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Mutual funds industry adds 8.1 mn new investor accounts in Apr-May FY25
"As India's per capita income grows, investors will look to save...
Hyundai Motor India files for landmark IPO expected to surpass LIC’s record
The planned IPO is structured entirely as an offer for sale (OFS)...
Vaccines and masks: Joe Biden plan aims to break pandemic cycle
A more disciplined focus on vaccination is the new and widely anticipated game-changing element, but that’s far from the whole story. Biden is asking Americans to override their sense of pandemic fatigue and recommit to wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and avoiding indoor gatherings, particularly larger ones. That’s still the surest way to break the Covid-19 wave, with more than 4,400 deaths reported just on Tuesday.
35 Killed, hundreds injured after strong Quake in Indonesia’s Sulawesi
The powerful quake struck 6 km (3.73 miles) northeast of the town of Majene, at the relatively shallow depth of 10 km, just before 1.30 a.m., sending thousands of frightened residents out of their homes and fleeing for higher ground.
The earthquake and aftershocks caused three landslides, cut electricity, damaged bridges to regional hubs such as the city of Makassar, and damaged more than 60 homes, two hotels and the provincial governor’s office, where at least two people were buried under rubble, authorities said.
Initial information from the national disaster mitigation agency showed that 637 people had been injured in Majene, and two dozen in Mamuju.
No tsunami warning was issued but the head of Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, told a news conference that aftershocks could follow, with a possibility that another powerful quake could trigger a tsunami.
UK Supreme Court hands businesses victory in COVID-19 insurance ruling
Six of the world’s largest commercial insurers — Hiscox, RSA, QBE, Argenta, Arch and MS Amlin — said many business interruption policies did not cover widespread disruption after Britain’s first national lockdown last March.
But senior judges said payouts should be triggered after scrutinising 14 non-damage insurance policy clauses — which cover disease, denial of access to business premises and hybrid clauses — in a resounding victory for policyholders and the regulator.
WhatsApp scrambles as users in big Indian market fret over privacy
Though WhatsApp has yet to see mass uninstalls of its app in India, users concerned about privacy are increasingly downloading rival apps such as Signal and Telegram, research firms say, propelling them higher on the download charts and putting those apps ahead of their ubiquitous rival in India for the first time.
2020 was one of three warmest years on record: World Meteorological Organisation
The WMO pointed to sustained heat and wildfires in Siberia, diminishing Arctic sea ice and record-breaking hurricanes in the Atlantic as being among the climate events that most stood out in 2020.
The UN weather agency said that temperature is just one climate change indicator. Greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean heat content, global mean sea level, sea ice extent and extreme events are also factors.
Surging shipping rates pose new headwind for the global economy
Containers that once would have cost $2,000 to send across the Pacific are now being quoted as high as $13,000 for service before Chinese New Year in mid-February,
Mental health issues can hurt immunity: Depression, stress may make Covid vaccines ineffective
The researchers suggest that, based on prior research, one strategy is to engage in vigorous exercise and get a good night’s sleep in the 24 hours before vaccination so that the immune system is operating at peak performance.
India’s new Covid-19 cases per million population in last 7 days among lowest in the world: Health ministry
“New cases per million population in India in the last seven days are 87. It is one of the lowest in the world. The number is significantly low when compared with countries like Russia, Germany, Brazil, France, Italy, USA and UK,” the ministry highlighted.
“The gap between Covid-19 recoveries and active cases is steadily increasing and has crossed 99 lakh and currently stands at 99,49,711,” the ministry underlined.
Pregnant, lactating women should not be administered Covid-19 vaccine at this time: Health ministry
“Interchangeability of Covid-19 vaccines is not permitted. The second dose should also be of the same Covid-19 vaccine which was administered as the first dose,” the letter written by Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Union health ministry said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive at 10.30am on January 16 with 3,006 sites where the roll-out will get under way virtually connected during the launch. The Co-WIN IT platform that will track the drive from back-end to beneficiaries is also likely to be activated with its use initially limited to central and state governments.
A dedicated 24×7 call centre — 1075 — has also been established for addressing queries related to the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccine rollout and the Co-WIN software, said an official release. “Around 100 beneficiaries will be vaccinated at each session site on the inaugural day,” the government said on Thursday.
Explainer: What’s behind varying efficacy data for Sinovac’s coronavirus vaccine?
Sinovac said its trial designs are not identical among countries, but the results are sufficient to prove that the vaccine is safe and effective.
Jerome Kim, head of vaccine research group International Vaccine Institute said it would be possible to combine data from multiple studies with varied trial designs but it could involve additional statistical manipulation.
“That could compromise the clean interpretation of the results, and may impact the chance for these data to be accepted by regulatory bodies.”