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Eco/Invest/Demography

Covid-19 Pandemic: $30 bn needed to develop tests, treatments, vaccines,says WHO

Renewing its call on Friday for global collaboration against the pandemic, it said $3.4 billion had been contributed for the coalition to date, leaving a funding gap of $27.9 billion. Of that, $13.7 billion was “urgently needed”.

The WHO is working with a large coalition of drug-development, funding and distribution organisations under what it calls the ACT-Accelerator Hub.

The initiative is intended to develop and deliver 500 million Covid-19 tests and 245 million courses of new treatment for the disease to low- and middle-income countries by mid-2021, it said in a statement.

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Covid-19 triggering panic attacks, depression and suicides, say experts

Nervousness, fear of contamination, panic attacks, constant reassurance-seeking behaviour, sleep disturbance, excessive worry, feelings of helplessness and the probability of an economic slowdown are the major factors leading to depression and anxiety among the people, they add.

Potential job losses, financial burden, uncertainty about the future and fears of running out of food and necessities add to the worries.

Online platforms too have seen a growing number of people seeking help for mental health issues, ranging from anxiety and loneliness to concerns over productivity and job loss since the outbreak of Covid-19.

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Locusts reach national capital outskirts; south, west Delhi on high alert

In May, India battled a devastating desert locust outbreak. The crop-destroying swarms first attacked Rajasthan and then spread to Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

According to experts, broadly four species of locusts are found in India — desert locust, migratory locust, Bombay locust and tree locust. The desert locust is considered the most destructive.

It multiplies very rapidly and is capable of covering 150 kilometers in a day.

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Covid-19 Pandemic:Leaders speak out about their concerns over older people

“Older adults are at a significantly increased risk of severe disease following infection from COVID-19. This is an important observation for the European Region: of the top 30 countries with the largest percentage of older people, all but one (Japan) are our Member States in Europe. The countries most affected by the pandemic are among them Supporting and protecting older people living alone in the community is everyone’s business … I am reminding governments and authorities that all communities must be supported to deliver interventions to ensure older people have what they need. All older people should be treated with respect and dignity during these times. Remember, we leave no one behind,.”Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

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Tribunal cancels property gift deed as son fails to look after ailing mother

The senior citizen had earlier lodged a complaint with the Deputy Collector stating that her son was not offering her basic amenities after she gifted her property to him.

M Adharsh, Deputy Collector-cum-head, Karaikal District Social Welfare Tribunal, passed orders declaring the transfer of property to the son void and restoredit to the mother under sections 4(2) and 23(1) of the Maintenance and Welfare of the Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

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