The gross domestic product (GDP) of India, which is among the countries with the longest school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, would see the highest decline in South Asia due to learning losses for the young, a new working paper published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reckoned. Starting with a $10.5 billion dent in 2023, the country’s economy could take a nearly $99 billion hit by 2030, translating into a 3.19% reduction in GDP from the baseline growth trends, according to the paper on ‘Potential Economic Impact of COVID-19 related School Closures’. India may thus account for over 10% of the global GDP decline of $943 billion estimated by the ADB on account of earning losses in 2030, with jobs for skilled labour expected to decline by 1%, and unskilled labour by 2% that year. “India has notable enrolment in secondary education and among students in rural areas. Pandemic-induced school closures have also been more extensive there,” the paper noted. Economies … [Read more...] about India’s GDP to take a big hit due to pandemic-linked learning losses for students: ADB study
India covid cases today
You Are Going to Get COVID Again … And Again … And Again
Two and a half years and billions of estimated infections into this pandemic, SARS-CoV-2’s visit has clearly turned into a permanent stay. Experts knew from early on that, for almost everyone, infection with this coronavirus would be inevitable. As James Hamblin memorably put it back in February 2020, “ You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus .” By this point, in fact, most Americans have. But now, as wave after wave continues to pummel the globe, a grimmer reality is playing out. You’re not just likely to get the coronavirus. You’re likely to get it again and again and again. “I personally know several individuals who have had COVID in almost every wave,” says Salim Abdool Karim, a clinical infectious-diseases epidemiologist and the director of the Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa, which has experienced five meticulously tracked surges, and where just one-third of the population is vaccinated . Experts doubt that clip of reinfection—several times a … [Read more...] about You Are Going to Get COVID Again … And Again … And Again
CBI arrests ABIL group chairman Avinash Bhosale in Yes Bank-DHFL scam case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested Avinash Bhosale, chairman of Pune-based real estate group ABIL group, in an alleged corruption case involving Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and Kapil Wadhawan of DHFL, officials said. The CBI suspects that illicit funds were routed through several real estate companies based in Maharashtra, they said. The agency had carried out searches at the premises of noted builders of the State on April 30 to further probe on this aspect of the case, they said. Premises of ABIL and Mr. Bhosale were also searched during the operation. The CBI has now arrested Mr. Bhosale in a 2020 case against Mr. Kapoor and Mr. Wadhawan among others for alleged corruption. The CBI had recently arrested Sanjay Chhabria of Radius Developers in the case. The agency has alleged that Mr. Kapoor entered into a criminal conspiracy with Mr. Wadhawan for extending financial assistance to DHFL through Yes Bank in return for substantial undue benefits to … [Read more...] about CBI arrests ABIL group chairman Avinash Bhosale in Yes Bank-DHFL scam case
In first year of lockdown, more died of other respiratory diseases than COVID-19
The first year of COVID-19 lockdown saw the highest incidences of persons dying of respiratory illnesses in a decade, the 2020 report on medical certification of cause of death (MCCD) compiled by the Registrar General of India (RGI) says. In 2020, as many as 1,81,160 deaths occurred due to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis, higher than 1,52,311 such deaths reported in 2019. The certified deaths are other than those caused by COVID-19 virus, also a respiratory disease that has been separately recorded in the report as “Deaths reported under Codes for Special Purposes (Covid 19 Deaths).” At 1,60,618 deaths, the report said that this newly introduced major group is the third leading cause group recording 8.9 % of the totalmedically certified deaths at national level. The Union Health Ministry, however reported 1.49 lakh COVID-19 deaths in 2020. The total number of deaths, from all causes, in 2020 was 81.2 lakh. The recent World Health Organisation’s … [Read more...] about In first year of lockdown, more died of other respiratory diseases than COVID-19
Double killer jailed for 33 years for stabbing landlords to death over Covid fears
A tenant who stabbed his landlords to death in 'a bloodbath' after becoming paranoid about contracting Covid-19 has been jailed for a minimum of 33 years. Spaniard Daniel Briceno Garcia, 46, murdered devout Catholics Sonia Butron Calvi, 66, and Edgar Aguilera Daza, 60, on 1 April 2020 - just days after the first lockdown began. Briceno Garcia claimed he was suffering from paranoid delusions and believed the Bolivian couple were trying to kill him at their shared five-bedroom maisonette in Stockwell, southwest London. He was HIV positive and thought contracting Covid 19 would end his life. Briceno Garcia was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years after being found guilty of two charges of murder by an Old Bailey jury. Assisted by a Spanish interpreter, he showed no emotion as he was sentenced. Garcia murdered Sonia Teresa Burton Calvi and Edgar Aguilera Daza ( Image: SWNS) He had admitted two lesser charges of manslaughter claiming his … [Read more...] about Double killer jailed for 33 years for stabbing landlords to death over Covid fears
Mastercard focusses on Southeast Asia, Latin America after India’s ban, Russia exit
Southeast Asia and Latin America are strong growth regions for Mastercard after its withdrawal from Russia in March and India's 2021 ban on it from issuing new cards , the company's co-president for international markets said. "Southeast Asia is exciting [due to] the right demographics, the adoption of technology and digitisation, and governments' focus on financial inclusion," Ling Hai told the Reuters Global Markets Forum, adding that countries in the region would also benefit as supply chains shift away from China. India's Central bank banned Mastercard after declaring it "non-compliant" with the country's 2018 rules that required foreign card networks to store Indian payments data locally for "unfettered supervisory access." "Our sense is we are getting really close to a resolution," Mr. Hai said on the India ban, adding that the company was working "very constructively" with the Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Hai said Mastercard was ready to … [Read more...] about Mastercard focusses on Southeast Asia, Latin America after India’s ban, Russia exit
Moody’s pares India’s 2022 growth hopes to 8.8%
Moody’s Investors Service has lowered India’s growth forecast for calendar year 2022 to 8.8% from 9.1% projected in March, citing the rise in crude oil, food and fertilizer prices that will weigh on household finances and spending even as interest rate increases to curb inflation will slow the momentum in demand recovery. Moody’s said it expected inflation to average 6.8% through 2022, but added that the Indian economy seemed strong enough to maintain solid growth momentum — unless global crude oil and food prices rise further. “Although we expect headline inflation rates to ease through next year, price levels remain high and will weigh on consumer demand,” Moody’s said about global price pressures, noting that inflation and rising rates would temper India’s economic growth as well. “High-frequency data suggest that the momentum from Q4 2021 [October to December] carried through into the first four months of this year because of strong reopening momentum,” the firm said about … [Read more...] about Moody’s pares India’s 2022 growth hopes to 8.8%
Searches related to online protection growing in India: Google
Online search related to changing passwords has grown by 20 per cent, while those related to two step verification jumped 97 per cent over the last year, as an increasing number of Indians are becoming cautious about online security and protection of their data, technology giant Google today said. Google India, which has rolled out new features and resources to protect users online, said India is adding five million new users every month and is expected to have a user base of ‘connected’ Indians at 500 millions online by 2018-2019. “With an increase in the number of users coming online and rise in the penetration of smartphone users in India, we at Google are committed to offering users a safe Internet experience,” Google India Director Trust and Safety Sunita Mohanty, said in a statement. It is more important now than ever before to ensure the data and profiles of these users are safe online, she added. Google will be driving multiple initiatives to drive awareness about … [Read more...] about Searches related to online protection growing in India: Google
Sighting the finishing line in measles-rubella elimination
Many would remember the school-based campaigns of measles-rubella (MR) vaccination of children from 5 to 15 years, conducted in all States, in 2017. Success was good in a few States, but not in others. School managements, teachers, children themselves and parents were not informed of the basis of this new programme, which was a deviation from the past. There were some unanswered questions: why was it up to 15 years while the Universal (childhood) Immunisation Programme (UIP) covers only those up to five years? Why administer the rubella vaccine that was not in the UIP list in 2017? Why should children who have had one dose of the measles vaccine get another dose? Why are schools instead of health-care centres used for vaccination? Hurdle of poor information The Government decided to eliminate measles and rubella from India by the year 2020 — having missed the earlier set target of 2015. So, in 2017 there was an urgency to accelerate efforts. The basic plan was to create a very high … [Read more...] about Sighting the finishing line in measles-rubella elimination
Indian Lawmaker Issued Illegal Visas to Chinese Citizens for Bribes
Police in New Delhi questioned an Indian lawmaker on Thursday for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for the illegal issuance of visas for nearly 300 Chinese nationals in 2011 as part of a Chinese-funded power project in India’s Punjab state, the Times of India reported on Thursday. Karti Chidambaram, a member of the Indian Parliament representing the Indian National Congress (INC) political party, appeared before members of India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on May 26 as part of his cooperation with an ongoing investigation into his allegedly corrupt actions. “The fresh case against Karti pertains to issuance of visas to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011 when his father P Chidambaram was the Union home minister [Indian Minister of Home Affairs]. It is alleged that Karti received Rs 50 lakh [$64,405] to illegally facilitate visas for the Chinese nationals for working on a power project in Punjab,” the Times of India reported on May 26. “According to the CBI, the … [Read more...] about Indian Lawmaker Issued Illegal Visas to Chinese Citizens for Bribes