The second <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus </a>wave shows no sign of abating.

If we see India's number, daily infections set a world record today.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-india-sets-world-record-for-new-wuhan-virus-cases-379346/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

More than 314,000 new cases were recorded in a day, taking the nation's tally to almost 16 million cases.

It is the second-highest in the world.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-new-daily-covid-cases-top-300000-highest-in-the-world-379187">India's new daily Covid cases top 300,000, highest in the world</a>

The worse part is, India is struggling with shortages from medicines to oxygen.

But it's not all bad news as the recoveries bring hope.&nbsp;

Over 13 million people or more than 84 per cent of patients in India have recovered from the deadly virus.&nbsp;

As many as 1.16 per cent or 180,000 people have died.

India's best bet to curb this surge is to vaccinate as many people as possible promptly.&nbsp;

So far, more than 130 million doses have been given.

Not even 0.1 per cent of people got infected after taking the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine shots</a>.

The percentage of people who have been infected is not more than 0.04 per cent, meaning only two to four people out of 10,000 actually got infected after taking the shots.

On May 1, India will open its vaccination programme to all adults above the age of 18.

<h2>What's happening with the world</h2>

Numbers are not as bad as India, but not good either.

The surge in Europe and South America began in March and it's not slowing down.

In all, more than 143 million people have been infected since last year and over three million have died worldwide.

In the last 14 days, the cases have grown by 23 per cent and deaths rose by 14 per cent.

Countries are stepping up vaccination and over 944 million doses have been administered in 170 countries.

The daily average is 16 million doses, but at this rate, we'll take years to achieve global herd immunity.&nbsp;

The EU booked more than a billion shots in advance, but the vaccination campaign has struggled to take off.

And now the bloc is preparing to sue AstraZeneca. Reports say the European Commission will launch legal proceedings against the company. AstraZeneca was supposed to supply at least 300 million doses to the EU, but it has slashed its deliveries by two thirds because of manufacturing and other issues.

Also, vaccine counterfeiting is happening in Poland and Mexico.

Fake Pfizer vaccines are on sale here at a price of 1,000 dollars a shot.

"It was an underground operation, a kind of clinic, which had been made known through various online media," Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez, Mexico's deputy health secretary, said.&nbsp;

"This clinic was found selling what were supposed to be Pfizer vaccines, at exorbitant prices of up to 40,000-50,000 pesos for the vaccine."

Reports say the vials were found in beer coolers.

Some 80 people got the fake Pfizer shot in Mexico.

Fortunately, they were harmless injections, but the prospect is scary.

The cases are rising, countries are squabbling, there is a shortage of vaccines and now fake jabs have become an issue.&nbsp;

The world needs united global leadership to defeat the pandemic, but where are the leaders?

The second coronavirus wave shows no sign of abating. If we see India's number, daily infections set a world record today. Watch | More than 314,000 new cases were recorded in a day, taking the nation's tally to almost 16 million cases.

The second coronavirus wave shows no sign of abating. If we see India's number, daily infections set a world record today. Watch | More than 314,000 new cases were recorded in a day, taking the nation's tally to almost 16 million cases. It is the second-highest in the world. Also read | India's new daily Covid cases top 300,000, highest in the world The worse part is, India is struggling with shortages from medicines to oxygen. But it's not all bad news as the recoveries bring hope. Over 13 million people or more than 84 per cent of patients in India have recovered from the deadly virus. As many as 1.16 per cent or 180,000 people have died. India's best bet to curb this surge is to vaccinate as many people as possible promptly. So far, more than 130 million doses have been given. Not even 0.1 per cent of people got infected after taking the vaccine shots. The percentage of people who have been infected is not more than 0.04 per cent, meaning only two to four people out of 10,000 actually got infected after taking the shots. On May 1, India will open its vaccination programme to all adults above the age of 18. What's happening with the world Numbers are not as bad as India, but not good either. The surge in Europe and South America began in March and it's not slowing down. In all, more than 143 million people have been infected since last year and over three million have died worldwide. In the last 14 days, the cases have grown by 23 per cent and deaths rose by 14 per cent. Countries are stepping up vaccination and over 944 million doses have been administered in 170 countries. The daily average is 16 million doses, but at this rate, we'll take years to achieve global herd immunity. The EU booked more than a billion shots in advance, but the vaccination campaign has struggled to take off. And now the bloc is preparing to sue AstraZeneca. Reports say the European Commission will launch legal proceedings against the company. AstraZeneca was supposed to supply at least 300 million doses to the EU, but it has slashed its deliveries by two thirds because of manufacturing and other issues. Also, vaccine counterfeiting is happening in Poland and Mexico. Fake Pfizer vaccines are on sale here at a price of 1,000 dollars a shot. "It was an underground operation, a kind of clinic, which had been made known through various online media," Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez, Mexico's deputy health secretary, said. "This clinic was found selling what were supposed to be Pfizer vaccines, at exorbitant prices of up to 40,000-50,000 pesos for the vaccine." Reports say the vials were found in beer coolers. Some 80 people got the fake Pfizer shot in Mexico. Fortunately, they were harmless injections, but the prospect is scary. The cases are rising, countries are squabbling, there is a shortage of vaccines and now fake jabs have become an issue. The world needs united global leadership to defeat the pandemic, but where are the leaders?

India, world struggle with COVID-19 infections and concerns are endless

Climate change is the punching bag of world politics and is the footnote of every joint diplomatic statement.

When rivals cannot find common ground, they talk about climate instead.

That's what the US and China are doing as they can't agree on anything, so they are discussing climate change.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-can-the-world-unite-against-climate-change-379350/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The same is the case with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden's </a>climate summit, but he is silent on a proposed one-on-one meeting.

Politicians love to call themselves allies of nature, but can they unite to deal with climate change?

The question arises as their track record is not impressive.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-nation-can-solve-this-crisis-on-their-own-says-biden-as-he-opens-virtual-climate-summit-379286">'No nation can solve this crisis on their own,' says Biden as he opens virtual climate summit</a>

Look at the Wuhan virus pandemic, thousands of people are dying every day.

It's been more than a year and we are still waiting for a coordinated global response.

We talk about a globalised world, but when the tragedy struck it was every country for itself.

From travel bans to now vaccines, every decision has been unilateral.&nbsp;The world has more than enough resources to crush this pandemic.

But there is neither a plan nor a joint approach. While Europe has extra vaccines, and Sub-Saharan Africa on the other hand has none.

When most of the world was staying at home, people in Yemen and Syria were fleeing from bombs.

Ideally, this should not have happened as, to avoid the virus there needs to be social distancing for individuals, not countries.

The Wuhan virus is a pressing issue, but climate change, on the other hand, is a long-term problem.

And we know how much politicians love the backburner.

If it's not on their calendar, it is not a pressing matter.

That's one reason why climate change is relegated to talking shops.

But why is climate action such a difficult issue?

A United Nations survey found that 64 per cent of people believe climate change is a global emergency.

The number sounds impressive, 60 per cent of people also believe the earth is round.

Science is not a matter of opinion, it is based on facts.

But politicians have used climate change to rally their support base.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;did that during his presidency and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro continues to do it in Brazil.

Denying climate change has become a political strategy and scientists have not been able to bust these theories.

They say the bigger tsunamis and hurricanes are caused by climate change. But proving this link is difficult.

For instance, the oceans are rising, that's a fact, but it's not something you can see by going to the beach every day.

So the first challenge is to accept the problem. The second one is to accept responsibility.&nbsp;

Temperatures aren't rising themselves, so who triggered climate change in the first place?

Most of the pollution we see today is courtesy the West.

Even now, they make up more than half the global emissions. So it is a crisis that the West created, but now they want the whole world to solve it.

And this has created friction between the global north and south.

A lot of these people don't know where their next meal is coming from. Climate change is not their top priority and that should hardly be surprising.

If the choice is between fighting poverty and climate change, it is a no-brainer for the developing world.

So the solution lies in the developed world footing the bill.

They must transfer technology to developing nations, something which was the spirit of the 1992 Rio Declaration. It called for common, but differentiated responsibilities.

Is the West doing that? It isn't.&nbsp;Instead of transferring technology and money, it is outsourcing its pollution to the global south. And then telling countries to set up better targets. There is also no denying that our modern lifestyle is part of the problem and we prefer cars over walking or biking.

We pack most of our groceries in polythene, instead of paper. These may appear small, but imagine seven billion people doing the same every day.&nbsp;

Climate change is unlike any challenge humanity has faced because unlike pandemics and wars, here we have a warning.&nbsp;

We have time to prepare for the impending disaster, but we are not exactly making good use of it.

We're arguing and grandstanding, instead of acting.

We end this argument with this observation that with masks and vaccines, we can beat the Wuhan virus. But when the oceans rise, there is no fix.

When the air becomes unbreathable, masks will not work.

So it's time for world leaders to pull up their socks as we have had more than enough summits on climate change.

What we need now is concrete and legal action.

Climate change is the punching bag of world politics and is the footnote of every joint diplomatic statement. When rivals cannot find common ground, they talk about climate instead.

Climate change is the punching bag of world politics and is the footnote of every joint diplomatic statement. When rivals cannot find common ground, they talk about climate instead. That's what the US and China are doing as they can't agree on anything, so they are discussing climate change. Watch | The same is the case with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended US President Joe Biden's climate summit, but he is silent on a proposed one-on-one meeting. Politicians love to call themselves allies of nature, but can they unite to deal with climate change? The question arises as their track record is not impressive. Also read | 'No nation can solve this crisis on their own,' says Biden as he opens virtual climate summit Look at the Wuhan virus pandemic, thousands of people are dying every day. It's been more than a year and we are still waiting for a coordinated global response. We talk about a globalised world, but when the tragedy struck it was every country for itself. From travel bans to now vaccines, every decision has been unilateral. The world has more than enough resources to crush this pandemic. But there is neither a plan nor a joint approach. While Europe has extra vaccines, and Sub-Saharan Africa on the other hand has none. When most of the world was staying at home, people in Yemen and Syria were fleeing from bombs. Ideally, this should not have happened as, to avoid the virus there needs to be social distancing for individuals, not countries. The Wuhan virus is a pressing issue, but climate change, on the other hand, is a long-term problem. And we know how much politicians love the backburner. If it's not on their calendar, it is not a pressing matter. That's one reason why climate change is relegated to talking shops. But why is climate action such a difficult issue? A United Nations survey found that 64 per cent of people believe climate change is a global emergency. The number sounds impressive, 60 per cent of people also believe the earth is round. Science is not a matter of opinion, it is based on facts. But politicians have used climate change to rally their support base. Donald Trump did that during his presidency and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro continues to do it in Brazil. Denying climate change has become a political strategy and scientists have not been able to bust these theories. They say the bigger tsunamis and hurricanes are caused by climate change. But proving this link is difficult. For instance, the oceans are rising, that's a fact, but it's not something you can see by going to the beach every day. So the first challenge is to accept the problem. The second one is to accept responsibility. Temperatures aren't rising themselves, so who triggered climate change in the first place? Most of the pollution we see today is courtesy the West. Even now, they make up more than half the global emissions. So it is a crisis that the West created, but now they want the whole world to solve it. And this has created friction between the global north and south. A lot of these people don't know where their next meal is coming from. Climate change is not their top priority and that should hardly be surprising. If the choice is between fighting poverty and climate change, it is a no-brainer for the developing world. So the solution lies in the developed world footing the bill. They must transfer technology to developing nations, something which was the spirit of the 1992 Rio Declaration. It called for common, but differentiated responsibilities. Is the West doing that? It isn't. Instead of transferring technology and money, it is outsourcing its pollution to the global south. And then telling countries to set up better targets. There is also no denying that our modern lifestyle is part of the problem and we prefer cars over walking or biking. We pack most of our groceries in polythene, instead of paper. These may appear small, but imagine seven billion people doing the same every day. Climate change is unlike any challenge humanity has faced because unlike pandemics and wars, here we have a warning. We have time to prepare for the impending disaster, but we are not exactly making good use of it. We're arguing and grandstanding, instead of acting. We end this argument with this observation that with masks and vaccines, we can beat the Wuhan virus. But when the oceans rise, there is no fix. When the air becomes unbreathable, masks will not work. So it's time for world leaders to pull up their socks as we have had more than enough summits on climate change. What we need now is concrete and legal action.

Climate change: The action is missing despite the high-profile summits

Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/imran-khan">Imran Khan </a>has vowed to wipe out terror in his country.

This tall promise came shortly after a suicide attack in Balochistan. On Wednesday night, 50 kgs of RDX exploded at a luxury hotel in Quetta.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-chinese-ambassador-was-on-target-in-quetta-blast-379343/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Serena Hotel in Quetta is located right next to the Iranian consulate and the provincial assembly of Balochistan.

As many as four people were killed and 11 have been injured.&nbsp;The Tehreek-e-Taliban, an offshoot of the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack and Islamabad says their target was the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-deadly-blast-at-luxury-hotel-housing-chinese-ambassador-kills-four-379141">Pakistan: Deadly blast at luxury hotel housing Chinese ambassador kills four</a>

"This incident occurred after Iftar (breaking of fast). The car was parked in the parking lot of the Serena Hotel. The blast killed four people&nbsp;and injured 11. One of our police constables is among the injured," Mir Ziaullah Langove, Balochistan provincial minister, said.&nbsp;

Nong Rong, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, was staying at the hotel with four other Chinese delegates.

He was out for a meeting at the time of the explosion.

In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry is alarmed and has condemned the attack, promising to firmly support Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts.

"China strongly condemns the terrorist attack, expresses its condolences to the tragic victims and extends its sympathy to the injured," Wang Wenbin, foreign ministry spokesperson, said. &nbsp;

"China will continue to firmly support Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts, jointly maintain and promote regional security and stability, and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan."

In Islamabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was saddened by the loss of innocent lives, promising to not let the scourge of terrorism re-emerge.

However, the people of Balochistan will tell you this promise means nothing.&nbsp;The province has seen six decades of insurgency by separatists who want independence from Pakistan. Their objective is to end Islamabad's monopoly and exploitation of the province's mineral resources.

This conflict intensified with the onset of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2017, which is increasingly turning Balochistan into a Chinese colony.

Billions of dollars are flowing into the regions, thousands of outsiders are getting jobs, but the Baloch people continue to toil in poverty as they are pushed to the margins.

In recent years, they have carried out multiple attacks on Chinese investments.

Three Chinese nationals were injured in a suicide attack near Quetta in 2018.&nbsp;In 2019, gunmen stormed a hotel in the Chinese-run Gwadar seaport, killing five people. And in 2020, Baloch insurgents stormed the Karachi Stock Exchange, in which nine people were killed.&nbsp;

With the latest suicide attack that targeted the Chinese ambassador, it has become absolutely clear that Balochistan is slowly becoming China's Achilles'&nbsp;heel.

It is becoming a big problem for China's mega Belt and Road Initiative and the jewel in its crown, the CPEC.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to wipe out terror in his country. This tall promise came shortly after a suicide attack in Balochistan. On Wednesday night, 50 kgs of RDX exploded at a luxury hotel in Quetta.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to wipe out terror in his country. This tall promise came shortly after a suicide attack in Balochistan. On Wednesday night, 50 kgs of RDX exploded at a luxury hotel in Quetta. Watch | The Serena Hotel in Quetta is located right next to the Iranian consulate and the provincial assembly of Balochistan. As many as four people were killed and 11 have been injured. The Tehreek-e-Taliban, an offshoot of the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack and Islamabad says their target was the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan. Also read | Pakistan: Deadly blast at luxury hotel housing Chinese ambassador kills four "This incident occurred after Iftar (breaking of fast). The car was parked in the parking lot of the Serena Hotel. The blast killed four people and injured 11. One of our police constables is among the injured," Mir Ziaullah Langove, Balochistan provincial minister, said. Nong Rong, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, was staying at the hotel with four other Chinese delegates. He was out for a meeting at the time of the explosion. In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry is alarmed and has condemned the attack, promising to firmly support Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts. "China strongly condemns the terrorist attack, expresses its condolences to the tragic victims and extends its sympathy to the injured," Wang Wenbin, foreign ministry spokesperson, said. "China will continue to firmly support Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts, jointly maintain and promote regional security and stability, and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan." In Islamabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was saddened by the loss of innocent lives, promising to not let the scourge of terrorism re-emerge. However, the people of Balochistan will tell you this promise means nothing. The province has seen six decades of insurgency by separatists who want independence from Pakistan. Their objective is to end Islamabad's monopoly and exploitation of the province's mineral resources. This conflict intensified with the onset of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2017, which is increasingly turning Balochistan into a Chinese colony. Billions of dollars are flowing into the regions, thousands of outsiders are getting jobs, but the Baloch people continue to toil in poverty as they are pushed to the margins. In recent years, they have carried out multiple attacks on Chinese investments. Three Chinese nationals were injured in a suicide attack near Quetta in 2018. In 2019, gunmen stormed a hotel in the Chinese-run Gwadar seaport, killing five people. And in 2020, Baloch insurgents stormed the Karachi Stock Exchange, in which nine people were killed. With the latest suicide attack that targeted the Chinese ambassador, it has become absolutely clear that Balochistan is slowly becoming China's Achilles' heel. It is becoming a big problem for China's mega Belt and Road Initiative and the jewel in its crown, the CPEC.

Why Quetta blast is a big concern for China's ambitious projects

Three&nbsp;of the&nbsp;seven&nbsp;Catholic&nbsp;clergy&nbsp;who were&nbsp;kidnapped&nbsp;in&nbsp;Haiti&nbsp;more than a week ago have been&nbsp;released, a Church spokesman told AFP on Thursday, as the island nation grapples with a rise in violence and ongoing political crisis.

A total of 10 people were abducted in Croix-des-Bouquets, a town northeast of the capital Port-au-Prince, on April 11, including the&nbsp;seven&nbsp;clergy&nbsp;-- five of them Haitian and two of them French.

Father Loudger Mazile, spokesman for the Bishop's Conference for the island nation, said "the French were not&nbsp;released. There were no lay people among those&nbsp;released."

"Three&nbsp;of the&nbsp;seven&nbsp;clergy&nbsp;kidnapped&nbsp;on April 11 were&nbsp;released," he told.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, is plagued by insecurity and natural disaster.

Also read:<a href="India sends Covid vaccines to Caribbean, up next Mexico">&nbsp;India sends Covid vaccines to Caribbean, up next Mexico</a>

Kidnappings for ransom have surged in recent months in Port-au-Prince and other provinces, reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs in the Caribbean nation.

Haiti's government resigned and a new prime minister was appointed in the wake of the kidnappings, a move President Jovenel Moise said "will make it possible to address the glaring problem of insecurity and continue discussions with a view to reaching the consensus necessary for the political and institutional stability of our country."

The&nbsp;clergy&nbsp;abducted were a group of four priests and a nun from&nbsp;Haiti, as well as one&nbsp;priest&nbsp;and one nun from France. The&nbsp;three&nbsp;non-clergy&nbsp;were members of the family of a Haitian&nbsp;priest, who was not among those&nbsp;kidnapped.

The&nbsp;kidnapped&nbsp;victims&nbsp;were "on their way to the installation of a new parish&nbsp;priest" when they were abducted, Mazile previously told AFP, with the kidnappers demanding a $1 million ransom for the group.

Authorities suspect an armed gang called "400 Mawozo" -- which is active in kidnappings -- is behind the abduction, according to a police source.

Haiti's&nbsp;Catholic&nbsp;Church has slammed the government's failure to act over the country's unrest, decrying the nation's "descent into hell."

"The public authorities who are doing nothing to resolve this crisis are not immune from suspicion," the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince said in a statement.

The abducted five priests belong to the Society of Priests of St James, which is based in France, their superior general, Paul Dossous, confirmed to AFP.

Paris, meanwhile has opened an investigation into the kidnappings, entrusting the case to France's Central Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (OCLCO), which has jurisdiction over crimes committed against French citizens abroad.

Three of the seven Catholic clergy who were kidnapped in Haiti more than a week ago have been released, a Church spokesman told AFP on Thursday, as the island nation grapples with a rise in violence and ongoing political crisis.

Three of the seven Catholic clergy who were kidnapped in Haiti more than a week ago have been released, a Church spokesman told AFP on Thursday, as the island nation grapples with a rise in violence and ongoing political crisis. A total of 10 people were abducted in Croix-des-Bouquets, a town northeast of the capital Port-au-Prince, on April 11, including the seven clergy -- five of them Haitian and two of them French. Father Loudger Mazile, spokesman for the Bishop's Conference for the island nation, said "the French were not released. There were no lay people among those released." "Three of the seven clergy kidnapped on April 11 were released," he told. Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, is plagued by insecurity and natural disaster. Also read: India sends Covid vaccines to Caribbean, up next Mexico Kidnappings for ransom have surged in recent months in Port-au-Prince and other provinces, reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs in the Caribbean nation. Haiti's government resigned and a new prime minister was appointed in the wake of the kidnappings, a move President Jovenel Moise said "will make it possible to address the glaring problem of insecurity and continue discussions with a view to reaching the consensus necessary for the political and institutional stability of our country." The clergy abducted were a group of four priests and a nun from Haiti, as well as one priest and one nun from France. The three non-clergy were members of the family of a Haitian priest, who was not among those kidnapped. The kidnapped victims were "on their way to the installation of a new parish priest" when they were abducted, Mazile previously told AFP, with the kidnappers demanding a $1 million ransom for the group. Authorities suspect an armed gang called "400 Mawozo" -- which is active in kidnappings -- is behind the abduction, according to a police source. Haiti's Catholic Church has slammed the government's failure to act over the country's unrest, decrying the nation's "descent into hell." "The public authorities who are doing nothing to resolve this crisis are not immune from suspicion," the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince said in a statement. The abducted five priests belong to the Society of Priests of St James, which is based in France, their superior general, Paul Dossous, confirmed to AFP. Paris, meanwhile has opened an investigation into the kidnappings, entrusting the case to France's Central Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (OCLCO), which has jurisdiction over crimes committed against French citizens abroad.

Three of seven Catholic clergy kidnapped in Haiti are released

A former member of a now defunct&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;independence group was&nbsp;jailed&nbsp;Friday for possessing&nbsp;explosives&nbsp;during pro-democracy protests that swept the financial hub nearly two years ago.

Louis Lo, 29, pleaded guilty to storing TATP, a high-explosive that was discovered in a police raid on an industrial building in July 2019. He was given a 12-year sentence.

At the time of the raid&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;was convulsed by huge and often violent protests calling for greater democracy and police accountability.

China dismissed the protests and has responded with a broad crackdown against dissent in the restless city.

Lo was a member of the&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;National Front, a small fringe group that advocated independence and has since disbanded.

At the time police said they uncovered a homemade&nbsp;explosives&nbsp;laboratory in the raid where Lo was arrested, alongside around a kilogramme of TATP.

TATP requires skill to manufacture but has been used in a number of major terror attacks, including in bombings in London in 2005 and on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka in 2019.

Books and leaflets advocating independence were also found in Lo's possession.&nbsp;

During sentencing High Court Judge Andrew Chan described Lo as the "mastermind" of the&nbsp;explosives&nbsp;lab.

"This court does not know to what use the TATP was intended to be put, but again, I know it has the capacity to inflict very serious damage to the life and property of the general public," Chan said.

"This court would be failing its duty to the public if it doesn't impose very heavy and deterrent sentence," he added.

During the 2019 protests, huge crowds hundreds of thousands strong marched for democracy.

Violent clashes between protesters and riot police escalated as the months wore on.&nbsp;

Towards the latter stages police said they found a handful of explosive devices.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="'Wuhan virus' and the travails of being a pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker">'Wuhan virus' and the travails of being a pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker</a>

While independence has only ever been a fringe political view in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;since the city's 1997 handover to China, popular protest slogans such as "Liberate&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong, revolution of our times" were viewed by Beijing as an unacceptable challenge.

Last year China imposed a sweeping national security law on&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;outlawing any acts deemed subversion, secession, collusion and terrorism.&nbsp;

The law's broad wording and application has snuffed out dissent and a swathe of opposition figures have been detained or fled.

Almost all those charged under the law so far are being prosecuted for holding political opinions now deemed illegal.

&nbsp;

A former member of a now defunct Hong Kong independence group was jailed Friday for possessing explosives during pro-democracy protests that swept the financial hub nearly two years ago.

A former member of a now defunct Hong Kong independence group was jailed Friday for possessing explosives during pro-democracy protests that swept the financial hub nearly two years ago. Louis Lo, 29, pleaded guilty to storing TATP, a high-explosive that was discovered in a police raid on an industrial building in July 2019. He was given a 12-year sentence. At the time of the raid Hong Kong was convulsed by huge and often violent protests calling for greater democracy and police accountability. China dismissed the protests and has responded with a broad crackdown against dissent in the restless city. Lo was a member of the Hong Kong National Front, a small fringe group that advocated independence and has since disbanded. At the time police said they uncovered a homemade explosives laboratory in the raid where Lo was arrested, alongside around a kilogramme of TATP. TATP requires skill to manufacture but has been used in a number of major terror attacks, including in bombings in London in 2005 and on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka in 2019. Books and leaflets advocating independence were also found in Lo's possession. During sentencing High Court Judge Andrew Chan described Lo as the "mastermind" of the explosives lab. "This court does not know to what use the TATP was intended to be put, but again, I know it has the capacity to inflict very serious damage to the life and property of the general public," Chan said. "This court would be failing its duty to the public if it doesn't impose very heavy and deterrent sentence," he added. During the 2019 protests, huge crowds hundreds of thousands strong marched for democracy. Violent clashes between protesters and riot police escalated as the months wore on. Towards the latter stages police said they found a handful of explosive devices. Also read: 'Wuhan virus' and the travails of being a pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker While independence has only ever been a fringe political view in Hong Kong since the city's 1997 handover to China, popular protest slogans such as "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" were viewed by Beijing as an unacceptable challenge. Last year China imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong outlawing any acts deemed subversion, secession, collusion and terrorism. The law's broad wording and application has snuffed out dissent and a swathe of opposition figures have been detained or fled. Almost all those charged under the law so far are being prosecuted for holding political opinions now deemed illegal.

Hong Kong independence activist jailed over explosives lab

Reacting to the stabbing attack in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said that the country would never give in to "Islamist terrorism".&nbsp;

"In our fight against Islamist terrorism, we will never give in," Macron said on Twitter.&nbsp;

Macron's comments came after a&nbsp;woman administrator lost her life in a stabbing attack by a Tunisian man at a police station in Paris on Friday, the local prosecutor's office and a police source said.&nbsp;

The attacker died after police opened fire on him at the station in Rambouillet in Paris, news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

France's national anti-terrorism prosecutors said that they had launched an investigation into the attack.&nbsp;

France's DGSI domestic intelligence service will be a part of the probe.&nbsp;

The police source also said that the incident occurred in secure entrance area of the station at around 2:20 pm (1220 GMT),

The 48-year-old woman was stabbed in the throat twice, the source said.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Jean Castex and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin both said they were approaching to the scene of attack.&nbsp;

Investigation sources said the perpetrator was aged 36 and unknown to security forces.&nbsp;

AFP mentioning an investigation source said the attacked shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the stabbing.&nbsp;

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in France due to a number of attacks by radical Islamists in recent years.&nbsp;

A Pakistani man in September injured two people with a meat cleaver outside the former offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which has published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammmed that has drawn severe flak from the Islamic world.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Reacting to the stabbing attack in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said that the country would never give in to "Islamist terrorism". "In our fight against Islamist terrorism, we will never give in," Macron said on Twitter.

Reacting to the stabbing attack in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said that the country would never give in to "Islamist terrorism". "In our fight against Islamist terrorism, we will never give in," Macron said on Twitter. Macron's comments came after a woman administrator lost her life in a stabbing attack by a Tunisian man at a police station in Paris on Friday, the local prosecutor's office and a police source said. The attacker died after police opened fire on him at the station in Rambouillet in Paris, news agency AFP reported. France's national anti-terrorism prosecutors said that they had launched an investigation into the attack. France's DGSI domestic intelligence service will be a part of the probe. The police source also said that the incident occurred in secure entrance area of the station at around 2:20 pm (1220 GMT), The 48-year-old woman was stabbed in the throat twice, the source said. Prime Minister Jean Castex and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin both said they were approaching to the scene of attack. Investigation sources said the perpetrator was aged 36 and unknown to security forces. AFP mentioning an investigation source said the attacked shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the stabbing. Hundreds of people have lost their lives in France due to a number of attacks by radical Islamists in recent years. A Pakistani man in September injured two people with a meat cleaver outside the former offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which has published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammmed that has drawn severe flak from the Islamic world.

Macron says France will never give in to 'Islamist terrorism' after stabbing attack

Astronomers have recreated the 22m-year-long journey of an asteroid that blasted over Botswana, showering meteorites in the Kalahari desert.&nbsp;

This is the first time scientists have reconstructed such a path of an asteroid to its source.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SrzSwBp7i3M" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>

The asteroid started its journey from Vesta, one of the biggest bodies in the asteroid belt that circles the sun between Jupiter and Mars.&nbsp;

It reached the Earth's atmosphere with a speed of 37,000 mph in June 2018 and broke apart over the central Kalahari game reserve, creating a very bright fireball.&nbsp;

Nasa scientists had tracked the object from as far out as the moon through telescopes in Arizona and Hawaii.&nbsp;

After it landed on Earth, the researchers asked astronomers in Australia to check images from the SkyMapper telescope situated in New South Wales.&nbsp;

The telescope is used to study black holes and in this case, it had recorded the six-tonne asteroid's flight path, The Guardian reported.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-mini-truck-sized-asteroid-just-gave-earth-a-close-shave-377307">A mini truck-sized asteroid just gave Earth a close shave</a>

"We wouldn't have noticed it had it not been for the tip-off by the American discoverers, and it hits close to home," Christian Wolf, an astronomer at Australian National University said.&nbsp;

"Granted, it's the Kalahari and I have never been there, but when your day job involves orienteering along a chain of black holes with an average step size of 1bn light years between the waypoints, the Kalahari feels awfully close to your keyboard."

The images of the asteroid, named 2018LA, captured from three telescopes installed far away from the Earth's surface allowed the researchers to reconstruct its trajectory and find out its origin.&nbsp;

The search led to Vesta, a 300-mile-wide asteroid that is sometimes visible without a telescope. 
&nbsp;

Astronomers have recreated the 22m-year-long journey of an asteroid that blasted over Botswana, showering meteorites in the Kalahari desert. This is the first time scientists have reconstructed such a path of an asteroid to its source.

Astronomers have recreated the 22m-year-long journey of an asteroid that blasted over Botswana, showering meteorites in the Kalahari desert. This is the first time scientists have reconstructed such a path of an asteroid to its source. Watch | The asteroid started its journey from Vesta, one of the biggest bodies in the asteroid belt that circles the sun between Jupiter and Mars. It reached the Earth's atmosphere with a speed of 37,000 mph in June 2018 and broke apart over the central Kalahari game reserve, creating a very bright fireball. Nasa scientists had tracked the object from as far out as the moon through telescopes in Arizona and Hawaii. After it landed on Earth, the researchers asked astronomers in Australia to check images from the SkyMapper telescope situated in New South Wales. The telescope is used to study black holes and in this case, it had recorded the six-tonne asteroid's flight path, The Guardian reported. Also read | A mini truck-sized asteroid just gave Earth a close shave "We wouldn't have noticed it had it not been for the tip-off by the American discoverers, and it hits close to home," Christian Wolf, an astronomer at Australian National University said. "Granted, it's the Kalahari and I have never been there, but when your day job involves orienteering along a chain of black holes with an average step size of 1bn light years between the waypoints, the Kalahari feels awfully close to your keyboard." The images of the asteroid, named 2018LA, captured from three telescopes installed far away from the Earth's surface allowed the researchers to reconstruct its trajectory and find out its origin. The search led to Vesta, a 300-mile-wide asteroid that is sometimes visible without a telescope.

In a first, asteroid's journey from source to Earth mapped

The EU's drug watchdog on Friday said that Oxford-AstraZeneca's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine's </a>benefits increase with age.&nbsp;

"It showed that the benefits of vaccination increase with increasing age and infection rates," the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in a statement said, as quoted by news agency AFP.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-plans-to-snap-ties-and-to-sue-astrazeneca-over-vaccine-shortfall-379472/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The EMA also said that its benefits to adults still outweigh the risks despite reports of blood clots.&nbsp;

"The benefits of Vaxzevria outweigh its risks in adults of all age groups; however, very rare cases of blood clots with low blood platelets have occurred following vaccination," the statement further said, taking the official brand name for AstraZeneca's vaccine.

Earlier, the European Commission asked the EMA to look into concerns after several countries banned the drugs for older people.&nbsp;

Concerns rose after the EU's watchdog on April 7 said that a very rare, but often fatal form of blood clotting should be taken as a side-effect of the drug.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-says-astrazeneca-lawsuit-not-priority-for-now-379519">Germany says AstraZeneca lawsuit 'not priority' for now</a>

Britain's medicines regulator earlier on Thursday said there had been 168 major blood clots following a jab of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, a rate of 7.9 cases per million doses, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

This was more than 100 clot cases reported last week by the UK.&nbsp;

The UK has urged under-30s to receive an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca&nbsp;drug, while several European countries have restricted the drug's use to young adults.&nbsp;

France has said that only people above the age of 55 are allowed to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. &nbsp;

The EU's drug watchdog on Friday said that Oxford-AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine's benefits increase with age. "It showed that the benefits of vaccination increase with increasing age and infection rates," the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in a statement said, as quoted by news agency AFP.

The EU's drug watchdog on Friday said that Oxford-AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine's benefits increase with age. "It showed that the benefits of vaccination increase with increasing age and infection rates," the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in a statement said, as quoted by news agency AFP. Watch | The EMA also said that its benefits to adults still outweigh the risks despite reports of blood clots. "The benefits of Vaxzevria outweigh its risks in adults of all age groups; however, very rare cases of blood clots with low blood platelets have occurred following vaccination," the statement further said, taking the official brand name for AstraZeneca's vaccine. Earlier, the European Commission asked the EMA to look into concerns after several countries banned the drugs for older people. Concerns rose after the EU's watchdog on April 7 said that a very rare, but often fatal form of blood clotting should be taken as a side-effect of the drug. Also read | Germany says AstraZeneca lawsuit 'not priority' for now Britain's medicines regulator earlier on Thursday said there had been 168 major blood clots following a jab of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, a rate of 7.9 cases per million doses, news agency Reuters reported. This was more than 100 clot cases reported last week by the UK. The UK has urged under-30s to receive an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca drug, while several European countries have restricted the drug's use to young adults. France has said that only people above the age of 55 are allowed to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

Benefits of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine increase with age: EU's watchdog

Coronavirus&nbsp;vaccines remain out of reach in the poorest countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report on Friday, marking the&nbsp;first&nbsp;anniversary of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVAX</a>&nbsp;dose-sharing&nbsp;facility.

"Nearly 900 million&nbsp;vaccine&nbsp;doses have been administered globally, but over 81% have gone to high- or upper middle-income countries, while low-income countries have received just 0.3%," WHO director-general&nbsp;Tedros&nbsp;Adhanom Ghebreyesus said about the ACT (Access to&nbsp;COVID-19 Tools) Accelerator set up a&nbsp;year&nbsp;ago.

Tedros&nbsp;has repeatedly denounced inequities in&nbsp;vaccine&nbsp;distribution and urged wealthier countries to share excess doses to help inoculate health workers in low-income countries. More than 3 million people have died in the pandemic.

COVAX, which has shipped 40.5 million doses to 118 countries so far, aims to secure 2 billion doses by the end of 2021.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="COVAX delivers over 20 million doses to 20 nations">COVAX delivers over 20 million doses to 20 nations</a>

On Thursday,&nbsp;COVAX, co-run by the Gavi&nbsp;Vaccine&nbsp;Alliance and WHO, said it was seeking to bolster its supplies of&nbsp;vaccines for poor countries from new manufacturers as it aims to mitigate supply problems of the AstraZeneca&nbsp;vaccine&nbsp;from India, its main shot so far.

"Low-income countries test less than 5% as much as high-income countries, and the majority of countries still have trouble accessing sufficient oxygen and dexamethasone,"&nbsp;Tedros&nbsp;said. He was referring to an inexpensive steroid found to help patients suffering severe&nbsp;COVID-19, the only WHO-approved treatment for the disease.

India reported the world's highest daily tally of coronavirus cases for a second day on Friday, surpassing 330,000 new cases, as it struggles with a health system overwhelmed by patients and plagued by accidents and lack of medical oxygen.

Coronavirus vaccines remain out of reach in the poorest countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report on Friday, marking the first anniversary of the COVAX dose-sharing facility.

Coronavirus vaccines remain out of reach in the poorest countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report on Friday, marking the first anniversary of the COVAX dose-sharing facility. "Nearly 900 million vaccine doses have been administered globally, but over 81% have gone to high- or upper middle-income countries, while low-income countries have received just 0.3%," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said about the ACT (Access to COVID-19 Tools) Accelerator set up a year ago. Tedros has repeatedly denounced inequities in vaccine distribution and urged wealthier countries to share excess doses to help inoculate health workers in low-income countries. More than 3 million people have died in the pandemic. COVAX, which has shipped 40.5 million doses to 118 countries so far, aims to secure 2 billion doses by the end of 2021. Also read: COVAX delivers over 20 million doses to 20 nations On Thursday, COVAX, co-run by the Gavi Vaccine Alliance and WHO, said it was seeking to bolster its supplies of vaccines for poor countries from new manufacturers as it aims to mitigate supply problems of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India, its main shot so far. "Low-income countries test less than 5% as much as high-income countries, and the majority of countries still have trouble accessing sufficient oxygen and dexamethasone," Tedros said. He was referring to an inexpensive steroid found to help patients suffering severe COVID-19, the only WHO-approved treatment for the disease. India reported the world's highest daily tally of coronavirus cases for a second day on Friday, surpassing 330,000 new cases, as it struggles with a health system overwhelmed by patients and plagued by accidents and lack of medical oxygen.

Tedros denounces vaccine inequity as COVAX sharing scheme marks first year

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the people of Pakistan to strictly follow the COVID-19 guidelines, warning that another nationwide lockdown will be imposed if the spiralling coronavirus crisis continues to worsen.

Addressing the nation after chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee, the highest national forum to tackle the pandemic, Khan said the Army has been asked to help police to implement the social-distancing guidelines in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus.

"I am appealing to you to follow SoPs so that we don't have to take steps that India is taking which means imposing lockdowns,"&nbsp;he said, adding that half the problem will be solved if people started wearing face masks.

Khan, who was himself affected by the disease last month, warned that major cities would be closed down if the situation continued to deteriorate.

"If our circumstances become the same as India, then we will have to close down cities,? he said.

The Prime Minister said his government was trying to avoid the lockdowns as it hurts the poor the most, but the situation could change if the pandemic persisted.

"If we (as a nation) don't take precautionary measures, we will have to impose a lockdown which will also affect our economy at a time when it is on the rise,"&nbsp;he said and urged the people to follow the SoPs as they did during Ramzan last year.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry after the prime minister's speech tweeted that the Army was summoned in the major cities.

"Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, the Prime Minister has called the army in the major cities so that the SoPs are completely followed,"&nbsp;he said.

Chaudhry also said that the country was using 90 per cent of its oxygen capacity and there was no other option except following the precaution.

Earlier, Planning Minister Asad Umar, who is also chief of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), briefed the meeting about the increasing threat of COVID-19.

He said that the NCOC decided to shut schools for secondary and higher secondary classes in the districts where the positivity rate was higher than 5 per cent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Pakistan PM gets vaccinated against coronavirus with Chinese vaccine Sinopharm">Pakistan PM gets vaccinated against coronavirus with Chinese vaccine Sinopharm</a>

Umar said markets will be closed in the country after 6 pm and only essential services will be allowed to operate after that.

Prime Minister Khan's warning came hours after Pakistan recorded 5,870 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, while 144 more people succumbed to the deadly virus.

The total number of cases has reached 784,108 and the COVID-19 death toll touched 16,842. Another 4,652 patients were in critical condition. The positivity rate in the country was 10.91, according to the Ministry of National Health Services.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the people of Pakistan to strictly follow the COVID-19 guidelines, warning that another nationwide lockdown will be imposed if the spiralling coronavirus crisis continues to worsen.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the people of Pakistan to strictly follow the COVID-19 guidelines, warning that another nationwide lockdown will be imposed if the spiralling coronavirus crisis continues to worsen. Addressing the nation after chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee, the highest national forum to tackle the pandemic, Khan said the Army has been asked to help police to implement the social-distancing guidelines in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus. "I am appealing to you to follow SoPs so that we don't have to take steps that India is taking which means imposing lockdowns," he said, adding that half the problem will be solved if people started wearing face masks. Khan, who was himself affected by the disease last month, warned that major cities would be closed down if the situation continued to deteriorate. "If our circumstances become the same as India, then we will have to close down cities,? he said. The Prime Minister said his government was trying to avoid the lockdowns as it hurts the poor the most, but the situation could change if the pandemic persisted. "If we (as a nation) don't take precautionary measures, we will have to impose a lockdown which will also affect our economy at a time when it is on the rise," he said and urged the people to follow the SoPs as they did during Ramzan last year. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry after the prime minister's speech tweeted that the Army was summoned in the major cities. "Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, the Prime Minister has called the army in the major cities so that the SoPs are completely followed," he said. Chaudhry also said that the country was using 90 per cent of its oxygen capacity and there was no other option except following the precaution. Earlier, Planning Minister Asad Umar, who is also chief of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), briefed the meeting about the increasing threat of COVID-19. He said that the NCOC decided to shut schools for secondary and higher secondary classes in the districts where the positivity rate was higher than 5 per cent. Also read: Pakistan PM gets vaccinated against coronavirus with Chinese vaccine Sinopharm Umar said markets will be closed in the country after 6 pm and only essential services will be allowed to operate after that. Prime Minister Khan's warning came hours after Pakistan recorded 5,870 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, while 144 more people succumbed to the deadly virus. The total number of cases has reached 784,108 and the COVID-19 death toll touched 16,842. Another 4,652 patients were in critical condition. The positivity rate in the country was 10.91, according to the Ministry of National Health Services.

Wear face masks, follow Covid guidelines or face another lockdown: Pak PM

Ten bodies were spotted near a capsized rubber &nbsp;boat&nbsp;off&nbsp;the coast of&nbsp;Libya&nbsp;on Thursday, which had around&nbsp;130&nbsp;people&nbsp;aboard, a rescue charity said.

European humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee said it was alerted on Tuesday, by the volunteer-run Mediterranean rescue hotline Alarm Phone, to the presence of three boats in distress in international waters&nbsp;off&nbsp;Libya.

The&nbsp;NGO's Ocean Viking ship, as well as merchant vessels, headed to the area in difficult conditions, with up to six-metre waves.

"Since we arrived on scene today, we have not found any survivors while we could see at least ten bodies in the vicinity of the wreck. We are heartbroken," said Luisa Albera, search and rescue coordinator&nbsp;aboard&nbsp;Ocean Viking.

On Wednesday, the Ocean Viking spent all day searching for a wooden&nbsp;boat&nbsp;in distress, with no success. The fate of the 40 people onboard remains unknown.

&nbsp;Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Over 1,500 migrants ‘rescued’ off Libya coast in week">Over 1,500 migrants ‘rescued’ off Libya coast in week</a>

"There is no hope of finding any survivors," French journalist Emmanuelle Chaze told AFP by phone from onboard the rescue ship, adding that "many bodies" had been spotted.

Last week the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that at least 41 people, including a child, died after a&nbsp;boat&nbsp;carrying African migrants to Europe sank&nbsp;off&nbsp;Tunisia.

Over 450 migrants have perished in the Mediterranean so far this year, according to the IOM, most attempting to reach Europe from Tunisia or&nbsp;Libya.

Ten bodies were spotted near a capsized rubber boat off the coast of Libya on Thursday, which had around 130 people aboard, a rescue charity said. European humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee said it was alerted on Tuesday, by the volunteer-run Mediterranean rescue hotline Alarm Phone, to the presence of three boats in distress in international waters off Libya.

Ten bodies were spotted near a capsized rubber boat off the coast of Libya on Thursday, which had around 130 people aboard, a rescue charity said. European humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee said it was alerted on Tuesday, by the volunteer-run Mediterranean rescue hotline Alarm Phone, to the presence of three boats in distress in international waters off Libya. The NGO's Ocean Viking ship, as well as merchant vessels, headed to the area in difficult conditions, with up to six-metre waves. "Since we arrived on scene today, we have not found any survivors while we could see at least ten bodies in the vicinity of the wreck. We are heartbroken," said Luisa Albera, search and rescue coordinator aboard Ocean Viking. On Wednesday, the Ocean Viking spent all day searching for a wooden boat in distress, with no success. The fate of the 40 people onboard remains unknown. Also read: Over 1,500 migrants ‘rescued’ off Libya coast in week "There is no hope of finding any survivors," French journalist Emmanuelle Chaze told AFP by phone from onboard the rescue ship, adding that "many bodies" had been spotted. Last week the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that at least 41 people, including a child, died after a boat carrying African migrants to Europe sank off Tunisia. Over 450 migrants have perished in the Mediterranean so far this year, according to the IOM, most attempting to reach Europe from Tunisia or Libya.

Migrant boat with 130 aboard capsizes off Libya: NGO

Several prisoners in Indonesia have been sentenced to death over Zoom and other video apps during the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus pandemic</a>.&nbsp;

The country resorted to virtual court hearings amid COVID-19 restrictions that closed most in-person trials, including murder and drug trafficking cases, in which the death penalty can be given.&nbsp;

Nearly 100 inmates since early last year have been condemned to death in Indonesia, according to Amnesty International.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/indian-navy-pitches-in-to-find-missing-indonesian-submarine-379237">Indian Navy pitches in to find missing Indonesian submarine</a>

Indonesia has some of the world's strictest laws on drugs in which both Indonesian and foreign traffickers have been executed, reports news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Three Iranians and a Pakistani were amongst the 13 people who through video hearing were told that they would be shot to death for smuggling 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of methamphetamine into Indonesia.&nbsp;

A Jakarta court on Wednesday gave a death sentence to six Islamist militants via a video app for their involvement in a prison riot in 2018 that killed five personnel of Indonesia's counter-terror squad.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/world/indonesian-president-orders-all-out-effort-to-find-submarine-as-oxygen-runs-low-379368">Indonesian president orders all-out effort to find submarine as oxygen runs low</a>

Indonesia went ahead with the virtual hearings despite the number of death sentences reduced last year globally due to the pandemic, Amnesty, in its annual capital punishment report, said this week.&nbsp;

Critics argue that virtual hearings do not give the accused a fair chance to defend themselves due to poor internet connections, a problem that even Indonesia faces.&nbsp;

"Virtual platforms... can expose the defendant to significant violations of their fair trial rights and impinge on the quality of the defence," NGO Harm Reduction International in a recent report on the death penalty for drug crimes said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Several prisoners in Indonesia have been sentenced to death over Zoom and other video apps during the coronavirus pandemic. The country resorted to virtual court hearings amid COVID-19 restrictions that closed most in-person trials, including murder and drug trafficking cases, in which the death penalty can be given.

Several prisoners in Indonesia have been sentenced to death over Zoom and other video apps during the coronavirus pandemic. The country resorted to virtual court hearings amid COVID-19 restrictions that closed most in-person trials, including murder and drug trafficking cases, in which the death penalty can be given. Nearly 100 inmates since early last year have been condemned to death in Indonesia, according to Amnesty International. Also read | Indian Navy pitches in to find missing Indonesian submarine Indonesia has some of the world's strictest laws on drugs in which both Indonesian and foreign traffickers have been executed, reports news agency AFP. Three Iranians and a Pakistani were amongst the 13 people who through video hearing were told that they would be shot to death for smuggling 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of methamphetamine into Indonesia. A Jakarta court on Wednesday gave a death sentence to six Islamist militants via a video app for their involvement in a prison riot in 2018 that killed five personnel of Indonesia's counter-terror squad. Also read | Indonesian president orders all-out effort to find submarine as oxygen runs low Indonesia went ahead with the virtual hearings despite the number of death sentences reduced last year globally due to the pandemic, Amnesty, in its annual capital punishment report, said this week. Critics argue that virtual hearings do not give the accused a fair chance to defend themselves due to poor internet connections, a problem that even Indonesia faces. "Virtual platforms... can expose the defendant to significant violations of their fair trial rights and impinge on the quality of the defence," NGO Harm Reduction International in a recent report on the death penalty for drug crimes said.

Death via Zoom: Several in Indonesia given capital punishment via virtual hearings

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