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Genetic flashpoints: Why Covid-19 hits some people harder than others

“Such studies are a little akin to panning for gold. We know our genetic makeup contributes to why some people are more susceptible to viral infections. By sifting through the DNA of enough people, researchers hope to discover a eureka moment explaining why, said Mark Daly, a study co-author who is the director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland at the University of Helsinki and a geneticist at Harvard University..

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Life insurers report 4% rise in new year premium in June at Rs 30,009 cr

LIC’s cumulative first year premium in the June quarter fell 2.54 per cent from a year ago to Rs 35,600.68 crore. For the private industry, the combined cumulative new year premium during the three months rose by 34 per cent to Rs 17,124.58 crore.
For the remaining 23 private sector life insurers, the new premium in June jumped about 34 per cent to Rs 8,213.20 crore as against Rs 6,131.84 crore in the year-ago period.

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Delta variant cases mark 32% weekly increase in UK, vaccine protection high

The data continues to show that the sharp increase in cases that we are seeing is not being followed by a similar increase in hospitalisation and death, said Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency.

This is because two doses of the available vaccines offer a high level of protection against the Delta variant. Getting both jabs is the best way to ensure you and the people you love remain safe, so we once again urge everyone to come forward as soon as they are eligible, she said.

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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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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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