It's going to be a tough call for Japan to make a second cancellation or risking a super spreader but that's what this pandemic is all about. While making tough calls, some leaders have thrived under the pressure, while others panicked. &nbsp;

The most crucial toss-up was between lockdowns and jobs. There is science to back both. Lockdowns act as circuit breakers as they flatten the curve and give governments breathing space. Last year, most countries used lockdowns to build their health systems. It has come in handy now during the second wave. On the flip side, lockdowns kill jobs. That's a fact as happened with daily wagers, gig workers and others.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-boris-johnson-let-the-bodies-pile-high-380948/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

They don't have job security. The moment businesses shut down, they are unemployed. So, that's the choice for most leaders. Life versus livelihood and it's not as simple as it sounds. Many people will tell you that livelihood comes second but chances are these people have secure jobs. Striking this delicate balance is tough but it's important to make this decision with compassion. Something British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apparently failed to do. &nbsp;

This story is from October 2020. Britain was dealing with a new wave of infections. So, Johnson chaired a meeting to discuss a second lockdown. He grudgingly agreed to it but this is what he supposedly said after the meeting. "No more lockdowns. Let the bodies pile high in their thousands." The prime minister used some colourful language in his remarks. Boris Johnson would have rather presided over a bloodbath than impose a third lockdown, and, for the record, he did end up ordering a third lockdown. That's what saved Britain from complete collapse. &nbsp;

Leaders have resigned over far less in Britain, but Boris Johnson is not going down without a fight. He has denied making these remarks. The prime minister says he would rather focus on making the lockdowns work. For a man of many words, Johnson had very little to say about these reports.&nbsp;

Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, said, “No, but again, I think the important thing people want us to get on and do, as a government, is to make sure that the lockdowns work and they have, and I really pay tribute to the people of this country, this whole country, that have really pulled together and working with the vaccination programme, we've got the disease under control.”&nbsp;

Johnson has also deployed his ministers to defend him. Senior Minister Michael Gove says he was in the room for all pandemic meetings. He says he never heard language of this sort from the prime minister. &nbsp;

&nbsp;Gove&nbsp;said, “The prime minister made a decision in that meeting to trigger a second lockdown; he made a subsequent decision to trigger a third lockdown. This is a prime minister, who was in hospital himself, in intensive care. The idea that he would say any such thing I find incredible. I was in that room, I never heard language of that kind.”&nbsp;

Only a public inquiry can get to the bottom of this, but one thing is certain. This wouldn't be Boris Johnson's first outrageous remark. When the coronavirus first came to Britain, he couldn't care less. Johnson made it a point to shake hands with everyone and then last month, he dropped another gem and said greed and capitalism helped Britain vaccinate effectively. He later called it a joke.

So, these new remarks are not beyond the British Prime Minister but it's his word against the British media's.

Letting bodies pile up is not a strategy, it is a death sentence. And unlike what many people think, this is not a toss-up between mass deaths and mass unemployment. There can be a middle ground. &nbsp;

In fact, the United Kingdom is a great example of this. They are running a massive furlough scheme through the pandemic. Millions of gig workers are out of work, but they are still getting paid. So, despite three lockdowns, there is no mass joblessness. &nbsp;

Just six days back, Britain reported a dip in its unemployment rate. So, you can have the best of both worlds but in some countries, things haven't panned out so well. Look at Brazil. President Jair Bolsonaro thinks lockdowns are deadlier than the virus and his countrymen are paying for it.&nbsp;

Same in the United States. Donald Trump resisted lockdowns throughout 2020. As a result, more than 500,000 Americans are dead. The bottom line is, lockdowns work but the tradeoff depends on how you manage it. Our lockdowns have also evolved since last year. We now have local lockdowns, mini lockdowns, and night curfews. So, the bitter pill is not as bitter anymore. &nbsp;

This doesn't make the choice any easier for leaders, but that's the job. No government has been perfect during this pandemic, their letups have cost lives, but it's important to be honest and compassionate about it. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It's going to be a tough call for Japan to make a second cancellation or risking a super spreader but that's what this pandemic is all about. While making tough calls, some leaders have thrived under the pressure, while others panicked.

It's going to be a tough call for Japan to make a second cancellation or risking a super spreader but that's what this pandemic is all about. While making tough calls, some leaders have thrived under the pressure, while others panicked. The most crucial toss-up was between lockdowns and jobs. There is science to back both. Lockdowns act as circuit breakers as they flatten the curve and give governments breathing space. Last year, most countries used lockdowns to build their health systems. It has come in handy now during the second wave. On the flip side, lockdowns kill jobs. That's a fact as happened with daily wagers, gig workers and others. They don't have job security. The moment businesses shut down, they are unemployed. So, that's the choice for most leaders. Life versus livelihood and it's not as simple as it sounds. Many people will tell you that livelihood comes second but chances are these people have secure jobs. Striking this delicate balance is tough but it's important to make this decision with compassion. Something British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apparently failed to do. This story is from October 2020. Britain was dealing with a new wave of infections. So, Johnson chaired a meeting to discuss a second lockdown. He grudgingly agreed to it but this is what he supposedly said after the meeting. "No more lockdowns. Let the bodies pile high in their thousands." The prime minister used some colourful language in his remarks. Boris Johnson would have rather presided over a bloodbath than impose a third lockdown, and, for the record, he did end up ordering a third lockdown. That's what saved Britain from complete collapse. Leaders have resigned over far less in Britain, but Boris Johnson is not going down without a fight. He has denied making these remarks. The prime minister says he would rather focus on making the lockdowns work. For a man of many words, Johnson had very little to say about these reports. Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, said, “No, but again, I think the important thing people want us to get on and do, as a government, is to make sure that the lockdowns work and they have, and I really pay tribute to the people of this country, this whole country, that have really pulled together and working with the vaccination programme, we've got the disease under control.” Johnson has also deployed his ministers to defend him. Senior Minister Michael Gove says he was in the room for all pandemic meetings. He says he never heard language of this sort from the prime minister. Gove said, “The prime minister made a decision in that meeting to trigger a second lockdown; he made a subsequent decision to trigger a third lockdown. This is a prime minister, who was in hospital himself, in intensive care. The idea that he would say any such thing I find incredible. I was in that room, I never heard language of that kind.” Only a public inquiry can get to the bottom of this, but one thing is certain. This wouldn't be Boris Johnson's first outrageous remark. When the coronavirus first came to Britain, he couldn't care less. Johnson made it a point to shake hands with everyone and then last month, he dropped another gem and said greed and capitalism helped Britain vaccinate effectively. He later called it a joke. So, these new remarks are not beyond the British Prime Minister but it's his word against the British media's. Letting bodies pile up is not a strategy, it is a death sentence. And unlike what many people think, this is not a toss-up between mass deaths and mass unemployment. There can be a middle ground. In fact, the United Kingdom is a great example of this. They are running a massive furlough scheme through the pandemic. Millions of gig workers are out of work, but they are still getting paid. So, despite three lockdowns, there is no mass joblessness. Just six days back, Britain reported a dip in its unemployment rate. So, you can have the best of both worlds but in some countries, things haven't panned out so well. Look at Brazil. President Jair Bolsonaro thinks lockdowns are deadlier than the virus and his countrymen are paying for it. Same in the United States. Donald Trump resisted lockdowns throughout 2020. As a result, more than 500,000 Americans are dead. The bottom line is, lockdowns work but the tradeoff depends on how you manage it. Our lockdowns have also evolved since last year. We now have local lockdowns, mini lockdowns, and night curfews. So, the bitter pill is not as bitter anymore. This doesn't make the choice any easier for leaders, but that's the job. No government has been perfect during this pandemic, their letups have cost lives, but it's important to be honest and compassionate about it.

COVID-19: UK PM’s ‘let the bodies pile high’ comment creates uproar

It's an idea championed by US President Joe Biden, leading economists and even the International Monetary Fund -- make the rich pay more taxes to replenish public coffers and narrow huge wealth gaps.

Biden wants to end his predecessor Donald&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;tax&nbsp;cuts for the rich and close what US officials see as loopholes benefiting the wealthiest Americans in order to fund a $1.8 trillion middle-class families spending programme.

But even as other governments seek to revive economies pummelled by the coronavirus pandemic, such initiatives would face an uphill battle as&nbsp;tax&nbsp;rates for the rich have been coming down everywhere for the past 40 years.

The prominent French economist Thomas Piketty called for a global&nbsp;tax&nbsp;of two per cent on all fortunes exceeding 10 million euros in a column in the newspaper Le Monde earlier this month.

Such a levy would raise 1.0 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion) per year, Piketty told AFP.

He said the funds could be used to narrow the gap between the world's richest and poorest nations since "the sums would be shared among all countries as a proportion of their population."

Also this month, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman, professors at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote a column in The Washington Post titled "Don't wait for billionaires to sell their stock.&nbsp;Tax&nbsp;their riches now."&nbsp;

The combined fortunes of the 400 richest Americans amount to the equivalent of 18 per cent of US gross domestic product, twice the level seen in 2010.

But Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Elon Musk of Tesla, Larry Page of Google and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook "contribute little to the public coffers," the two Frenchmen wrote.

"They structure their affairs so as to have little taxable income," by forgoing huge salaries and holding on to shares in their companies to avoid capital gains taxes, the economists argued.

Saez and Zucman suggest therefore that billionaires should be taxed on "unrealised capital gains" in the form of an exceptional levy that could raise as much as $1.0 trillion.

Biden's plan, which he will present in his first speech to Congress on Wednesday evening, would nearly double the capital gains&nbsp;tax&nbsp;to 39.6 per cent for households making over $1 million, the top 0.3 per cent of Americans.

And it would also close what the White House says is a loophole allowing the wealthiest Americans to pass down their accumulated gains to their heirs&nbsp;tax-free.

The IMF has backed the idea of raising more revenue from individuals and companies which have thrived during the pandemic.

One option would be a "Covid-19 recovery contribution" in the form of a surcharge on the personal or corporate income&nbsp;tax&nbsp;given that some "have done very well and have done very well in terms of stock market valuation," said Vitor Gaspar, head of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department, earlier this month.

"There is an opportunity there, and that is one of the options that is on the table," he said while also suggesting closing loopholes in capital income taxation, property taxes and inheritance taxes.

In a blog in January, World Bank senior adviser Jim Brumby said most countries are "extremely hesitant" to introduce wealth taxes.

"But if ever there were a time that wealth taxes could help, it may be now," he wrote, noting that inequality was "out-of-hand", with the wealthy getting "far wealthier" while Covid-19 pushed 100 million people into poverty.

However, apart from Argentina and Bolivia which have introduced an exceptional "Covid contribution" on large fortunes,&nbsp;purely symbolic in the case of La Paz,&nbsp;few countries seem willing to impose a wealth&nbsp;tax, even in the form of a one-off levy.

It is certainly not on the table in Australia, Britain or Germany, even though 54 per cent of Britons are in favour, according to a recent poll.

France, which eliminated a wealth&nbsp;tax&nbsp;in 2018 after almost three decades, has ruled out fresh hikes.

But not all economists believe a wealth&nbsp;tax&nbsp;is a good idea.

Nobel prize-winning economist Angus Deaton told Bloomberg News earlier in April that such a&nbsp;tax&nbsp;would be "very difficult to implement" and give the wealthy "huge incentives to avoid it...and avoid it they will".

It's an idea championed by US President Joe Biden, leading economists and even the International Monetary Fund -- make the rich pay more taxes to replenish public coffers and narrow huge wealth gaps.

It's an idea championed by US President Joe Biden, leading economists and even the International Monetary Fund -- make the rich pay more taxes to replenish public coffers and narrow huge wealth gaps. Biden wants to end his predecessor Donald Trump's tax cuts for the rich and close what US officials see as loopholes benefiting the wealthiest Americans in order to fund a $1.8 trillion middle-class families spending programme. But even as other governments seek to revive economies pummelled by the coronavirus pandemic, such initiatives would face an uphill battle as tax rates for the rich have been coming down everywhere for the past 40 years. The prominent French economist Thomas Piketty called for a global tax of two per cent on all fortunes exceeding 10 million euros in a column in the newspaper Le Monde earlier this month. Such a levy would raise 1.0 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion) per year, Piketty told AFP. He said the funds could be used to narrow the gap between the world's richest and poorest nations since "the sums would be shared among all countries as a proportion of their population." Also this month, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman, professors at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote a column in The Washington Post titled "Don't wait for billionaires to sell their stock. Tax their riches now." The combined fortunes of the 400 richest Americans amount to the equivalent of 18 per cent of US gross domestic product, twice the level seen in 2010. But Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Elon Musk of Tesla, Larry Page of Google and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook "contribute little to the public coffers," the two Frenchmen wrote. "They structure their affairs so as to have little taxable income," by forgoing huge salaries and holding on to shares in their companies to avoid capital gains taxes, the economists argued. Saez and Zucman suggest therefore that billionaires should be taxed on "unrealised capital gains" in the form of an exceptional levy that could raise as much as $1.0 trillion. Biden's plan, which he will present in his first speech to Congress on Wednesday evening, would nearly double the capital gains tax to 39.6 per cent for households making over $1 million, the top 0.3 per cent of Americans. And it would also close what the White House says is a loophole allowing the wealthiest Americans to pass down their accumulated gains to their heirs tax-free. The IMF has backed the idea of raising more revenue from individuals and companies which have thrived during the pandemic. One option would be a "Covid-19 recovery contribution" in the form of a surcharge on the personal or corporate income tax given that some "have done very well and have done very well in terms of stock market valuation," said Vitor Gaspar, head of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department, earlier this month. "There is an opportunity there, and that is one of the options that is on the table," he said while also suggesting closing loopholes in capital income taxation, property taxes and inheritance taxes. In a blog in January, World Bank senior adviser Jim Brumby said most countries are "extremely hesitant" to introduce wealth taxes. "But if ever there were a time that wealth taxes could help, it may be now," he wrote, noting that inequality was "out-of-hand", with the wealthy getting "far wealthier" while Covid-19 pushed 100 million people into poverty. However, apart from Argentina and Bolivia which have introduced an exceptional "Covid contribution" on large fortunes, purely symbolic in the case of La Paz, few countries seem willing to impose a wealth tax, even in the form of a one-off levy. It is certainly not on the table in Australia, Britain or Germany, even though 54 per cent of Britons are in favour, according to a recent poll. France, which eliminated a wealth tax in 2018 after almost three decades, has ruled out fresh hikes. But not all economists believe a wealth tax is a good idea. Nobel prize-winning economist Angus Deaton told Bloomberg News earlier in April that such a tax would be "very difficult to implement" and give the wealthy "huge incentives to avoid it...and avoid it they will".

Biden puts taxing rich back in spotlight

A leading charity has criticised the government's plan to reduce funding for overseas water and sanitation projects during the coronavirus pandemic after a leaked memo reveals details of cuts in the foreign aid budget.&nbsp;

If a leaked memo is to be believed, the funding for water, sanitation and hygiene bilateral projects will be cut by more than 80%.&nbsp;

According to a BBC report, WaterAid's Tim Wainwright has criticised the timing of ‘savage cuts'.&nbsp;

The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office said COVID-19 had 'forced us to take tough' decisions.&nbsp;

The government had also announced last year it would cut UK aid spending from 0.7% of national income to just 0.5%, which amounts to a reduction of more than £4bn - but it is yet to confirm which programmes will be affected.&nbsp;

The 'temporary measure' was also being defended at this time as supported by voters, with some MPs saying domestic spending should come first during the pandemic.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the UK is currently moving through its domestic priority lists for COVID-19 vaccines and therefore, has no surplus doses to share with countries in need such as India at this stage, Downing Street said recently. &nbsp;

In reference to India's devastating second wave of the pandemic, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said the process is kept under constant review, while the country sends an assistance package made up of 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators to India to meet the supply shortages over the course of the week. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The first tranche of 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen concentrators arrived in New Delhi early on Tuesday. &nbsp;

"We committed in February to sending excess doses from the UK's supply to the COVAX procurement pool and to countries in need, once they are available," the UK PM's spokesperson said. &nbsp;

"Right now, we are moving through the UK prioritisation list for our domestic rollout and don't have surplus doses, but we keep this under constant review. We recognise that no one is safe until we're all safe in this pandemic which is why the UK has contributed GBP 548 million to COVAX and sent vital medical supplies to India," the spokesperson said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A leading charity has criticised the government's plan to reduce funding for overseas water and sanitation projects during the coronavirus pandemic after a leaked memo reveals details of cuts in the foreign aid budget.

A leading charity has criticised the government's plan to reduce funding for overseas water and sanitation projects during the coronavirus pandemic after a leaked memo reveals details of cuts in the foreign aid budget. If a leaked memo is to be believed, the funding for water, sanitation and hygiene bilateral projects will be cut by more than 80%. According to a BBC report, WaterAid's Tim Wainwright has criticised the timing of ‘savage cuts'. The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office said COVID-19 had 'forced us to take tough' decisions. The government had also announced last year it would cut UK aid spending from 0.7% of national income to just 0.5%, which amounts to a reduction of more than £4bn - but it is yet to confirm which programmes will be affected. The 'temporary measure' was also being defended at this time as supported by voters, with some MPs saying domestic spending should come first during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the UK is currently moving through its domestic priority lists for COVID-19 vaccines and therefore, has no surplus doses to share with countries in need such as India at this stage, Downing Street said recently. In reference to India's devastating second wave of the pandemic, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said the process is kept under constant review, while the country sends an assistance package made up of 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators to India to meet the supply shortages over the course of the week. The first tranche of 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen concentrators arrived in New Delhi early on Tuesday. "We committed in February to sending excess doses from the UK's supply to the COVAX procurement pool and to countries in need, once they are available," the UK PM's spokesperson said. "Right now, we are moving through the UK prioritisation list for our domestic rollout and don't have surplus doses, but we keep this under constant review. We recognise that no one is safe until we're all safe in this pandemic which is why the UK has contributed GBP 548 million to COVAX and sent vital medical supplies to India," the spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies)

UK’s aid cuts for clean water projects overseas criticised 

After refusing to sell vaccine raw materials, the US is now trying to undo the damage.&nbsp; President Joe Biden spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night and promised to send emergency assistance. This includes oxygen supplies, vaccine materials and medicines. On Monday, an Air India flight picked up oxygen concentrators from New York. &nbsp;

This is a welcome shift. Remember, America was reluctant to help. It changed, after it was slammed the world over. Not only for refusing to help India, but also for hoarding vaccines. &nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-bill-gates-says-no-to-sharing-vaccine-formulas-to-developing-world-380867/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

America wants to send up to 60,000,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to different countries. When will that happen? After American regulators check the safety of the shots. It could take weeks and even months. So, there are no clear timelines. The world is not America's priority. So, why is it sharing vaccines at all? Because it's got too many of them, more than 550,000,000 excess doses.&nbsp;

That's what you call hoarding. Countries like China and India exported more than 40 per cent of their supplies. Even the European Union had shared 42 per cent of its supplies. What about the United States? It exported zero shots. What about the United Kingdom? Again, zero. &nbsp;

Countries like the US and the UK represent the global elite. The rich, who booked millions of doses well in advance. Now, they have extra vaccines, enough to inoculate their population three times and in some cases, five times. But they haven't shared anything with the world and they are making sure this system does not change.&nbsp;

They won't share vaccines, or patents. Life-saving drugs have been locked in patents. &nbsp;

Reports say during the phone call, Prime Minister Modi pressed President Biden about this. India has been pushing for a waiver on vaccine patents at the World Trade Organisation. The US and the UK have aggressively blocked this proposal, backing them are the European Union and Japan.&nbsp;

After the phone call, a senior official of the Biden administration was asked if America will relent. Will the United States back a patent waiver? Team Biden said it has nothing to share on this front.

And it's not just governments&nbsp;who are putting patents over lives. Even individuals, who make up the global elite, are championing the cause of big pharma. The likes of Bill Gates, the billionaire philanthropist, believes vaccine formulas should not be shared with the developing world. On Sunday, Bill Gates was asked if it would be helpful for intellectual property protections to be lifted. He responded with an emphatic no. &nbsp;

Because he fears that lifting patent rights even temporarily could comprise the safety of vaccines. Gates believes in keeping the circle tight, that ideas like moving production from a Johnson &amp; Johnson factory to a facility in India are novel and they only happen 'because of our grants and expertise'.&nbsp;

“There's only so many vaccine factories in the world and people are very serious about the safety of vaccines. So, moving something that had never been done, moving a vaccine, say, from a (Johnson &amp; Johnson) factory into a factory in India, it's novel, it's only because of our grants and expertise that can happen at all,” said Gates, who was toeing the line of big pharma. &nbsp;

According to a report, every vaccine maker has its own secret recipes and supply chains, and they insist that no other approach is possible. &nbsp;

This is exactly why the world is lagging behind in the global vaccination drive. It's because the supplies have been limited by design. Only a few companies are being allowed to make vaccines right now. More than one billion shots have been administered so far. 87 per cent of these have gone to rich countries. One in four people in wealthy countries have got a jab. What about the poor countries? Just one in 500 have got a shot in these nations. &nbsp;

According to a report, only 0.2 per cent of the doses made so far have been dispensed to low-income countries. This is not just a question of inequity. This strategy will come back to bite the rich, because at this rate, the pandemic will take years to end. And if it doesn't end in the poor countries, it won't end in the rich ones either as this virus mutates and jumps borders. &nbsp;

Around 185,00,000 doses are being administered daily around the world. At this pace, it would take at least 19 more months to inoculate 75 per cent of the world population, which means extending this pandemic for at least two more years. If the world wants to end this pandemic, it must end vaccine patents first.&nbsp;

After refusing to sell vaccine raw materials, the US is now trying to undo the damage. President Joe Biden spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night and promised to send emergency assistance.

After refusing to sell vaccine raw materials, the US is now trying to undo the damage. President Joe Biden spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night and promised to send emergency assistance. This includes oxygen supplies, vaccine materials and medicines. On Monday, an Air India flight picked up oxygen concentrators from New York. This is a welcome shift. Remember, America was reluctant to help. It changed, after it was slammed the world over. Not only for refusing to help India, but also for hoarding vaccines. America wants to send up to 60,000,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to different countries. When will that happen? After American regulators check the safety of the shots. It could take weeks and even months. So, there are no clear timelines. The world is not America's priority. So, why is it sharing vaccines at all? Because it's got too many of them, more than 550,000,000 excess doses. That's what you call hoarding. Countries like China and India exported more than 40 per cent of their supplies. Even the European Union had shared 42 per cent of its supplies. What about the United States? It exported zero shots. What about the United Kingdom? Again, zero. Countries like the US and the UK represent the global elite. The rich, who booked millions of doses well in advance. Now, they have extra vaccines, enough to inoculate their population three times and in some cases, five times. But they haven't shared anything with the world and they are making sure this system does not change. They won't share vaccines, or patents. Life-saving drugs have been locked in patents. Reports say during the phone call, Prime Minister Modi pressed President Biden about this. India has been pushing for a waiver on vaccine patents at the World Trade Organisation. The US and the UK have aggressively blocked this proposal, backing them are the European Union and Japan. After the phone call, a senior official of the Biden administration was asked if America will relent. Will the United States back a patent waiver? Team Biden said it has nothing to share on this front. And it's not just governments who are putting patents over lives. Even individuals, who make up the global elite, are championing the cause of big pharma. The likes of Bill Gates, the billionaire philanthropist, believes vaccine formulas should not be shared with the developing world. On Sunday, Bill Gates was asked if it would be helpful for intellectual property protections to be lifted. He responded with an emphatic no. Because he fears that lifting patent rights even temporarily could comprise the safety of vaccines. Gates believes in keeping the circle tight, that ideas like moving production from a Johnson & Johnson factory to a facility in India are novel and they only happen 'because of our grants and expertise'. “There's only so many vaccine factories in the world and people are very serious about the safety of vaccines. So, moving something that had never been done, moving a vaccine, say, from a (Johnson & Johnson) factory into a factory in India, it's novel, it's only because of our grants and expertise that can happen at all,” said Gates, who was toeing the line of big pharma. According to a report, every vaccine maker has its own secret recipes and supply chains, and they insist that no other approach is possible. This is exactly why the world is lagging behind in the global vaccination drive. It's because the supplies have been limited by design. Only a few companies are being allowed to make vaccines right now. More than one billion shots have been administered so far. 87 per cent of these have gone to rich countries. One in four people in wealthy countries have got a jab. What about the poor countries? Just one in 500 have got a shot in these nations. According to a report, only 0.2 per cent of the doses made so far have been dispensed to low-income countries. This is not just a question of inequity. This strategy will come back to bite the rich, because at this rate, the pandemic will take years to end. And if it doesn't end in the poor countries, it won't end in the rich ones either as this virus mutates and jumps borders. Around 185,00,000 doses are being administered daily around the world. At this pace, it would take at least 19 more months to inoculate 75 per cent of the world population, which means extending this pandemic for at least two more years. If the world wants to end this pandemic, it must end vaccine patents first.

Will rich countries share vaccines or patents? 

Japan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that a Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning after passing through waters between two Japanese islands returned to the East China Sea from the Pacific.&nbsp;

The ministry said the Maritime Self-Defence Force confirmed that during the period from Monday to Tuesday, the Liaoning, accompanied by five other vessels, sailed northward between Okinawa's main island and Miyakojima Island, and then entered the East China Sea, reported NHK World.&nbsp;

Early in April, the fleet was seen sailing south in the same area and entering the Pacific.&nbsp;

This is the second time that the Chinese aircraft carrier has passed between the two Japanese islands on a round trip.&nbsp;

The Defence Ministry also said that, after entering the East China Sea, an early warning helicopter was viewed taking off from the Liaoning and coming around 50 to 100 kilometers to the northeast of Taisho Island, part of Japan's Senkaku Islands. This prompted the Air Self-Defence Force's aircraft to scramble.&nbsp;

Japan controls the Senkaku islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.&nbsp;

The Defence Ministry said that the helicopter did not violated Japan's airspace. It added that the Chinese fleet did not violated Japan's territorial waters, reported NHK World.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Japan has welcomed the United Kingdom's plan to deploy a fleet led by its new flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth, to the Indo-Pacific region.&nbsp;

Beijing announced earlier this month that the aircraft carrier group had conducted a naval exercise in the waters near Taiwan.&nbsp;

Indo-Pacific region is largely viewed as an area comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.&nbsp;

China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its efforts to advance into the Indian Ocean are seen to have challenged the established rules-based system.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Japan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that a Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning after passing through waters between two Japanese islands returned to the East China Sea from the Pacific.

Japan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that a Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning after passing through waters between two Japanese islands returned to the East China Sea from the Pacific. The ministry said the Maritime Self-Defence Force confirmed that during the period from Monday to Tuesday, the Liaoning, accompanied by five other vessels, sailed northward between Okinawa's main island and Miyakojima Island, and then entered the East China Sea, reported NHK World. Early in April, the fleet was seen sailing south in the same area and entering the Pacific. This is the second time that the Chinese aircraft carrier has passed between the two Japanese islands on a round trip. The Defence Ministry also said that, after entering the East China Sea, an early warning helicopter was viewed taking off from the Liaoning and coming around 50 to 100 kilometers to the northeast of Taisho Island, part of Japan's Senkaku Islands. This prompted the Air Self-Defence Force's aircraft to scramble. Japan controls the Senkaku islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them. The Defence Ministry said that the helicopter did not violated Japan's airspace. It added that the Chinese fleet did not violated Japan's territorial waters, reported NHK World. Meanwhile, Japan has welcomed the United Kingdom's plan to deploy a fleet led by its new flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth, to the Indo-Pacific region. Beijing announced earlier this month that the aircraft carrier group had conducted a naval exercise in the waters near Taiwan. Indo-Pacific region is largely viewed as an area comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea. China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its efforts to advance into the Indian Ocean are seen to have challenged the established rules-based system. (With inputs from agencies)

China's aggression continues as Liaoning sails between Japanese islands

Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday called on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed ways to further cement bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and post-pandemic economic recovery.&nbsp;

The Chinese defence minister arrived here along with a high-level delegation on Tuesday on a two-day official visit after he made a brief trip to Bangladesh.&nbsp;

"Had a fruitful discussion with #china defense minister General Wei Fenghe this morning. This visit will further strengthen the ties between two countries," the president tweeted along with photographs of their meeting.&nbsp;

The Chinese defence minister also called on President Gotabaya's brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.&nbsp;

"I conveyed my gratitude to the Govt Of China for the generous donation of Sinopharm vaccines and PPE kits since the outbreak of the #COVID19 pandemic," the Prime Minister tweeted.&nbsp;

"We also discussed post-pandemic economic recovery and steps to be taken to ensure economic stability. Assistance in rebuilding investor confidence and attracting investments- I explained is a key priority for #SriLanka and essential in the path to economic growth of the country," Mahinda Rajapaksa said in another tweet.&nbsp;

Earlier, a Sri Lankan delegation led by Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) had a fruitful discussion with the visiting Chinese delegation led by General Wei, the Sri Lankan defence ministry said in a press release.&nbsp;

Recalling the long existed bilateral ties between two countries, General Gunaratne said China had been a 'historical ally' of Sri Lanka across a multitude of avenues including Buddhism, trade, infrastructure development and global connectivity.&nbsp;

He also appreciated the recent supportive measure extended by Beijing during the UN Human Rights Council resolution tabled against Sri Lanka, the statement said.&nbsp;

The UN body passed a strong resolution, which establishes a new accountability process to collect, analyse and preserve evidence of international crimes allegedly committed in Sri Lanka for use in future prosecutions. &nbsp;

"We are looking forward to work together with Sri Lanka to enhance practical cooperation and to promote bilateral relations to a greater extent,” said Wei, while highlighting the existing military ties between two countries.&nbsp;

The Chinese defence minister also launched the official website of the Chinese National Defence University Alumni Association of Sri Lanka, the statement said. &nbsp;

The two sides also signed a military assistance protocol, it said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday called on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed ways to further cement bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and post-pandemic economic recovery.

Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on Wednesday called on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed ways to further cement bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and post-pandemic economic recovery. The Chinese defence minister arrived here along with a high-level delegation on Tuesday on a two-day official visit after he made a brief trip to Bangladesh. "Had a fruitful discussion with #china defense minister General Wei Fenghe this morning. This visit will further strengthen the ties between two countries," the president tweeted along with photographs of their meeting. The Chinese defence minister also called on President Gotabaya's brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. "I conveyed my gratitude to the Govt Of China for the generous donation of Sinopharm vaccines and PPE kits since the outbreak of the #COVID19 pandemic," the Prime Minister tweeted. "We also discussed post-pandemic economic recovery and steps to be taken to ensure economic stability. Assistance in rebuilding investor confidence and attracting investments- I explained is a key priority for #SriLanka and essential in the path to economic growth of the country," Mahinda Rajapaksa said in another tweet. Earlier, a Sri Lankan delegation led by Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) had a fruitful discussion with the visiting Chinese delegation led by General Wei, the Sri Lankan defence ministry said in a press release. Recalling the long existed bilateral ties between two countries, General Gunaratne said China had been a 'historical ally' of Sri Lanka across a multitude of avenues including Buddhism, trade, infrastructure development and global connectivity. He also appreciated the recent supportive measure extended by Beijing during the UN Human Rights Council resolution tabled against Sri Lanka, the statement said. The UN body passed a strong resolution, which establishes a new accountability process to collect, analyse and preserve evidence of international crimes allegedly committed in Sri Lanka for use in future prosecutions. "We are looking forward to work together with Sri Lanka to enhance practical cooperation and to promote bilateral relations to a greater extent,” said Wei, while highlighting the existing military ties between two countries. The Chinese defence minister also launched the official website of the Chinese National Defence University Alumni Association of Sri Lanka, the statement said. The two sides also signed a military assistance protocol, it said. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese def minister calls on Lanka's leaders; discusses steps to boost ties

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The proposed dam, which one Chinese official said has 'no parallel in history' will be built in Medog county, where the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is located. Medog is the last county in Tibet, which is located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border.&nbsp;

The plan to build the mega-dam, which is part of China's 14th five-year plan beginning from this year, was approved by China's Parliament, the National People's Congress in March this year.&nbsp;

But the engineers are concerned about the threats posed by landslides and barrier lakes to the dam, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.&nbsp;

“But an icy obstacle could put a halt to much of the plan. In 2018, a landslide caused by a melting glacier blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo 'the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River' at the Sedongpu Basin in Milin county," it said.&nbsp;

It formed a lake containing about 600 million cubic metres of water. With the river spilling over the top at present, the dam could collapse at any time, it said.&nbsp;

The Sedongpu lake sits just a few dozen kilometres upstream from the planned construction site of the super hydropower plant. With so much water hanging overhead, no construction workers can move in to clear the ground, it said.&nbsp;

To build the big dam, they must get rid of the small dam formed by the landslide first, the report said.&nbsp;

India and Bangladesh, the lower riparian states, have raised concerns over China's plan to build the massive dam on Brahmaputra River. But China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday.

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday. The proposed dam, which one Chinese official said has 'no parallel in history' will be built in Medog county, where the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is located. Medog is the last county in Tibet, which is located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border. The plan to build the mega-dam, which is part of China's 14th five-year plan beginning from this year, was approved by China's Parliament, the National People's Congress in March this year. But the engineers are concerned about the threats posed by landslides and barrier lakes to the dam, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. “But an icy obstacle could put a halt to much of the plan. In 2018, a landslide caused by a melting glacier blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo 'the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River' at the Sedongpu Basin in Milin county," it said. It formed a lake containing about 600 million cubic metres of water. With the river spilling over the top at present, the dam could collapse at any time, it said. The Sedongpu lake sits just a few dozen kilometres upstream from the planned construction site of the super hydropower plant. With so much water hanging overhead, no construction workers can move in to clear the ground, it said. To build the big dam, they must get rid of the small dam formed by the landslide first, the report said. India and Bangladesh, the lower riparian states, have raised concerns over China's plan to build the massive dam on Brahmaputra River. But China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind. (With inputs from agencies)

Melting glaciers threaten China's plan to build massive dam over Brahmaputra in Tibet: Report  

ADB on Wednesday said the Indian economy is projected to grow at 11 per cent in the current financial year on the back of the strong vaccination programme, but cautioned that second wave of Covid is worrying.&nbsp;

"India's economy is expected to grow 11 per cent in fiscal year (FY) 2021, which ends on March 31, 2022, amid a strong vaccine drive. However, the recent surge in COVID-19 cases may put this recovery at risk," said the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021.&nbsp;

Continued economic recovery boosted by increased public investment, vaccine rollout and a surge in domestic demand will trigger this strong rebound, ADB said.&nbsp;

The predictions are based on assumption that there is extensive vaccine deployment across the country and the second wave of coronavirus is contained.&nbsp;

According to ADB's flagship publication Asian Development Outlook, "the second wave of COVID-19 cases is worrying, especially if vaccine rollout faulters or fails to contain it."&nbsp;

Another risk is the further tightening of global financial conditions, which would apply pressure on India's market interest rates and therefore affect economic normalisation, the report added.&nbsp;

Going further, ADB forecasts India's economic growth to moderate to seven per cent in FY2022, on account of disappearance of base effect.&nbsp;

The economy is expected to have contracted by eight per cent in FY2020, in line with the government's second advance estimate, it said.&nbsp;

ADB Country Director for India Takeo Konishi said India's economy faced its worst contraction in FY2020 due to the COVID-19 shock.&nbsp;

"With large government stimulus and the ongoing vaccination drive, we expect economic activity will continue its recovery that started from the third quarter of FY2020 and rebound strongly in the current fiscal year with an uptick in domestic demand, especially in urban services," said Konishi.&nbsp;

The government's boost to public investment through its infrastructure push, incentives for manufacturing, and continued support to boost rural incomes will support India's accelerated recovery, Konishi said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

ADB on Wednesday said the Indian economy is projected to grow at 11 per cent in the current financial year on the back of the strong vaccination programme, but cautioned that second wave of Covid is worrying.

ADB on Wednesday said the Indian economy is projected to grow at 11 per cent in the current financial year on the back of the strong vaccination programme, but cautioned that second wave of Covid is worrying. "India's economy is expected to grow 11 per cent in fiscal year (FY) 2021, which ends on March 31, 2022, amid a strong vaccine drive. However, the recent surge in COVID-19 cases may put this recovery at risk," said the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021. Continued economic recovery boosted by increased public investment, vaccine rollout and a surge in domestic demand will trigger this strong rebound, ADB said. The predictions are based on assumption that there is extensive vaccine deployment across the country and the second wave of coronavirus is contained. According to ADB's flagship publication Asian Development Outlook, "the second wave of COVID-19 cases is worrying, especially if vaccine rollout faulters or fails to contain it." Another risk is the further tightening of global financial conditions, which would apply pressure on India's market interest rates and therefore affect economic normalisation, the report added. Going further, ADB forecasts India's economic growth to moderate to seven per cent in FY2022, on account of disappearance of base effect. The economy is expected to have contracted by eight per cent in FY2020, in line with the government's second advance estimate, it said. ADB Country Director for India Takeo Konishi said India's economy faced its worst contraction in FY2020 due to the COVID-19 shock. "With large government stimulus and the ongoing vaccination drive, we expect economic activity will continue its recovery that started from the third quarter of FY2020 and rebound strongly in the current fiscal year with an uptick in domestic demand, especially in urban services," said Konishi. The government's boost to public investment through its infrastructure push, incentives for manufacturing, and continued support to boost rural incomes will support India's accelerated recovery, Konishi said. (With inputs from agencies)

India's GDP to grow at 11pc this fiscal; second wave of Covid a worry: ADB  

Indonesian police said they shot dead one and arrested 17 other people as they broke up a major drug ring attempting to smuggle more than 2.5 tonnes (5,000 pounds) of methamphetamine originating from Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Police found the first load of more than 1,278 tonnes board a ship that docked in Aceh Besar district on April 10. Five days later, police seized another 1,267 tonnes from Aceh Barat district, said the chief of Indonesia's National Police, Listyo Sigit Prabowo.&nbsp;

He said that one of the suspects was shot dead during the arrest. The suspects included one Nigerian and the rest are Indonesians.&nbsp;

The ring in Aceh was connected to six prisoners, who are currently serving sentences in the province, said Agus Andrianto, head of the Criminal Investigation Department. He said the network involved people in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Malaysia and those in the prison.&nbsp;

Indonesia has very strict drug laws and convicted traffickers are often executed by a firing squad. More than 150 people are on death row, mostly for drug crimes, and about a third of them are foreigners. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian police said they shot dead one and arrested 17 other people as they broke up a major drug ring attempting to smuggle more than 2.5 tonnes (5,000 pounds) of methamphetamine originating from Afghanistan.

Indonesian police said they shot dead one and arrested 17 other people as they broke up a major drug ring attempting to smuggle more than 2.5 tonnes (5,000 pounds) of methamphetamine originating from Afghanistan. Police found the first load of more than 1,278 tonnes board a ship that docked in Aceh Besar district on April 10. Five days later, police seized another 1,267 tonnes from Aceh Barat district, said the chief of Indonesia's National Police, Listyo Sigit Prabowo. He said that one of the suspects was shot dead during the arrest. The suspects included one Nigerian and the rest are Indonesians. The ring in Aceh was connected to six prisoners, who are currently serving sentences in the province, said Agus Andrianto, head of the Criminal Investigation Department. He said the network involved people in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Malaysia and those in the prison. Indonesia has very strict drug laws and convicted traffickers are often executed by a firing squad. More than 150 people are on death row, mostly for drug crimes, and about a third of them are foreigners. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesia seizes 2.5 tonnes of meth; 1 dead, 17 arrested in operation

Budget carrier SpiceJet's dedicated freighter arm SpiceXpress on Wednesday said it has airlifted 1,000 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi amid a nationwide shortage of medical oxygen in the country.&nbsp;

Ordered by SpiceHealth for emergency use and distribution across India, the oxygen concentrators will reach Delhi via Kolkata, SpiceJet said in a release.&nbsp;

An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that concentrates oxygen from ambient air.&nbsp;

This is the second big consignment of oxygen concentrators ordered and delivered to SpiceHealth with more than 2,000 such concentrators getting transported in the last two weeks, SpiceJet said.&nbsp;

The company is looking at bringing about 20,000 oxygen concentrators in the coming days from across the globe, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh said.&nbsp;

SpiceHealth has been working actively with state governments and hospitals across the country to address the issue of acute shortage of oxygen, the company said.&nbsp;

"Considering the current situation across the country, our focus is to airlift as many oxygen concentrators, BiPAPs, and other medical devices as possible to cater to the increasing demand. SpiceJet and SpiceHealth are collaborating actively to contribute in our country's dedicated efforts to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," Singh said.&nbsp;

With a network spanning 63 domestic and 50 international destinations and a fleet of 19 cargo planes, SpiceXpress is capable of flying over 600 tonnes of cargo daily to domestic and international destinations. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Budget carrier SpiceJet's dedicated freighter arm SpiceXpress on Wednesday said it has airlifted 1,000 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi amid a nationwide shortage of medical oxygen in the country.

Budget carrier SpiceJet's dedicated freighter arm SpiceXpress on Wednesday said it has airlifted 1,000 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi amid a nationwide shortage of medical oxygen in the country. Ordered by SpiceHealth for emergency use and distribution across India, the oxygen concentrators will reach Delhi via Kolkata, SpiceJet said in a release. An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that concentrates oxygen from ambient air. This is the second big consignment of oxygen concentrators ordered and delivered to SpiceHealth with more than 2,000 such concentrators getting transported in the last two weeks, SpiceJet said. The company is looking at bringing about 20,000 oxygen concentrators in the coming days from across the globe, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh said. SpiceHealth has been working actively with state governments and hospitals across the country to address the issue of acute shortage of oxygen, the company said. "Considering the current situation across the country, our focus is to airlift as many oxygen concentrators, BiPAPs, and other medical devices as possible to cater to the increasing demand. SpiceJet and SpiceHealth are collaborating actively to contribute in our country's dedicated efforts to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," Singh said. With a network spanning 63 domestic and 50 international destinations and a fleet of 19 cargo planes, SpiceXpress is capable of flying over 600 tonnes of cargo daily to domestic and international destinations. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: 1,000 oxygen concentrators airlifted from Hong Kong to Delhi 

Authorities in northern Italy announced on Monday, they had identified two cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus, in a father and daughter recently returned from India.

The news follows reports of another case in the central region of Tuscany last month, and comes after the Italian government banned arrivals from the virus-hit country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="'Finally!' Italy reopens as parliament debates recovery plan">'Finally!' Italy reopens as parliament debates recovery plan</a>

"Today in (the city of) Bassano we have the first two patients, two Indians," announced Luca Zaia, head of the Veneto region.

Bassano, in the province of Vicenza, lies some 65 kilometres (40 miles) north-east of Venice.&nbsp;

The two patients were identified as a father and adult daughter of Indian origin who recently returned from a trip to India. They are currently isolating at home.

Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Sunday announced a new ban on anyone entering Italy who has been in India in the past 14 days.&nbsp;

India is battling a catastrophic, record-breaking outbreak that has overwhelmed hospitals and set crematoriums&nbsp;working at full capacity.

Authorities in northern Italy announced on Monday, they had identified two cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus, in a father and daughter recently returned from India.

Authorities in northern Italy announced on Monday, they had identified two cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus, in a father and daughter recently returned from India. The news follows reports of another case in the central region of Tuscany last month, and comes after the Italian government banned arrivals from the virus-hit country. Also read: 'Finally!' Italy reopens as parliament debates recovery plan "Today in (the city of) Bassano we have the first two patients, two Indians," announced Luca Zaia, head of the Veneto region. Bassano, in the province of Vicenza, lies some 65 kilometres (40 miles) north-east of Venice. The two patients were identified as a father and adult daughter of Indian origin who recently returned from a trip to India. They are currently isolating at home. Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Sunday announced a new ban on anyone entering Italy who has been in India in the past 14 days. India is battling a catastrophic, record-breaking outbreak that has overwhelmed hospitals and set crematoriums working at full capacity.

Indian Covid variant found in northern Italy

As night falls in Sudan, villagers rush to pull over travellers with a friendly roadblock of hospitality celebrating Islam's holy fasting month of Ramzan, traditions enduring despite dire economic troubles.

Rugs are rolled out on the roadside verge in an impromptu al fresco dining room to celebrate iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal to mark the end of a baking hot day without either a mouthful of food or a drop to drink.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="UK Muslims urged to get Covid-19 jab during Ramadan">UK Muslims urged to get Covid-19 jab during Ramadan</a>

"This is a custom that our grandparents began," said Aboulmaali Mohamed Ibrahim, offering a meal in the village of Nuba, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Sudan's capital Khartoum.

"They began inviting travellers for meals following the construction of this road in the 1960s."

To fasting travellers, the meal is a much welcomed break from their exhausting long trips on Sudan's often rutted roads.

But to residents living in villages along the road, it is part of upholding Sudan's long-held traditions of hospitality to strangers and, amid a tough economic crisis, proof that the important things in life must remain the same.

The call for the evening prayer announces the end of another fasting day.

A feast is provided. Parched travellers, struggling after a day in the sun without liquid, are firstly handed a cool and refreshing squeezed juice.

Jugs of the local speciality "hilw-mor", or "bitter-sweet", a drink spiced with ginger and cinnamon, is also poured into cups.

Then an array of traditional food ranging from porridge to plump dates is placed out for all to share.

While some villagers are laying out the food, others are still busy waving to stop cars and buses on the busy highway, encouraging people to stop and join.

Ibrahim, despite struggling on the meagre income he earns as teacher, has insisted on sharing his iftar meal every day since Ramzan began on April 13.

"We just bring whatever we have to the iftar table, no matter how little it is,"&nbsp;he said.

Sudan has been struggling since the April 2019 toppling of hardline president Omar al-Bashir, following protests against his rule triggered by economic hardship.&nbsp;

Severe shortages of food staples and price hikes remain among the pressing issues, two years after Bashir's fall, said Ibrahim.

Inflation last month shot up over 330 per cent, the government said.

People now often queue for hours to buy basic foods or to fill their cars with petrol.

Households suffer from frequent power cuts, and gas canisters for cooking are often hard to find.

The transitional government, which came to power after Bashir's ouster, has embarked on painful reforms hoped to rebuild the economy.

In February, it introduced a managed float to the local currency in an attempt to close the yawning gap between the official and black market rates.

Other bold measures include reducing costly subsidies on fuel and other commodities.

But others fear the measures risk fanning popular discontent before coming to fruition. &nbsp;

Mudather Saad, another villager from Nuba, says they typically host around 150-200 travellers to the iftar meals each evening -- but on busy nights even more.

"Our guests sometimes exceed 300 -- especially on weekends," said Saad, as he joined other villagers to block the road and beckon travellers to eat.&nbsp;

With only minutes to go before the call to prayer, Saad and others flag down a bus packed with some 60 passengers.

Omar Hussein, the bus driver, travels the route regularly and is always stopped as iftar time approaches.

"I never worry about missing iftar," Hussein said. "I am always sure someone will offer us something on the way." &nbsp;

As night falls in Sudan, villagers rush to pull over travellers with a friendly roadblock of hospitality celebrating Islam's holy fasting month of Ramzan, traditions enduring despite dire economic troubles.

As night falls in Sudan, villagers rush to pull over travellers with a friendly roadblock of hospitality celebrating Islam's holy fasting month of Ramzan, traditions enduring despite dire economic troubles. Rugs are rolled out on the roadside verge in an impromptu al fresco dining room to celebrate iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal to mark the end of a baking hot day without either a mouthful of food or a drop to drink. Also read: UK Muslims urged to get Covid-19 jab during Ramadan "This is a custom that our grandparents began," said Aboulmaali Mohamed Ibrahim, offering a meal in the village of Nuba, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Sudan's capital Khartoum. "They began inviting travellers for meals following the construction of this road in the 1960s." To fasting travellers, the meal is a much welcomed break from their exhausting long trips on Sudan's often rutted roads. But to residents living in villages along the road, it is part of upholding Sudan's long-held traditions of hospitality to strangers and, amid a tough economic crisis, proof that the important things in life must remain the same. The call for the evening prayer announces the end of another fasting day. A feast is provided. Parched travellers, struggling after a day in the sun without liquid, are firstly handed a cool and refreshing squeezed juice. Jugs of the local speciality "hilw-mor", or "bitter-sweet", a drink spiced with ginger and cinnamon, is also poured into cups. Then an array of traditional food ranging from porridge to plump dates is placed out for all to share. While some villagers are laying out the food, others are still busy waving to stop cars and buses on the busy highway, encouraging people to stop and join. Ibrahim, despite struggling on the meagre income he earns as teacher, has insisted on sharing his iftar meal every day since Ramzan began on April 13. "We just bring whatever we have to the iftar table, no matter how little it is," he said. Sudan has been struggling since the April 2019 toppling of hardline president Omar al-Bashir, following protests against his rule triggered by economic hardship. Severe shortages of food staples and price hikes remain among the pressing issues, two years after Bashir's fall, said Ibrahim. Inflation last month shot up over 330 per cent, the government said. People now often queue for hours to buy basic foods or to fill their cars with petrol. Households suffer from frequent power cuts, and gas canisters for cooking are often hard to find. The transitional government, which came to power after Bashir's ouster, has embarked on painful reforms hoped to rebuild the economy. In February, it introduced a managed float to the local currency in an attempt to close the yawning gap between the official and black market rates. Other bold measures include reducing costly subsidies on fuel and other commodities. But others fear the measures risk fanning popular discontent before coming to fruition. Mudather Saad, another villager from Nuba, says they typically host around 150-200 travellers to the iftar meals each evening -- but on busy nights even more. "Our guests sometimes exceed 300 -- especially on weekends," said Saad, as he joined other villagers to block the road and beckon travellers to eat. With only minutes to go before the call to prayer, Saad and others flag down a bus packed with some 60 passengers. Omar Hussein, the bus driver, travels the route regularly and is always stopped as iftar time approaches. "I never worry about missing iftar," Hussein said. "I am always sure someone will offer us something on the way."

Shrugging off economic woes, Sudanese share Ramzan meal

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