Bulgaria will set up its own 'blacklist' of companies and people associated with three Bulgarians and 64 entities that the United States has imposed sanctions on over alleged corruption, preventing state dealings with them, the interim government said late on Friday. 
 
The United States this week blocked assets and cut off access to its financial system to former lawmaker and media mogul Delyan Peevski, government official Ilko Zhelyazkov and fugitive gambling tycoon Vassil Bozhkov. 
 
The interim government, in office until a July 11 parliamentary election, is setting up a group of financial and interior ministry officials as well as tax and intelligence officers to identify and list people and entities associated with those under US&nbsp;sanctions. 
 
State administrations and companies with state or municipal ownership will have to cut links with those on that list, the government said in a statement. 
 
"State structures and state companies need to stop any transactions with the people and their associates on the US&nbsp;sanction list, because otherwise they could potentially end up in that list themselves," Finance Minister Assen Vassilev said. 
 
Peevski, whom many in Bulgaria see as a powerful behind-the-scenes power broker with strong influence on judiciary and political elites, has denied wrongdoing. Zhelyazkov, currently on paid leave, has not commented on the US&nbsp;sanctions. 
 
Bozhkov, who faces over 18 charges at home, including for fax fraud and influence peddling, has said the sanctions ignored his own status as a victim of extortion. 
 
Many Bulgarians, who protested last year for months against endemic graft, welcomed the US&nbsp;sanctions in hopes that the move will prompt a action against high-level corruption at home. 
 
Bulgaria is the poorest member of the European Union and is ranked as the bloc's most corrupt member by Transparency International. Despite a declared will to root out graft, it has not jailed a single high-level official on corruption charges. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Bulgaria will set up its own 'blacklist' of companies and people associated with three Bulgarians and 64 entities that the United States has imposed sanctions on over alleged corruption, preventing state dealings with them, the interim government said late on Friday.

Bulgaria will set up its own 'blacklist' of companies and people associated with three Bulgarians and 64 entities that the United States has imposed sanctions on over alleged corruption, preventing state dealings with them, the interim government said late on Friday. The United States this week blocked assets and cut off access to its financial system to former lawmaker and media mogul Delyan Peevski, government official Ilko Zhelyazkov and fugitive gambling tycoon Vassil Bozhkov. The interim government, in office until a July 11 parliamentary election, is setting up a group of financial and interior ministry officials as well as tax and intelligence officers to identify and list people and entities associated with those under US sanctions. State administrations and companies with state or municipal ownership will have to cut links with those on that list, the government said in a statement. "State structures and state companies need to stop any transactions with the people and their associates on the US sanction list, because otherwise they could potentially end up in that list themselves," Finance Minister Assen Vassilev said. Peevski, whom many in Bulgaria see as a powerful behind-the-scenes power broker with strong influence on judiciary and political elites, has denied wrongdoing. Zhelyazkov, currently on paid leave, has not commented on the US sanctions. Bozhkov, who faces over 18 charges at home, including for fax fraud and influence peddling, has said the sanctions ignored his own status as a victim of extortion. Many Bulgarians, who protested last year for months against endemic graft, welcomed the US sanctions in hopes that the move will prompt a action against high-level corruption at home. Bulgaria is the poorest member of the European Union and is ranked as the bloc's most corrupt member by Transparency International. Despite a declared will to root out graft, it has not jailed a single high-level official on corruption charges. (With inputs from agencies)

Bulgaria to set up its own 'blacklist' after US graft sanctions

Flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in Sri Lanka have killed at least four people and left seven missing, while more than 5,000 are displaced, officials said on Saturday.

Rains have been pounding six districts of the Indian Ocean island nation since Thursday night, and many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated, blocking traffic.

Two people died in floods while another two lost their lives in mudslides, according to the government's Disaster Management Center. Another seven people are missing in floods and mudslides.

A mound of earth crashed onto a house and buried four members of the same family 'parents and two children' in Kegalle district, about 85 kilometers (53 miles) east of the capital Colombo on Saturday, officials and local media said.

A local television channel, Hiru, showed soldiers and villagers removing mud and debris to recover the victims. Later, the body of the daughter was uncovered. Figures released by the government showed that more than 5,000 people have moved to temporary shelters and nearly 500 houses have been damaged.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in Sri Lanka have killed at least four people and left seven missing, while more than 5,000 are displaced, officials said on Saturday.

Flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in Sri Lanka have killed at least four people and left seven missing, while more than 5,000 are displaced, officials said on Saturday. Rains have been pounding six districts of the Indian Ocean island nation since Thursday night, and many houses, paddy fields and roads have been inundated, blocking traffic. Two people died in floods while another two lost their lives in mudslides, according to the government's Disaster Management Center. Another seven people are missing in floods and mudslides. A mound of earth crashed onto a house and buried four members of the same family 'parents and two children' in Kegalle district, about 85 kilometers (53 miles) east of the capital Colombo on Saturday, officials and local media said. A local television channel, Hiru, showed soldiers and villagers removing mud and debris to recover the victims. Later, the body of the daughter was uncovered. Figures released by the government showed that more than 5,000 people have moved to temporary shelters and nearly 500 houses have been damaged. (With inputs from agencies)

Floods and mudslides kill 4, another 7 missing in Sri Lanka

The first cruise ship leaving Venice since the pandemic is set to depart on Saturday amid protests by activists demanding that the ship be rerouted out the fragile lagoon, especially Giudecca Canal through the city's historic center. They say the enormous vessels 'weighing over 90,000 tonnes and carrying thousands of passengers at a time' pose environmental and safety risks to the canal and the city.

Another protest is also planned on Saturday by pro-cruise activists whose jobs depend on having thousands of visitors flowing through one of Italy's top tourist destinations.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi's government pledged this winter to get cruise ships out of the Venice lagoon, but it will likely take years to reach that goal.

The government says it is organising bids for a viable alternative outside the lagoon, which should be posted any day now. Still, even an interim alternative route to the Giudecca Canal won't be ready until next year, Italy's Ministry for Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility said in an email.

"Meanwhile, in 2022, as a temporary solution, a certain number of ships can dock in Marghera, relieving the traffic through Venice,'' the ministry said. Marghera, an industrial port west of Venice that is still within the lagoon, will require lengthening existing piers to accommodate larger vessels as well as dredging a canal on the approach, cruise industry officials say.

Because Marghera is an industrial site, that also means testing the sediment to be dredged for harmful pollutants. Venice has become one of the world's most important cruise destinations over the last two decades, serving as a lucrative turnaround point for 667 cruise ships in 2019 carrying nearly 700,000 passengers, according to the cruise industry trade association, Cruise Lines International.

While some cruise companies have experimented with Trieste to the west or Ravenna to the south as drop-off points for those visiting Venice during the pandemic, industry officials say Venice remains a key port of call for cruises in the Adriatic Sea and eastern Mediterranean.

The passage on Thursday of the MSC Orchestra 'a cruise ship 300 meters (about 985 feet) long that towered over Venice with 16 decks' marked the first time a cruise ship had traveled up the Giudecca Canal since January 2020, before the pandemic shut down the industry.

When the ship sets sail later on Saturday, passengers will enjoy a deck-side view of St&nbsp;Mark's Square, the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs as they exit the lagoon. They also will pass protesters, who have been campaigning since the 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster off Tuscany that killed 32 people to get the ships out of Venice's lagoon.

Concerns about cruise ships were heightened two years ago this week when the MSC Opera struck a dock and a tourist boat, injuring five people, while maneuvering through the Giudecca Canal.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The first cruise ship leaving Venice since the pandemic is set to depart on Saturday amid protests by activists demanding that the ship be rerouted out the fragile lagoon, especially Giudecca Canal through the city's historic center.

The first cruise ship leaving Venice since the pandemic is set to depart on Saturday amid protests by activists demanding that the ship be rerouted out the fragile lagoon, especially Giudecca Canal through the city's historic center. They say the enormous vessels 'weighing over 90,000 tonnes and carrying thousands of passengers at a time' pose environmental and safety risks to the canal and the city. Another protest is also planned on Saturday by pro-cruise activists whose jobs depend on having thousands of visitors flowing through one of Italy's top tourist destinations. Italian Premier Mario Draghi's government pledged this winter to get cruise ships out of the Venice lagoon, but it will likely take years to reach that goal. The government says it is organising bids for a viable alternative outside the lagoon, which should be posted any day now. Still, even an interim alternative route to the Giudecca Canal won't be ready until next year, Italy's Ministry for Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility said in an email. "Meanwhile, in 2022, as a temporary solution, a certain number of ships can dock in Marghera, relieving the traffic through Venice,'' the ministry said. Marghera, an industrial port west of Venice that is still within the lagoon, will require lengthening existing piers to accommodate larger vessels as well as dredging a canal on the approach, cruise industry officials say. Because Marghera is an industrial site, that also means testing the sediment to be dredged for harmful pollutants. Venice has become one of the world's most important cruise destinations over the last two decades, serving as a lucrative turnaround point for 667 cruise ships in 2019 carrying nearly 700,000 passengers, according to the cruise industry trade association, Cruise Lines International. While some cruise companies have experimented with Trieste to the west or Ravenna to the south as drop-off points for those visiting Venice during the pandemic, industry officials say Venice remains a key port of call for cruises in the Adriatic Sea and eastern Mediterranean. The passage on Thursday of the MSC Orchestra 'a cruise ship 300 meters (about 985 feet) long that towered over Venice with 16 decks' marked the first time a cruise ship had traveled up the Giudecca Canal since January 2020, before the pandemic shut down the industry. When the ship sets sail later on Saturday, passengers will enjoy a deck-side view of St Mark's Square, the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs as they exit the lagoon. They also will pass protesters, who have been campaigning since the 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster off Tuscany that killed 32 people to get the ships out of Venice's lagoon. Concerns about cruise ships were heightened two years ago this week when the MSC Opera struck a dock and a tourist boat, injuring five people, while maneuvering through the Giudecca Canal. (With inputs from agencies)

Cruise ships restart in Venice; protesters decry their risks

The government on Saturday issued a notice to Twitter giving it one last chance to 'immediately' comply with the new IT rules and warned that failure to adhere to the norms will lead to the platform losing exemption from liability under the IT Act.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said that Twitter's refusal to comply with the rules demonstrated the microblogging site's 'lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safe experience for the people of India on its platform'.

"Despite being operational in India for more than a decade, it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc has doggedly refused to create mechanism that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes, by India based, clearly identified resources," the IT ministry said.

The ministry said that though with effect from May 26, 2021, 'consequences follow' given Twitter's non-compliance with rules "however, as a gesture of goodwill, Twitter Inc is hereby given one last notice to immediately comply with the rules, failing which the exemption from liability available...Shall stand withdrawn and Twitter shall be liable for consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws of India."

The notice, however, did not given a specific deadline to comply with the rules.

(With inputs from agencies)

The government on Saturday issued a notice to Twitter giving it one last chance to 'immediately' comply with the new IT rules and warned that failure to adhere to the norms will lead to the platform losing exemption from liability under the IT Act.

The government on Saturday issued a notice to Twitter giving it one last chance to 'immediately' comply with the new IT rules and warned that failure to adhere to the norms will lead to the platform losing exemption from liability under the IT Act. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said that Twitter's refusal to comply with the rules demonstrated the microblogging site's 'lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safe experience for the people of India on its platform'. "Despite being operational in India for more than a decade, it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc has doggedly refused to create mechanism that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes, by India based, clearly identified resources," the IT ministry said. The ministry said that though with effect from May 26, 2021, 'consequences follow' given Twitter's non-compliance with rules "however, as a gesture of goodwill, Twitter Inc is hereby given one last notice to immediately comply with the rules, failing which the exemption from liability available...Shall stand withdrawn and Twitter shall be liable for consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws of India." The notice, however, did not given a specific deadline to comply with the rules. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian govt issues 'one last notice' to Twitter to comply with IT rules

Asserting that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are 'responsible' leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said they both are capable of solving issues between the two countries, and that it was important that no 'extra-regional power' should interfere in the process.

With Russia publicly critical of the Quad, the four-nation grouping of India, the US, Japan and Australia, Putin also said that though it was not up to Moscow to assess how any nation should participate in an initiative and to what extent they should build their relations with other countries but no partnership should be aimed at making friends against anyone.

The Russian president's remarks, in response to a question on Moscow's view on Quad as well as India's participation in the grouping, were a veiled reference to the Chinese claim that the grouping is to contain Beijing's influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.

He also asserted that there were no 'contradictions' in Russia's partnership with India and the ties between Moscow and Beijing. "Yes, I do know that there are some issues related to India-China relations but there are always a lot of issues between neighbouring countries but I know the attitude of both the Prime Minister of India and also the President of China. These are very responsible people and they earnestly treat one another with utmost respect and I believe that they will always arrive at a solution to any issue that they might face. But it is important that no other extra-regional power is interfering with that," the Russian President said through a translator during a virtual interaction.

It has been more than a year since the military standoff between China and India erupted in eastern Ladakh on May 5, 2020 during which there were fatalities on both sides for the first time in 45 years. They have made limited progress in achieving disengagement at the Pangong Lake area while negotiations for similar steps at other friction points remained deadlocked.

Asked about the growing proximity between Russia and China and if that will impact the Indo-Russia security and defence cooperation, Putin said the relations between India and Russia were developing quite rapidly, quite successfully based on 'trust'. "We highly appreciate such a high level of cooperation with our Indian friends. These relations are of a strategic nature. They cover a whole range of avenues of our cooperation in economy, energy and hi-tech. In defence, and I am not just talking about purchase of Russian arms...We have very deep profound relations with India based on trust," he said.

Putin also asserted that India is Russia's only partner that they are working together with on 'elaborating and manufacturing, especially in India, advanced weapon systems and technologies but that is not where our cooperation ends because our cooperation is multifaceted.'

During the interaction with select top editors of major international news agencies, including from the US, India, the UK, Germany and France, Putin replied to wide ranging issues, including Russia-US ties, the pandemic situation, the US sanctions against Russia and the Gaza issue.

Asked about Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov's criticism of Quad as 'Asian NATO' and his view on India's participation in the grouping, Putin said, "we are not participating in the quad, it is not my place to give my assessment to any other country participating in any initiative because every sovereign nation has the right to decide with whom and to what extent they are building their relations. I only believe that any partnership between countries should be aimed at making friends against anyone, No."

Ahead of his maiden summit with US President Joe Biden in Geneva on June 16, the Russian president also said that he was not expecting any 'breakthrough'. "We are not taking steps first? I'm talking about the steps that deteriorated our relations. It was not us who introduced sanctions against us, it was the United States who did that on every occasion and even without grounds, just because our country exists," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Asserting that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are 'responsible' leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said they both are capable of solving issues between the two countries, and that it was important that no 'extra-regional power' should interfere in the process.

Asserting that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are 'responsible' leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said they both are capable of solving issues between the two countries, and that it was important that no 'extra-regional power' should interfere in the process. With Russia publicly critical of the Quad, the four-nation grouping of India, the US, Japan and Australia, Putin also said that though it was not up to Moscow to assess how any nation should participate in an initiative and to what extent they should build their relations with other countries but no partnership should be aimed at making friends against anyone. The Russian president's remarks, in response to a question on Moscow's view on Quad as well as India's participation in the grouping, were a veiled reference to the Chinese claim that the grouping is to contain Beijing's influence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. He also asserted that there were no 'contradictions' in Russia's partnership with India and the ties between Moscow and Beijing. "Yes, I do know that there are some issues related to India-China relations but there are always a lot of issues between neighbouring countries but I know the attitude of both the Prime Minister of India and also the President of China. These are very responsible people and they earnestly treat one another with utmost respect and I believe that they will always arrive at a solution to any issue that they might face. But it is important that no other extra-regional power is interfering with that," the Russian President said through a translator during a virtual interaction. It has been more than a year since the military standoff between China and India erupted in eastern Ladakh on May 5, 2020 during which there were fatalities on both sides for the first time in 45 years. They have made limited progress in achieving disengagement at the Pangong Lake area while negotiations for similar steps at other friction points remained deadlocked. Asked about the growing proximity between Russia and China and if that will impact the Indo-Russia security and defence cooperation, Putin said the relations between India and Russia were developing quite rapidly, quite successfully based on 'trust'. "We highly appreciate such a high level of cooperation with our Indian friends. These relations are of a strategic nature. They cover a whole range of avenues of our cooperation in economy, energy and hi-tech. In defence, and I am not just talking about purchase of Russian arms...We have very deep profound relations with India based on trust," he said. Putin also asserted that India is Russia's only partner that they are working together with on 'elaborating and manufacturing, especially in India, advanced weapon systems and technologies but that is not where our cooperation ends because our cooperation is multifaceted.' During the interaction with select top editors of major international news agencies, including from the US, India, the UK, Germany and France, Putin replied to wide ranging issues, including Russia-US ties, the pandemic situation, the US sanctions against Russia and the Gaza issue. Asked about Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov's criticism of Quad as 'Asian NATO' and his view on India's participation in the grouping, Putin said, "we are not participating in the quad, it is not my place to give my assessment to any other country participating in any initiative because every sovereign nation has the right to decide with whom and to what extent they are building their relations. I only believe that any partnership between countries should be aimed at making friends against anyone, No." Ahead of his maiden summit with US President Joe Biden in Geneva on June 16, the Russian president also said that he was not expecting any 'breakthrough'. "We are not taking steps first? I'm talking about the steps that deteriorated our relations. It was not us who introduced sanctions against us, it was the United States who did that on every occasion and even without grounds, just because our country exists," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Modi and Xi are 'responsible' leaders, can solve Sino-India issues: Putin

Experts are investigating after the computer systems of two central Florida hospitals showed signs of unusual activity, an official said.

The Villages Regional Hospital and the UF Health Leesburg Hospital shut down multiple systems to protect patient information during the event on Monday night, switching to pen and paper to document patient visits, news outlets report.

"We have since learned that the activity was related to a cybersecurity event," Frank Faust, a spokesman for the University of Florida's Health Central Florida, told the Orlando Sentinel.

"With regard to protected information, at this time we do not believe any patient or personnel records have been compromised or shared." Faust said information technology teams from the University of Florida were investigating.

"These types of situations take time to fully resolve," Faust said. "We are continuing to methodically investigate to delicately and precisely understand what happened, and are taking the appropriate actions to resolve any and all issues." The Villages is one of the country's largest retirement communities, with a population of more than 130,000.

(With inputs from agencies)

Experts are investigating after the computer systems of two central Florida hospitals showed signs of unusual activity, an official said. The Villages Regional Hospital and the UF Health Leesburg Hospital shut down multiple systems to protect patient information during the event on Monday night, switching to pen and paper to document patient visits, news outlets report.

Experts are investigating after the computer systems of two central Florida hospitals showed signs of unusual activity, an official said. The Villages Regional Hospital and the UF Health Leesburg Hospital shut down multiple systems to protect patient information during the event on Monday night, switching to pen and paper to document patient visits, news outlets report. "We have since learned that the activity was related to a cybersecurity event," Frank Faust, a spokesman for the University of Florida's Health Central Florida, told the Orlando Sentinel. "With regard to protected information, at this time we do not believe any patient or personnel records have been compromised or shared." Faust said information technology teams from the University of Florida were investigating. "These types of situations take time to fully resolve," Faust said. "We are continuing to methodically investigate to delicately and precisely understand what happened, and are taking the appropriate actions to resolve any and all issues." The Villages is one of the country's largest retirement communities, with a population of more than 130,000. (With inputs from agencies)

Experts look into possible cyberattack at Florida hospitals

Milloni Doshi, a 25-year-old student from India who is supposed to start her master’s degree this fall at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, has a problem.

Although Doshi has been vaccinated against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>, she received two doses of Covaxin, which is made by an Indian manufacturer and is not currently approved by the World Health Organization, as required by the university in New York.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/give-us-priority-covid-19-vaccination-foreign-bound-students-to-tamil-nadu-govt-388954">Give us priority COVID-19 vaccination: Foreign-bound students to Tamil Nadu govt</a>&nbsp;

Columbia has told her she will need to be revaccinated with a different <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine</a> once she arrives on campus, but no one can say for sure if it is safe to do so.

“I am just concerned about taking two different vaccines,” she wrote via a messaging app. “They said the application process would be the toughest part of the cycle, but it’s really been all of this that has been uncertain and anxiety-inducing.”

Since March, more than 400 colleges and universities in the United States have announced vaccine mandates, requiring students to be immunized against the coronavirus. But the rules have been designed primarily with domestic students in mind, leaving international students scrambling, particularly those in India and Russia.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-distribute-80-million-vaccine-doses-through-covax-india-included-in-list-white-house-389263">US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House</a>

Neither Covaxin nor the Sputnik V vaccine, which is manufactured in Russia, has been approved by the WHO. American students, however, have access to the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines, three of the eight authorized by the health agency, according to a WHO spokesperson.

The disparity could hinder colleges that have made it a major priority to retain international students, who brought in close to $39 billion in tuition dollars in the year before the pandemic, according to one analysis.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worldwide-coronavirus-cases-cross-171-million-death-toll-at-3557281-388897">Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 171 million, death toll at 3,557,281</a>

“Universities want to enroll international students because they add diversity to the campus community, and they bring money,” said Terry Hartle, senior vice president at the American Council on Education. “It’s why this has been a subject of intense discussion.”

The situation is particularly challenging for students in India, which sends approximately 200,000 international students to US&nbsp;colleges every year, the second most after China. The subcontinent is emerging from the grips of one of the most severe waves of the pandemic, when burial grounds were running out of space and funeral pyres were nearly constantly burning. Vaccine shortages are so acute that only 3 per cent&nbsp;of the population is fully immunized, and getting an appointment is a taxing affair.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-virus-surge-singapore-set-to-vaccinate-students-from-june-3-388595">Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3</a>

In some parts of India, students planning on attending US&nbsp;universities have turned to the black market, paying hundreds of dollars to be vaccinated. Others have hired people to spend up to 12 hours online trying to line up a vaccination slot.

It is hard enough just to get an appointment, but even more so to secure one for a vaccine that will be accepted by US&nbsp;campuses.

“Every day, we get 10 to 15 messages and inquiries, saying, ‘What does this mean? How does this impact me?’” said Sudhanshu Kaushik, 26, who dropped out of his MBA program at New York University last year to run the North American Association of Indian Students, which is working to help fellow students.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-says-us-teens-should-get-vaccinated-by-autumn-younger-children-next-year-368711">Fauci says US teens should get vaccinated by autumn, younger children next year</a>

Among the questions flooding Kaushik’s inbox: What happens if I cannot get my vaccine in time? Will I still be allowed to matriculate in the fall? What should I do if the vaccine I can get locally is not approved by my college?

At Indiana University, which announced its vaccine requirement less than two weeks ago, administrators are working overtime to answer the roughly 200 phone calls and 300 emails that are pouring in every day from the university’s roughly 6,000 students overseas, said its vice president for international affairs, Hannah Buxbaum.

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“Ringing off the hook doesn’t begin to describe,” said Buxbaum of the volume of calls from overseas students who are trying to navigate the vaccine bureaucracy in their home countries as well as a host of other virus-related problems, from flight bans to shuttered consulates.

“There is no question that there is anxiety and concern among our international students,” she said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/students-sue-top-us-universities-over-switch-to-online-courses-297080">Students sue top US universities over switch to online courses</a>

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tried to provide guidance. The agency considers people fully vaccinated several weeks after they have received the requisite doses of any of the vaccines authorized by the WHO, said a spokesperson, Kristen Nordlund.

Besides the three vaccines currently available in the United States under emergency authorization by the FDA, the world body has, according to its website, also approved three versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including one made in England and one made in India; the Sinopharm vaccine, which is manufactured in China; and, as of this week, the Sinovac vaccine, also made in China.

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Many universities appear to be following these guidelines: “If a student has had a WHO-approved vaccine,” said Clayton Rose, president of Bowdoin College, “then the student will be considered to be vaccinated.”

At Columbia, where one-third of the student body is from overseas, international students will be asked to present either their WHO booklet or a letter from a physician confirming they have received the requisite doses of one of the vaccines vetted by the world body, said Donna Lynne, chief operating officer of the university’s medical center, who heads the campus’s COVID-19 response.

But that leaves two categories of students that will face a more complicated, and potentially problematic&nbsp;process.

There are those who will not succeed in securing a vaccine before the start of the fall semester. Bowdoin and many other universities say they plan to have clinics on campus that will offer one of the three FDA-authorized vaccines.

The trick is that two of those, Pfizer and Moderna, require the first and second dose to be spaced three weeks apart; because someone is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the last dose, the process lasts a minimum of five weeks. During that time, will students be required to quarantine while the rest of campus goes back to normal? Will they need to undergo routine testing?

Campuses are proposing different measures, with some saying that those students will need to self-isolate in their dorm and attend classes remotely. Others are saying the students will be expected to wear a mask and undergo testing.

The more complicated scenario is if students received a vaccine that has not been approved by the WHO, like Sputnik or Covaxin. Many colleges are proposing that those student will need to be revaccinated, which presents both medical and logistical conundrums.

No data exists on whether combining vaccines from different companies is safe.

“Since COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, the safety and effectiveness of receiving two different COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied,” Nordlund, the CDC spokesperson, wrote in an email.

She added that the CDC was recommending that people who were vaccinated outside the United States with a vaccine that was not authorized by the WHO should wait a minimum of 28 days before taking the first dose of one of the FDA-sanctioned vaccines.

Many universities were vague on how they plan to deal with the logistical complexity of spacing out these unrelated vaccines, beyond saying that they planned to accommodate students undergoing this process.

While much remains in flux, at least one major university system is planning on deviating from the CDC guidelines.

California State, the largest public university system in the country with 23 campuses enrolling nearly a half-million students, plans to accept any vaccine a student received if it was authorized by the regulatory agency in their country of origin, said Chancellor Joseph Castro.

“They will be able to satisfy the requirement,” he said, “as long as the vaccine they receive is approved by something similar to an entity like the FDA.”

Facing mounting pressure from confused and anxious students, at least six regional governments in India have announced emergency clinics in the past week to vaccinate students heading to US&nbsp;universities.

One of them is in Maharashtra, the state that includes Mumbai and is where Doshi lives, although the move came too late for her since she is already vaccinated with an injection Columbia does not accept. Instead of concentrating on her future course of study, she is fretting over whether the vaccine she will need to get upon arriving at Columbia will cause an adverse reaction.

“Truthfully, it was easier to get admitted than to handle the post-admissions process,” she said.

Milloni Doshi, a 25-year-old student from India who is supposed to start her master’s degree this fall at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, has a problem.

Milloni Doshi, a 25-year-old student from India who is supposed to start her master’s degree this fall at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, has a problem. Although Doshi has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, she received two doses of Covaxin, which is made by an Indian manufacturer and is not currently approved by the World Health Organization, as required by the university in New York. Also Read | Give us priority COVID-19 vaccination: Foreign-bound students to Tamil Nadu govt Columbia has told her she will need to be revaccinated with a different vaccine once she arrives on campus, but no one can say for sure if it is safe to do so. “I am just concerned about taking two different vaccines,” she wrote via a messaging app. “They said the application process would be the toughest part of the cycle, but it’s really been all of this that has been uncertain and anxiety-inducing.” Since March, more than 400 colleges and universities in the United States have announced vaccine mandates, requiring students to be immunized against the coronavirus. But the rules have been designed primarily with domestic students in mind, leaving international students scrambling, particularly those in India and Russia. Also Read | US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House Neither Covaxin nor the Sputnik V vaccine, which is manufactured in Russia, has been approved by the WHO. American students, however, have access to the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, three of the eight authorized by the health agency, according to a WHO spokesperson. The disparity could hinder colleges that have made it a major priority to retain international students, who brought in close to $39 billion in tuition dollars in the year before the pandemic, according to one analysis. Also Read | Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 171 million, death toll at 3,557,281 “Universities want to enroll international students because they add diversity to the campus community, and they bring money,” said Terry Hartle, senior vice president at the American Council on Education. “It’s why this has been a subject of intense discussion.” The situation is particularly challenging for students in India, which sends approximately 200,000 international students to US colleges every year, the second most after China. The subcontinent is emerging from the grips of one of the most severe waves of the pandemic, when burial grounds were running out of space and funeral pyres were nearly constantly burning. Vaccine shortages are so acute that only 3 per cent of the population is fully immunized, and getting an appointment is a taxing affair. Also Read | Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3 In some parts of India, students planning on attending US universities have turned to the black market, paying hundreds of dollars to be vaccinated. Others have hired people to spend up to 12 hours online trying to line up a vaccination slot. It is hard enough just to get an appointment, but even more so to secure one for a vaccine that will be accepted by US campuses. “Every day, we get 10 to 15 messages and inquiries, saying, ‘What does this mean? How does this impact me?’” said Sudhanshu Kaushik, 26, who dropped out of his MBA program at New York University last year to run the North American Association of Indian Students, which is working to help fellow students. Also Read | Fauci says US teens should get vaccinated by autumn, younger children next year Among the questions flooding Kaushik’s inbox: What happens if I cannot get my vaccine in time? Will I still be allowed to matriculate in the fall? What should I do if the vaccine I can get locally is not approved by my college? At Indiana University, which announced its vaccine requirement less than two weeks ago, administrators are working overtime to answer the roughly 200 phone calls and 300 emails that are pouring in every day from the university’s roughly 6,000 students overseas, said its vice president for international affairs, Hannah Buxbaum. Also Read | Thanksgiving will soon empty campuses. Will students bring coronavirus home? “Ringing off the hook doesn’t begin to describe,” said Buxbaum of the volume of calls from overseas students who are trying to navigate the vaccine bureaucracy in their home countries as well as a host of other virus-related problems, from flight bans to shuttered consulates. “There is no question that there is anxiety and concern among our international students,” she said. Also Read | Students sue top US universities over switch to online courses The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tried to provide guidance. The agency considers people fully vaccinated several weeks after they have received the requisite doses of any of the vaccines authorized by the WHO, said a spokesperson, Kristen Nordlund. Besides the three vaccines currently available in the United States under emergency authorization by the FDA, the world body has, according to its website, also approved three versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including one made in England and one made in India; the Sinopharm vaccine, which is manufactured in China; and, as of this week, the Sinovac vaccine, also made in China. Also Read | 375 million dollars from foreign countries to Ivy League schools, US Department of Education investigates Many universities appear to be following these guidelines: “If a student has had a WHO-approved vaccine,” said Clayton Rose, president of Bowdoin College, “then the student will be considered to be vaccinated.” At Columbia, where one-third of the student body is from overseas, international students will be asked to present either their WHO booklet or a letter from a physician confirming they have received the requisite doses of one of the vaccines vetted by the world body, said Donna Lynne, chief operating officer of the university’s medical center, who heads the campus’s COVID-19 response. But that leaves two categories of students that will face a more complicated, and potentially problematic process. There are those who will not succeed in securing a vaccine before the start of the fall semester. Bowdoin and many other universities say they plan to have clinics on campus that will offer one of the three FDA-authorized vaccines. The trick is that two of those, Pfizer and Moderna, require the first and second dose to be spaced three weeks apart; because someone is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the last dose, the process lasts a minimum of five weeks. During that time, will students be required to quarantine while the rest of campus goes back to normal? Will they need to undergo routine testing? Campuses are proposing different measures, with some saying that those students will need to self-isolate in their dorm and attend classes remotely. Others are saying the students will be expected to wear a mask and undergo testing. The more complicated scenario is if students received a vaccine that has not been approved by the WHO, like Sputnik or Covaxin. Many colleges are proposing that those student will need to be revaccinated, which presents both medical and logistical conundrums. No data exists on whether combining vaccines from different companies is safe. “Since COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, the safety and effectiveness of receiving two different COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied,” Nordlund, the CDC spokesperson, wrote in an email. She added that the CDC was recommending that people who were vaccinated outside the United States with a vaccine that was not authorized by the WHO should wait a minimum of 28 days before taking the first dose of one of the FDA-sanctioned vaccines. Many universities were vague on how they plan to deal with the logistical complexity of spacing out these unrelated vaccines, beyond saying that they planned to accommodate students undergoing this process. While much remains in flux, at least one major university system is planning on deviating from the CDC guidelines. California State, the largest public university system in the country with 23 campuses enrolling nearly a half-million students, plans to accept any vaccine a student received if it was authorized by the regulatory agency in their country of origin, said Chancellor Joseph Castro. “They will be able to satisfy the requirement,” he said, “as long as the vaccine they receive is approved by something similar to an entity like the FDA.” Facing mounting pressure from confused and anxious students, at least six regional governments in India have announced emergency clinics in the past week to vaccinate students heading to US universities. One of them is in Maharashtra, the state that includes Mumbai and is where Doshi lives, although the move came too late for her since she is already vaccinated with an injection Columbia does not accept. Instead of concentrating on her future course of study, she is fretting over whether the vaccine she will need to get upon arriving at Columbia will cause an adverse reaction. “Truthfully, it was easier to get admitted than to handle the post-admissions process,” she said.

Colleges say students must get a Covid vaccine. But no, not that one.

The European Union on Friday submitted a plan to the World Trade Organization that it believes will more effectively broaden the supply of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccines</a> than the intellectual property (IP) rights&nbsp;waiver&nbsp;backed by the United States.

India, South Africa and dozens of developing countries are demanding the&nbsp;waiver&nbsp;to address what they say is a "staggering inequity" in access to vaccines and other <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> treatments.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brics-foreign-ministers-back-india-south-africa-vaccine-waiver-proposal-388839">BRICS foreign ministers back India-South Africa vaccine waiver proposal</a>

A surprise US&nbsp;shift in May to support a&nbsp;waiver&nbsp;heaped pressure on remaining opponents, such as the European Union and Switzerland that are home to many drugmakers.

The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-nation EU, said on Friday it had submitted an alternative, focused on limits on export restrictions and making use of flexibility in existing WTO rules.

The World Trade Organization will next be able to discuss the plan at meetings planned next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-vaccine-patent-waiver-will-not-be-enough-to-bridge-supply-gap-wto-386296">COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver will not be enough to bridge supply gap: WTO</a>

The EU contends that a&nbsp;waiver&nbsp;would not boost production and presented a three-part plan.

First, it says export restrictions should be kept to a minimum.

Second, the EU would encourage vaccine developers to enter deals with producers in developing countries and pledge increased supplies to vulnerable nations, as some have done.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccine-makers-oppose-ip-waiver-say-manufacturing-hurdles-slowing-rollout-379755">Vaccine makers oppose IP waiver, say manufacturing hurdles slowing rollout</a>

Third, the EU plan highlights existing WTO rules allowing countries to grant licences to manufacturers even without the consent of the patent-holder, although they would still receive compensation.

A Commission official said the proposal aimed to remove ambiguity, clarifying that the pandemic meant "compulsory licences" could be granted without having to negotiate with patent-holders first. Compensation could be kept to a minimum to ensure affordable prices.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccine-waiver-talks-a-chance-for-wto-to-show-its-relevance-us-trade-chief-tai-385138">Vaccine waiver talks a chance for WTO to show its relevance: US trade chief Tai</a>

Medical humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the EU proposal was pushing only voluntary action by companies rather than the concrete legal solution a&nbsp;waiver&nbsp;would offer.

It added the existing "compulsory licensing" had critical shortcomings and that the EU plan was limited to vaccines.

The European Union on Friday submitted a plan to the World Trade Organization that it believes will more effectively broaden the supply of COVID-19 vaccines than the intellectual property (IP) rights waiver backed by the United States.

The European Union on Friday submitted a plan to the World Trade Organization that it believes will more effectively broaden the supply of COVID-19 vaccines than the intellectual property (IP) rights waiver backed by the United States. India, South Africa and dozens of developing countries are demanding the waiver to address what they say is a "staggering inequity" in access to vaccines and other COVID-19 treatments. Also Read | BRICS foreign ministers back India-South Africa vaccine waiver proposal A surprise US shift in May to support a waiver heaped pressure on remaining opponents, such as the European Union and Switzerland that are home to many drugmakers. The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-nation EU, said on Friday it had submitted an alternative, focused on limits on export restrictions and making use of flexibility in existing WTO rules. The World Trade Organization will next be able to discuss the plan at meetings planned next Tuesday and Wednesday. Also Read | COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver will not be enough to bridge supply gap: WTO The EU contends that a waiver would not boost production and presented a three-part plan. First, it says export restrictions should be kept to a minimum. Second, the EU would encourage vaccine developers to enter deals with producers in developing countries and pledge increased supplies to vulnerable nations, as some have done. Also Read | Vaccine makers oppose IP waiver, say manufacturing hurdles slowing rollout Third, the EU plan highlights existing WTO rules allowing countries to grant licences to manufacturers even without the consent of the patent-holder, although they would still receive compensation. A Commission official said the proposal aimed to remove ambiguity, clarifying that the pandemic meant "compulsory licences" could be granted without having to negotiate with patent-holders first. Compensation could be kept to a minimum to ensure affordable prices. Also Read | Vaccine waiver talks a chance for WTO to show its relevance: US trade chief Tai Medical humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the EU proposal was pushing only voluntary action by companies rather than the concrete legal solution a waiver would offer. It added the existing "compulsory licensing" had critical shortcomings and that the EU plan was limited to vaccines.

Resisting patent waiver, EU submits vaccine plan to WTO

Russia may provide <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> vaccinations for a fee to foreigners who travel to the country, President Vladimir&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;told an economic forum on Friday, as Moscow seeks to enhance its global reputation with its Sputnik V <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine</a>.

Addressing the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF),&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;said many people are coming to Russia to get a shot. "I am asking the government to study this issue in full by the end of the month, to establish conditions for foreign citizens to get vaccinated in our country for a fee," he said without providing more detail.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-accuses-russia-of-using-its-sputnik-v-covid-19-vaccine-as-propaganda-tool-373370">France accuses Russia of using its Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine as 'propaganda' tool</a>

The Russian vaccine has been approved by 66 nations and is under review both by the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency(EMA). Approval by the latter agency is required for use in the European Union.

The pace of vaccination in Russia has been slower than in many developed countries. The health minister said last week around 17 million of Russia's 144 million people had received at least one dose.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/long-queues-in-pakistan-to-buy-sputnik-v-as-commercial-sales-begin-375476">Long queues in Pakistan to buy Sputnik V as commercial sales begin</a>

Those attending the conference were required to have coronavirus tests and wear masks and gloves. Moscow pitches the gathering as the Russian version of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Many other big global events were either cancelled or moved online amid the pandemic.

Attended by a couple thousand people, the SPIEF is intended to attract foreign investment to Russia, but activity was more subdued this year.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sputnik-light-russias-single-dose-covid-vaccine-will-be-produced-in-india-383304">Sputnik Light, Russia's single-dose Covid vaccine will be produced in India</a>

Rosneft, Russia's top oil company, skipped its usual booth, and its CEO, Igor Sechin, decided against running a public panel about the global oil market as he has traditionally done.

Sechin, in a mask and gloves, told a Reuters correspondent to "mind a distance" when approached. The former and current CEOs of BP Plc, Bob Dudley and Bernard Looney, were there in masks. BP holds a 19.75 per cent stake in Rosneft.

Russia may provide coronavirus vaccinations for a fee to foreigners who travel to the country, President Vladimir Putin told an economic forum on Friday, as Moscow seeks to enhance its global reputation with its Sputnik V vaccine.

Russia may provide coronavirus vaccinations for a fee to foreigners who travel to the country, President Vladimir Putin told an economic forum on Friday, as Moscow seeks to enhance its global reputation with its Sputnik V vaccine. Addressing the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin said many people are coming to Russia to get a shot. "I am asking the government to study this issue in full by the end of the month, to establish conditions for foreign citizens to get vaccinated in our country for a fee," he said without providing more detail. Also Read | France accuses Russia of using its Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine as 'propaganda' tool The Russian vaccine has been approved by 66 nations and is under review both by the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency(EMA). Approval by the latter agency is required for use in the European Union. The pace of vaccination in Russia has been slower than in many developed countries. The health minister said last week around 17 million of Russia's 144 million people had received at least one dose. Also Read | Long queues in Pakistan to buy Sputnik V as commercial sales begin Those attending the conference were required to have coronavirus tests and wear masks and gloves. Moscow pitches the gathering as the Russian version of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Many other big global events were either cancelled or moved online amid the pandemic. Attended by a couple thousand people, the SPIEF is intended to attract foreign investment to Russia, but activity was more subdued this year. Also Read | Sputnik Light, Russia's single-dose Covid vaccine will be produced in India Rosneft, Russia's top oil company, skipped its usual booth, and its CEO, Igor Sechin, decided against running a public panel about the global oil market as he has traditionally done. Sechin, in a mask and gloves, told a Reuters correspondent to "mind a distance" when approached. The former and current CEOs of BP Plc, Bob Dudley and Bernard Looney, were there in masks. BP holds a 19.75 per cent stake in Rosneft.

Putin plans to offer vaccinations to visiting foreigners for a fee

Dedra Spears Johnson was working as a social worker in a suburb of the US capital Washington at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1990s when she concluded Black women's needs weren't being met by efforts to fight the disease.

Highly effective medications had recently been approved, but the people around her were hitting economic barriers and cultural taboos that prevented access.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hivaids-vaccine-why-dont-we-have-one-after-37-years-when-we-have-several-for-covid-19-after-a-few-months-385776">HIV/AIDS vaccine: Why don’t we have one after 37 years, when we have several for COVID-19 after a few months?</a>

"There's a shame about feeling they have this dirty disease," Spears Johnson,&nbsp;who in 1999 co-founded a nonprofit group called Heart to Hand Inc to broaden access to testing, treatments and education, told AFP.&nbsp;

"In our community, we don't talk about sex."&nbsp;

Forty years after US scientists documented the first cases of what would later be identified as HIV, life-saving medications have brought infection rates crashing down, but racial disparities are now wider than ever.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/argentina-second-person-known-to-be-naturally-cured-of-hiv-raises-hopes-for-millions-370742">Argentina: Second person known to be naturally cured of HIV raises hopes for millions</a>

Black Americans went from making up 29 per cent of new infections in 1981 to 41 per cent in 2019, despite accounting for only 13 per cent of the US population, according to a new government report.

Part of the problem stems from the fragmented nature of the country's health care system.&nbsp;

Tens of millions are either uninsured or underinsured or reliant on government insurance for those with low incomes called Medicaid.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-trials-for-potential-hiv-vaccine-show-optimistic-results-375864">New trials for potential HIV vaccine show optimistic results</a>

On a recent visit by AFP, Heart to Hand was inundated with calls.&nbsp;

One of the callers, the receptionist told Spears Johnson, wanted to know whether Medicaid would cover treatment.

Spears Johnson said it wouldn't, but they would find another way.

'Death sentence'

On June 5, 1981, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its first report describing five young white gay men diagnosed with a rare lung infection.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hiv-self-test-prices-to-be-slashed-in-half-in-135-countries-381086">HIV self-test prices to be slashed in half in 135 countries</a>

Two were dead by the time of publication and the rest would soon follow, marking the start of the AIDS crisis. Today, there are an estimated 1.2 million Americans living with HIV.&nbsp;

"When I first started seeing patients with HIV, it was largely a death sentence for the infected person," Johns Hopkins University medical professor Charles Flexner, who was a medical student at the time, told AFP.

The epidemic peaked in the mid-1980s, but in 1987 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first antiretroviral drug azidothymidine (AZT), offering a ray of hope.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-in-tell-all-interview-billy-porter-reveals-hes-had-hiv-since-14-years-386150">In tell-all interview, Billy Porter reveals he's had HIV since 14 years</a>

Its toxicity and propensity to cause anaemia however proved too much for some patients, particularly those already weakened by the disease.&nbsp;

More effective treatments called tri-therapies came along in 1995 and 1996, but a patient had to take 12-16 pills a day, which often made them sick.&nbsp;

"Ann," a Black woman who was infected in 1997 by an ex-husband who later died from AIDS, said the pills were also difficult to hide.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/how-can-she-have-hiv-pakistan-town-struggles-with-surge-in-infections-223487">'How can she have HIV?': Pakistan town struggles with surge in infections</a>

"Some had to be refrigerated," said Ann, who declined to give her real name, fearing rejection from family and friends she loves to cook for.&nbsp;

"But I didn't want anyone to see it in my fridge. So I would keep it in a cool drawer."

Turning point&nbsp;

The emotional and physical tolls endured by patients would pay off when in 1996, AIDS-related deaths declined for the first time in the United States.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/surge-in-deaths-due-to-hiv-tuberculosis-and-malaria-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-study-313145">Surge in deaths due to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria amid coronavirus pandemic: Study</a>

The FDA's approval in 2012 of a pill called PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, led to further dramatic reductions.&nbsp;

This medicine, taken once a day, reduces the risk of getting HIV by about 99 per cent.

But again, racial disparities are glaring.&nbsp;

Only 23 per cent of people who could benefit from it were using it in 2019. This included 63 per cent of white people, but only 14 per cent of Hispanics and eight per cent of Black people.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-berlin-patient-first-person-to-be-cured-of-hiv-dies-due-to-cancer-331454">'The Berlin patient' - First person to be cured of HIV dies due to cancer</a>

One of the most at-risk groups is gay Black men, and studies have shown this is not because they engage in more risk-associated behaviours but rather that HIV is already much more prevalent in the demographic.

Beyond this, a "lack of resources and historic underfunding has plagued Black gay communities," said a 2015 report by amFAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.&nbsp;

David Wilson, a 33-year-old Black gay man who is HIV-negative, told AFP he decided to start PrEP after finding out his partner "stepped out", had sex with someone else,&nbsp;and became infected.&nbsp;

"I'm completely realistic with my sexual practices and the things I like to do," Wilson said. "That's why I decided to get on PrEP."

'We don't give up on anybody'&nbsp;

Wilson is being treated at Whitman-Walker, a sexual health clinic in downtown Washington started by gay men in the 1970s, which found itself poised to recognize the beginnings of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s.

Former Whitman-Walker board director SaVanna Wanzer, a Black transgender woman activist, became one of the infected in 1985.&nbsp;

"AIDS was classified as a gay man's disease, and they treated you like you were the lowest specimen in the world," Wanzer said.&nbsp;

Few knew how the disease was transmitted at the time, and Wanzer described patients being left alone in isolated rooms to die with "all their lunch trays stacked up in front of the door."

Back then, one of Whitman-Walker's goals was to help patients to die with dignity.&nbsp;

Today, they offer a streamlined system for affordable access to HIV prevention and care. Uninsured patients are connected to "Insurance Navigators" with the goal of getting a same-day prescription.

Sometimes, helping people get the care they need can be straightforward as providing assistance like child care or transportation, explained Spears Johnson.

"We look at structural barriers to health care," she said. "And we don't give up on anybody."

Dedra Spears Johnson was working as a social worker in a suburb of the US capital Washington at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1990s when she concluded Black women's needs weren't being met by efforts to fight the disease.

Dedra Spears Johnson was working as a social worker in a suburb of the US capital Washington at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1990s when she concluded Black women's needs weren't being met by efforts to fight the disease. Highly effective medications had recently been approved, but the people around her were hitting economic barriers and cultural taboos that prevented access. Also Read | HIV/AIDS vaccine: Why don’t we have one after 37 years, when we have several for COVID-19 after a few months? "There's a shame about feeling they have this dirty disease," Spears Johnson, who in 1999 co-founded a nonprofit group called Heart to Hand Inc to broaden access to testing, treatments and education, told AFP. "In our community, we don't talk about sex." Forty years after US scientists documented the first cases of what would later be identified as HIV, life-saving medications have brought infection rates crashing down, but racial disparities are now wider than ever. Also Read | Argentina: Second person known to be naturally cured of HIV raises hopes for millions Black Americans went from making up 29 per cent of new infections in 1981 to 41 per cent in 2019, despite accounting for only 13 per cent of the US population, according to a new government report. Part of the problem stems from the fragmented nature of the country's health care system. Tens of millions are either uninsured or underinsured or reliant on government insurance for those with low incomes called Medicaid. Also Read | New trials for potential HIV vaccine show optimistic results On a recent visit by AFP, Heart to Hand was inundated with calls. One of the callers, the receptionist told Spears Johnson, wanted to know whether Medicaid would cover treatment. Spears Johnson said it wouldn't, but they would find another way. 'Death sentence' On June 5, 1981, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its first report describing five young white gay men diagnosed with a rare lung infection. Also Read | HIV self-test prices to be slashed in half in 135 countries Two were dead by the time of publication and the rest would soon follow, marking the start of the AIDS crisis. Today, there are an estimated 1.2 million Americans living with HIV. "When I first started seeing patients with HIV, it was largely a death sentence for the infected person," Johns Hopkins University medical professor Charles Flexner, who was a medical student at the time, told AFP. The epidemic peaked in the mid-1980s, but in 1987 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first antiretroviral drug azidothymidine (AZT), offering a ray of hope. Also Read | In tell-all interview, Billy Porter reveals he's had HIV since 14 years Its toxicity and propensity to cause anaemia however proved too much for some patients, particularly those already weakened by the disease. More effective treatments called tri-therapies came along in 1995 and 1996, but a patient had to take 12-16 pills a day, which often made them sick. "Ann," a Black woman who was infected in 1997 by an ex-husband who later died from AIDS, said the pills were also difficult to hide. Also Read | 'How can she have HIV?': Pakistan town struggles with surge in infections "Some had to be refrigerated," said Ann, who declined to give her real name, fearing rejection from family and friends she loves to cook for. "But I didn't want anyone to see it in my fridge. So I would keep it in a cool drawer." Turning point The emotional and physical tolls endured by patients would pay off when in 1996, AIDS-related deaths declined for the first time in the United States. Also Read | Surge in deaths due to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria amid coronavirus pandemic: Study The FDA's approval in 2012 of a pill called PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, led to further dramatic reductions. This medicine, taken once a day, reduces the risk of getting HIV by about 99 per cent. But again, racial disparities are glaring. Only 23 per cent of people who could benefit from it were using it in 2019. This included 63 per cent of white people, but only 14 per cent of Hispanics and eight per cent of Black people. Also Read | 'The Berlin patient' - First person to be cured of HIV dies due to cancer One of the most at-risk groups is gay Black men, and studies have shown this is not because they engage in more risk-associated behaviours but rather that HIV is already much more prevalent in the demographic. Beyond this, a "lack of resources and historic underfunding has plagued Black gay communities," said a 2015 report by amFAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. David Wilson, a 33-year-old Black gay man who is HIV-negative, told AFP he decided to start PrEP after finding out his partner "stepped out", had sex with someone else, and became infected. "I'm completely realistic with my sexual practices and the things I like to do," Wilson said. "That's why I decided to get on PrEP." 'We don't give up on anybody' Wilson is being treated at Whitman-Walker, a sexual health clinic in downtown Washington started by gay men in the 1970s, which found itself poised to recognize the beginnings of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s. Former Whitman-Walker board director SaVanna Wanzer, a Black transgender woman activist, became one of the infected in 1985. "AIDS was classified as a gay man's disease, and they treated you like you were the lowest specimen in the world," Wanzer said. Few knew how the disease was transmitted at the time, and Wanzer described patients being left alone in isolated rooms to die with "all their lunch trays stacked up in front of the door." Back then, one of Whitman-Walker's goals was to help patients to die with dignity. Today, they offer a streamlined system for affordable access to HIV prevention and care. Uninsured patients are connected to "Insurance Navigators" with the goal of getting a same-day prescription. Sometimes, helping people get the care they need can be straightforward as providing assistance like child care or transportation, explained Spears Johnson. "We look at structural barriers to health care," she said. "And we don't give up on anybody."

Forty years on, Black Americans disproportionately hit by HIV

A new report launched by UNESCO highlights the need for policy measures to reach gender parity in the cultural and creative industries, despite recent progress in promoting gender equality. 
 
The report titled 'Gender &amp; Creativity: Progress on the Precipice' explores existing, and at times widening, gender gaps in the field, notably in the context of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>, and calls for a new commitment and transformative actions to promote gender equality.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-hungary-push-against-gender-equality-at-eu-social-summit-383530">Poland, Hungary push against 'gender equality' at EU social summit</a> 
 
The digital divide remains a pressing concern, with women disproportionately facing obstacles to access digital tools for artistic creation and distribution, including digital music platforms, online tutorials, and sound-mixing software. For example, it is estimated that worldwide, 250 million fewer women than men use the Internet, and women still represent only 21 per cent of performers in electronic music festivals in Europe and North America, said UNESCO in a statement. 
 
"From the technological perspective, the digital gender divide is leaving women and girls behind in all areas of political, economic, cultural and social life, resulting in isolation and limited access to tools and reliable information. Achieving gender equality will mean overcoming these vulnerabilities, and this is especially so for women working in the cultural and creative sectors," says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-tokyo-2020-chief-needs-deep-understanding-of-gender-equality-organisers-364037">New Tokyo 2020 chief needs deep understanding of gender equality: Organisers</a> 
 
The report also highlights innovative gender policies, measures and programmes from around the world that can serve as a model for policymakers. 
 
According to UNESCO, gender equality is fundamental to ensuring a genuine diversity of cultural expressions and equal opportunities in artistic work and cultural employment.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/towards-a-gender-equal-world-a-mission-for-all-345415">Towards a gender-equal world: A mission for all</a> 
 
Qualitative and quantitative data, however, reveals that women and gender diverse artists and creators continue to face numerous barriers, including unequal access to decent work, fair remuneration, and leadership positions. 
 
In Uruguay, for example, it is estimated that women occupy 25 per cent of managerial positions in public and private cultural organisations, 24 per cent in Montenegro and only 3 per cent in Mali.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gender-equality-swiss-army-to-start-issuing-female-underwear-for-women-recruits-374452">Gender equality: Swiss Army to start issuing female underwear for women recruits</a> 
 
In Indonesia, a recent study shows that while female professionals are advancing in the film industry as a whole, they are still largely underrepresented in creative decision-making roles, representing only 20 per cent of scriptwriters, 19 per cent of producers and 7 per cent of directors. In France, where women direct 34 per cent of visual and performing arts organisations subsidized by the Ministry of Culture and 43 per cent of museums, only 9 per cent of directors of the 100 largest cultural enterprises are women.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/women-have-to-wait-1356-years-to-be-on-equal-footing-with-men-world-economic-forum-374431">Women have to wait 135.6 years to be on equal footing with men: World Economic Forum</a> 
 
The report also examines the safety and well-being of people of all genders in the workplace. Women and gender-diverse artists and creative professionals continue to be the targets of harassment, bullying and abuse. In recent years, the digital environment has become the new frontier in the fight for gender equality and artistic freedom. 
 
According to Lisabona Rahman, founder of the Sinematik Gak Harus Toxic (Cinema does not Need to be Toxic) campaign in Indonesia, "The prevailing demeaning attitude towards women is the source of harassment and abuse and as long as men continue to dominate powerful positions in the industry and perpetuate heteronormativity, it will not end."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-ranks-153rd-out-of-156-countries-on-gender-inequality-374608">Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 156 countries on gender inequality</a>&nbsp; 
 
The overwhelmingly negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender equality is well-documented, from the rise in gender-based violence, the disproportionate absence of girl children from online classes, to female professionals` limited eligibility for social and economic assistance. Although women have played a key role in responding to the crisis, gender inequalities have widened across the board, says UNESCO. 
 
According to the report, without the systematic application of a gender perspective to policy responses, COVID-19 could have a long-lasting regressive effect on gender equality in the cultural and creative industries, as women are disproportionately represented in culture and other sectors most affected by the pandemic.

A new report launched by UNESCO highlights the need for policy measures to reach gender parity in the cultural and creative industries, despite recent progress in promoting gender equality.

A new report launched by UNESCO highlights the need for policy measures to reach gender parity in the cultural and creative industries, despite recent progress in promoting gender equality. The report titled 'Gender & Creativity: Progress on the Precipice' explores existing, and at times widening, gender gaps in the field, notably in the context of COVID-19, and calls for a new commitment and transformative actions to promote gender equality. Also Read | Poland, Hungary push against 'gender equality' at EU social summit The digital divide remains a pressing concern, with women disproportionately facing obstacles to access digital tools for artistic creation and distribution, including digital music platforms, online tutorials, and sound-mixing software. For example, it is estimated that worldwide, 250 million fewer women than men use the Internet, and women still represent only 21 per cent of performers in electronic music festivals in Europe and North America, said UNESCO in a statement. "From the technological perspective, the digital gender divide is leaving women and girls behind in all areas of political, economic, cultural and social life, resulting in isolation and limited access to tools and reliable information. Achieving gender equality will mean overcoming these vulnerabilities, and this is especially so for women working in the cultural and creative sectors," says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Also Read | New Tokyo 2020 chief needs deep understanding of gender equality: Organisers The report also highlights innovative gender policies, measures and programmes from around the world that can serve as a model for policymakers. According to UNESCO, gender equality is fundamental to ensuring a genuine diversity of cultural expressions and equal opportunities in artistic work and cultural employment. Also Read | Towards a gender-equal world: A mission for all Qualitative and quantitative data, however, reveals that women and gender diverse artists and creators continue to face numerous barriers, including unequal access to decent work, fair remuneration, and leadership positions. In Uruguay, for example, it is estimated that women occupy 25 per cent of managerial positions in public and private cultural organisations, 24 per cent in Montenegro and only 3 per cent in Mali. Also Read | Gender equality: Swiss Army to start issuing female underwear for women recruits In Indonesia, a recent study shows that while female professionals are advancing in the film industry as a whole, they are still largely underrepresented in creative decision-making roles, representing only 20 per cent of scriptwriters, 19 per cent of producers and 7 per cent of directors. In France, where women direct 34 per cent of visual and performing arts organisations subsidized by the Ministry of Culture and 43 per cent of museums, only 9 per cent of directors of the 100 largest cultural enterprises are women. Also Read | Women have to wait 135.6 years to be on equal footing with men: World Economic Forum The report also examines the safety and well-being of people of all genders in the workplace. Women and gender-diverse artists and creative professionals continue to be the targets of harassment, bullying and abuse. In recent years, the digital environment has become the new frontier in the fight for gender equality and artistic freedom. According to Lisabona Rahman, founder of the Sinematik Gak Harus Toxic (Cinema does not Need to be Toxic) campaign in Indonesia, "The prevailing demeaning attitude towards women is the source of harassment and abuse and as long as men continue to dominate powerful positions in the industry and perpetuate heteronormativity, it will not end." Also Read | Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 156 countries on gender inequality The overwhelmingly negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender equality is well-documented, from the rise in gender-based violence, the disproportionate absence of girl children from online classes, to female professionals` limited eligibility for social and economic assistance. Although women have played a key role in responding to the crisis, gender inequalities have widened across the board, says UNESCO. According to the report, without the systematic application of a gender perspective to policy responses, COVID-19 could have a long-lasting regressive effect on gender equality in the cultural and creative industries, as women are disproportionately represented in culture and other sectors most affected by the pandemic.

UNESCO reports persistent gender bias in cultural, creative industries

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a&nbsp;World&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Organization&nbsp;(WHO) senior adviser&nbsp;said on Friday.

Warning of a "two-track recovery," the WHO is urging wealthy countries to donate their surplus doses to poorer countries instead of giving them to less vulnerable groups, such as children. They have so far donated 150 million doses via the COVAX sharing scheme.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reconsider-vaccinating-children-donate-to-covax-says-who-chief-as-he-warns-against-deadliest-year-385082">'Reconsider vaccinating children, donate to Covax,' says WHO chief as he warns against 'deadliest year'</a>

However, Bruce Aylward said on Friday that only a small portion of those doses will be available in the short-term in June, July and August when they can make a difference in slowing the pace of infections in the global pandemic.

"We are going to need twice that much and it's got to be brought forward," he said, referring to the size of wealthy country donations so far as G7&nbsp;health&nbsp;ministers meet in Oxford.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-chief-urges-covid-19-vaccine-makers-to-advance-doses-for-covax-385692">WHO chief urges COVID-19 vaccine makers to advance doses for COVAX</a>

"We don't have enough confirmed doses from enough countries early enough to get the&nbsp;world&nbsp;on track to get out of this," he said. "We are setting up for failure if we don't get early doses."

He praised a US&nbsp;plan announced on Thursday (June 3) to quickly share 25 million doses and encouraged other wealthy countries to follow suit.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-distribute-80-million-vaccine-doses-through-covax-india-included-in-list-white-house-389263">US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House</a>

Aylward estimated that Indian vaccine export disruptions and delays in getting other vaccines online meant that the COVAX sharing scheme had a gap of around 200 million doses.

India's Serum Institute has diverted AstraZeneca supplies to the domestic market amid a devastating second wave in India and is expected to lift those restrictions in the fourth quarter when other products earmarked for COVAX are also due online.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tedros-denounces-vaccine-inequity-as-covax-sharing-scheme-marks-first-year-379526">Tedros denounces vaccine inequity as COVAX sharing scheme marks first year</a>

Even after a summit this week that secured an additional $2.4 billion in pledges, a nearly $17 billion funding gap for the WHO's "ACT Accelerator" to back COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics remain, he said.

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a World Health Organization (WHO) senior adviser said on Friday.

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a World Health Organization (WHO) senior adviser said on Friday. Warning of a "two-track recovery," the WHO is urging wealthy countries to donate their surplus doses to poorer countries instead of giving them to less vulnerable groups, such as children. They have so far donated 150 million doses via the COVAX sharing scheme. Also Read | 'Reconsider vaccinating children, donate to Covax,' says WHO chief as he warns against 'deadliest year' However, Bruce Aylward said on Friday that only a small portion of those doses will be available in the short-term in June, July and August when they can make a difference in slowing the pace of infections in the global pandemic. "We are going to need twice that much and it's got to be brought forward," he said, referring to the size of wealthy country donations so far as G7 health ministers meet in Oxford. Also Read | WHO chief urges COVID-19 vaccine makers to advance doses for COVAX "We don't have enough confirmed doses from enough countries early enough to get the world on track to get out of this," he said. "We are setting up for failure if we don't get early doses." He praised a US plan announced on Thursday (June 3) to quickly share 25 million doses and encouraged other wealthy countries to follow suit. Also Read | US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House Aylward estimated that Indian vaccine export disruptions and delays in getting other vaccines online meant that the COVAX sharing scheme had a gap of around 200 million doses. India's Serum Institute has diverted AstraZeneca supplies to the domestic market amid a devastating second wave in India and is expected to lift those restrictions in the fourth quarter when other products earmarked for COVAX are also due online. Also Read | Tedros denounces vaccine inequity as COVAX sharing scheme marks first year Even after a summit this week that secured an additional $2.4 billion in pledges, a nearly $17 billion funding gap for the WHO's "ACT Accelerator" to back COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics remain, he said.

WHO warns of 'failure' unless rich countries speed up vaccine sharing

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