Latest Updates on Covid-19

Sugar trade body calls shortage fears 'unwarranted', urges steady supplies

The All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) on Monday said that reports of a sugar shortage are unfounded, even as ex-factory prices rose about 15 per cent in less than a month, and urged its members to ensure steady availability of the sweetener across the country. In a communication to its 700 affiliated principal members and associations, AISTA said the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) had, on July 17, jointly clarified that the country has adequate sugar stocks to meet domestic demand. The sugar industry has also agreed to commence the 2026-27 season (October-September) at the earliest, depending on agro-climatic conditions, the association said. "The recent rise in ex-factory sugar prices -- about 15 per cent in less than a month -- has created an unwarranted impression of a shortage," AISTA Chairman Praful Vithalani said in the communication. He urged stakeholders across the sugar .

Omicron RF.5 variant detected in four Covid-19 samples in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has said the Omicron RF.5 variant has been detected in the state following genome sequencing of four Covid-19 positive samples. The Health Department has sent four samples from Covid-19 cases reported in Kadapa district to a virology laboratory in Pune for testing, and the results have confirmed the presence of the RF.5 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant. "Genome sequencing at a virology laboratory in Pune has confirmed the presence of the Omicron RF.5 variant in four COVID-19 positive samples from Kadapa district," said Yadav in an official press release late on Saturday. The Minister held discussions with senior health officials over the phone regarding the findings from Pune and reviewed the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the southern state. RF.5 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and is among the several Omicron sub-lineages identified across the world, said the press release. Director of Medical Educat

Andhra sees 12 Covid cases, 4 deaths since June 26; NIV to identify variant

Health authorities said infections are spread across multiple districts with no evidence of localised transmission, while five samples have been sent to NIV Pune for genome sequencing

Andhra Covid deaths put states on alert; experts say no need for panic

After two Covid-19 deaths in Andhra Pradesh, neighbouring states have stepped up surveillance and testing, while health experts say current variants are mild and there is no need to panic

How great leaders shape culture | Expert’s take

In this session, Dinesh Gulati, COO of IndiaMART, shares his rich experience and provides career tips to the B-Schoolers.

Mastering the business of travel & tourism

In this session of Manager’s Mantra, Wifred Selvaraj, Managing Director, LGT Holidays, talks about India’s travel and tourism industry and provides management tips.

Covid pandemic left 55,000 cancer cases undiagnosed in 7 nations: Study

An estimated 16% of expected cancer diagnoses across Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK were missing between April and December 2020, compared with pre-pandemic trends

World is more vulnerable to pandemics despite Covid-19 lessons, warns WHO

A new global preparedness report warns that future outbreaks could become more disruptive as trust declines and pandemic funding slips worldwide

From Covid-19 compulsion to office mandates: India's five-year WFH journey

The sudden lockdown sent the Indian workforce into a panic, and prompted a hasty overnight pivot to a work model that few companies had planned for

Scientists find new Covid-like virus in Thai bats with human infection risk

Researchers identified a sarbecovirus strain in Thai bats that may bind to human ACE2 receptors, though no human infections or community spread have been reported

But for the RBI's management, rupee would have been far more volatile

Global shocks from pandemics to wars are reshaping currencies and capital flows, raising questions on RBI's role and India's external stability strategy

Faith and Fury: Why Jyoti Yadav's Covid chronicle still haunts India

Jyoti Yadav's debut book captures untold stories of migrant distress, rural suffering, and systemic gaps during India's Covid-19 crisis

The Covid lessons: West Asia conflict can also be used to usher in reforms

West Asia conflict may disrupt Budget 2026-27 projections, squeezing revenues and raising subsidies, prompting fiscal adjustments and potential reforms, echoing lessons from the Covid-era shock

Modern-age hospitality is more than front office, rooms, and F&B

In this session, Pranav Dangi, Founder & CEO of Hosteller, shares his thoughts on the evolving travel and tourism space and provides career tips

'Cicada' Covid variant BA.3.2 detected in 23 countries: What we know so far

A highly mutated Covid variant, 'Cicada', is now seen in over 20 countries, but experts say there is no need to panic as it has not been linked to more serious disease yet

This is not a time to be bearish on markets: Rishi Kohli, Jio BlackRock AMC

Given that the last 18 months have been weak in terms of valuations, earnings and technical trends, the outlook for the next 18 months is becoming attractive, he said.

Market breadth sinks below Covid lows amid rising West Asia conflict

The ADR has remained below 1 in six of the past 12 months, indicating that market breadth had already been deteriorating before the latest geopolitical flare-up

Manufacturing share in listed firms' FY25 GVA fell below pre-Covid levels

Manufacturing companies now contribute a smaller share of gross value added by listed firms than before the pandemic, even as services and other sectors have expanded faster, an analysis shows

Local job quotas expose a dangerous new wave of nativist politics in India

Covid-19 exodus demonstrated the cynically utilitarian treatment by local residents towards people from other Indian states who play a vital role in sustaining economies far away from their homelands

Universal vaccine for colds, flu, Covid shows promise, suggests new study

A new study in mice explores a nasal vaccine approach that could offer broad protection against respiratory infections