"We need two to three weeks' time to study the new variant. We are in discussions to produce a new variant of the Sputnik vaccine if needed. So far, the vaccine has been fighting the emerging variants pretty well. The duration of the vaccine protection is important which is why we are seeing more cases in Europe," Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Sputnik maker RDIF, tells NDTV.

The Big Fight

Can Existing Vaccines Cope With Emerging Covid Variants?

A new coronavirus variant - B.1.1.529 - has been flagged by scientists over an alarmingly high number of spike mutations that might make the virus more resistant to vaccines, increase transmissibility and lead to more severe symptoms. On Thursday, the Union Health Ministry called for rigorous screening of passengers from South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong, as well as their contacts. We speak to leading medical experts on how dangerous the new variant is and whether it is time for India to roll out booster shots.

"Nu" Variant On The Rise: Time For India To Roll Out Covid Boosters?

In a huge development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government will take constitutional measures to repeal the three farm laws at the heart of farmers' protests across the country. NDTV spoke to farm leaders, politicians and many more key personalities on ground on what this means for the farmers of the country and what will farmers do next.

The Big Fight - Farm Laws Withdrawn: Politics Or Farmer Welfare?

The Rafale controversy erupts once again with more evidence coming to light that Indian agencies ignored allegations that French company Dassault, the maker of the Rafale jets, may have paid crores of rupees to middlemen spanning both the BJP-led NDA 1.0 government and the Congress-led UPA. French portal Mediapart has claimed that millions of euros were paid in secret commissions to secure the deal - and Indian agencies failed to probe these allegations despite having access to incriminating documents. So, has India done enough to ensure a fair investigation into the Rafale deal?

Have Allegations Of Corruption Been Properly Probed In Rafale Deal?

The Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat said that the controversy about the Chinese coming into the Indian territory and building a new village is "not true", and that the villages were well within the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control. However, earlier in an official reaction to the US report, the external affairs ministry said India has neither accepted China's "illegal occupation of its territory nor any unjustified Chinese claims". So, has China now consolidated its hold on Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh?

Has China Consolidated Its Hold On Indian Territory In Arunachal Pradesh?

The Rafale controversy erupts once again with more evidence coming to light that Indian agencies ignored allegations that French company Dassault, the maker of the Rafale jets, may have paid crores of rupees to middlemen spanning both the BJP-led NDA 1.0 government and the Congress-led UPA. Mediapart journalist Yann Philippin calls the silence of Indian authorities 'surprising'.

"Surprising That Indian Authorities Are Silent On Rafale": Mediapart Journalist Yann Philippin

A disturbing trend has caught on. Companies that don't follow a certain narrative in their advertisements are being forced to take them down. From the Tanishq ad that showed a pregnant Hindu woman with her Muslim mother-in-law to Dabur featuring a same-sex couple celebrating 'Karva Chauth' to fashion designer Sabyasachi - what is happening to creative freedom in our country? Is the creative freedom of ad makers being stifled by the moral police?

Tanishq To Sabyasachi: Leading Brands Battered By Moral Police?

"There have been reforms in the narcotics act already, but another one is needed, that the offence of consumption of drugs should be bailable. Youth should be given an initial opportunity to undergo treatment instead of putting them through the criminal justice system" says Amit Desai, Aryan Khan's counsel who fought a 24-day legal battle to secure bail for him.

Exclusive: The Man Who Fought A 24-Day Legal Battle For Aryan Khan

"The (anti-drugs) law is clear, but enforcement agencies are misusing it," says Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on whether the law should be reformed. "80% cases made out by Sameer Wankhede and other NCB officials in Mumbai are fake, we will prove it in court," he adds.

"Anti-Drug Law Clear, But Misused By Agencies": Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik

I would. Now, of course, he was not the but would now like to speak to the additional Solicitor general of India and also the member of the Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive Committee of BJP. Mr. Satya Pal, join Mr Jain. My first question to you is in this case, we saw an attempt to first show are in Khan as a consumer that was the basic grounds on which he was arrested. And the later and argument was made that he was in touch with an international drug cartel, a member who may be in touch with an international drug cartel, a charge which has been denied by his lawyers. So do you feel that there is a definite situation where the law is misused by agencies? See, I I am not aware of the effects of the state because I never appeared as a year. But I have run ready judgement of the special where he declined bail to all these people. The findings by a judicial officer he has been don't have the judgement of the court with us at the moment. Today also does not, he says. He says it was a conscious violation of this below. He knew about it. Number two, he says. I have seen the perceptive which have been shown to the honourable judge, and worship chairs nowadays are admissible in the courts. They are taken into consideration. They you made a 67 and all that. I am not going her real Cordy finding that is not there simple up to seeing the chest. The special that says it's the international and is a part of it. It's a conspiracy and the international level. Therefore, I think it will be too premature to say that in this case and C P has been wild weather. Let's away for the judgement of the high Court, Mr Jane, while you say we must await the judgement of the high court, you're saying and highlighting what the session's court said in terms of merits for not granting bail. However, the same merits were not considered by the high court, and they have granted Bill C. C nor saying the marriage is a defensive and i'ma tell you 1000 cases it Bailey's granted. Ultimately, you maybe barely declined. Ultimately heavy thousands of cases we have seen thousands location and I said yesterday also, these circumstances under which these three persons have been arrested and one court says, don't know bail, other courses and finally thousands of people, thousands of people under the I will be very happy as a lawyer if the Delhi High Court and after that Supreme Court comes out with clear cut directions on the issue of Grant of It left an impression not go to the people that the law of this land is different For big people, the law of the land is different. For a former for a common man, the son of a farmer's you will be not surprised, shocked, shocked the extent to which this drug manners is going, taking the lives of the people daily in the local newspaper we're ready for. Somebody died in to people like there because of the excessive use to person there, and they're therefore, I she let there be clear cut guidelines by the high court or the river for bands, for others for release on bail, and not that simply because we're a big man. Your case will be heard within three weeks and got the pigments that well known in James James up the big man's contention is that he is being victimised because he is a big man. I think that's the point that that Bollywood is a soft target and that's why they're being targeted because they are a big man, not because they're not. Now. My final question, Mr Jain, is that there is a view that first time consumers of drugs must be let off with a warning because they're not criminals. You have to look at in whether a person is actually a criminal or is a repeat offender. You think the law can move in this direction? I don't think there can be really hard and fast food on their It all depends from the of it Differs from individual to individual. Aye, three things. Number one attempt should be left. The real culprits don't goes for free. They're finished. Two innocent or not touch. They are not allowed to be arrest people, the the those who have come into it. Maybe first time, Second time, third time, all possible attempt should be made to bring them out of it. And in Punjab, we have seen people who ultimately became victim of the drug were able to come out of it. because of the addiction. But I can't think that they can see a be taken against you. That everybody will say how you prove. Probably prove that everybody will. First traffic violations. I am the first violators. Morrow, murder, accused militia. And the first accused, Moreau, the rapist will drive. I don't think as a metro for principal for medicine has a metro. You can introduce it in the criminal. Sure, I I respect your arguments. Thank you very much, Mr Jain, for joining us.

"How Will You Prove If Someone Is A First-Time Consumer?": Additional Solicitor General On Anti-Drug Law Reforms

After a legal battle that lasted nearly a month, Aryan Khan and two others managed to secure bail. However, the conversation now is around the anti-drug law - rather, certain provisions of the NDPS Act. Are the provisions in the law the best way to fight the drug menace, or should they be reformed? Top legal experts debate.

So That The Process Isn't The Punishment, Time For Anti-Drug Law Reforms?

Even as the Narcotics Control Bureau's probe into the drugs-on-cruise case has been widened with actor Ananya Panday being questioned for the second day, questions are now being raised over the the anti-drugs agency's own probe.

Drug Probe vs Extortion Charge: Questions On Anti-Drugs Agency's Investigation

With crude oil prices on the rise, over half of what people pay for petrol and diesel are taxes. The taxes levied by the Centre on petrol have gone up from 14% to 32% of the retail cost in the last seven years. As fuel prices continue the upward climb, should the Centre intervene to help ease the burden on the common man?

Kill Price Rise And Hunger This Dussehra

"Government should intervene and bring down taxes on fuel in the wake of rising prices. However, this government relies on a single source of revenue. This is extortion," says former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on the exponential price hike of fuel.

"Centre Must Intervene," Says P Chidambaram On Rising Fuel Prices

Two drugs cases, but different ways of dealing with them. In Gujarat's Mundra, a massive drugs haul last month was estimated to be worth Rs 21,000 crore. However, in focus is the Aryan Khan case, in which a few grams of drugs were recovered from a cruise ship off the coast of Mumbai. Are narcotics agencies on the right path to end the drugs menace in India? Watch the debate on The Big Fight.

Mumbai vs Mundra Drugs Case: Agencies Hunting For Soft Targets?

Tempers fly as the newsmakers of the week face-off in this award-winning show. Anchored by Vikram Chandra, this weekly program has politicians battling wits as a live audience.

hubhopper

The Big Fight

hubhopper