COVID-19 pandemic

The Kerala Health Minister has ordered an inquiry into the purchase of unused medical equipment, focusing on transactions involving Plan funds, PMSSY funds, and supplies from the Centre during the Covid-19 pandemic.

CIC has asked CBSE to create a standard operating procedure (SOP) for timelines related to providing marks and answer sheets. This recommendation followed an appeal by a Class 12 student seeking her assessment records used in the 2021 board examination, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

India's weight in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index reached a record high of 19.99% in July 2024, nearing China's 43% weight. India was a top choice for emerging market investors from 2022 to 2024 due to its growing economy, strong corporate earnings, and increased retail trading post-pandemic.

Gavin Newsom faces warnings of a mass exodus from California due to a new return-to-office policy. Workers argue hybrid schedules since the pandemic have effectively maintained California's operations.

FEMA announced $6 million in funding to support recovery projects in South Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Debby, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding aims to assist communities impacted by these disasters.

Kerala’s fiscal status report highlights the state’s outstanding liabilities, which increased due to higher borrowing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Union government allowed a higher borrowing limit during the pandemic, contributing to the debt.

Chinese carriers have captured a 66.5% share of the international air travel market for routes connecting Chinese and overseas cities post-pandemic, according to data from IBA Group. This marks a shift from the pre-pandemic 50:50 split between domestic and foreign carriers.

Acting Director of the CDC Jay Bhattacharya stated that the Trump administration's response to the Ebola outbreak was more scientifically justified than the measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. He criticized lockdowns, school closures, and mask mandates as part of the COVID response.

The article discusses 'teen takeovers' in Chicago, organized via social media by influencers, leading to disruptive gatherings where adolescents engage in risky behavior. It highlights a 70,000-student enrollment drop in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and increased absenteeism during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting systemic neglect of youth.

Colin Kaepernick collaborated with Philadelphia students using his AI platform Lumi to create storytelling projects on topics like Jackie Robinson and the women’s suffrage movement. The initiative aims to empower students as creators through technology.

A Maryland man pled guilty to tax fraud and unemployment insurance (UI) fraud crimes. Daiwor 'Mark Brown' Woah-Tee, 53, of Belcamp, is charged with conspiracy to submit false claims and wire fraud conspiracy related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain UI benefits during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The OECD has issued a warning about a potential 'dark scenario' if the Gulf energy crisis persists, predicting significant drops in global growth rates to levels similar to those seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Remote work, normalized during the COVID-19 pandemic, may be negatively impacting job opportunities for young college graduates, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis. The study's findings are discussed by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor.

Nearly 1,500 students graduated at Florida Virtual School's ceremony held at the University of Central Florida, marking its largest class. The organization saw increased enrollment during the 2020 pandemic closure and now offers individual courses like driver education.

A father and son from Elmer, New Jersey, admitted to income tax evasion, failing to pay payroll taxes to the IRS, and fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan. The individuals were contractors who committed these offenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers working on Ebola are stranded in the US due to funding cuts under President Trump, which targeted the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The funding loss was partly attributed to conspiracy theories during the Trump administration.

William Rosario Lopez, a 40-year-old man from New Haven, was sentenced to 29 years in federal prison for committing multiple armed robberies at Connecticut gas stations during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden, including 348 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.

Aimee Bock was sentenced to 500 months for leading a $250 million fraud scheme targeting a federally funded child nutrition program during the pandemic, as announced by U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

Many British homeowners are removing garden decking installed during the pandemic due to quality issues including warped boards, rot, and fading. The surge in DIY home improvement projects during lockdowns led to widespread use of substandard materials and poor installation practices. Homeowners are now facing costly repairs and replacements as these structures deteriorate prematurely.

The U.S. Labor Department has ordered financial institutions to freeze approximately $1 billion in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits that were distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This action aims to recover funds that were improperly paid out through the pandemic relief programs.

Aimee Bock, former leader of Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future, was sentenced to nearly 42 years in prison for orchestrating a $250 million fraud scheme. The organization falsely claimed to provide millions of meals to children during the pandemic. The case prompted increased immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration.

Vivek Ramaswamy has won the Republican nomination for Ohio governor, after spending much of the race criticizing the state's response to the Covid-19 pandemic led by the Democrat nominee. He will now face the Democrat nominee in the general election. The outcome of the election is yet to be determined.

Victoria state has recorded a $700m surplus in the 2025-26 financial year and is forecasting another surplus for the next financial year. This marks the first time the state has been in surplus since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2026-27 budget will be handed down on Tuesday afternoon.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to temper its rate hikes, potentially fading the Aussie rally. Inflation persists despite elevated rates after the COVID-19 pandemic. The RBA's next rates decision is closely watched by the markets.

David Morens, a former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) employee and adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, has been indicted by Trump administration prosecutors for allegedly concealing federal records related to the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. The charges, announced by the Justice Department, coincide with ongoing political debates over the virus's origin, including theories of a lab leak versus natural spillover.

A former senior official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has been indicted for concealing federal records and attempting to evade Freedom of Information Act requests during the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment highlights allegations of a scheme to obstruct transparency and withhold public records.

Italy has extradited Xu Zewei, a 34-year-old Chinese national, to the United States over allegations of cyber-espionage. U.S. prosecutors claim he hacked into universities to steal vaccine research during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) reveals a 117% increase in documented executions and death sentences in North Korea after the country sealed its borders in January 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. The regime allegedly used its isolation to escalate killings as global scrutiny diminished, according to the NGO's 13-year analysis under Kim Jong-un.

Everpure, a storage vendor formerly known as Pure Storage, is addressing a supply crunch driven by AI demand, which has pushed prices up 70%. The company predicts the current crisis will outlast the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indian officials warn that a potential war with Iran and resulting oil shocks could be as disruptive as the Covid-19 pandemic. The comparison highlights concerns over economic and geopolitical instability.