Ottawa, Canada:Canada suspended all passenger flights from India and Pakistan on Thursday for 30 days, Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra announced, citing increased Covid-19 cases detected in travelers arriving from these countries.NDTV
Almost half the population in a village in Karnataka’s Belgavi district tested positive for Covid-19 after taking the rapid antigen test on Tuesday.
Out of 300 villagers in Aabanali village, 144 tested positive for Covid-19, The Times of India reported. The village has been sealed.
Those infected were reportedly working as daily-wage earners in Maharashtra and returned home after strict Covid-19 restrictions were imposed there in the wake of the spurt in the cases.NEWS18
The cost of vaccinating the entire population above 18 years would be just 0.36% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to an India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) report on Thursday.
The Centre opened up the Covid-19 vaccination drive to the population in the 18-44 age group, which will begin from May 1. However, states would have to procure the vaccine directly from manufacturers.
While vaccine manufacturers would have to reserve 50% of vaccines produced for the central government, the remaining half could be procured by states and sold in the open market.economictimes
China on Friday said it was willing to talk to India about what it needs to fight the massive surge in coronavirus cases, a day after offering to help New Delhi with necessary support and help.
Responding to a query from Hindustan Times about what kind of assistance Beijing was ready to offer to New Delhi, the Chinese foreign ministry said it was ready to talk to India about what it needs.hindustantimes
MUMBAI: Non-banking finance companies and rating agencies have warned of delinquencies in the small and medium enterprises segment if the lockdown continues. Lenders said, unlike last year when they got additional credit lines and relief in the form of a moratorium, small businesses do not have enough cash to see them through a prolonged shutdown.TOI
Russia has offered to supply medical oxygen and Remdesivir to India and imports are likely to begin in the next 15 days. Indian hospitals have been reporting dwindling supplies of oxygen due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country. Stocks of antiviral drug Remdesivir, used to treat the disease, have also been running out.economictimes
Rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed India’s long-term foreign-currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BBB-’ with a negative outlook.
India’s rating balances a still strong medium-term growth outlook and external resilience from solid foreign reserve buffers, against high public debt, a weak financial sector, and some lagging structural factors, Fitch said.business-standard
In a press note, Manu Kumar Jain of Global VP of Xiaomi and MD Xiaomi India, says that Xiaomi is pledging to donate over INR 3 Crore to procure 1000+ oxygen concentrators.
Apart from the ₹3 Cr. donation, Manu says that Xiaomi will also partner with GiveIndia to raise ₹1 Crore to support frontline COVID warriors across the country.gizmochina
TOKYO: Cryptocurrency Ether pulled back sharply from a record high and rival Bitcoin also fell on Friday amid speculation that US President Joe Biden's plan to raise capital gains taxes will curb investment in digital assets.
The drops came after Biden on Thursday unveiled a raft of proposed changes to the US tax code, including a plan to nearly double taxes on capital gains to 39.6% for people earning more than $1 million.TOI
DGCI approves emergency use for Zydus Cadila's Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b ‘Virafin’ drug
Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) approves emergency use for Zydus Cadila's Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b, ‘Virafin’ for treating moderate COVID-19 infection in adults. (ANI)TOI
