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Explained: Worries remain, but India and the world are better prepared

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Explained: Worries remain, but India and the world are better prepared

At this time last year, the number of coronavirus cases in India was steadily declining, although record numbers of infections were found in most parts of Europe, the United States and Brazil. There was no surge in cases during the holiday season in India, and even elections were held in Bihar. Normal activities are resuming, and most people mistakenly believe that the worst period of the pandemic has passed.

A year later, the situation was surprisingly similar. The number of daily cases in India is at its lowest level in 18 months. After the devastating second wave, the number of cases fell for five consecutive months, ensuring that normal activities resumed in most cases. Once again, the prevailing argument seems to be that India’s worst period may have passed. In this regard, even Europe, the United States and several other countries are currently in the most severe stage of the pandemic. However, behind these similarities are the main differences between last year and the current situation. Some of them, such as the threat from Omicron, indicate that the event may repeat itself, while others — such as the development of vaccines and even therapies — indicate that 2022 may be very different from 2021 and get better. However, so far, the uncertainty and experience of the pandemic have made it difficult for anyone to make predictions. Omicron threat

Omicron variants and Delta variants (originally called double mutants) were first discovered at about the same time last year. But unlike Delta, Omicron was quickly identified and labeled due to improvements in genetic monitoring.

For India, at least, the threat from Europe and America is very different from the threat from Delta Air Lines. The Delta variant has appeared in India and spread among the population for more than two months before being flagged. By then, it had infected many people, and when the epidemic came, India was caught off guard.

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Read also | Omicron in India: Countries that have implemented restrictions so far
With Omicron, India has enough early warning. Even though the actual number of Omicron infections is likely to be several times the number of more than 600 confirmed cases so far, this fast-spreading variant is unlikely to operate as freely as Delta.

The greatest comfort is that the disease caused by Omicron seems to be milder compared to Delta. All the studies so far have shown this point, and none of the studies have provided any counter-evidence.

Complete News Source : The IndianEXPRESS

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Oppn seeks probe into Adani charges in US: ‘Obvious protection of PM Modi’

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Oppn seeks probe into Adani charges in US: ‘Obvious protection of PM Modi’

Following US SEC charges of bribery against Gautam Adani, opposition parties criticise PM Narendra Modi and call for a JPC investigation.

As billionaire Gautam Adani faces charges in the US for alleged bribery and fraud, the Opposition on Thursday intensified its attack on the Centre over its alleged links with the Adani Group.

Gautam Adani has been charged in the US with allegedly paying $250 million in bribes to Indian officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure favourable terms for solar energy contracts. The scheme, prosecutors said, could have earned Adani’s group over $25 billion in profits.

Congress demands JPC probe

Reacting to the charges, the Congress called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into alleged scams involving Adani’s conglomerate. The party also demanded the appointment of a “new and credible” Sebi chief to investigate Adani’s financial dealings and compliance with securities laws.

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Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) actions highlight the failure of Indian institutions to investigate the group. “The indictment vindicates Congress’s demand since January 2023 for a JPC into the Modani scams,” Ramesh wrote on X.

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shielding Adani and claimed Congress’s “Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun” (HAHK) series had exposed the businessman’s alleged fraud and his ties with the PM.

The fact that it has taken a foreign jurisdiction to properly investigate Adani only shows how Indian institutions have been captured by the BJP, and how decades of institutional development have been undone by greedy and power hungry leaders, the Congress leader said in another post.

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“All of this is consistent with a long record of fraud and criminality carried out with impunity with the obvious protection of the Prime Minister,” Ramesh charged.

Other Oppn leaders join attack

Other opposition leaders joined the attack. Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale questioned the BJP’s involvement in Adani’s dealings and demanded an independent judicial probe.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh accused PM Modi of allowing Adani to tarnish India’s global reputation.

ALSO READ- Adani Group shares plunge after US SEC charges, Adani Green down 16%

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Adani stocks latest updates

The allegations rattled markets, with Adani Group stocks plunging. Adani Enterprises fell 20 per cent in pre-open trade, while shares of Adani Ports, Adani Green, Adani Power, and others dropped between 7 per cent and 18 per cent.

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