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RBI keeps rates at record low on virus fallout, projects retail inflation at 5.1%

According to Das, upside risks to inflation emanates from persistence of second COVID wave and consequent restrictions on activity on a virtually pan-India basis.

“In such a scenario, insulating prices of essential food items from supply side disruptions will necessitate active monitoring and preparedness for coordinated, calibrated and timely measures by both Centre and state governments to prevent emergence of supply side bottlenecks and increase in retail margins,” the governor said.

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Centre caps prices of oxygen concentrators

“NPPA has capped the trade Margin up to 70 per cent on price to distributor (PTD) level on oxygen concentrators,” the ministry said.

The order will be applicable up to November 30 this year, subject to review.The ministry further said that the manufacturers/importers not complying with the revised MRP after trade margin capping, will be liable to deposit the overcharged amount along with 15 per cent interest and penalty up to 100 per cent under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 read with Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

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Covid-19 vaccine: After Pfizer, Serum Institute seeks indemnity, say sources

Earlier last year, SII CEO Adar Poonawala had advocated for indemnity for all vaccine manufacturers.

“We need to have the government indemnify manufacturers, especially vaccine manufacturers, against all lawsuits… Frivolous claims come up and you see in the media something being blown out of proportion. The government needs to step in with the right messaging,” he had said.

Amid the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine crunch, US pharma giant Pfizer is seeking an indemnity bond that will exempt it from legal claims in case there are any adverse effects from the vaccine.

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Retired babus taking up private sector jobs soon after retirement is serious misconduct: CVC

In an order, it also said that all government organisations should mandatorily take vigilance clearance before offering post-retirement jobs to babus.

In case a retired officer served in more than one organisation, the vigilance clearance should be obtained from all organisations where the retired officer had served during a period of 10 years prior to his retirement, it said mentioning the procedure.

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New York Bill would give sexual abuse survivors new chance to sue

More than 5,200 New Yorkers have filed lawsuits against abusers under the Child Victims Act, according to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal. Both Democrats are now sponsoring the Adult Survivors Act.

Those lawsuits have financially devastated several Roman Catholic dioceses in the state, which have filed for bankruptcy, as has the Boy Scouts of America, which had also faced a flood of suits.

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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

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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.

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