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World faces shortage of merchant sailors to crew ships -study

The Delta variant of the coronavirus has hit hard in parts of Asia and prompted many nations to cut off land access for sailors. That’s left captains unable to rotate weary crews and about 100,000 seafarers stranded at sea beyond their stints, in a flashback to 2020 and the height of lockdowns when over 200,000 merchant sailors were stuck on ships. read more

New York city to offer 100 dollars for vaccination

The announcement comes just days after the mayor said all city workers would have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-September or face weekly testing. De Blasio also announced that more than 9.9 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the city so far. Sixty-six per cent of adults have been fully vaccinated and 71 per cent have received at least one dose, according to the New York City health department, The Hill reported.

COVID-19 infections rise, Delta variant spreads to 132 countries: WHO

An average of around 540 000 cases was reported globally each day over the past week as compared to 490 000 cases reported daily the week before.
Of the four COVID-19 mutations that WHO has designated “variants of concern”, the UN agency said that the Alpha variant is present in 182 countries, Beta is in 131, Gamma in 81 and after reaching eight new countries in the past week, the Delta variant is now in 132 countries. 

England scraps quarantine for fully vaccinated EU, U.S. visitors

Top of the list is a reopening of the UK-U.S. travel corridor which is still affected by a ban on all non-U.S. citizens who have been in Britain. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told LBC Radio earlier on Wednesday that he wanted U.S. citizens to come to England “freely” and was discussing making changes.

Travellers also still have to take an expensive COVID-19 test before departure and shortly after arrival in England. BA Chief Executive Sean Doyle said the company’s trials had proved it could check travellers for vaccination status quickly and safely.

Regulators turn spotlight on company sustainability ratings

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), which groups market regulators from the United States, Europe and Asia, recommended in a consultation paper on Monday that its members consider formally regulating an industry that has so far largely been left to its own devices. 

This lack of regulation has prompted concerns among some investors, who say methods of calculating ESG ratings are opaque, and environmentalists, who fear “greenwashing” – or that companies might sometimes get an ESG rating they don’t deserve.

Lok Sabha passes Factoring Regulation Amendment Bill

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill state that an increase in the availability of working capital may lead to growth in the business of the micro, small and medium enterprises sector and also boost employment in the country.

The bill seeks to amend the definitions of “assignment”, “factoring business” and “receivables”, so as to bring them in consonance with international definitions and also to insert a new definition of “Trade Receivables Discounting System” .

Used-car market to more than double to 8.2 mn units by FY’26: Report

With supply disruption preventing aut companies form rolling out new models and meet the increased demand, the demand for used-cars surged over the past year and buying pre-owned cars is no more socially looked down as safety and value for money have taken precedence. The looming economic uncertainty since the pandemic also means there is an amplified preference for affordable used cars, the report said.

 ICICI Lombard and Dr. Reddy’s collaborate for pilot launch of  cashless digital health solution

Users will benefit from cashless access to consultation from leading doctors and healthcare professionals across specialisations and geographies, pathology laboratories and diagnostic services, pharmacies, and a comprehensive support centre, all on a simple, easily accessible mobile platform. It offers options of in-person as well as remote tele/video consultations, home sample collections and medicine deliveries, digital health record management and a comprehensive support and fulfilment system.

22 districts recorded increasing trend in COVID cases, 54 districts report 10 pc positivity: Health Ministry

While addressing a press briefing here, Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, “There are 22 districts — 7 from Kerala, 5 from Manipur, 3 in Meghalaya among others, where an increasing trend in cases has been reported, in the last 4 weeks. It is a cause of concern.” Agarwal said there are still 62 districts in the country where over 100 cases are reported every day, which are found in a localised and limited set of areas of these districts.