Covid caseload reaches 517.8 million, including a death toll of 6.25 million

global coronavirus caseload

According to Johns Hopkins University, the global coronavirus caseload has reached 517.8 million, with over 6.25 million deaths and over 11.36 billion vaccines. The current global caseload and death toll, according to the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE), are 517,888,062 and 6,253,145, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses delivered has […]

Indian Consulate in Shanghai closes in-person services as COVID crisis worsens in China

Indian Consulate in Shanghai

The Indian Consulate in Shanghai has announced the suspension of in-person consular services as China’s gleaming business hub with 26 million people struggling with mounting COVID-19 cases, putting the country’s dynamic zero-case policy to the test. Indian citizens in Eastern China Region may apply at the Embassy of India, Beijing for availing of urgent consular […]

Oil drops $3 on positive signals from Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Oil drops $3

Oil prices dropped on Tuesday, extending losses from the previous day on signs of progress in talks between Russia and Ukraine to end their weeks-long conflict, with prices further pressured by China’s new lockdowns to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Brent crude fell $2.88, or 2.6%, to $109.61 a barrel by 11:07 a.m. ET […]

US Congress passes budget including $14 billion for Ukraine

US Congress passes budget

The US Congress passed a huge omnibus 2022 spending bill Thursday including almost $14 billion in humanitarian and military aid to war-torn Ukraine, as its invasion by Russia entered its third week. Lawmakers had been facing the latest in a series of shutdown showdowns, with government funding due to expire at midnight Friday into Saturday, […]

US has not verified claim of Russia troop withdrawal: Joe Biden

US has not verified claim of Russia troop withdrawal: Joe Biden

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said the US has not yet verified” Russia’s claim that some of its forces have withdrawn from the Ukraine border and said an invasion of Ukraine remains a distinct possibility. Biden made the remarks at the White House hours after Russia announced that some units participating in military exercises near […]

COVID disrupts health services in over 90% of countries: WHO

COVID disrupts health services

Disruptions in basic health services such as vaccination programmes and treatment of diseases like AIDS were reported in 92% of 129 countries, a World Health Organization survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic showed on Monday. The survey, conducted in November-December 2021, showed services were “severely impacted” with “little or no improvement” from the […]

US Fed puts markets on the slippery slope; Sensex falls 581 points

US Fed puts markets on the slippery slope; Sensex falls 581 points

Investors continued to pull out of risky assets as US Federal Reserve officials signalled that they were on course to raise interest rates in March, citing high inflation. The Sensex dropped as much as 1,419 points, or 2.5 per cent, on Thursday before recouping some of the losses. After a wild ride, the 30-share index closed at 57,277, down […]