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Here is a masonry blog layout with no sidebarU.S. lawmakers seek $1 bln to fund FTC privacy probes
The proposal, which Democrats plan to include in a $3.5 trillion spending measure, would fund a new bureau over 10 years to address “unfair or deceptive acts or practices relating to privacy, data security, identity theft, data abuses, and related matters,” according to a summary released by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The committee will meet on Monday to take up the wide-ranging spending proposal that includes $30 billion to remove lead pipes and $13.5 billion for zero emissions vehicle infrastructure buildout.
36% of call centre agents have been threatened with violence: Study
Three million Americans work as call centre agents and nearly one million in India. However, many face abuse daily from customers, so much that 1.2 million Americans leave the job each year, it said. As many as 51 per cent of agents, who received poor training, report being pessimistic about their careers which can lead to poor performance and burnout, it added.
U.S. FDA to ask for more time before deciding on Juul e-cigarettes -WSJ
The agency said last month it received applications from over 500 companies covering more than 6.5 million tobacco products. E-cigarettes have operated in a regulatory gray area for years. The products, which vaporize a nicotine-laced liquid, have been available in the United States since at least 2007, but the FDA did not formally get jurisdiction over the industry until May 2016.
Govt extends ITR filing deadline for individuals to December 31
Earlier, the deadline was extended to September 30, 2021. Usually, the last date for filing the ITR (Income Tax Returns) for the individual taxpayers is July 31.
”On consideration of difficulties reported by the taxpayers and other stakeholders in filing of Income Tax Returns and various reports of audit for the Assessment Year 2021-22 under the Income-tax Act, 1961, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has decided to further extend the due dates for filing of Income Tax Returns and various reports of audit for the Assessment Year 2021-22,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
The CBDT has also extended the ITR filing deadline for companies till February 15, 2022 from November 30, 2021.
Nerve disorder listed as ‘very rare’ side effect of AstraZeneca jab
Guillain-Barre Syndrome was a “very rare” side effect, occurring in under one in 10,000 people, it added. The disorder is a nerve inflammation that may cause temporary paralysis and difficulty breathing. In the United States, the very rare syndrome affects an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people each year and most go on to recover.
The US Food and Drug Administration also warned in July of an “increased risk” of developing the neurological syndrome with Johnson & Johnson’s dose. Both regulators stressed that the vaccine’s benefits outweighed the potential
India logs 34,973 new COVID-19 cases, 260 deaths
Covid-19 Pandemic risks worsening on Africa variants, scientists say
A study of genomes from 33 African nations and two “overseas territories,” published in the journal Science on Thursday, tracks the evolution of the pandemic across the continent and the emergence of a number of so-called Variants of Concern and Variants of Interest. One of those, beta, spread around the globe earlier this year and rendered some vaccines partially ineffective.
The “slow rollout of vaccines in most African countries creates an environment in which the virus can replicate and evolve,” the organizations said. “This will almost certainly produce additional VOCs, any of which could derail the global fight against Covid-19.”
Mutation entry doesn’t create right in favour of individual interest: SC
CoWIN launches new API: KYC-VS — Know Your Customer’s/Client’s Vaccination Status
To provide proof of vaccination for each of these individuals, Co-WIN is already issuing a digitally verifiable certificate. This certificate can be saved on a digital device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc), or stored in Digi Locker from where it can be digitally shared as and when required as proof of vaccination, the ministry said in a statement.
Similarly, at entry points where such certificate is required (e.g., in malls, office complexes, public events, etc), it may be shown in both digital and physical forms.
Why 7,000 steps a day is the new 10,000 steps a day
The good news for everyone is that the evidence is building to suggest that doing less than 10,000 steps is still good for your health. The most recent large study, led by the University of Massachusetts, followed over 2,000 middle-aged adults from different ethnic backgrounds over a period of 11 years. The researchers found that those taking at least 7,000 steps a day had a 50 to 70% lower risk of dying during the study period compared with those taking fewer than 7,000 steps a day.
Strengthening health emergency security systems top priority: WHO
“The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges. No country globally was prepared enough to deal with an emergency of this scale. It is critical that lessons from the ongoing pandemic are used to inform our efforts to strengthen health security systems,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia, at the Seventy-Fourth Regional Committee meeting.
Stalin’s new healthcare scheme to be implemented throughout Tamil Nadu
The Chief Minister had said that the scheme was part of the 7 point programme of the DMK government that envisioned “an enhanced quality of life for all”. The Healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses would screen people for diabetes and hypertension that are generally not properly noticed in the villages of the state. It also involves screening of kidney ailments and other congenital diseases in children and will be followed up through routine hospital treatment.
At 24% deficiency, rainfall recorded in August lowest in 19 years: IMD
The country received 24 percent less than normal rainfall in August. Of the four meteorological divisions of the IMD, the central India division received 39 percent less. The division consists of a large swathe of area from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
The deficiency in the northwest India division, which comprises northern Indian states, was 30 percent.
Rise in anxiety, depression cases during 2nd wave of COVID: Experts
“During the COVID-19-induced lockdown, we received distress calls from patients and their families about issues of anxiety, depression, and self-harm. Even among youngsters, we are seeing a lack of sense of purpose and a rise in self-harming tendencies,”Dr Sameer Malhotra, Director and Head, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Hospital
Four factors that increase the risk of vaccinated people getting COVID
Immune fitness typically reduces with age. Long-term medical conditions may also impair our response to vaccination. Older people or people with compromised immune systems may therefore have lower levels of vaccine-induced protection against COVID-19, or may see their protection wane more quickly. It’s also worth remembering that the most clinically vulnerable received their vaccines first, possibly over eight months ago, which may heighten their risk of experiencing a breakthrough infection due to protection waning.
UAE lifts entry ban for vaccinated residents of India, some other countries
Dubai, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, is due to open the Expo 2020 world fair on Oct. 1 after a year-long delay due to the pandemic. The regional business and tourism hub is relying on the fair to give its economy a boost.
Organisers had previously said they expect remaining UAE flight restrictions imposed to curb coronavirus infections to be lifted in time for Expo 2020.
Ida likely to become one of the costliest U.S. hurricanes: Aon
Steve Bowen, managing director and head of Catastrophe Insight on the Impact Forecasting team at Aon, said: “As larger-scale disasters occur with more intensity and subsequently result in greater impacts, this has put a spotlight on areas where gaps lie in humanitarian and insurance protection. This is true regardless of whether a country is identified as developed or emerging. Hurricane Ida’s catastrophic impacts in the United States highlighted how much work is yet to be done to better insure around inland and coastal flooding. An even greater gap is found in Haiti following the major earthquake that once again has the country facing a challenging recovery. How governmental bodies work with private sector groups to improve hazard protection and aim to better and more smartly rebuild will be key to lowering future natural peril risk.”