Ether, the world's second-largest&nbsp;cryptocurrency&nbsp;after Bitcoin, on Thursday rose to a&nbsp;record&nbsp;high&nbsp;of $3,591.65 on the Bitstamp Exchange.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bitcoin-other-cryptocurrencies-tumble-over-biden-tax-plan-fears-379752">Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies tumble over Biden tax plan fears</a>

Ether&nbsp;was last up about 3.0 per cent&nbsp;at $3,568.92. Bitcoin was down 0.7 per cent&nbsp;at $57,109.40 and about 12 per cent&nbsp;below its&nbsp;record&nbsp;intraday&nbsp;high&nbsp;at $64,895.22 set on April 14.

Ether, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, on Thursday rose to a record high of $3,591.65 on the Bitstamp Exchange. Also read | Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies tumble over Biden tax plan fears Ether was last up about 3.

Ether, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, on Thursday rose to a record high of $3,591.65 on the Bitstamp Exchange. Also read | Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies tumble over Biden tax plan fears Ether was last up about 3.0 per cent at $3,568.92. Bitcoin was down 0.7 per cent at $57,109.40 and about 12 per cent below its record intraday high at $64,895.22 set on April 14.

Cryptocurrency 'Ether' rises to new record high

Pope Francis on Thursday hailed "tireless" work of medics in India during the second wave of coronavirus pandemic that has stretched the country's healthcare machinery beyond capacity. Pope urged the medics to stay strong in his message for India.

In a message to the Catholic Bishops' Conference in India, the pontiff offered his "heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people".

"My thoughts go above all to the sick and their families, to those who care for them, and in particular to those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones," he said.&nbsp;

"I think too of the many doctors, nurses, hospital workers, ambulance drivers and those working tirelessly to respond to the immediate needs of their brothers and sisters.&nbsp;

"With deep appreciation I invoke upon all of them God's gifts of perseverance, strength and peace."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sputnik-light-russias-single-dose-covid-vaccine-will-be-produced-in-india-383304">Sputnik Light, Russia's single-dose Covid vaccine will be produced in India</a>

India has seen patients dying even in streets outside hospitals due to shortage of beds and oxygen.

The country on Thursday reported almost 4,000 Covid-19 deaths and more than 412,000 infections -- both new records -- dashing hopes that the catastrophic recent surge may have been easing following several days of falling case numbers.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pope Francis on Thursday hailed "tireless" work of medics in India during the second wave of coronavirus pandemic that has stretched the country's healthcare machinery beyond capacity.

Pope Francis on Thursday hailed "tireless" work of medics in India during the second wave of coronavirus pandemic that has stretched the country's healthcare machinery beyond capacity. Pope urged the medics to stay strong in his message for India. In a message to the Catholic Bishops' Conference in India, the pontiff offered his "heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness to all the Indian people". "My thoughts go above all to the sick and their families, to those who care for them, and in particular to those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones," he said. "I think too of the many doctors, nurses, hospital workers, ambulance drivers and those working tirelessly to respond to the immediate needs of their brothers and sisters. "With deep appreciation I invoke upon all of them God's gifts of perseverance, strength and peace." Also Read | Sputnik Light, Russia's single-dose Covid vaccine will be produced in India India has seen patients dying even in streets outside hospitals due to shortage of beds and oxygen. The country on Thursday reported almost 4,000 Covid-19 deaths and more than 412,000 infections -- both new records -- dashing hopes that the catastrophic recent surge may have been easing following several days of falling case numbers. (With inputs from agencies)

Pope hails 'tireless' work of Indian medics in his message to India

Russia's single-dose covid vaccine Sputnik light will be produced in India, much in the line of its predecessors Sputnik V whose production also happens in the country.

"It will be produced in exactly the same countries where Sputnik V will be produced. So it's India, Korea, and China," said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in a virtual presser.

"Many other countries already produce the Sputnik V vaccine. So same capabilities production can be used because basically Sputnik Light will be the first shot of the Sputnik V vaccine. So we will use the same production capacity that exists," He explained.

Russian Ministry of Health, the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, and RDIF on Thursday announced that Sputnik Light has received authorization for use in Russia. RDIF and the Gamaleya Institute are behind the Russian vaccine. &nbsp;

According to RDIF, the Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4 per cent efficacy. 7000 people in multiple countries like Russia, UAE, Ghana, and others were involved in its Phase III clinical study.&nbsp;

India has already given approval to Sputnik V and the first consignment arrived in the country on 1st May. In fact, RDIF has signed pacts with 5 Indian companies to produce 850 million doses of the vaccine in the country that will not only be used in India and Russia but also exported to 3rd country. Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma recently said, "We expect in the months ahead more than 60-70 % of Sputnik vaccine produced anywhere will be produced in India".

More than 60 Countries have given approval to Sputnik V and as of May 5, more than 20 million people globally have received the first injection of the Sputnik V vaccine. Meanwhile, the cost of the Sputnik Light vaccine globally according to Russian authorities will be less than $10 and it can be kept in temperatures at +2 +8.&nbsp; 
Kirill Dmitriev is hopeful of various regulators across the world giving it approval, with some approvals expected as early as next week.&nbsp;

Russia's single-dose covid vaccine Sputnik light will be produced in India, much in the line of its predecessors Sputnik V whose production also happens in the country.

Russia's single-dose covid vaccine Sputnik light will be produced in India, much in the line of its predecessors Sputnik V whose production also happens in the country. "It will be produced in exactly the same countries where Sputnik V will be produced. So it's India, Korea, and China," said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) in a virtual presser. "Many other countries already produce the Sputnik V vaccine. So same capabilities production can be used because basically Sputnik Light will be the first shot of the Sputnik V vaccine. So we will use the same production capacity that exists," He explained. Russian Ministry of Health, the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, and RDIF on Thursday announced that Sputnik Light has received authorization for use in Russia. RDIF and the Gamaleya Institute are behind the Russian vaccine. According to RDIF, the Sputnik Light vaccine demonstrated 79.4 per cent efficacy. 7000 people in multiple countries like Russia, UAE, Ghana, and others were involved in its Phase III clinical study. India has already given approval to Sputnik V and the first consignment arrived in the country on 1st May. In fact, RDIF has signed pacts with 5 Indian companies to produce 850 million doses of the vaccine in the country that will not only be used in India and Russia but also exported to 3rd country. Indian envoy to Russia Bala Venkatesh Varma recently said, "We expect in the months ahead more than 60-70 % of Sputnik vaccine produced anywhere will be produced in India". More than 60 Countries have given approval to Sputnik V and as of May 5, more than 20 million people globally have received the first injection of the Sputnik V vaccine. Meanwhile, the cost of the Sputnik Light vaccine globally according to Russian authorities will be less than $10 and it can be kept in temperatures at +2 +8. Kirill Dmitriev is hopeful of various regulators across the world giving it approval, with some approvals expected as early as next week.

Sputnik Light, Russia's single-dose Covid vaccine will be produced in India

Russia has registered Sputnik light, a single dose Covid vaccine that has 79.4 per cent efficacy. In other news, Covid symptoms have been detected in climbers at Mount Everest. However, officials have dismissed reports of an outbreak. Meanwhile, clashes in Jerusalem have wounded 22 palestinians. Read this and much more in our Top 10 World News&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-russia-okays-single-dose-sputnik-light-vaccine-has-794-efficacy-383270">COVID-19: Russia okays single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine, has 79.4% efficacy</a>

<img alt="Sputnik Light" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d48977b2-ff8d-410d-9ad9-3ba7ce2c1cf0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sputnik%20Light.JPG" />

According to the statement, the efficacy of Sputnik Light was calculated based on data obtained from Russians "vaccinated with a single injection, having not received the second one for any reason during the mass vaccination program between December 5, 2020, and April 15, 2021."

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-detects-18-cases-of-double-mutant-covid-19-variant-first-found-in-india-383246">China detects 18 cases of double mutant COVID-19 variant first found in India</a>

<img alt="China" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8bc3f0c-c86c-4cde-b230-330fe3a18a90" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/China_15.JPG" />

The Chinese nationals had reportedly stayed at a hotel in Nepal for two days before flying out of the country on April 21 and later tested positive after they landed at Chongqing airport.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/covid-19-several-regions-in-pakistan-announce-complete-lockdown-during-eid-holidays-383213">COVID-19: Several regions in Pakistan announce complete lockdown during Eid holidays</a>

<img alt="Pakistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="04d9543b-0978-4072-b722-3dc69ce8332c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pakistan%20lockdown.JPG" />

To ensure complete lockdown, police, Rangers, and Army personnel will be deployed in the province in line with the decision of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) to restrict the movement of people during the Eid holidays

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/persecution-of-uyghur-muslims-china-hits-back-at-g7-rights-criticism-383240">Persecution of Uyghur Muslims: China hits back at G7 rights criticism</a>

<img alt="China" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8da55e97-f7b6-4fd0-90d0-ad261d039d6c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/China%20new.JPG" />

The G7 said they were "deeply concerned" by alleged human rights violations and abuses against the minority Uyghur Muslim population in China's western Xinjiang region and Tibet

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-african-president-ramaphosa-welcomes-us-support-for-waiver-of-covid-19-vaccine-patents-383228">South African President Ramaphosa welcomes US support for waiver of COVID-19 vaccine patents</a>

<img alt="Ramaphosa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0c7810e7-e7d3-4fe7-b6b7-4696d7a7b3e8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ramaphosa.JPG" />

The United States government had announced on Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic was a global health crisis which called for extraordinary measures.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-calls-on-russia-to-cease-reckless-and-aggressive-actions-against-ukraine-383232">US calls on Russia to cease 'reckless and aggressive' actions against Ukraine</a>

<img alt="Ukraine" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b006411-d04f-4705-83b8-2109b8003913" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ukraine_0.JPG" />

"We stand strongly with you... and we look to Russia to cease reckless and aggressive actions," Blinken told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the first visit to Kiev by a senior US official under President Joe Biden.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jerusalem-clashes-wound-22-palestinians-as-land-rights-tensions-mount-383258">Jerusalem clashes wound 22 Palestinians as land rights tensions mount</a>

<img alt="Jerusalem" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="93819a95-0278-4326-9dd5-9077cccfa146" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Jerusalem_0.JPG" />

The legal case centres on the homes of four Palestinian families on land claimed by Jews

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/formerly-a-transit-route-to-europe-kenya-becomes-heroin-hub-383252">Formerly a transit route to Europe, Kenya becomes heroin hub</a>

<img alt="Kenya" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72b0e9e6-ae8a-4f96-9b55-9309a5897912" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kenya.JPG" />

These days a hit costs as little as 120 shillings (USD$1.10/0.90 euros), creating a devastating path to dependence for poor, troubled Kenyans

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/covid-19-mt-everest-climbers-show-symptoms-officials-dismiss-reports-of-possible-outbreak-383235">COVID-19: Mt Everest climbers show symptoms, officials dismiss reports of possible outbreak</a>

<img alt="Everest" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="808140ef-0ce1-41ab-8f7d-4203cdca8fd7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Everest.JPG" />

Earlier, the department of tourism had issued a notice urging all the trekkers and climbers to take precaution against the spread of coronavirus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slams-new-zealand-over-parliament-motion-on-uyghur-muslim-abuse-383248">China slams New Zealand over parliament motion on Uyghur Muslim abuse</a>

<img alt="China" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="443dbb4f-5d3d-4b76-8194-d57795eb9273" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/China%203.JPG" />

Beijing expressed anger after New Zealand's parliament passed a watered-down motion on Wednesday, expressing 'grave concern' at human rights abuses involving the Uyghur Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang province

Russia has registered Sputnik light, a single dose Covid vaccine that has 79.4 per cent efficacy. In other news, Covid symptoms have been detected in climbers at Mount Everest.

Russia has registered Sputnik light, a single dose Covid vaccine that has 79.4 per cent efficacy. In other news, Covid symptoms have been detected in climbers at Mount Everest. However, officials have dismissed reports of an outbreak. Meanwhile, clashes in Jerusalem have wounded 22 palestinians. Read this and much more in our Top 10 World News COVID-19: Russia okays single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine, has 79.4% efficacy According to the statement, the efficacy of Sputnik Light was calculated based on data obtained from Russians "vaccinated with a single injection, having not received the second one for any reason during the mass vaccination program between December 5, 2020, and April 15, 2021." China detects 18 cases of double mutant COVID-19 variant first found in India The Chinese nationals had reportedly stayed at a hotel in Nepal for two days before flying out of the country on April 21 and later tested positive after they landed at Chongqing airport. COVID-19: Several regions in Pakistan announce complete lockdown during Eid holidays To ensure complete lockdown, police, Rangers, and Army personnel will be deployed in the province in line with the decision of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) to restrict the movement of people during the Eid holidays Persecution of Uyghur Muslims: China hits back at G7 rights criticism The G7 said they were "deeply concerned" by alleged human rights violations and abuses against the minority Uyghur Muslim population in China's western Xinjiang region and Tibet South African President Ramaphosa welcomes US support for waiver of COVID-19 vaccine patents The United States government had announced on Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic was a global health crisis which called for extraordinary measures. US calls on Russia to cease 'reckless and aggressive' actions against Ukraine "We stand strongly with you... and we look to Russia to cease reckless and aggressive actions," Blinken told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the first visit to Kiev by a senior US official under President Joe Biden. Jerusalem clashes wound 22 Palestinians as land rights tensions mount The legal case centres on the homes of four Palestinian families on land claimed by Jews Formerly a transit route to Europe, Kenya becomes heroin hub These days a hit costs as little as 120 shillings (USD$1.10/0.90 euros), creating a devastating path to dependence for poor, troubled Kenyans COVID-19: Mt Everest climbers show symptoms, officials dismiss reports of possible outbreak Earlier, the department of tourism had issued a notice urging all the trekkers and climbers to take precaution against the spread of coronavirus. China slams New Zealand over parliament motion on Uyghur Muslim abuse Beijing expressed anger after New Zealand's parliament passed a watered-down motion on Wednesday, expressing 'grave concern' at human rights abuses involving the Uyghur Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang province

Top 10 World News: Sputnik Light vaccine, Covid symptoms at Mt Everest, more

Whether it's politics or sports, the show always goes on. We saw one play out over the weekend. Thankfully it was on social media. So the ordinary citizens were spared. At the centre of it were a couple of embassies in New Delhi. The row started with a video on Twitter.

The video showed oxygen cylinders being delivered to the Philippine embassy. The men delivering the cylinders belong to the Youth Congress. For those unfamiliar, they are the youth wing of Congress, India's principal opposition party.

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&nbsp;

The matter should have ended there. But what's philanthropy without social media posts? And what's politics without a bit of chest-thumping?

Opposition leaders soon started sharing this video. Former union minister Jairam Ramesh went one step ahead. He asked whether India's foreign ministry was sleeping?

The matter could have ended there as well. But what's politics without one-upping your rival?

The reply came right from the top.

India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar was the one who responded. He said there were no Wuhan virus cases at the Philippine embassy.

Jaishankar called this an unsolicited supply. Then the story shifted to the New Zealand High Commission.

They posted a tweet which was later deleted. It was an appeal for oxygen cylinders.

The Youth Congress jumped in again. And another video followed. This time they were at the Kiwi mission delivering Oxygen.

Now it's highly unusual for a diplomatic mission to reach out to the opposition. Especially in the middle of a crisis. It sends a wrong message politically. New Zealand was quick to recognise this. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admitted that her diplomats chose the wrong route.

New Zealand should have been more mindful of the protocols. It was some employee's moment of desperation on Twitter.

But there is no denying that our leaders should have been more mature. Jairam Ramesh continued with his jibes on Twitter.

And this time the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson set the record straight.

"The chief of protocol and heads of divisions are in continuous touch with all high commissions and embassies and MEA is responding to their medical demands, especially those related to Covid. This includes facilitating their hospital treatment. Given the pandemic situation, all are urged not to hoard essential supplies, including oxygen."

Couple of things to note here. Most importantly, this entire controversy was needless and avoidable.

We don't know the exact situation at the New Zealand High Commission. So we won't speculate on that.

But the fact is, such back and forth helps no one. This is not the time for sabre-rattling on social media.

Could the Youth Congress not have coordinated this with the MEA? Yes they could have. Could seasoned politicians not have dragged this row on Twitter? Of course they could have.

But in politics it's all about playing to the gallery. It's not about helping but being seen helping.&nbsp;

We have seen leaders flag off relief trucks in the past.

Imagine that, people are eagerly waiting for aid. But the trucks are held off so that the leader can flag them off.

This isn't the first time politics has let down India.

And it won't be the last time. But unprecedented crises call for unprecedented measures.

So maybe our leaders can hold off on playing politics. Because once the dust settles, there will be plenty of time for that.

Circling back to the embassies, why are they appealing for oxygen? The foreign minister says the Philippine embassy has zero cases. So the cylinders were a precaution.

They weren't actively looking for them. But considering how pressed we are for oxygen, precaution is in effect hoarding. This applies for all embassies.&nbsp;

We realise how vulnerable the diplomats feel. They are thousands of miles away in a foreign land. That too in the middle of a deadly pandemic. But there are patients who need oxygen right now.

So hoarding is simply not acceptable. And this was the MEA's message to embassies and high commissions.

Do not hoard essentials, including oxygen.

As for the politicians. These diplomats are our guests. Helping them is our collective responsibility. India has offered vaccines to all foreign diplomats. A few of them have already gotten the jabs.

But the season of politics is perennial. Crisis or not they continue to squabble.

Whether it's politics or sports, the show always goes on. We saw one play out over the weekend. Thankfully it was on social media. So the ordinary citizens were spared.

Whether it's politics or sports, the show always goes on. We saw one play out over the weekend. Thankfully it was on social media. So the ordinary citizens were spared. At the centre of it were a couple of embassies in New Delhi. The row started with a video on Twitter. The video showed oxygen cylinders being delivered to the Philippine embassy. The men delivering the cylinders belong to the Youth Congress. For those unfamiliar, they are the youth wing of Congress, India's principal opposition party. × The matter should have ended there. But what's philanthropy without social media posts? And what's politics without a bit of chest-thumping? Opposition leaders soon started sharing this video. Former union minister Jairam Ramesh went one step ahead. He asked whether India's foreign ministry was sleeping? The matter could have ended there as well. But what's politics without one-upping your rival? The reply came right from the top. India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar was the one who responded. He said there were no Wuhan virus cases at the Philippine embassy. Jaishankar called this an unsolicited supply. Then the story shifted to the New Zealand High Commission. They posted a tweet which was later deleted. It was an appeal for oxygen cylinders. The Youth Congress jumped in again. And another video followed. This time they were at the Kiwi mission delivering Oxygen. Now it's highly unusual for a diplomatic mission to reach out to the opposition. Especially in the middle of a crisis. It sends a wrong message politically. New Zealand was quick to recognise this. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admitted that her diplomats chose the wrong route. New Zealand should have been more mindful of the protocols. It was some employee's moment of desperation on Twitter. But there is no denying that our leaders should have been more mature. Jairam Ramesh continued with his jibes on Twitter. And this time the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson set the record straight. "The chief of protocol and heads of divisions are in continuous touch with all high commissions and embassies and MEA is responding to their medical demands, especially those related to Covid. This includes facilitating their hospital treatment. Given the pandemic situation, all are urged not to hoard essential supplies, including oxygen." Couple of things to note here. Most importantly, this entire controversy was needless and avoidable. We don't know the exact situation at the New Zealand High Commission. So we won't speculate on that. But the fact is, such back and forth helps no one. This is not the time for sabre-rattling on social media. Could the Youth Congress not have coordinated this with the MEA? Yes they could have. Could seasoned politicians not have dragged this row on Twitter? Of course they could have. But in politics it's all about playing to the gallery. It's not about helping but being seen helping. We have seen leaders flag off relief trucks in the past. Imagine that, people are eagerly waiting for aid. But the trucks are held off so that the leader can flag them off. This isn't the first time politics has let down India. And it won't be the last time. But unprecedented crises call for unprecedented measures. So maybe our leaders can hold off on playing politics. Because once the dust settles, there will be plenty of time for that. Circling back to the embassies, why are they appealing for oxygen? The foreign minister says the Philippine embassy has zero cases. So the cylinders were a precaution. They weren't actively looking for them. But considering how pressed we are for oxygen, precaution is in effect hoarding. This applies for all embassies. We realise how vulnerable the diplomats feel. They are thousands of miles away in a foreign land. That too in the middle of a deadly pandemic. But there are patients who need oxygen right now. So hoarding is simply not acceptable. And this was the MEA's message to embassies and high commissions. Do not hoard essentials, including oxygen. As for the politicians. These diplomats are our guests. Helping them is our collective responsibility. India has offered vaccines to all foreign diplomats. A few of them have already gotten the jabs. But the season of politics is perennial. Crisis or not they continue to squabble.

Amid India's Covid crisis, season of politics remains perennial

India's pandemic nightmare refuses to end. Deadly shortages continue. Hoarding and black marketing of essential supplies are making matters worse.

Is a peak in sight? What do the numbers say? Is a national lockdown inevitable?

The numbers are not getting any better. The deadly second wave gripped the country in April.

That's last month. In one month, nearly seven million people were infected. More than 48,000 have died.

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&nbsp;

And the virus is still spreading. In the last 24 hours, India has again reported more than 300,000 new cases. On Saturday, over 400,000 people had tested positive. That's the highest ever.

For 12 straight days now, India has been adding more than 300,000&nbsp; cases everyday. This takes india's total caseload close to 20 million now. India now has more than 3.4 million active cases. They now represent over 17 per cent of the caseload. 10 states and union territories account for more than 73 per cent of the new cases.

More than 16 million people have recovered. Over 300,000 people tested negative in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate remains steady at over 80 percent.

But the number of causalities is alarmingly high. More than 3,400 people died in the last 24 hours.

Is this the worst case scenario? Scientists say it could be.

New infections could peak this week. A team of scientists that is advising the government has come up with a mathematical model to make predictions. They're trying to answer the question that is on everyone's mind.

When will this surge end?

They believe the curve will touch its peak this week, between the third and the fifth of May.&nbsp;

On what basis do they say this? The fall in positivity rate.

What is that?

It's basically the percentage of all Wuhan virus tests that came back positive. So if 100 people test and 30 of them are positive, then the positivity rate is 30 per cent.

Right now, India's positivity rate is 21.19 per cent. On Sunday, it was 21.25 per cent. So there's a very very slight dip.

The difference is barely 0.06&nbsp;per cent.

Does it even dent the surge?

Last year, the WHO had recommended that positivity levels must remain at five per cent or less for at least 14 days for governments to unlock and for people to resume their lives.

India's positivity rate is well over 20 per cent. So we have a long way to go before we can say that the pandemic is under control. In fact, the road ahead doesn't look easy.

Pharma companies say there will be a drug shortage. That's because the cases have exploded, and the supply is limited. At least two reports say that the prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients or API have shot up.

These are basically raw materials used to make medicines.

The price of these raw materials have gone up by 30 to 200 per cent.

What explains this? Two things.

One, the rising demand has led to hoarding.

And two, supply disruptions from China.

Remember, India still imports 70 per cent of its pharmaceutical raw materials from China.

Last week, China's state-run Sichuan Airlines suspended 11 cargo flights to India. Their cargo included raw materials for pharma companies. China insists there's no disruption in exports to India.

But this airline is yet to announce a schedule for its India flights. And that means India is staring at a drug shortage.

What about vaccines?

They're still locked up in patents.

Last week, we told you how countries like the US and the UK were blocking India's bid to get patent waivers. Today, we can tell you they still haven't changed their minds. The United States remains non-committal on a waiver. Today, the govt was asked about it.

It said America is still discussing all options with its partners. There was no mention of the waiver.

"We are working with our global partners to explore pragmatic and effective steps to surge production and equitable distribution of vaccines," a United States Trade Representative official told VOA.

While this battle continues, India's immediate concern is to control the caseload and break the chain of infection.

Is another lockdown the only option?

India's leading industry body, Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) president Uday Kotak endorsed another lockdown today.

"The CII calls for maximal measures at the national level including curtailing economic activity to reduce suffering," he said

Already at least 11 states and union territories have imposed some form of restrictions.

But there's no word on a national lockdown.

It's a tough decision to make aftet all. Lives and livelihoods, both must be protected.

India's pandemic nightmare refuses to end. Deadly shortages continue. Hoarding and black marketing of essential supplies are making matters worse. Is a peak in sight?

India's pandemic nightmare refuses to end. Deadly shortages continue. Hoarding and black marketing of essential supplies are making matters worse. Is a peak in sight? What do the numbers say? Is a national lockdown inevitable? The numbers are not getting any better. The deadly second wave gripped the country in April. That's last month. In one month, nearly seven million people were infected. More than 48,000 have died. × And the virus is still spreading. In the last 24 hours, India has again reported more than 300,000 new cases. On Saturday, over 400,000 people had tested positive. That's the highest ever. For 12 straight days now, India has been adding more than 300,000 cases everyday. This takes india's total caseload close to 20 million now. India now has more than 3.4 million active cases. They now represent over 17 per cent of the caseload. 10 states and union territories account for more than 73 per cent of the new cases. More than 16 million people have recovered. Over 300,000 people tested negative in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate remains steady at over 80 percent. But the number of causalities is alarmingly high. More than 3,400 people died in the last 24 hours. Is this the worst case scenario? Scientists say it could be. New infections could peak this week. A team of scientists that is advising the government has come up with a mathematical model to make predictions. They're trying to answer the question that is on everyone's mind. When will this surge end? They believe the curve will touch its peak this week, between the third and the fifth of May. On what basis do they say this? The fall in positivity rate. What is that? It's basically the percentage of all Wuhan virus tests that came back positive. So if 100 people test and 30 of them are positive, then the positivity rate is 30 per cent. Right now, India's positivity rate is 21.19 per cent. On Sunday, it was 21.25 per cent. So there's a very very slight dip. The difference is barely 0.06 per cent. Does it even dent the surge? Last year, the WHO had recommended that positivity levels must remain at five per cent or less for at least 14 days for governments to unlock and for people to resume their lives. India's positivity rate is well over 20 per cent. So we have a long way to go before we can say that the pandemic is under control. In fact, the road ahead doesn't look easy. Pharma companies say there will be a drug shortage. That's because the cases have exploded, and the supply is limited. At least two reports say that the prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients or API have shot up. These are basically raw materials used to make medicines. The price of these raw materials have gone up by 30 to 200 per cent. What explains this? Two things. One, the rising demand has led to hoarding. And two, supply disruptions from China. Remember, India still imports 70 per cent of its pharmaceutical raw materials from China. Last week, China's state-run Sichuan Airlines suspended 11 cargo flights to India. Their cargo included raw materials for pharma companies. China insists there's no disruption in exports to India. But this airline is yet to announce a schedule for its India flights. And that means India is staring at a drug shortage. What about vaccines? They're still locked up in patents. Last week, we told you how countries like the US and the UK were blocking India's bid to get patent waivers. Today, we can tell you they still haven't changed their minds. The United States remains non-committal on a waiver. Today, the govt was asked about it. It said America is still discussing all options with its partners. There was no mention of the waiver. "We are working with our global partners to explore pragmatic and effective steps to surge production and equitable distribution of vaccines," a United States Trade Representative official told VOA. While this battle continues, India's immediate concern is to control the caseload and break the chain of infection. Is another lockdown the only option? India's leading industry body, Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) president Uday Kotak endorsed another lockdown today. "The CII calls for maximal measures at the national level including curtailing economic activity to reduce suffering," he said Already at least 11 states and union territories have imposed some form of restrictions. But there's no word on a national lockdown. It's a tough decision to make aftet all. Lives and livelihoods, both must be protected.

India's immediate concern is to break the chain of Covid infection

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention.

Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military employed approximately 19.5 million gallons of herbicides in South Vietnam to clear vegetation believed to conceal enemy troops and which provided food for them, as part of Operation Ranch Hand. Agent Orange, the most widely used of those defoliants, destroyed five million acres of Vietnamese forests and damaged some 500,000 acres of cropland.

The herbicide contains dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known to science, which remained in the contaminated soil and sediment of water bodies for decades. Before dioxin hot spots were contained and cleanup efforts began, the contamination had spread to fish and shrimp, and, from there, to more people.

On Jan. 26, a French-Vietnamese woman and victim of Agent Orange brought a case against 14 chemical giants before a French court to seek damages for the harmful effects herbicides have had on her and three generations of her family. She seeks to hold the companies, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto (since acquired by Bayer), accountable for their role in making or selling Agent Orange.

At 79, the woman, Ms. Trần Tố Nga, is fighting what may be the last battle of her life. She has cancer, high iodine levels in her blood, genetic abnormalities, among other illnesses linked to Agent Orange. Her children were born with genetic abnormalities; one died when she was only few months old.

With much of the world preoccupied with the pandemic, Ms. Nga’s fight for justice has been largely ignored — the same way the innocent people exposed to herbicides sprayed from American military aircrafts in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been overlooked for nearly half a century.

The first time I heard of Agent Orange was in 1980 when I was 7 years old and living in South Vietnam. A neighbor was standing in our kitchen, pointing at a fish we had caught in a stream close to home. The fish was a great catch, but it had two tails and a gigantic, deformed head.

“Don’t eat that fish,” the neighbor told us, “It has been contaminated by chất độc da cam.”

Years later, after I learned English and came across the term Agent Orange, I wondered why Americans used an ambiguous-sounding name for this deadly chemical while Vietnamese farmers, like my parents and our neighbors, chose instead to address it head-on: chất độc da cam, or, “the poison, Agent Orange.”

In the 1980s, unlike many Americans who had the luxury of choosing their food, my parents did not. Over half a decade had passed since the war ended, but we were still living under the trade embargo America had placed on Vietnam. We were starving. My parents kept the fish alive in a deep bucket filled with water for some days, replacing the water regularly as they debated what to do. They reasoned that we couldn’t be certain the fish’s features were caused by chemical contamination.

In their desperation, they argued that even if the fish was contaminated by those American chemicals, the water drawn from the depths of our well would help flush out the toxins.

In the end, my mother went ahead and prepared the fish, much to my joy and that of my two elder brothers. I remember my stick-thin body trembling as I devoured that protein-rich meal, cooked tenderly in lemongrass and ginger harvested from the garden of my mother’s love.

Years later, I would look back and wonder at that moment and at the war that took so many lives and traumatized many more. To survive, my family and most of our neighbors were forced to consume whatever food we could find.

After I became a mother, I would count the fingers and toes of my newborn daughter, and later those of my son. My eyes would tear up each time.

Many mothers are not as lucky as me. Not Ms. Nguyệt, who wept with me in the yard of the Thanh Xuân Peace Village, an orphanage that provides charity care for Agent Orange victims near Hanoi where I volunteered organizing activities for kids. Ms. Nguyệt’s husband had fought in the contaminated areas in the south and died of cancer. As a single mother who was often out working odd jobs to survive, she had no means of caring for their only child — a boy born with deformities — and had to leave him at the orphanage. It is not known how many parents gave up children born with deformities, but many such orphanages exist throughout Vietnam.

Ms. Nguyệt and her son are among the several million Vietnamese estimated by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange, or the VAVA, to be living with the horrific consequences of the defoliant campaign. The number of Laotian and Cambodian victims is unknown, but researchers have been working on assessing the impact of the herbicides there.

Scientists in Vietnam have confirmed high levels of dioxin in the blood and breast milk of people living in hot spots. And in a growing list, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has linked many types of cancers and health problems to these chemicals. American veterans and their offspring who meet certain requirements are eligible for benefits. Over the years, U.S. veterans have secured settlements from chemical manufacturers.

Vietnamese and other victims in Southeast Asia are still waiting for the U.S. government to provide a similar level of assistance. It took decades for the United States to commit almost $400 million to clean up hot spots and help victims in the heavily sprayed provinces. The United States still has not taken responsibility for the harmful effects of herbicides in Laos or Cambodia.

Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian victims of dioxin have never received compensation from the chemical giants that produced, sold and reaped profits from the sale of herbicides. Ms. Nga’s lawsuit could be the first that results in compensation for a Vietnamese victim, according to the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, the organization supporting her case.

In 2004, VAVA filed a class-action suit in the United States against chemical manufacturers on behalf of millions of Vietnamese. However, the American court ultimately dismissed the case on the grounds that it lacked sufficient basis in U.S. and international law and that the supplying of herbicides didn’t amount to a war crime.

For years, I have been asking myself this question: Why has the United States offered at least some form of compensation to Americans, but has not done more for the Vietnamese who were also exposed and who have spent years seeking justice?

It is long overdue that we highlight the costs of wars beyond injuries and casualties, to include the damage still inflicted on our health, our families and our environment. It is long overdue that comprehensive actions be taken to help all victims of Agent Orange, regardless of their nationalities.

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention.

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention. Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military employed approximately 19.5 million gallons of herbicides in South Vietnam to clear vegetation believed to conceal enemy troops and which provided food for them, as part of Operation Ranch Hand. Agent Orange, the most widely used of those defoliants, destroyed five million acres of Vietnamese forests and damaged some 500,000 acres of cropland. The herbicide contains dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known to science, which remained in the contaminated soil and sediment of water bodies for decades. Before dioxin hot spots were contained and cleanup efforts began, the contamination had spread to fish and shrimp, and, from there, to more people. On Jan. 26, a French-Vietnamese woman and victim of Agent Orange brought a case against 14 chemical giants before a French court to seek damages for the harmful effects herbicides have had on her and three generations of her family. She seeks to hold the companies, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto (since acquired by Bayer), accountable for their role in making or selling Agent Orange. At 79, the woman, Ms. Trần Tố Nga, is fighting what may be the last battle of her life. She has cancer, high iodine levels in her blood, genetic abnormalities, among other illnesses linked to Agent Orange. Her children were born with genetic abnormalities; one died when she was only few months old. With much of the world preoccupied with the pandemic, Ms. Nga’s fight for justice has been largely ignored — the same way the innocent people exposed to herbicides sprayed from American military aircrafts in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been overlooked for nearly half a century. The first time I heard of Agent Orange was in 1980 when I was 7 years old and living in South Vietnam. A neighbor was standing in our kitchen, pointing at a fish we had caught in a stream close to home. The fish was a great catch, but it had two tails and a gigantic, deformed head. “Don’t eat that fish,” the neighbor told us, “It has been contaminated by chất độc da cam.” Years later, after I learned English and came across the term Agent Orange, I wondered why Americans used an ambiguous-sounding name for this deadly chemical while Vietnamese farmers, like my parents and our neighbors, chose instead to address it head-on: chất độc da cam, or, “the poison, Agent Orange.” In the 1980s, unlike many Americans who had the luxury of choosing their food, my parents did not. Over half a decade had passed since the war ended, but we were still living under the trade embargo America had placed on Vietnam. We were starving. My parents kept the fish alive in a deep bucket filled with water for some days, replacing the water regularly as they debated what to do. They reasoned that we couldn’t be certain the fish’s features were caused by chemical contamination. In their desperation, they argued that even if the fish was contaminated by those American chemicals, the water drawn from the depths of our well would help flush out the toxins. In the end, my mother went ahead and prepared the fish, much to my joy and that of my two elder brothers. I remember my stick-thin body trembling as I devoured that protein-rich meal, cooked tenderly in lemongrass and ginger harvested from the garden of my mother’s love. Years later, I would look back and wonder at that moment and at the war that took so many lives and traumatized many more. To survive, my family and most of our neighbors were forced to consume whatever food we could find. After I became a mother, I would count the fingers and toes of my newborn daughter, and later those of my son. My eyes would tear up each time. Many mothers are not as lucky as me. Not Ms. Nguyệt, who wept with me in the yard of the Thanh Xuân Peace Village, an orphanage that provides charity care for Agent Orange victims near Hanoi where I volunteered organizing activities for kids. Ms. Nguyệt’s husband had fought in the contaminated areas in the south and died of cancer. As a single mother who was often out working odd jobs to survive, she had no means of caring for their only child — a boy born with deformities — and had to leave him at the orphanage. It is not known how many parents gave up children born with deformities, but many such orphanages exist throughout Vietnam. Ms. Nguyệt and her son are among the several million Vietnamese estimated by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange, or the VAVA, to be living with the horrific consequences of the defoliant campaign. The number of Laotian and Cambodian victims is unknown, but researchers have been working on assessing the impact of the herbicides there. Scientists in Vietnam have confirmed high levels of dioxin in the blood and breast milk of people living in hot spots. And in a growing list, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has linked many types of cancers and health problems to these chemicals. American veterans and their offspring who meet certain requirements are eligible for benefits. Over the years, U.S. veterans have secured settlements from chemical manufacturers. Vietnamese and other victims in Southeast Asia are still waiting for the U.S. government to provide a similar level of assistance. It took decades for the United States to commit almost $400 million to clean up hot spots and help victims in the heavily sprayed provinces. The United States still has not taken responsibility for the harmful effects of herbicides in Laos or Cambodia. Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian victims of dioxin have never received compensation from the chemical giants that produced, sold and reaped profits from the sale of herbicides. Ms. Nga’s lawsuit could be the first that results in compensation for a Vietnamese victim, according to the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, the organization supporting her case. In 2004, VAVA filed a class-action suit in the United States against chemical manufacturers on behalf of millions of Vietnamese. However, the American court ultimately dismissed the case on the grounds that it lacked sufficient basis in U.S. and international law and that the supplying of herbicides didn’t amount to a war crime. For years, I have been asking myself this question: Why has the United States offered at least some form of compensation to Americans, but has not done more for the Vietnamese who were also exposed and who have spent years seeking justice? It is long overdue that we highlight the costs of wars beyond injuries and casualties, to include the damage still inflicted on our health, our families and our environment. It is long overdue that comprehensive actions be taken to help all victims of Agent Orange, regardless of their nationalities.

America, please don’t forget the victims of Agent Orange

Dubai on Monday saw a freak accident that involved 34 cars smashing into each other and creating a pile-up. The incident took place on Emirates Road. The accident took place due to poor visibility due to dust storm.

As per local media, Dubai Police said that the accident took place towards Sharjah after Al Qudra bridge. Two people were reportedly severely injured. There were two other persons who got injured.&nbsp;

The authorities have advised motorists to drive with caution and use another route.

Dubai on Monday saw a freak accident that involved 34 cars smashing into each other and creating a pile-up. The incident took place on Emirates Road. The accident took place due to poor visibility due to dust storm.

Dubai on Monday saw a freak accident that involved 34 cars smashing into each other and creating a pile-up. The incident took place on Emirates Road. The accident took place due to poor visibility due to dust storm. As per local media, Dubai Police said that the accident took place towards Sharjah after Al Qudra bridge. Two people were reportedly severely injured. There were two other persons who got injured. The authorities have advised motorists to drive with caution and use another route.

Dubai: 34 cars involved in a mega pile-up accident on Emirates Road

Parisians were happy with the easing of travel restrictions in France on Monday. The easing puts an end to a rule that limited people to 10 kilometres from their homes. If anyone wanted to travel farther, the person had obtained permission slips.

"For me, it's freedom," 80-year-old Parisian Madeleine Bugnion told Reuters. "I kept on taking walks but I never went past the 10 kilometres (radius),"

Most said they were especially looking forward to the relaxing of the 7 p.m. nightly curfew and the resumption of outside service for cafes, bars and restaurants that is set to take place on May 19.

"I believe it is something everyone is looking forward to but we have to remain vigilant and keep in mind that the priority is to stay alive, and avoid having overcrowded hospitals," said Parisian Olivier Lacombes.

In order to tackle surge in cases, France began its national lockdown at the end of March.

Under pressure from business and a weary public, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday (April 30) a four-phase plan to ease restrictions.

France reported 113 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals on Sunday (May 2), down from 195 on Saturday (May 1), and the lowest since October, health ministry data showed, on the eve of an easing of the country's lockdown restrictions.

France has accelerated its vaccination campaign.

The health ministry on Sunday said 15.8 million, or 23.7% of the population, have received a first shot of vaccine and 6.5 million, or 9.4% of the population, have received two shots.

(With inputs from agencies)

Parisians were happy with the easing of travel restrictions in France on Monday. The easing puts an end to a rule that limited people to 10 kilometres from their homes.

Parisians were happy with the easing of travel restrictions in France on Monday. The easing puts an end to a rule that limited people to 10 kilometres from their homes. If anyone wanted to travel farther, the person had obtained permission slips. "For me, it's freedom," 80-year-old Parisian Madeleine Bugnion told Reuters. "I kept on taking walks but I never went past the 10 kilometres (radius)," Most said they were especially looking forward to the relaxing of the 7 p.m. nightly curfew and the resumption of outside service for cafes, bars and restaurants that is set to take place on May 19. "I believe it is something everyone is looking forward to but we have to remain vigilant and keep in mind that the priority is to stay alive, and avoid having overcrowded hospitals," said Parisian Olivier Lacombes. In order to tackle surge in cases, France began its national lockdown at the end of March. Under pressure from business and a weary public, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday (April 30) a four-phase plan to ease restrictions. France reported 113 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals on Sunday (May 2), down from 195 on Saturday (May 1), and the lowest since October, health ministry data showed, on the eve of an easing of the country's lockdown restrictions. France has accelerated its vaccination campaign. The health ministry on Sunday said 15.8 million, or 23.7% of the population, have received a first shot of vaccine and 6.5 million, or 9.4% of the population, have received two shots. (With inputs from agencies)

France eases regional travel restrictions

Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival has been cancelled for second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. The premier of southern German state of Bavaria announced this on Monday. Oktoberfest attracts around 6 million visitors to Munich every year.

Munich residents were mostly sad to see another year without the colourful folk festival but were understanding of the measures.

Bartenders who stand to lose a lot of income from the lack of beer and boozing said they were pinning their hopes on 2022.

Bavarian premier Markus Soeder told journalists that it was necessary to cancel major events such as the Oktoberfest again this year because they required large financial commitments and the risk was too large given uncertainty over when the pandemic may ease up.

"Also, in classic beer halls measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing cannot be enforced," Soeder said.

Germany has vaccinated more than 28 per cent of its population so far. Germans are hoping for restrictions to be lifted with increasing vaccination and falling number of cases.

This year's Oktoberfest was scheduled to take place from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3.

(With inputs from agencies)

Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival has been cancelled for second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. The premier of southern German state of Bavaria announced this on Monday.

Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival has been cancelled for second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. The premier of southern German state of Bavaria announced this on Monday. Oktoberfest attracts around 6 million visitors to Munich every year. Munich residents were mostly sad to see another year without the colourful folk festival but were understanding of the measures. Bartenders who stand to lose a lot of income from the lack of beer and boozing said they were pinning their hopes on 2022. Bavarian premier Markus Soeder told journalists that it was necessary to cancel major events such as the Oktoberfest again this year because they required large financial commitments and the risk was too large given uncertainty over when the pandemic may ease up. "Also, in classic beer halls measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing cannot be enforced," Soeder said. Germany has vaccinated more than 28 per cent of its population so far. Germans are hoping for restrictions to be lifted with increasing vaccination and falling number of cases. This year's Oktoberfest was scheduled to take place from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3. (With inputs from agencies)

Oktoberfest gets cancelled again due to pandemic

Saudi Arabia is set to permit citizens immunised from Covid-19 to travel abroad from May 17, said the country's interior ministry. This developed has come more than a year after Saudis were barred from external trips.

As per the ministry, three categories of the people would be considered immunised -- those who have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, those administered a single dose at least 14 days prior to travel, and people who have recovered from the infection within the last six months.

Saudis under the age of 18 -- an age group that is not receiving vaccines -- would also be allowed to travel from May 17, provided they carry an insurance policy approved by the central bank, the ministry said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency.

"The decision to lift the suspension on citizens travelling outside Saudi Arabia will go into effect at 1:00 am on May 17," the ministry said, adding that the kingdom will re-open its land, sea and air borders.

The policy represents an incentive for citizens, barred from travelling abroad since the pandemic began, to get vaccinated.

The kingdom's health ministry said it has administered more than nine million coronavirus vaccine doses, in a country with a population of over 34 million.

The country has reported more than 419,000 coronavirus infections and nearly 7,000 deaths from Covid-19.

Last month, Saudi Arabia permitted only people immunised against Covid-19 to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims.

It is unclear whether that policy, which comes amid an uptick in coronavirus infections in the kingdom, would be extended to the annual hajj pilgrimage later this year.

(With inputs from agencies)

Saudi Arabia is set to permit citizens immunised from Covid-19 to travel abroad from May 17, said the country's interior ministry. This developed has come more than a year after Saudis were barred from external trips.

Saudi Arabia is set to permit citizens immunised from Covid-19 to travel abroad from May 17, said the country's interior ministry. This developed has come more than a year after Saudis were barred from external trips. As per the ministry, three categories of the people would be considered immunised -- those who have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, those administered a single dose at least 14 days prior to travel, and people who have recovered from the infection within the last six months. Saudis under the age of 18 -- an age group that is not receiving vaccines -- would also be allowed to travel from May 17, provided they carry an insurance policy approved by the central bank, the ministry said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency. "The decision to lift the suspension on citizens travelling outside Saudi Arabia will go into effect at 1:00 am on May 17," the ministry said, adding that the kingdom will re-open its land, sea and air borders. The policy represents an incentive for citizens, barred from travelling abroad since the pandemic began, to get vaccinated. The kingdom's health ministry said it has administered more than nine million coronavirus vaccine doses, in a country with a population of over 34 million. The country has reported more than 419,000 coronavirus infections and nearly 7,000 deaths from Covid-19. Last month, Saudi Arabia permitted only people immunised against Covid-19 to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan, the holy fasting month for Muslims. It is unclear whether that policy, which comes amid an uptick in coronavirus infections in the kingdom, would be extended to the annual hajj pilgrimage later this year. (With inputs from agencies)

Saudi Arabia to allow 'immunised' citizens to travel abroad

Enthusiasm for President Biden’s ambition is rampant among progressives. In the first 100 days of his presidency, he has inspired premonitions of the second coming of Franklin Roosevelt. In his address to Congress this week, Mr. Biden himself invoked the parallel, “turning peril into possibility.”

And no wonder: After breaking through in the Democratic primaries as a centrist, Mr. Biden has surpassed his party’s expectations for the scale of his vision and moved sharply to the left in his early days in office.

It is not easy to explain Mr. Biden’s “radicalism.” For the most rapturous, a big-spending champion of a new welfare state has arisen from a cautious market-friendly centrism. The American Rescue, Jobs and Family Plans augur a “decisive break” with the era of small government, and the pandemic’s exposure of American inequalities and the evolution of our experts anticipate a new era in our politics.

That is not the whole story. The Democrats’ newfound tolerance of deficits for the sake of relief, infrastructure and care does move beyond the austerity economics of the last several decades. But as the journalist David Dayen points out, it has not affected a budget proposal promising to “restore” discretionary nondefense spending to levels that are still less than those during the Ronald Reagan era (as a percentage of gross domestic product). Mr. Biden’s rebalancing of tax fairness for individuals takes the country back, as the president acknowledged Wednesday, to George W. Bush levels of under 40 percent for the top tax bracket, not Roosevelt levels of 94 percent at their height or even pre-Reagan levels of 70 percent.

If Mr. Biden’s first 100 days differ so much from the New Deal, however, the fear that motivated Democrats back then is the best explanation of their early actions and talk now, especially when it comes to rethinking the American social contract. In his first inaugural, Roosevelt warned against the fear of fear itself. The truth, as the New Deal historian Ira Katznelson memorably emphasized, is that anxiety drove many of the innovations of the era, from the contraction of class inequality (and high tax rates) at home to the militarized stance toward enemies like the Nazis abroad. But terror of risks to stability and wealth, as much as freedom, lay behind a redefinition of social fairness and the rise of a new kind of state.

That fear can drive reform, while also limiting and marring it, is what we need to consider once again. What Democrats are afraid of best explains what they are doing, and where they will stop — and that may be the problem.

Mr. Biden’s foreign policy staffers have been most cleareyed about their challenges. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged that “Americans have been asking tough but fair questions about what we’re doing, how we’re leading — indeed, whether we should be leading at all.”

Brian Deese, Council of Economic Policy head, is also entirely open that losing voters again in a closely divided country keeps him up at night: “Your ability to sustain good policy is connected to your ability to sustain political support for that good policy.”

With a higher minimum wage on hold (Mr. Biden did order a $15 minimum wage for federal contractors) and the fate of Mr. Biden’s proposed increase in the corporate tax rate unknown, much of the history the Democrats are writing is now up to Congress. The red meat of Mr. Biden’s proposals will look very different after the sausage grinder of the legislative process.

But both the generosity and limits of the reformism of fear always depend on what exactly reformers find terrifying — and what they think will lead to safety. The threat of electoral loss will wane as soon as it seems less credible that Donald Trump or someone like him can capitalize on elite failures. Even as long as that fear lasts, it can as easily lead to optical or rhetorical change as drive structural reform. And fear conditions the kind of government investments chosen from the policy menu.

It is not just politicians angling to stay in power whose fear we need to realistically assess. Much depends, too, on the fear levels of the donors to whom politicians answer. In the 20th century, the carnage of war and masses enraged by depression — and pushing for labor rights through street action and union politics — once led the rich to redistribute to the rest more willingly. But it is unclear how genuinely and how much our generation’s wealthy, whose big donations made a big difference for Mr. Biden in the 2020 election (much as well-off suburbanites did with their votes), are terrified, or how far the president will ultimately shape policy to their demands.

If the New Deal shows that fear can motivate reform, finally, it also reminds us that it can lead that reform awry. The one big change in foreign policy Democrats are making to their pre-Trump understanding of what a “rules-based international order” requires concerns China, especially in trade policy. That Democrats are embracing so floridly the model of great power competition with China that Mr. Trump embraced — even perhaps a new Cold War — suggests they know they need more than the anxiety they will lose again or the threats to democracy associated with the right (and confirmed by the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol) to keep themselves and many in their audience motivated.

“When we think about infrastructure,” said Mr. Deese, “a lot of it is in contraposition to what [Biden] is seeing China doing.” As Mr. Biden himself remarked on Wednesday: “China and other countries are closing in fast.”

The New Deal truly changed America when it ended not in a welfare but in a warfare state — and that proved a catastrophe for kind of ambitious reform Mr. Biden says he wants. Apprehensive competition can bring distortion, excess and manipulation, and not merely goad policymakers to change for the better or constituencies to support that change. Ambition can spring from rivalry, but competition, as the first Cold War with the Soviet Union showed, can also limit reform and lead to collateral damage and disastrous mistakes.

The limits of Mr. Biden’s ambitions are the limits of the reformism of fear. For all the good it can provoke, a politics driven by threats from angry voters, domestic uprisings and foreign states can never break the American impasse. Only hope and higher ideals can.

Enthusiasm for President Biden’s ambition is rampant among progressives. In the first 100 days of his presidency, he has inspired premonitions of the second coming of Franklin Roosevelt.

Enthusiasm for President Biden’s ambition is rampant among progressives. In the first 100 days of his presidency, he has inspired premonitions of the second coming of Franklin Roosevelt. In his address to Congress this week, Mr. Biden himself invoked the parallel, “turning peril into possibility.” And no wonder: After breaking through in the Democratic primaries as a centrist, Mr. Biden has surpassed his party’s expectations for the scale of his vision and moved sharply to the left in his early days in office. It is not easy to explain Mr. Biden’s “radicalism.” For the most rapturous, a big-spending champion of a new welfare state has arisen from a cautious market-friendly centrism. The American Rescue, Jobs and Family Plans augur a “decisive break” with the era of small government, and the pandemic’s exposure of American inequalities and the evolution of our experts anticipate a new era in our politics. That is not the whole story. The Democrats’ newfound tolerance of deficits for the sake of relief, infrastructure and care does move beyond the austerity economics of the last several decades. But as the journalist David Dayen points out, it has not affected a budget proposal promising to “restore” discretionary nondefense spending to levels that are still less than those during the Ronald Reagan era (as a percentage of gross domestic product). Mr. Biden’s rebalancing of tax fairness for individuals takes the country back, as the president acknowledged Wednesday, to George W. Bush levels of under 40 percent for the top tax bracket, not Roosevelt levels of 94 percent at their height or even pre-Reagan levels of 70 percent. If Mr. Biden’s first 100 days differ so much from the New Deal, however, the fear that motivated Democrats back then is the best explanation of their early actions and talk now, especially when it comes to rethinking the American social contract. In his first inaugural, Roosevelt warned against the fear of fear itself. The truth, as the New Deal historian Ira Katznelson memorably emphasized, is that anxiety drove many of the innovations of the era, from the contraction of class inequality (and high tax rates) at home to the militarized stance toward enemies like the Nazis abroad. But terror of risks to stability and wealth, as much as freedom, lay behind a redefinition of social fairness and the rise of a new kind of state. That fear can drive reform, while also limiting and marring it, is what we need to consider once again. What Democrats are afraid of best explains what they are doing, and where they will stop — and that may be the problem. Mr. Biden’s foreign policy staffers have been most cleareyed about their challenges. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged that “Americans have been asking tough but fair questions about what we’re doing, how we’re leading — indeed, whether we should be leading at all.” Brian Deese, Council of Economic Policy head, is also entirely open that losing voters again in a closely divided country keeps him up at night: “Your ability to sustain good policy is connected to your ability to sustain political support for that good policy.” With a higher minimum wage on hold (Mr. Biden did order a $15 minimum wage for federal contractors) and the fate of Mr. Biden’s proposed increase in the corporate tax rate unknown, much of the history the Democrats are writing is now up to Congress. The red meat of Mr. Biden’s proposals will look very different after the sausage grinder of the legislative process. But both the generosity and limits of the reformism of fear always depend on what exactly reformers find terrifying — and what they think will lead to safety. The threat of electoral loss will wane as soon as it seems less credible that Donald Trump or someone like him can capitalize on elite failures. Even as long as that fear lasts, it can as easily lead to optical or rhetorical change as drive structural reform. And fear conditions the kind of government investments chosen from the policy menu. It is not just politicians angling to stay in power whose fear we need to realistically assess. Much depends, too, on the fear levels of the donors to whom politicians answer. In the 20th century, the carnage of war and masses enraged by depression — and pushing for labor rights through street action and union politics — once led the rich to redistribute to the rest more willingly. But it is unclear how genuinely and how much our generation’s wealthy, whose big donations made a big difference for Mr. Biden in the 2020 election (much as well-off suburbanites did with their votes), are terrified, or how far the president will ultimately shape policy to their demands. If the New Deal shows that fear can motivate reform, finally, it also reminds us that it can lead that reform awry. The one big change in foreign policy Democrats are making to their pre-Trump understanding of what a “rules-based international order” requires concerns China, especially in trade policy. That Democrats are embracing so floridly the model of great power competition with China that Mr. Trump embraced — even perhaps a new Cold War — suggests they know they need more than the anxiety they will lose again or the threats to democracy associated with the right (and confirmed by the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol) to keep themselves and many in their audience motivated. “When we think about infrastructure,” said Mr. Deese, “a lot of it is in contraposition to what [Biden] is seeing China doing.” As Mr. Biden himself remarked on Wednesday: “China and other countries are closing in fast.” The New Deal truly changed America when it ended not in a welfare but in a warfare state — and that proved a catastrophe for kind of ambitious reform Mr. Biden says he wants. Apprehensive competition can bring distortion, excess and manipulation, and not merely goad policymakers to change for the better or constituencies to support that change. Ambition can spring from rivalry, but competition, as the first Cold War with the Soviet Union showed, can also limit reform and lead to collateral damage and disastrous mistakes. The limits of Mr. Biden’s ambitions are the limits of the reformism of fear. For all the good it can provoke, a politics driven by threats from angry voters, domestic uprisings and foreign states can never break the American impasse. Only hope and higher ideals can.

Just how transformational is the Biden presidency?

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Manas Joshi

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