her first date with her work crush. But that's before another c-word gets in the way. Don't worry, I'm not going to beat this dead horse as much as the show's writers did. But to recap: after learning to breathe an episode ago, Miranda pauses during her big on-camera live cross – right in the middle of the word 'countryside'. Did she just –? She did. And you'll keep hearing it. Over and over. In memes and phone calls. In puns about the word 'context'. The humiliation of Miranda Hobbes is without end, but at least she and Joy share a smooch (which Carrie watches on her Ring doorbell app) by episode's end. Small victories. Seema and LTW are also having work dramas this episode, but when are they not? I wish I cared more that Seema turned down the offer to work for Ryan Serhant (of Million Dollar Listings fame) and has to leave her office, but I just don't. It feels low-stakes and drawn-out. At this point I'm surprised we didn't get a subplot with the assistant she tried to poach who'd never heard of Jerry Maguire. LTW, meanwhile, is yelling the word 'hey!' in her sleep, causing her husband to sleep on the couch. She's anxious and hasn't hired a new editor, but a candidate called Marion might be her saving grace. But – plot twist – he's a hunky man. LTW thinks she'll get cancelled for having a man work on a series about unsung black women. 'Let's move this along, I don't want this conversation played back to me in court,' her PBS editor tells her when she speaks this ridiculous thought out loud.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Two suspected Malaria cases in Gurugram
Gurugram has reported its first two malaria cases this year. The patients are currently stable and under the health department's supervision, according to the district health department's latest bulletin. Malaria, which had almost disappeared from the city, saw a resurgence with two cases in 2024. The detection of two cases this year has prompted the department to stay on high alert, said officials. 'A private laboratory confirmed the malaria cases using a rapid diagnostic kit. While we consider this result credible, the most reliable method for confirmation is the Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS) test, which provides 100% accuracy. We will be using this test for final confirmation. Additionally, we have collected blood samples from the infected's family members to ensure the disease does not spread further,' said Dr Vikas Swami, deputy civil surgeon, Gurugram. To prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya, the health department has intensified field activity across the district. This year, over one lakh people have been tested for malaria so far. Meanwhile, 923 blood samples have been collected for dengue testing. On Wednesday, rapid response teams inspected 7,273 houses, out of which 117 were found to have larvae, said health officials. Dengue cases in Gurugram have shown a fluctuating trend over the past three years. In 2024, the city reported 186 cases, a drop from 276 in 2023. The highest count in recent years was in 2022, with 440 cases. Health officials continue to stress the importance of mosquito control and early detection. All Community Health Centre (CHC), Primary Health Centre (PHC) workers, and multipurpose health workers (MPHWs) have been deployed for door-to-door surveillance. Separate teams have also been formed to carry out malaria and dengue inspections, said health officials. 'With the change in weather, we are seeing a rise in fever cases. We are conducting daily anti-larvae drives and involving community groups to keep mosquito breeding in check,' said Dr Swami further adding that NGOs have been issued government-approved malaria ID cards so they can visit residential areas and inspect water bodies freely. Health officials are actively promoting the 'Dry Day' concept across Gurugram where residents are urged to empty water coolers once a week and keep them dry for a day to disrupt the mosquito breeding cycle. 'Mosquito larvae can hatch within seven days in stagnant water, which increases the risk of dengue and chikungunya. We're involving Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to help implement Dry Day activities in colonies and societies,' said Dr Swami. Fogging drives are being carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG). People are also being advised to regularly change stored water, clean their terraces, and apply mosquito-repellent cream to children before they go outside. As part of vector control, the department has identified 204 water bodies in Gurugram — 160 in rural areas and 44 in urban zones. Gambusia fish, known for feeding on mosquito larvae, have been released into these water bodies to help curb the mosquito population naturally, said health officials.
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt to import sugar after exports
Listen to article In a paradoxical move, the government on Thursday decided to import 750,000 metric tonnes of sugar after having already exported nearly the same quantity during the current fiscal year — a move that has driven domestic prices sharply higher, benefitting sugar millers. The move has raised questions over the rationale behind the government's earlier approval of sugar exports, which critics warned would hurt domestic supply and inflate prices. The new plan includes submitting a policy for the import of 250,000 metric tonnes of raw sugar to the cabinet for approval, while 500,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar have already received in-principle approval, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced via X (formerly Twitter) after chairing his second meeting on the issue in three days. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country exported 765,734 metric tonnes of sugar between July and May this fiscal year, earning Rs114 billion. This marks a 2,200% increase in sugar exports compared to the same period last year. Exporting first and then deciding to import has sparked concerns over the government's contradictory policies and the disadvantageous position imposed on consumers. After exports, domestic sugar prices hit a record Rs190 per kilogram — Rs50 higher than the pre-export price. A Ministry of National Food Security official claimed that there were sufficient stocks and imports are only being considered to lower prices. As of the latest PBS weekly bulletin, sugar was priced between Rs170 and Rs190 per kilogram across the country. In March, the government had fixed the retail price of sugar at Rs164 per kilogram — 13% higher than the cap set during the export approval period — allowing millers to enjoy windfall gains in both local and export markets. Dar's committee had negotiated the ex-factory and retail prices of sugar with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), which has previously been accused of cartel-like behaviour by the nation's antitrust watchdog — the Competition Commission of Pakistan. Despite the agreed rates, the government failed to ensure stable retail prices. Dar added on Thursday that the Ministry of National Food Security has been instructed to seek the Economic Coordination Committee's (ECC) formal approval for the sugar imports. Currently, the deputy prime minister is making key economic decisions that are later presented to formal forums for ratification. On Wednesday, Dar also announced a downward revision of the proposed sales tax on solar panel imports — from 18% to 10% — for the upcoming fiscal year, diverging from the initial budgetary proposal. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, meanwhile, is engaged in trade negotiations with the United States — normally the responsibility of the commerce ministry. The sugar import decision followed a high-level meeting attended by the Minister for National Food Security, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Bajwa, officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Industries and Production, PSMA, and provincial representatives. Dar reiterated the government's commitment to balancing the interests of both consumers and producers, stressing the importance of making essential commodities affordable and widely available. According to PSMA's presentation at the meeting, average monthly sugar consumption last year was 533,000 metric tonnes, with a total annual consumption of 6.4 million tonnes. In the first half of this fiscal year, monthly consumption showed a negligible increase of 0.003% to 535,016 metric tonnes, totalling 3.5 million tonnes so far. PSMA claims current sugar stocks stand at 2.8 million tonnes — enough to meet demand until November 21 even at the compressed consumption level of 535,000 metric tonnes per month. However, the government's decision to import 750,000 tonnes suggests that either the shortage is more acute than reported or consumption is higher than projected. Experts had earlier opposed the government's decision to export sugar, fearing that it would jeopardise supply and raise prices for the entire population to benefit a small group of industrialists. The government's control over sugar trade also contradicts its recently adopted free-market agricultural policies. "Export and import decisions should be left to farmers and market forces, not to selective millers with political influence," said Usama Mela, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA, during a National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance meeting this week. The PSMA, whose members are direct beneficiaries of the export, also recommended curbing sugar smuggling to neighbouring countries and proposed a tolling policy for importing raw sugar to manage stock shortages. PSMA also suggested starting the crushing season from November 1 — a proposal that is largely seen as symbolic and may be an attempt to deflect the criticism over the export of sugar. The PSMA stated in the meeting that without duties and taxes the cost of imported sugar was Rs153 per kilogram, which is still Rs37 per kilogram cheaper than the local price bonanza. The millers claimed that the country produced 5.9 million metric tonnes of sugar this year, which was 14% or nearly 1 million tonnes less than the previous crushing season.
