WORLD
Modi-EU leaders’ summit will talk vaccine supply, FTA talks and climate change
The first ever India-EU leaders meeting on May 8 is set to discuss a long list of crucial issues, including discussions on the IPR waiver for vaccine makers, a global health partnership and a connectivity pact
WORLD
Global IPR waiver for vaccines: India now expects US to do diplomatic heavy lifting at WTO
The US has backed India's proposal to temporarily suspend key clauses of a global intellectual property rights rule to boost vaccine availability. But having introduced it seven months ago, and systematically securing the support from 120 middle- and lower-income nations, New Delhi is now content to let Washington convince the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, and China.
ECONOMY
Delhi citizens grapple with crippling medical deficiencies amid second wave of pandemic
Scarce and overpriced medical supplies, non-availability of oxygen and exorbitantly priced ambulances to take those seriously ill or dying to far flung corners of the national capital; these are some of the outstanding features that constitute life in the metro today
TRENDS
Here is the full list of foreign medical aid that have reached India till now and where they are headed
To help India battle COVID-19, foreign aid is pouring in. As the second wave of the pandemic continues to extract a hefty toll and there is a crippling shortage of medical supplies, we track the assistance from the world over, and what more is soon expected.
WORLD
Explained | How the US decision to back India's proposal at the WTO may end the global pandemic sooner than expected
While it has come more than seven months after India and other nations floated a proposal at the WTO wanting to ensure global vaccine availability, the US support is a major step towards arriving at a global consensus on the hard fought issue. Crucially, will vaccine majors relent and give up and their intellectual property rights to ensure everyone gets a jab sooner than later?
WORLD
Here’s the full list of foreign medical aid to India and where they are headed
To help India battle COVID-19, foreign aid is pouring in. As the second wave of the pandemic continues to extract a hefty toll and there is a crippling shortage of medical supplies, we track the assistance from the world over, and what more is expected.
ECONOMY
New guidelines by drug regulator CDSCO clears way for import of foreign COVID-19 vaccines like Sputnik V
Dr Reddy's Laboratories, the custodian of the Sputnik V vaccine in India, has already announced the arrival of 1.5 lakh doses as first consignment of the 250 million doses it plans to import from Russia; Pfizer is reportedly negotiating an expedited approval pathway for the use of its vaccine in India
WORLD
Modi-Johnson meet: India, UK decide to wrap up key talks for Free Trade Agreement by year-end
India has agreed to remove barriers to trade, a key British complaint, and has said that a balanced and beneficial market access package will be created. The proposed FTA is a key part of the Enhanced Trade Partnership launched by both nations to galvanise business ties and investment flows.
WORLD
Serum Institute of India to invest 240 million pounds in UK: Boris Johnson's Office
The announcement comes a couple of hours ahead of a virtual bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson. SII is already running phase 1 trials of its new one dose nasal vaccine in the UK, which may be produced in the country once approved.
POLITICS
West Bengal Election 2021: Here's how key candidates from both the TMC and BJP fared
Central Minister Babul Supriyo has lost from the Tollygunge assembly constituency, being defeated by veteran TMC leader and current West Bengal Public Works and Youth Affairs Minister Aroop Biswas. Two other incumbent BJP MPs, Locket Chatterjee and Swapan Dasgupta has lost from the Chunchura and Tarakeshwar constituency.
POLITICS
Mamata Banerjee : A long history of fighting high-stakes battles
Banerjee's latest fight constitutes just one chapter in her long history of fighting all or nothing, no holds barred campaigns, especially in her own seat.
TRENDS
Indo-US Partnership Vision Summit | Investments in India continue to yield returns for foreign capital, say experts
Equity markets have performed well historically and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the results of companies have been good.
ECONOMY
Eight core industries' output rises at fastest pace in 32-months, up 6.8% in March
However, after posting contraction in as many as eight months of FY21, the cumulative output of the core sector industries fell by 7 percent in the previous financial year.
ECONOMY
COVID-19 pandemic is 'once in a century' crisis: Council of Ministers
The council noted that India could successfully produce two vaccines and there are many candidates at the various stages of approval and induction. More than 16 crore vaccinations have been done as on date.
ECONOMY
Govt confident of having overcome severe shortage of shipping containers
The crisis began in late 2020 due to a sharp mismatch in import and export volumes, port congestion across the Asia Pacific region due to Covid-19, and restrictions on trade
ECONOMY
India-US partnership has deepened during COVID-19 pandemic: IMC Chamber
The IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing the 2-day Indo-US Partnership Vision Summit 2021 with participation from industry and government of both countries.
ECONOMY
Explained | What medical supplies are expected to reach India and from where
A massive logistics operation is underway at Delhi, Mumbai and other airports to quickly facilitate the large amount of incoming bilateral aid from all over the world. Sources say more assistance is expected to be announced by other nations over the next few days.
WORLD
As COVID-19 cases soar, US asks its citizens to leave India for the second time in a week
Noting that Americans are reporting being denied admittance to hospitals in some cities due to a lack of space, Washington has again asked its citizens to leave India as soon as it is safe to do so. The latest alert comes less than a week after the US announced a travel advisory against visiting India.
WORLD
US prepares to deploy CDC's 'disease detectives' in India with the objective of choking the virus spread
Acclaimed for cutting short the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and South America's Zika Virus epidemic, key specialists from the US government are set to reach India soon. They will sort through COVID-19 data; review the country’s existing models for the spread of infections and aim to identify where and how the virus may spread next
ECONOMY
Customs authorities rise to the occasion as medical consignments pour in from abroad
Customs authorities are running the extra mile to quickly clear emergency medical equipment to help stressed hospitals that are running out of oxygen supply. Clearance is much faster now, even though many importers say customs procedures remain very cumbersome.
ECONOMY
Nepal requests India to fast-track shipment of 10 lakh Covishield doses already paid for
As a deadly second wave of COVID-19 continues, Nepal has also requested ventilators, oxygen cylinders and medical supplies from India. Though Nepal has approved a Chinese vaccine, it is not recognised by the WHO and there are concerns over its safety and efficacy.
WORLD
Explained | Why the latest aid from US doesn't include COVID-19 vaccines or ingredients
After more than a week of frantic diplomatic talks, the Biden administration has decided to provide crucial medical help for India. Even though the US has identified specific sources of raw materials required for Indian manufacturers of Covishield, it doesn’t say which is the raw material and how much will be available.
ECONOMY
Industry requests Finance Ministry for more handholding on filing GST, other taxes
Industry tells government that more handholding is required to clear tax related confusion on the ground. Also calls for tax compliance deadline to be extended.
TRENDS
EXPLAINED | Why government's funding of 3 PSEs won't raise overall vaccine production anytime soon
The Centre's plan to increase Covaxin production 6-7 times by August-September, relies on the premise that manufacturing can be quickly ramped up at government owned biomedical companies. But apart from the absence of a biosafety level 3 facility which usually takes a year to be constructed, the lack of support infrastructure, rushed deadlines and massive need for investment also threaten to push the deadline further back.
