Israel Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday ordered a "massive reinforcement" in order to contain internal unrest rocking mixed Jewish and Arab communities within the country. 
&nbsp; 
"We are in an emergency situation due to the national violence and it is now necessary to have a massive reinforcement of forces on the ground, and they are to be sent immediately to enforce law and order," he said.&nbsp;

He specified the forces would be reservists from Israel's border police.

Israel is scrambling to contain unrest on two fronts. There is violence on its own street days after exchange of deadly fire with Islamist militants.

Hundreds of rockets tore through the skies over the Gaza Strip overnight

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Israel's air force launched multiple strikes with fighter jets, targeting what it described as locations linked to Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza.&nbsp;

In Gaza, 83 people were reportedly killed since Monday. This includes 17 children. The heavy bombardment has rocked Gaza and has brought entire tower blocks crumbling down.

The Israeli military said it had struck Gaza targets more than 600 times, while Hamas had fired over 1,600 rockets towards Israel.&nbsp;

Violence at al-Aqsa mosque over weekend has triggered spell of violence unmatched in last seven years. Al Aqsa mosque,&nbsp;considered a holy place by both Jews and Muslims,&nbsp;is in Jerusalem.

The unrest has been driven by anger over the looming evictions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of east Jerusalem.

'Preventing pogroms'

Coinciding with the aerial bombardments is surging violence between Arabs and Jews inside Israel.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP that violence was at a nadir not seen for decades and that police were "literally preventing pogroms from taking place".&nbsp;

Hundreds were protesting in the Arab town of Kafr Kassem in central Israel, burning tires and torching police vehicles, he said.&nbsp;

He added that nearly 1,000 border police were called in to quell the violence, and that more than 400 people had been arrested.&nbsp;

On Wednesday night, Israeli far-right groups took to the streets across the country, clashing with security forces and Arab Israelis.&nbsp;

Stalled diplomacy

The UN Security Council has held two closed-door videoconferences since Monday, with close Israeli ally Washington opposing adoption of a joint declaration, arguing it would not "help de-escalate" the situation.

Netanyahu spoke later Wednesday with Biden, who said that "Israel has a right to defend itself".

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday ordered a "massive reinforcement" in order to contain internal unrest rocking mixed Jewish and Arab communities within the country.

Israel Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday ordered a "massive reinforcement" in order to contain internal unrest rocking mixed Jewish and Arab communities within the country. "We are in an emergency situation due to the national violence and it is now necessary to have a massive reinforcement of forces on the ground, and they are to be sent immediately to enforce law and order," he said. He specified the forces would be reservists from Israel's border police. Israel is scrambling to contain unrest on two fronts. There is violence on its own street days after exchange of deadly fire with Islamist militants. Hundreds of rockets tore through the skies over the Gaza Strip overnight × Israel's air force launched multiple strikes with fighter jets, targeting what it described as locations linked to Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza. In Gaza, 83 people were reportedly killed since Monday. This includes 17 children. The heavy bombardment has rocked Gaza and has brought entire tower blocks crumbling down. The Israeli military said it had struck Gaza targets more than 600 times, while Hamas had fired over 1,600 rockets towards Israel. Violence at al-Aqsa mosque over weekend has triggered spell of violence unmatched in last seven years. Al Aqsa mosque, considered a holy place by both Jews and Muslims, is in Jerusalem. The unrest has been driven by anger over the looming evictions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of east Jerusalem. 'Preventing pogroms' Coinciding with the aerial bombardments is surging violence between Arabs and Jews inside Israel. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP that violence was at a nadir not seen for decades and that police were "literally preventing pogroms from taking place". Hundreds were protesting in the Arab town of Kafr Kassem in central Israel, burning tires and torching police vehicles, he said. He added that nearly 1,000 border police were called in to quell the violence, and that more than 400 people had been arrested. On Wednesday night, Israeli far-right groups took to the streets across the country, clashing with security forces and Arab Israelis. Stalled diplomacy The UN Security Council has held two closed-door videoconferences since Monday, with close Israeli ally Washington opposing adoption of a joint declaration, arguing it would not "help de-escalate" the situation. Netanyahu spoke later Wednesday with Biden, who said that "Israel has a right to defend itself". (With inputs from agencies)

Israel orders 'massive reinforcement' of forces to quell unrest in cities after Gaza violence

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that there was no evidence of Russian government involvement in a cyberattack that crippled functioning of Colonial pipeline. The company manages huge network of fuel supply within the US.

However, Biden said that there were indications that the ransomware was "in Russia".&nbsp;

"So far there is no evidence based on, from our intelligence people, that Russia is involved," Biden said in the White House.&nbsp;

"Although there is evidence that the actors, ransomware is in Russia. They have some responsibility to deal with this."

Colonial Pipeline is slowly restoring the fuel supply. On Monday, it said that operations were being "brought back online in a stepwise fashion" after Saturday's complete shutdown due to a cyberattack.

The affected pipeline ships gasoline and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the populous East Coast through 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) of conduit, serving 50 million consumers.

Just a few days ago Colonial Pipeline operations were crippled due to a cyberattack. It was a ransomware attack. Such an attack encrypts computer systems and seeks to extract payment.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified DarkSide as the group which produced the ransomware used in the attack.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that there was no evidence of Russian government involvement in a cyberattack that crippled functioning of Colonial pipeline.

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that there was no evidence of Russian government involvement in a cyberattack that crippled functioning of Colonial pipeline. The company manages huge network of fuel supply within the US. However, Biden said that there were indications that the ransomware was "in Russia". "So far there is no evidence based on, from our intelligence people, that Russia is involved," Biden said in the White House. "Although there is evidence that the actors, ransomware is in Russia. They have some responsibility to deal with this." Colonial Pipeline is slowly restoring the fuel supply. On Monday, it said that operations were being "brought back online in a stepwise fashion" after Saturday's complete shutdown due to a cyberattack. The affected pipeline ships gasoline and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the populous East Coast through 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) of conduit, serving 50 million consumers. Just a few days ago Colonial Pipeline operations were crippled due to a cyberattack. It was a ransomware attack. Such an attack encrypts computer systems and seeks to extract payment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified DarkSide as the group which produced the ransomware used in the attack. (With inputs from agencies)

No evidence of Russian government being behind ransomware attack, says Biden

Cyberattack-hit top US pipeline network Colonial Pipeline said on Monday that it had begun phased restart of a giant US gasoline pipeline. The company said it hoped to restore operations by the end of the week.

The pipeline company said operations were being "brought back online in a stepwise fashion" after Saturday's complete shutdown due to a cyberattack.&nbsp;

While "the situation remains fluid and continues to evolve," the company said it has a goal of "substantially restoring operational service by the end of the week."

The affected pipeline ships gasoline and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the populous East Coast through 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) of conduit, serving 50 million consumers.

Just a few days ago Colonial Pipeline operations were crippled due to a cyberattack. It was a ransomware attack. Such an attack encrypts computer systems and seeks to extract payment.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified DarkSide as the group which produced the ransomware used in the attack.

DarkSide is an enigmatic group that surfaced last year with its corporate-style approach to inserting itself into a target's computers, locking them up and demanding payment in exchange for supplying the tools to digitally unfreeze them.

The shutdown raised fears gasoline prices could shoot up ahead of the Memorial Day holiday May 31, but oil and gasoline prices were little changed near 1710 GMT.

(With inputs from agencies)

Cyberattack-hit top US pipeline network Colonial Pipeline said on Monday that it had begun phased restart of a giant US gasoline pipeline. The company said it hoped to restore operations by the end of the week.

Cyberattack-hit top US pipeline network Colonial Pipeline said on Monday that it had begun phased restart of a giant US gasoline pipeline. The company said it hoped to restore operations by the end of the week. The pipeline company said operations were being "brought back online in a stepwise fashion" after Saturday's complete shutdown due to a cyberattack. While "the situation remains fluid and continues to evolve," the company said it has a goal of "substantially restoring operational service by the end of the week." The affected pipeline ships gasoline and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the populous East Coast through 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) of conduit, serving 50 million consumers. Just a few days ago Colonial Pipeline operations were crippled due to a cyberattack. It was a ransomware attack. Such an attack encrypts computer systems and seeks to extract payment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified DarkSide as the group which produced the ransomware used in the attack. DarkSide is an enigmatic group that surfaced last year with its corporate-style approach to inserting itself into a target's computers, locking them up and demanding payment in exchange for supplying the tools to digitally unfreeze them. The shutdown raised fears gasoline prices could shoot up ahead of the Memorial Day holiday May 31, but oil and gasoline prices were little changed near 1710 GMT. (With inputs from agencies)

Colonial pipeline to restore Gasoline flow this week

While the whole country faces the worst of the pandemic and the numbers of Covid positive patients run in thousands, There are some people who are ready to risk their own lives to save others.&nbsp;

Manzoor Ahmad, 48, is an Asthma patient who has been on Oxygen for the last 3 years. He drives a small truck to deliver Oxygen cylinders to Covid positive patients in need. This pandemic has not stopped him from doing his job. He says that he knows the feeling of not getting enough Oxygen and the need for these cylinders.&nbsp;

"For the sake of Humanity, if I am able to deliver the Oxygen to anyone, and save his life or he feels any relief, it's a great feeling for me. I myself am an Asthma patient, and I know how much this Oxygen means to patients at a time when their saturation is low. This is my bit of what I want to do for people," says Manzoor Ahmad, the Covid warrior.

Manzoor carries Oxygen cylinders with him in his truck 24/7. He is prone to infection as his lungs are already weak. But not only does he deliver these Oxygen cylinders to patients' homes but also gets them refilled at the Oxygen facility. He says he also has a family to feed and can't give up so early in life.

“I can't sit at home, Due to ongoing pandemic, I work and earn for my family. They are dependent on me. My medicines are expensive, around 6-7 thousand rupees per month. The family also has expenses so I have to come out. But I want people to not lose hope. They should stay strong.” said Manzoor Ahmad

Manzoor is an example of courage, who has not given up on helping others. It’s people like him who are keeping the humanity alive.

While the whole country faces the worst of the pandemic and the numbers of Covid positive patients run in thousands, There are some people who are ready to risk their own lives to save others.

While the whole country faces the worst of the pandemic and the numbers of Covid positive patients run in thousands, There are some people who are ready to risk their own lives to save others. Manzoor Ahmad, 48, is an Asthma patient who has been on Oxygen for the last 3 years. He drives a small truck to deliver Oxygen cylinders to Covid positive patients in need. This pandemic has not stopped him from doing his job. He says that he knows the feeling of not getting enough Oxygen and the need for these cylinders. "For the sake of Humanity, if I am able to deliver the Oxygen to anyone, and save his life or he feels any relief, it's a great feeling for me. I myself am an Asthma patient, and I know how much this Oxygen means to patients at a time when their saturation is low. This is my bit of what I want to do for people," says Manzoor Ahmad, the Covid warrior. Manzoor carries Oxygen cylinders with him in his truck 24/7. He is prone to infection as his lungs are already weak. But not only does he deliver these Oxygen cylinders to patients' homes but also gets them refilled at the Oxygen facility. He says he also has a family to feed and can't give up so early in life. “I can't sit at home, Due to ongoing pandemic, I work and earn for my family. They are dependent on me. My medicines are expensive, around 6-7 thousand rupees per month. The family also has expenses so I have to come out. But I want people to not lose hope. They should stay strong.” said Manzoor Ahmad Manzoor is an example of courage, who has not given up on helping others. It’s people like him who are keeping the humanity alive.

India Covid warriors: Asthmatic driver, himself on oxygen support, supplies O2 cylinders to Covid patients

China, the home country of the Wuhan virus, is trying to leverage the crisis in India. It called a meeting of South Asian foreign ministers and extended a last-minute invitation to India.

India did not attend but China's intentions were clear. With India firefighting at home, China wanted to step into India's role as the chief vaccine supplier to the region.

China has been trying to do that while promising more doses to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

And that's not all, China has also sent aid to India. Something that India did not ask for.

Oxygen concentrators, ventilators and medical supplies have come from China via the Red Cross.

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&nbsp;

The motive is not lost on anyone. This is not aid. This is China trying to portray itself as the saviour after unleashing a pandemic on the world. Beijing may want the world to forget about its cover-up. But the past keeps catching up with them.

This time it comes in the form of a book.

A book that reveals what China wanted to do with coronaviruses. The Chinese military was studying if these viruses can be used as a weapon in the future. This was five years before the pandemic began.

Chinese military scientists wrote a paper. It predicted a third world war or more specifically, a war where viruses will serve as a bio-weapon. This report was published by The Australian. The journalist behind it has written a book on the origins of the pandemic.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-fights-to-attend-who-meeting-as-china-denies-entry-384144">Taiwan fights to attend WHO meeting as China denies entry</a>

This report is a teaser for the book. It only talks about the paper written by Chinese military scientists.

Scientists from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and senior public health officials wrote the paper. It said SARS coronaviruses are "heralding a new era of genetic weapons". Weapons&nbsp;that can be artificially manipulated into a virus and later weaponised and unleashed in a way "Never seen before".

This was written five years ago.

Chinese military predicting how coronaviruses can be used as weapons,&nbsp;this&nbsp;can normally be termed as mere scientific observations. But considering it's the Chinese army, things assume different dimensions.

For the US, these revelations were deeply disturbing. They found this document while investigating the origins of the virus. Even lawmakers in the UK and Australia are concerned.

The chairmen of the British and Australian foreign affairs and intelligence committees have issued a statement. They say that the Chinese paper raises major concerns about Beijing's lack of transparency over the origins of the Wuhan virus. These claims have essentially revived all the theories around the Wuhan lab and the claim that the virus has leaked from a laboratory.

This paper itself makes no mention of Covid-19 or the Wuhan virus. It talks about coronaviruses in general, the large family of viruses ranging from common cold to SARS. The Wuhan virus is part of this family of viruses. So far, there is no clear evidence that conclusively proves that the Wuhan virus leaked from a lab accidentally or intentionally.

However, Dr Tedros, chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) hasn't dismissed this theory. He wants more investigation into this angle. Even with his compromised credentials, he has not been able to dismiss the lab theory.

So here's a question, was China thinking about building a coronavirus weapon? Experts remain suspicious about Beijing's intentions, and this is the reason why.&nbsp;They are concerned about the high-risk nature of Chinese research into coronaviruses.&nbsp;Especially the studies being conducted by scientists in Wuhan.

The infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology was allegedly conducting a "Gain of function" research. In this research, scientists create new viruses that could be more transmissible and lethal. So they were creating new variants that spread and killed faster.

Peter Jennings, Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has raised a red flag. He believes that under President Xi Jinping, there is a growing collaboration between civilian researchers and the military, a collaboration that could potentially lead to weaponisation of biological research. A collaboration that the Wuhan lab was allegedly conducting.

What does China have to say about these latest revelations?

Beijing deployed the Global Times to respond. It called this report an attempt to twist facts. China continues to deny reports, browbeat critics and whitewash evidence. But the lab theory is not going away. Every new claim, every new revelation, only adds more fuel to the fire.&nbsp;

It keeps bringing us back to the same question. What is China trying to hide about the origins of this pandemic?

China, the home country of the Wuhan virus, is trying to leverage the crisis in India. It called a meeting of South Asian foreign ministers and extended a last-minute invitation to India.

China, the home country of the Wuhan virus, is trying to leverage the crisis in India. It called a meeting of South Asian foreign ministers and extended a last-minute invitation to India. India did not attend but China's intentions were clear. With India firefighting at home, China wanted to step into India's role as the chief vaccine supplier to the region. China has been trying to do that while promising more doses to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. And that's not all, China has also sent aid to India. Something that India did not ask for. Oxygen concentrators, ventilators and medical supplies have come from China via the Red Cross. × The motive is not lost on anyone. This is not aid. This is China trying to portray itself as the saviour after unleashing a pandemic on the world. Beijing may want the world to forget about its cover-up. But the past keeps catching up with them. This time it comes in the form of a book. A book that reveals what China wanted to do with coronaviruses. The Chinese military was studying if these viruses can be used as a weapon in the future. This was five years before the pandemic began. Chinese military scientists wrote a paper. It predicted a third world war or more specifically, a war where viruses will serve as a bio-weapon. This report was published by The Australian. The journalist behind it has written a book on the origins of the pandemic. Also Read | Taiwan fights to attend WHO meeting as China denies entry This report is a teaser for the book. It only talks about the paper written by Chinese military scientists. Scientists from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and senior public health officials wrote the paper. It said SARS coronaviruses are "heralding a new era of genetic weapons". Weapons that can be artificially manipulated into a virus and later weaponised and unleashed in a way "Never seen before". This was written five years ago. Chinese military predicting how coronaviruses can be used as weapons, this can normally be termed as mere scientific observations. But considering it's the Chinese army, things assume different dimensions. For the US, these revelations were deeply disturbing. They found this document while investigating the origins of the virus. Even lawmakers in the UK and Australia are concerned. The chairmen of the British and Australian foreign affairs and intelligence committees have issued a statement. They say that the Chinese paper raises major concerns about Beijing's lack of transparency over the origins of the Wuhan virus. These claims have essentially revived all the theories around the Wuhan lab and the claim that the virus has leaked from a laboratory. This paper itself makes no mention of Covid-19 or the Wuhan virus. It talks about coronaviruses in general, the large family of viruses ranging from common cold to SARS. The Wuhan virus is part of this family of viruses. So far, there is no clear evidence that conclusively proves that the Wuhan virus leaked from a lab accidentally or intentionally. However, Dr Tedros, chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) hasn't dismissed this theory. He wants more investigation into this angle. Even with his compromised credentials, he has not been able to dismiss the lab theory. So here's a question, was China thinking about building a coronavirus weapon? Experts remain suspicious about Beijing's intentions, and this is the reason why. They are concerned about the high-risk nature of Chinese research into coronaviruses. Especially the studies being conducted by scientists in Wuhan. The infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology was allegedly conducting a "Gain of function" research. In this research, scientists create new viruses that could be more transmissible and lethal. So they were creating new variants that spread and killed faster. Peter Jennings, Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has raised a red flag. He believes that under President Xi Jinping, there is a growing collaboration between civilian researchers and the military, a collaboration that could potentially lead to weaponisation of biological research. A collaboration that the Wuhan lab was allegedly conducting. What does China have to say about these latest revelations? Beijing deployed the Global Times to respond. It called this report an attempt to twist facts. China continues to deny reports, browbeat critics and whitewash evidence. But the lab theory is not going away. Every new claim, every new revelation, only adds more fuel to the fire. It keeps bringing us back to the same question. What is China trying to hide about the origins of this pandemic?

China's past on coronavirus comes back to haunt it

Vaccine maker AstraZeneca is suffering one setback after another. The world was betting big on AstraZeneca last year before the global vaccine rollout.

But now, one of its biggest buyers is dumping AstraZeneca vaccines. The European Union (EU) will not buy more vaccines from AstraZeneca beyond June.

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&nbsp;

It was a troubled relationship from the word go. But now, it is edging closer to a break-up. The EU is turning away from AstraZeneca Wuhan virus vaccine. It has placed orders till June and not beyond.

Europe will not renew the deal with AstraZeneca.

"Who could have known last Autumn which vaccine would work or not? I think it was a good policy to buy as many vaccines with all the solutions possible, which most other countries and world powers have done. We had to buy mRNA, Adenovirus, protein subunit so we got everything that was available because no one knew what would work. We now have feedback," said Emmanuel Macron, president of France.

"We use this vaccine in France and in Europe, and we must continue to do so because it will help us get out of this crisis. But to combat the variants, on future orders, we see that other vaccines are more efficient. So this shows European pragmatism which I am proud of."

The French president is talking about Pfizer. The EU recently struck a new deal to buy more than one billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine.

When the pandemic began, the EU was betting on the AstraZeneca shot to vaccinate more than 400 million citizens. But now it has switched to Pfizer. Needless to say, that's bad news for AstraZeneca.

And only the latest in a string of setbacks, Denmark has already stopped using the shot after some patients developed rare blood clots.

Since then, Europeans have either limited the use of this vaccine or stopped administering it altogether. Sweden donated its stockpile of one million AstraZeneca vaccines to Covax. It is the WHO programme for equitable global access for vaccines.

For AstraZeneca, the final blow came from Norway.&nbsp;

Oslo too has suspended the use of this vaccine. But well before the cases of blood clots emerged, AstraZeneca and the European Union engaged in a public spat.

The European leadership blamed the company for its slow vaccine rollout. It claimed that in the first three months of 2021, AstraZeneca delivered just 30 million shots out of the promised 90 million.

In the second quarter, AstraZeneca could deliver only 70 million out of the promised 180 million doses. The tussle ultimately led to a raid by the Italian police on an AstraZeneca facility outside Rome. The EU followed this up with a lawsuit against the company.

What has happened in Europe could be the beginning of a storm for AstraZeneca. The UK has tweaked its advisory. British experts now say the shot shouldn't be given to people under 40 years of age. Canada too has limited the use of the shot.

Last week an expert panel said that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be the go-to choice for Canada. When the AstraZeneca jab was rolled out,&nbsp;it was one of the world's most promising shots because of its high efficacy and low prices.

Six months on, it is not the West's favourite shot. Blame it on pharma wars.

Or rich countries being spoilt for choice.

Vaccine maker AstraZeneca is suffering one setback after another. The world was betting big on AstraZeneca last year before the global vaccine rollout. But now, one of its biggest buyers is dumping AstraZeneca vaccines.

Vaccine maker AstraZeneca is suffering one setback after another. The world was betting big on AstraZeneca last year before the global vaccine rollout. But now, one of its biggest buyers is dumping AstraZeneca vaccines. The European Union (EU) will not buy more vaccines from AstraZeneca beyond June. × It was a troubled relationship from the word go. But now, it is edging closer to a break-up. The EU is turning away from AstraZeneca Wuhan virus vaccine. It has placed orders till June and not beyond. Europe will not renew the deal with AstraZeneca. "Who could have known last Autumn which vaccine would work or not? I think it was a good policy to buy as many vaccines with all the solutions possible, which most other countries and world powers have done. We had to buy mRNA, Adenovirus, protein subunit so we got everything that was available because no one knew what would work. We now have feedback," said Emmanuel Macron, president of France. "We use this vaccine in France and in Europe, and we must continue to do so because it will help us get out of this crisis. But to combat the variants, on future orders, we see that other vaccines are more efficient. So this shows European pragmatism which I am proud of." The French president is talking about Pfizer. The EU recently struck a new deal to buy more than one billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. When the pandemic began, the EU was betting on the AstraZeneca shot to vaccinate more than 400 million citizens. But now it has switched to Pfizer. Needless to say, that's bad news for AstraZeneca. And only the latest in a string of setbacks, Denmark has already stopped using the shot after some patients developed rare blood clots. Since then, Europeans have either limited the use of this vaccine or stopped administering it altogether. Sweden donated its stockpile of one million AstraZeneca vaccines to Covax. It is the WHO programme for equitable global access for vaccines. For AstraZeneca, the final blow came from Norway. Oslo too has suspended the use of this vaccine. But well before the cases of blood clots emerged, AstraZeneca and the European Union engaged in a public spat. The European leadership blamed the company for its slow vaccine rollout. It claimed that in the first three months of 2021, AstraZeneca delivered just 30 million shots out of the promised 90 million. In the second quarter, AstraZeneca could deliver only 70 million out of the promised 180 million doses. The tussle ultimately led to a raid by the Italian police on an AstraZeneca facility outside Rome. The EU followed this up with a lawsuit against the company. What has happened in Europe could be the beginning of a storm for AstraZeneca. The UK has tweaked its advisory. British experts now say the shot shouldn't be given to people under 40 years of age. Canada too has limited the use of the shot. Last week an expert panel said that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be the go-to choice for Canada. When the AstraZeneca jab was rolled out, it was one of the world's most promising shots because of its high efficacy and low prices. Six months on, it is not the West's favourite shot. Blame it on pharma wars. Or rich countries being spoilt for choice.

AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is no longer West's favourite jab

Vaccine hesitancy, in other words, delay or refusal to take a vaccine, is more common than thought. It is the biggest threat to global vaccine rollout. Bigger than shortage and side effects.

Vaccine hesitancy is as old as vaccines themselves. There is no single reason for it. In some places, hesitancy is based on religion. Elsewhere, it is politics. But whatever the reason,&nbsp;the end result is never good.

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Look at some of the examples from history. These are all instances where vaccine hesitancy led to outbreaks.

In 1873 in Stockholm, vaccination rate dropped from 90 per cent&nbsp;to 40 per cent. It was triggered by a religious anti-vax campaign.

A deadly smallpox epidemic spread that same year.

Another example is from UK and Ireland. In year 2000, people started linking the measles vaccine to Autism. The vaccination rates dropped below 80 per cent. There were 300 cases, 100 hospitalisations and three deaths. All of this was preventable.

The bottomline is that vaccine hesitancy is dangerous. Deadly in fact. The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks it as one of the top 10 global health threats.

A proper messaging right from the top can beat this threat.

One would expect WHO to give facts and robust advice. Instead, there is confusion and conjecture.

On Saturday, WHO's Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan was talking about Wuhan virus variant detected in India.

"The one (variant) that was first identified in India,&nbsp;the B 1.617 is likely to be a variant of concern because it has some mutations, which increase transmission, and which also potentially could make them resistant to antibodies that are generated by vaccination or by natural infection," she said.

'Likely' and 'potentially' are the words you don't want health experts to say. Because this is in the realm of possibility.

Words have consequences, especially when coming from the WHO's top scientist. She says the new variants may evade the vaccines. There are a lot of people undecided on whether to get the shot. And those people may be swayed by such remarks. They may think if the WHO says it's pointless, why take it?

This is irresponsible, not to mention dangerous. When top officials make such careless remarks, it becomes our duty to set the record straight.

The vaccines are safe and effective. Variant or not,&nbsp;make sure you get the shot at the earliest.

And can the variant really dodge the vaccine?

Last week India's top medical body ICMR published a study. It concluded that Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was effective against the double mutant.

So was the WHO not aware of this study? Or did they choose to ignore it? Or do they disagree with it?

Messaging and response from WHO has been botched up from the word go. WHO did nothing for more than a month when it got news of the virus in December 2019.

It was on January 30 that Dr Tedros finally declare a public health emergency. It took him another month to utter the word pandemic. A lot of harm was done during this time. Some countries banned travel links with China. They were declared racist by the WHO. Dr Tedros called these bans an unnecessary interference. One year later, those countries stand vindicated.

What about lockdowns? The WHO's envoy David Nabarro said lockdowns should be the last resort. Today this is true because we have vaccines. But last year, this advice made no sense. Lockdowns were humanity's first line of defence. It was a circuit breaker for countries to build up resources.

But nothing compares to the WHO's advice on masks.

The headline saying "Face masks could do more harm than good if used incorrectly" is a classic example of negative advice.

The WHO is trying to ask people to wear their masks correctly, but the statement does the opposite. It scares them.

They instead should have made a campaign video on how to wear masks correctly. This is communication 101. Positive messages stick, negative don't.&nbsp;

These are just a few instances where the WHO stumbled. Unfortunately, it happened all the time last year. From masks to lockdowns to travel bans to now vaccines.

The WHO has been like a loose cannon. Firing off assumptions and conjectures. These things are normally expected from politicians and not from health experts.

But then again, the WHO stopped being a health body in 2020.

Vaccine hesitancy, in other words, delay or refusal to take a vaccine, is more common than thought. It is the biggest threat to global vaccine rollout. Bigger than shortage and side effects.

Vaccine hesitancy, in other words, delay or refusal to take a vaccine, is more common than thought. It is the biggest threat to global vaccine rollout. Bigger than shortage and side effects. Vaccine hesitancy is as old as vaccines themselves. There is no single reason for it. In some places, hesitancy is based on religion. Elsewhere, it is politics. But whatever the reason, the end result is never good. × Look at some of the examples from history. These are all instances where vaccine hesitancy led to outbreaks. In 1873 in Stockholm, vaccination rate dropped from 90 per cent to 40 per cent. It was triggered by a religious anti-vax campaign. A deadly smallpox epidemic spread that same year. Another example is from UK and Ireland. In year 2000, people started linking the measles vaccine to Autism. The vaccination rates dropped below 80 per cent. There were 300 cases, 100 hospitalisations and three deaths. All of this was preventable. The bottomline is that vaccine hesitancy is dangerous. Deadly in fact. The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks it as one of the top 10 global health threats. A proper messaging right from the top can beat this threat. One would expect WHO to give facts and robust advice. Instead, there is confusion and conjecture. On Saturday, WHO's Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan was talking about Wuhan virus variant detected in India. "The one (variant) that was first identified in India, the B 1.617 is likely to be a variant of concern because it has some mutations, which increase transmission, and which also potentially could make them resistant to antibodies that are generated by vaccination or by natural infection," she said. 'Likely' and 'potentially' are the words you don't want health experts to say. Because this is in the realm of possibility. Words have consequences, especially when coming from the WHO's top scientist. She says the new variants may evade the vaccines. There are a lot of people undecided on whether to get the shot. And those people may be swayed by such remarks. They may think if the WHO says it's pointless, why take it? This is irresponsible, not to mention dangerous. When top officials make such careless remarks, it becomes our duty to set the record straight. The vaccines are safe and effective. Variant or not, make sure you get the shot at the earliest. And can the variant really dodge the vaccine? Last week India's top medical body ICMR published a study. It concluded that Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was effective against the double mutant. So was the WHO not aware of this study? Or did they choose to ignore it? Or do they disagree with it? Messaging and response from WHO has been botched up from the word go. WHO did nothing for more than a month when it got news of the virus in December 2019. It was on January 30 that Dr Tedros finally declare a public health emergency. It took him another month to utter the word pandemic. A lot of harm was done during this time. Some countries banned travel links with China. They were declared racist by the WHO. Dr Tedros called these bans an unnecessary interference. One year later, those countries stand vindicated. What about lockdowns? The WHO's envoy David Nabarro said lockdowns should be the last resort. Today this is true because we have vaccines. But last year, this advice made no sense. Lockdowns were humanity's first line of defence. It was a circuit breaker for countries to build up resources. But nothing compares to the WHO's advice on masks. The headline saying "Face masks could do more harm than good if used incorrectly" is a classic example of negative advice. The WHO is trying to ask people to wear their masks correctly, but the statement does the opposite. It scares them. They instead should have made a campaign video on how to wear masks correctly. This is communication 101. Positive messages stick, negative don't. These are just a few instances where the WHO stumbled. Unfortunately, it happened all the time last year. From masks to lockdowns to travel bans to now vaccines. The WHO has been like a loose cannon. Firing off assumptions and conjectures. These things are normally expected from politicians and not from health experts. But then again, the WHO stopped being a health body in 2020.

Clear message from top is needed to battle vaccine hesitancy

Russia celebrates victory over Nazi Germany with huge parade on Red Square

Indian Army has set-up a 20-bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU) hospital in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla. The hospital will be run in collaboration with civil administration of Baramulla district.&nbsp;

"To help the people in Kashmir valley, a 20 bedded hospital has been established in the Baramulla district. The people in Kashmir will get good medical facilities here," Dr Paul M Varghese, Colonel Medical team told ANI.

Varghese said that there are five beds for the severe COVID cases and the remaining 15 are assigned for mild to moderate COVID infection.

"The hospitals have oxygen concentrator facility for patients with severe and moderate infection," Municipal Councilor of Baramulla Abid Salaam said.

The administrator of COVID-19 in Baramulla district Zeeshan Khan said that the Indian Army has converted a school into a COVID hospital. Indian Army has also launched several health awareness programs in the Baramulla district to create awareness on COVID-19.&nbsp;

As per official data, there are 46,535 active cases of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Army has set-up a 20-bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU) hospital in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla. The hospital will be run in collaboration with civil administration of Baramulla district.

Indian Army has set-up a 20-bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU) hospital in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla. The hospital will be run in collaboration with civil administration of Baramulla district. "To help the people in Kashmir valley, a 20 bedded hospital has been established in the Baramulla district. The people in Kashmir will get good medical facilities here," Dr Paul M Varghese, Colonel Medical team told ANI. Varghese said that there are five beds for the severe COVID cases and the remaining 15 are assigned for mild to moderate COVID infection. "The hospitals have oxygen concentrator facility for patients with severe and moderate infection," Municipal Councilor of Baramulla Abid Salaam said. The administrator of COVID-19 in Baramulla district Zeeshan Khan said that the Indian Army has converted a school into a COVID hospital. Indian Army has also launched several health awareness programs in the Baramulla district to create awareness on COVID-19. As per official data, there are 46,535 active cases of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir. (With inputs from agencies)

Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army sets up 20-bed Covid hospital in Baramulla

Jordan asked Israel on Sunday to stop what it called 'barbaric' attacks on worshippers in Jerusalem's al-Aqsa. Jordan has custodianship of Muslims and Christian sites in Jerusalem. It said it would step up international pressure on Israel.

East Jerusalem tensions have spilled over into clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians around al Aqsa, Islam's third-holiest mosque, at the height of the Ramadan fasting month.

"What the Israeli police and special forces are doing, from violations against the mosque to attacks on worshippers, is barbaric (behaviour) that is rejected and condemned," said Jordanian government said in a statement.

Frictions have mounted in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, with nightly clashes in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah - a neighbourhood where numerous Palestinian families face eviction.

King Abdullah, whose Hashemite family claims descent from Islam's Prophet Mohammad and draws legitimacy from its custodianship role, said Israeli actions in the holy city were an escalation and called on it to end its "dangerous provocations".

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-says-israel-firm-on-jerusalem-as-global-concern-mounts-383904">Netanyahu says Israel firm on Jerusalem as global concern mounts</a>

The monarch accused Israel of trying to change the demographic status of the holy city which contains sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the kingdom, which lost East Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, would do its utmost to protect rights of Palestinians against ownership claims by Jewish settlers.

"Israel as the occupying force carries responsibility for protecting rights of Palestinians in their homes," Safadi said in comments on state media.

Jordan blames Israel for allowing right-wing religious Jews entry into the Aqsa mosque compound, saying this ignites Muslim passions and raises risks of a wider regional conflagration.

Jordan asked Israel on Sunday to stop what it called 'barbaric' attacks on worshippers in Jerusalem's al-Aqsa. Jordan has custodianship of Muslims and Christian sites in Jerusalem.

Jordan asked Israel on Sunday to stop what it called 'barbaric' attacks on worshippers in Jerusalem's al-Aqsa. Jordan has custodianship of Muslims and Christian sites in Jerusalem. It said it would step up international pressure on Israel. East Jerusalem tensions have spilled over into clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians around al Aqsa, Islam's third-holiest mosque, at the height of the Ramadan fasting month. "What the Israeli police and special forces are doing, from violations against the mosque to attacks on worshippers, is barbaric (behaviour) that is rejected and condemned," said Jordanian government said in a statement. Frictions have mounted in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, with nightly clashes in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah - a neighbourhood where numerous Palestinian families face eviction. King Abdullah, whose Hashemite family claims descent from Islam's Prophet Mohammad and draws legitimacy from its custodianship role, said Israeli actions in the holy city were an escalation and called on it to end its "dangerous provocations". Also Read | Netanyahu says Israel firm on Jerusalem as global concern mounts The monarch accused Israel of trying to change the demographic status of the holy city which contains sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the kingdom, which lost East Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, would do its utmost to protect rights of Palestinians against ownership claims by Jewish settlers. "Israel as the occupying force carries responsibility for protecting rights of Palestinians in their homes," Safadi said in comments on state media. Jordan blames Israel for allowing right-wing religious Jews entry into the Aqsa mosque compound, saying this ignites Muslim passions and raises risks of a wider regional conflagration.

Jordan asks Israel to stop 'barbaric' attacks on worshippers in Jerusalem

They say climate change is a global issue, something that the entire world is responsible for. But for more that two centuries, western countries went on a pollution spree. The West was a powerhouse of emmissions with its trains, factories, oil refineries and much more.

Most of the pollution we see today is from that era. This is because climate change doesn't take place immediately. Today's pollution builds up for disaster in future.

We are told that every country is equally responsible. It's an&nbsp;excellent bit of propaganda. US and Europe polluted the world and made big money. But now, China is out-polluting the world.

China accounted for 27 per cent of Greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. This is more than the US, India, the EU and Japan put together. In fact if we leave India and developed nations, they would fall short of China.

Where is China headed? Where does this leave the battle against climate change? And what role will the West play?

Question number one: Where is china headed?

President Xi Jinping says China's emissions will peak by 2030. So to answer the question. China's emissions are heading up. In 2020 they surged 1.7 per cent. Notably, this surge was recorded during the pandemic year. Global emmissions during this period dropped. But China's went up.

What about per capita numbers?

China usually scores well on this indicator. It helps when you have 1.4 billion people to share the massive load. But in 2019, that wasn't the case. The developed world reported 10.5 tonnes per capita. China came close with 10.1 tonnes.

They were at 7.18 tonnes in 2016. So the rise has been exponential. In the last two decades, Chinese per capita emission tripled.

If this trend holds,&nbsp;China will overtake the US before 2030.

Where does this leave China's climate commitments? Peak emissions by 2030. Net zero by 2050. That's what Xi Jinping has promised.

How realistic is this?

Last year, Beijing cleared coal power projects worth 474 million dollars. These are all investments outside China.

What about inside the country? More than half the energy demand is still met using coal. So Beijing is using the western playbook.

In fact they are perfecting it. Exporting pollution. And at the same time, burning coal at home.

Question number two, where does this leave the battle against climate change?

Chinese officials have ranked their priorities. Economic growth beats pollution. On this, most of the developing world is in agreement. But China's pace is worrying. It makes up nearly 18 per cent of world population. But 27% of emissions. A climate change conversation without China is pointless.

So far, they have promised a lot. But with China, promises don't matter.&nbsp;Which brings us to the third question.

What can the West do?

To be honest, they have done enough damage. So it would be better for them to stay away. We are still paying for their centuries of pollution.

A graph of cumulative emmissions from 1750 to 2019 shows developed world accounting for 1,000 gigatonnes of emissions.

What about China? Somewhere around 200. That's how far ahead the West is. The developing world would take decades to catch up.

But here's the thing, countries like India don't want to catch up. They are exploring green alternatives. But China is steaming ahead with coal. There are 1,058 coal plants in the country. More than half the global capacity is in China.

What about their Paris Accord goals?

Climate trackers have called the progress highly insufficient. So that's where things stand. The West is still the big villain. They must foot the bill for reversing climate change. But China is catching up fast. If they don't turn away from coal. You can add climate change to the list of things China must pay for.

They say climate change is a global issue, something that the entire world is responsible for. But for more that two centuries, western countries went on a pollution spree.

They say climate change is a global issue, something that the entire world is responsible for. But for more that two centuries, western countries went on a pollution spree. The West was a powerhouse of emmissions with its trains, factories, oil refineries and much more. Most of the pollution we see today is from that era. This is because climate change doesn't take place immediately. Today's pollution builds up for disaster in future. We are told that every country is equally responsible. It's an excellent bit of propaganda. US and Europe polluted the world and made big money. But now, China is out-polluting the world. China accounted for 27 per cent of Greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. This is more than the US, India, the EU and Japan put together. In fact if we leave India and developed nations, they would fall short of China. Where is China headed? Where does this leave the battle against climate change? And what role will the West play? Question number one: Where is china headed? President Xi Jinping says China's emissions will peak by 2030. So to answer the question. China's emissions are heading up. In 2020 they surged 1.7 per cent. Notably, this surge was recorded during the pandemic year. Global emmissions during this period dropped. But China's went up. What about per capita numbers? China usually scores well on this indicator. It helps when you have 1.4 billion people to share the massive load. But in 2019, that wasn't the case. The developed world reported 10.5 tonnes per capita. China came close with 10.1 tonnes. They were at 7.18 tonnes in 2016. So the rise has been exponential. In the last two decades, Chinese per capita emission tripled. If this trend holds, China will overtake the US before 2030. Where does this leave China's climate commitments? Peak emissions by 2030. Net zero by 2050. That's what Xi Jinping has promised. How realistic is this? Last year, Beijing cleared coal power projects worth 474 million dollars. These are all investments outside China. What about inside the country? More than half the energy demand is still met using coal. So Beijing is using the western playbook. In fact they are perfecting it. Exporting pollution. And at the same time, burning coal at home. Question number two, where does this leave the battle against climate change? Chinese officials have ranked their priorities. Economic growth beats pollution. On this, most of the developing world is in agreement. But China's pace is worrying. It makes up nearly 18 per cent of world population. But 27% of emissions. A climate change conversation without China is pointless. So far, they have promised a lot. But with China, promises don't matter. Which brings us to the third question. What can the West do? To be honest, they have done enough damage. So it would be better for them to stay away. We are still paying for their centuries of pollution. A graph of cumulative emmissions from 1750 to 2019 shows developed world accounting for 1,000 gigatonnes of emissions. What about China? Somewhere around 200. That's how far ahead the West is. The developing world would take decades to catch up. But here's the thing, countries like India don't want to catch up. They are exploring green alternatives. But China is steaming ahead with coal. There are 1,058 coal plants in the country. More than half the global capacity is in China. What about their Paris Accord goals? Climate trackers have called the progress highly insufficient. So that's where things stand. The West is still the big villain. They must foot the bill for reversing climate change. But China is catching up fast. If they don't turn away from coal. You can add climate change to the list of things China must pay for.

China is out-polluting the world

This may sound alarmist. But a third wave is coming in India. The principal scientific advisor to the prime minister&nbsp;says it's inevitable. But the exact time of its arrival cannot be predicted.

What we do know is that this wave could go beyond cities. Travel to towns and villages. It could also cross age groups, putting children at the same risk as adults.

We need to mask up and prepare. We also need to introspect. Draw the right lessons from the past. Fix the lapses not the narrative.&nbsp;

When india was on the path to normalcy, we saw the lowest new cases in eight months. The lowest death count in almost a year. Vaccinations had begun. Hospitalisations had fallen. It appeared as if the worst was behind us, that it was time to open up.

But the virus was evolving and mutating. The warnings were there.&nbsp;In February, reports say several experts voiced fears of an impending second wave, of a 'Covid tsunami'. The message didn't reach the top brass.

Then in March, a forum of scientific advisers set up by the Government of India issued warnings that a new and more contagious variant was spreading. But no significant containment measures were taken.

Instead, it was declared that we were in the 'end game' of the pandemic and should trust the science behind vaccines. The real task of preparing for this wave was lost in the din.

The result was this:&nbsp;On March 15th, India reported 24,000 new cases. This figure increased to 53,000 on March 30th.

100,000 by April 4th. Nearly 200,000 by April 14th.&nbsp;

And despite this colossal spike in cases. Two mass public events went as per plan. Five states and union territories went to polls.&nbsp;

Pretty much every political leader, from union ministers to opposition leaders, from chief ministers to the prime minister, all of them drew thousands of people at their rallies.

The Kumbh Mela in Haridwar was attended by more than 4.8 million devotees. There were no masks or social distancing. Both these events, the dip and the ballot, ended up being super-spreaders. The figures tell you the story.&nbsp;

Between April 10th and 14th, nearly 2,000 devotees tested positive at the Kumbh. When the congregation began. Daily cases in Uttarakhand stood at 500.

By the time it was finally called off on April 17th. The daily cases had grown to 2,700 plus.

In Madhya Pradesh, 99 per cent of the Kumbh returnees tested positive. And atleast 22 couldn't be traced.

The elections had a similar outcome. In West Bengal, each phase of election saw a spike in daily cases.

They went from 812 on March 27th. To 16,403 by April 27th.

In Tamil Nadu, the daily cases went from 474 on March 1st to nearly 8,500 on April 16th.

In Kerala, the cases went from 2,500 on April 2nd&nbsp;to 10,000 on April 16th.

And in Assam, they went from 92 on April 6th to over 1600 on April 21st.

It was said at the time that election rallies didn't contribute to the spike in cases. We have a lot to say.

On March 1st, the growth rate of daily number of new cases in non-election states was 6.09 per cent. In states witnessing elections, it was 6.13 per cent.

By 15th April, this figure had come down to 3.01% in non-election states and risen to 7.99% in states that were holding rallies.

Yes, this is partly due to the unpredictability of the virus. But it is equal parts complacency and politics.

It didn't have to be this way. This situation could have been avoided.&nbsp;

The heart-breaking scenes outside hospitals, the desperate run for oxygen. The SOS calls for medical aid, the waiting list for last rites. The sight of burning pyres, of overwhelmed burial grounds.

All of this could have been contained.

India was always the perfect place for a virus like this to run wild.&nbsp;We are a vast country, We have 1.3 billion people, high rates of diseases and an under-developed health infrastructure.

India's healthcare spending, in both public and private sector, has been 3.6 per cent of the GDP for the past six years.

This is among the lowest in both the developed and the developing world. The&nbsp;US spends 16.9 per cent of its GDP on healthcare.

Germany spends 11.2 per cent, Brazil 9.2 per cent, South Africa spends 8.1 per cent while Russia and Thailand spend 5.3 and 3.79 per cent respectively.

India is called the land of engineers and doctors. But we have fewer than 10 doctors per 10,000 people. In some states the figure is less than five.

It's true that this cannot be changed overnight. But we had several months to make arrangements to fix the shortcomings.

One year ago, When the first wave had just arrived, the empowered group of officers set by the centre for an effective pandemic response, had red-flagged oxygen shortage in the months to come.

The group said we needed to produce more. Or cut down supply to industries. But very few warning bells rang.

Then in November 2020. A parliamentary standing committee on health had flagged the same concerns. That there was an inadequate supply of oxygen. Yet, it was only on April 22nd this year.

That the supply of oxygen to industries was prohibited. By this time. The demand for medical oxygen had reached about 60 per cent of the total daily oxygen production.

Today, the oxygen shortage is proving to be deadly.

The only saving grace has been India's diplomatic record. India provided the world with vaccines.&nbsp;Now the world is returning the favour. Several countries have pledged critical aid to New Delhi.

India has been getting planeloads of oxygen, ventilators, testing kits, masks, anti-viral drugs.

But are the people getting it? This is the second issue we've got to address.

We are also facing logistical nightmare. We are getting oxygen from abroad, yet struggling to transport it within the country.

Last month, a lot of foreign consignments had to sit at airport hangars for several hours as hospitals across india gasped for breath.

Why?

Because until now we didn't really have a mechanism in place to distribute these supplies. The work began only on April 26th. And it was on the 2nd of May, after one long week, that the health ministry issued a 'Standard Operating Procedure'.

SOP guidelines! For the distribution of foreign aid. Do you know how many Indians died in these seven days?&nbsp;

And even with these guidelines in place, the distribution remains complex. It keep getting delayed.

Because it has to go through unnecessary bureaucracy, time-consuming protocols and paperwork.

Right now for many, vaccination has become the last hope.

But where are the vaccines? India, the world's largest vaccine producer, is running short of vaccines.

Critics say it's because we shared vaccines with the world.

We provided 60 million doses to 70 countries. But we must remember that Vaccine Maitri is the reason we are seeing the kind of global support that we are.

Vaccine Maitri is not india's problem right now.

Government negligence, unclear messaging, corporate profiteering, opaque contracting, differential pricing, patchy record-keeping and inequities in the global pharma market.

These are India's problems.

Who should take the blame for these problems? We're told that health is a state subject. That the primary responsibility for healthcare lies on state governments.

But disaster is a federal subject!

The second wave is the biggest disaster that we've ever faced. The centre cannot escape the blame. If credit is taken for every positive outcome, blame too should be shouldered.

It's another matter that a blame game won't save lives. But we need to rethink how we organise our politics.

Elections cannot be given more priority than economic, security and health policy. We cannot have a system, where the centre and the state don't even see eye to eye. We are suffering due to bureaucracy and protocols. We're also suffering due to&nbsp;lack of political coordination.

So we've put together some challenges. The centre and states must address immediately. And preferably together!

One...

Proper estimation and communication of vaccine procurement...

Long queues outside vaccine centres are not helping anyone. They're only making things worse.

Two...

A crisis management team.

We don't have one. We need a team of public health and management experts. A task force that can be replicated at state and district levels. How long will we depend on social media for supplies?

Challenge number three

Breaking the transmission chain. We need regional, local and phased lockdowns. A complete ban on any religious and political gathering.

Four...

Black-marketing and hoarding of medicines. We need stricter punishment for both of them. Or perhaps a state-level committee. The govt of odisha has formed one. Other states can do the same.

The fifth challenge

Precaution...

We need to mask up. And keep it on.

The sixth and last challenge...

End the city-centric approach!

We don't even know what's happening in rural India. A large part of the suffering in small towns is going unchronicled. We've all been overwhelmed by this pandemic. We have to be more cautious than we've been.

As a community, as a society and as a government. We've got be to be more tough. It can't be business as usual. We need to take lessons from our past. India has always been a country with a strong sense of community. And it reflects in today's digital world. We have come together as a community on social media.

Individuals across political ideologies, religious belief, class barriers are rallying their network and resources to help those in need

Only if this sense of community could reflect in our political system.

This may sound alarmist. But a third wave is coming in India. The principal scientific advisor to the prime minister says it's inevitable. But the exact time of its arrival cannot be predicted.

This may sound alarmist. But a third wave is coming in India. The principal scientific advisor to the prime minister says it's inevitable. But the exact time of its arrival cannot be predicted. What we do know is that this wave could go beyond cities. Travel to towns and villages. It could also cross age groups, putting children at the same risk as adults. We need to mask up and prepare. We also need to introspect. Draw the right lessons from the past. Fix the lapses not the narrative. When india was on the path to normalcy, we saw the lowest new cases in eight months. The lowest death count in almost a year. Vaccinations had begun. Hospitalisations had fallen. It appeared as if the worst was behind us, that it was time to open up. But the virus was evolving and mutating. The warnings were there. In February, reports say several experts voiced fears of an impending second wave, of a 'Covid tsunami'. The message didn't reach the top brass. Then in March, a forum of scientific advisers set up by the Government of India issued warnings that a new and more contagious variant was spreading. But no significant containment measures were taken. Instead, it was declared that we were in the 'end game' of the pandemic and should trust the science behind vaccines. The real task of preparing for this wave was lost in the din. The result was this: On March 15th, India reported 24,000 new cases. This figure increased to 53,000 on March 30th. 100,000 by April 4th. Nearly 200,000 by April 14th. And despite this colossal spike in cases. Two mass public events went as per plan. Five states and union territories went to polls. Pretty much every political leader, from union ministers to opposition leaders, from chief ministers to the prime minister, all of them drew thousands of people at their rallies. The Kumbh Mela in Haridwar was attended by more than 4.8 million devotees. There were no masks or social distancing. Both these events, the dip and the ballot, ended up being super-spreaders. The figures tell you the story. Between April 10th and 14th, nearly 2,000 devotees tested positive at the Kumbh. When the congregation began. Daily cases in Uttarakhand stood at 500. By the time it was finally called off on April 17th. The daily cases had grown to 2,700 plus. In Madhya Pradesh, 99 per cent of the Kumbh returnees tested positive. And atleast 22 couldn't be traced. The elections had a similar outcome. In West Bengal, each phase of election saw a spike in daily cases. They went from 812 on March 27th. To 16,403 by April 27th. In Tamil Nadu, the daily cases went from 474 on March 1st to nearly 8,500 on April 16th. In Kerala, the cases went from 2,500 on April 2nd to 10,000 on April 16th. And in Assam, they went from 92 on April 6th to over 1600 on April 21st. It was said at the time that election rallies didn't contribute to the spike in cases. We have a lot to say. On March 1st, the growth rate of daily number of new cases in non-election states was 6.09 per cent. In states witnessing elections, it was 6.13 per cent. By 15th April, this figure had come down to 3.01% in non-election states and risen to 7.99% in states that were holding rallies. Yes, this is partly due to the unpredictability of the virus. But it is equal parts complacency and politics. It didn't have to be this way. This situation could have been avoided. The heart-breaking scenes outside hospitals, the desperate run for oxygen. The SOS calls for medical aid, the waiting list for last rites. The sight of burning pyres, of overwhelmed burial grounds. All of this could have been contained. India was always the perfect place for a virus like this to run wild. We are a vast country, We have 1.3 billion people, high rates of diseases and an under-developed health infrastructure. India's healthcare spending, in both public and private sector, has been 3.6 per cent of the GDP for the past six years. This is among the lowest in both the developed and the developing world. The US spends 16.9 per cent of its GDP on healthcare. Germany spends 11.2 per cent, Brazil 9.2 per cent, South Africa spends 8.1 per cent while Russia and Thailand spend 5.3 and 3.79 per cent respectively. India is called the land of engineers and doctors. But we have fewer than 10 doctors per 10,000 people. In some states the figure is less than five. It's true that this cannot be changed overnight. But we had several months to make arrangements to fix the shortcomings. One year ago, When the first wave had just arrived, the empowered group of officers set by the centre for an effective pandemic response, had red-flagged oxygen shortage in the months to come. The group said we needed to produce more. Or cut down supply to industries. But very few warning bells rang. Then in November 2020. A parliamentary standing committee on health had flagged the same concerns. That there was an inadequate supply of oxygen. Yet, it was only on April 22nd this year. That the supply of oxygen to industries was prohibited. By this time. The demand for medical oxygen had reached about 60 per cent of the total daily oxygen production. Today, the oxygen shortage is proving to be deadly. The only saving grace has been India's diplomatic record. India provided the world with vaccines. Now the world is returning the favour. Several countries have pledged critical aid to New Delhi. India has been getting planeloads of oxygen, ventilators, testing kits, masks, anti-viral drugs. But are the people getting it? This is the second issue we've got to address. We are also facing logistical nightmare. We are getting oxygen from abroad, yet struggling to transport it within the country. Last month, a lot of foreign consignments had to sit at airport hangars for several hours as hospitals across india gasped for breath. Why? Because until now we didn't really have a mechanism in place to distribute these supplies. The work began only on April 26th. And it was on the 2nd of May, after one long week, that the health ministry issued a 'Standard Operating Procedure'. SOP guidelines! For the distribution of foreign aid. Do you know how many Indians died in these seven days? And even with these guidelines in place, the distribution remains complex. It keep getting delayed. Because it has to go through unnecessary bureaucracy, time-consuming protocols and paperwork. Right now for many, vaccination has become the last hope. But where are the vaccines? India, the world's largest vaccine producer, is running short of vaccines. Critics say it's because we shared vaccines with the world. We provided 60 million doses to 70 countries. But we must remember that Vaccine Maitri is the reason we are seeing the kind of global support that we are. Vaccine Maitri is not india's problem right now. Government negligence, unclear messaging, corporate profiteering, opaque contracting, differential pricing, patchy record-keeping and inequities in the global pharma market. These are India's problems. Who should take the blame for these problems? We're told that health is a state subject. That the primary responsibility for healthcare lies on state governments. But disaster is a federal subject! The second wave is the biggest disaster that we've ever faced. The centre cannot escape the blame. If credit is taken for every positive outcome, blame too should be shouldered. It's another matter that a blame game won't save lives. But we need to rethink how we organise our politics. Elections cannot be given more priority than economic, security and health policy. We cannot have a system, where the centre and the state don't even see eye to eye. We are suffering due to bureaucracy and protocols. We're also suffering due to lack of political coordination. So we've put together some challenges. The centre and states must address immediately. And preferably together! One... Proper estimation and communication of vaccine procurement... Long queues outside vaccine centres are not helping anyone. They're only making things worse. Two... A crisis management team. We don't have one. We need a team of public health and management experts. A task force that can be replicated at state and district levels. How long will we depend on social media for supplies? Challenge number three Breaking the transmission chain. We need regional, local and phased lockdowns. A complete ban on any religious and political gathering. Four... Black-marketing and hoarding of medicines. We need stricter punishment for both of them. Or perhaps a state-level committee. The govt of odisha has formed one. Other states can do the same. The fifth challenge Precaution... We need to mask up. And keep it on. The sixth and last challenge... End the city-centric approach! We don't even know what's happening in rural India. A large part of the suffering in small towns is going unchronicled. We've all been overwhelmed by this pandemic. We have to be more cautious than we've been. As a community, as a society and as a government. We've got be to be more tough. It can't be business as usual. We need to take lessons from our past. India has always been a country with a strong sense of community. And it reflects in today's digital world. We have come together as a community on social media. Individuals across political ideologies, religious belief, class barriers are rallying their network and resources to help those in need Only if this sense of community could reflect in our political system.

Third Covid wave is inevitable, says principal scientific adviser to Indian PM

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Manas Joshi

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