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Eco/Invest/Demography

Asia-Pacific Climate week 2021 sends strong signal to COP26

The Asia-Pacific regions emits more than half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and is one of the most rapidly developing regions of the world, with a significant proportion of the global population. And it is home to most of the world’s low-lying cities and vulnerable small island states.

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11 people die of hunger each minute around globe, 155 mn in crisis: Oxfam

The humanitarian group also said that 155 million people around the world are now living in crisis levels of food insecurity or worse some 20 million more than last year. Around two thirds of them face hunger because their country is in military conflict.

Today, unrelenting conflict on top of the COVID-19 economic fallout, and a worsening climate crisis, has pushed more than 520,000 people to the brink of starvation, added Maxman.

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Don’t want Tom, Dick and Harry to collect money: HC on crowdfunding for treatment of rare diseases

The high court said it was concerned that every ”Tom, Dick, and Harry” was collecting funds via crowdfunding for treatment of the children suffering from rare diseases and asked the state government whether it has any control over such transactions.

Justice P B Suresh Kumar said the court does not want to interdict the crowdfunding process, but it wants the funds to go to the government instead into the account of some private individuals who may or may not give it to those who require the money.

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IMF approves $650 billion expansion in resources to fight pandemic

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Friday that the new support, the largest such expansion in the history of the 190-nation lending institution, would be a shot in the arm for the world.
Eric LeCompte, executive director of the religious-affiliated development group Jubilee USA Network, said that the IMF action would allow developing countries to immediately receive more than USD200 billion in support.

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Vijayan requests PM to waive tax on imported life-saving drug for child

Noting that the medicine for SMA is ‘prohibitively expensive’ and ‘unaffordable’ for the child’s family, Vijayan said it costs a whopping Rs 18 crore and is proposed to be imported from the US.

The CM, in the letter, also pointed out that the central government had recently waived tax in a similar case of a five month old child, who is suffering from SMA in Mumbai.

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People flouting Covid protocols at tourist spots ‘serious cause of concern’, says govt

“Guidelines on vaccination for pregnant women have been issued by the ministry. Three vaccines are entitled to be used. Pregnant women should receive the vaccine then it is very important. During pregnancy, if a woman is infected with COVID-19 then its seriousness increases. Complications and chances of pre-mature delivery also increased. It can affect a woman’s health as well as the child’s. Vaccines can be given during menstruation and there is no risk of infertility,” Dr Paul said.

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Indian economy lacks fresh investment as banks find lending risky

While banks are dithering on loans on the one hand, companies are pushing back investment plans amid lack of demand on the other.

Corporate willingness for new investments is low, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt., with capital expenditure declining. While companies have posted bumper profits mostly on the back of widespread cost cutting, most have used the extra funds generated to pay down bank loans.

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Economy recovering due to targeted fiscal relief, rapid vaccination: FinMin

Apart from eight relief measures announced in health and other worst affected sectors, Sitharaman announced a stimulus package for the tourism industry, which included five lakh tourist visas to be issued free of charge, once the government resumes issuance. The total financial implication of the scheme will be Rs 100 crore.

Resilient tax collections of the central government in the first two months of FY 2020-21 and sustained momentum in capital expenditure, particularly in the road and rail sector, the report said, augurs well for continued economic recovery driven by capital expenditures.

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