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California sues Exxon over global plastic pollution
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Covid-19 variant 1st reported in India threatens to rapidly spread in sub-region: UNHCR
“. ,“We are particularly worried about the situation in the Asia and Pacific region, which in the past two months has experienced the largest increase in the number of cases globally.The highly infectious variant of the virus which first emerged in India threatens to rapidly spread in the sub-region, including among refugee populations.Over this period, there have been some 38 million recorded Covid-19 cases and more than half a million deaths, the UNHCR spokesperson said.” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Andrej Mahecic said
ICMR invites researchers to contribute to scientific knowledge related to Covid-19
Despite intense efforts of the global scientific community, there is scanty knowledge related to the functional aspects of the virus, its transmission dynamics, immunological response to natural infection and vaccines, it said.
” In addition, it is important to understand the drivers of vaccine hesitancy and reduced uptake, clinical spectrum of the disease and its progression. Also there is a need to formulate the clinical management protocols in line with the emerging global evidence,” the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said.
There needs to be one price for COVID-19 vaccines across the nation,” Supreme Court questions Central govt on dual policy
“Centre says it gets vaccines at low pricing since it buys in bulk, if this is the rationale then why do states have the higher price? There needs to be one price for the vaccines across the nation. Pandemic has evolved in last two months,” the Court said.
“In this case, if the purpose is to procure vaccines then why should the centre confine itself to only post 45 age people and leave pre 45 age entirely to state for arranging logistics. How do we look at the marginalised and economically weaker ones?” asked the Apex Court.
Provide price capping waiver, indemnity for Moderna’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine: Cipla to Govt
Requesting the government to provide confirmation on four critical points — exemption from price restriction, indemnification, bridging trial waiver and basic customs duty exemption,
Cipla has said such an assurance will help make this significant financial commitment of more than USD 1 billion (over Rs 7,250 crore) advance to Moderna for its booster vaccine in India, sources privy to the development said.
Govt announces scheme to provide pension for dependents of COVID-19 victims
Besides family pensions, insurance benefits under the Employees” Deposit-Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme have been enhanced and liberalised. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said these steps will help mitigate financial difficulties faced by these families.
To help these families live a life of dignity and maintain a good standard of living, the benefit of the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) pension scheme for employment-related death cases is being extended to even those who have died due to Covid, the PMO said in a statement.
COVID second wave triggers raft of growth forecast revisions: RBI annual report
The pandemic, it added, ”is the biggest risk to this outlook. Yet, upsides also stem from the capex push by the government, rising capacity utilisation and the turnaround in capital goods imports.” RBI further said that a collective global effort to fight the pandemic will surely bring better results than individual countries fighting on their own.
NGT asks govt to issue SOP to states on environment norms in construction projects
NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said,”Since we are coming across the grievance of continuous violation of environment norms in construction projects being completed without prior environmental clearance and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities(SEIAA) , Maharashtra is neither requiring demolition nor payment of assessed compensation to comply with the rule of law and protection of environment, it will be appropriate to require the SEIAA, Maharashtra to review its working in the light of the judgments of the Supreme Court.
India witnessing downswing in second wave of COVID-19 cases: Govt
On Pfizer seeking indemnity, Paul said, ”Yes we are engaged with Pfizer and they have indicated the availability of a certain amount of vaccine in the coming months, possibly starting in July and we are looking at what their expectations from the government are and they are looking at what our expectations from them are.
“They have requested indemnity to all the nations including the country of origin. We are examining this request and will take a decision in the larger interest of people and on merits. This is under discussion and there is no decision as of now,” Paul said.
Studies under way to ascertain need for booster Covid vaccine dose: Centre
“If there is a need for a booster dose it will be told. There are studies that are going on. Covaxin trial is going on whether it (booster dose) should be taken after six months or not,” NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said.
Bank of England to step up drive to encourage new insurers
London is a global hub for insurers, with 190 insurers from the EU continuing to operate under the BoE’s temporary permissions regime ahead of full authorisation.
The Bank is now deciding whether the EU insurers can operate as a less heavily regulated branch or must become a subsidiary under full UK supervision.