Everyone is aware of Bitcoin's popularity and how many large long-term investors are adding the OG token to their portfolios. Now, families are investing in cryptos as a college savings strategy to enhance their children's financial prospects despite the associated risks and volatility.

Parents ditch stocks and embrace Bitcoin for college savings

Bitcoin tumbled below the $100,000 mark early Sunday as markets reacted to President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on America’s three largest trading partners.

Bitcoin drops below $100,000 as Trump’s trade war rattles markets

In global markets, bitcoin was making headlines once again, and positive starts to Asian stocks being the other highlight. The OG crypto token notched another record high, climbing above $93,000 for the first time ever. The chart-bursting surge is driven by traders' exuberance over president-elect Donald Trump's rhetorical support for crypto.

Bitcoin Tops $93,000 In Chart-Bursting Rally

The milk prices increased by more than a fifth in Pakistan after the government introduced a new tax which made the dairy staple costlier than it is in Australia, France and other developed countries.

In the supermarkets of Karachi, Ultra-high temperature or UHT milk is being sold for Rs 370 ($1.33) per litre.&nbsp;

As per the data collected by Bloomberg, the milk costs $1.29 in Amsterdam, $1.23 in Paris, and $1.08 in Melbourne.

In the taxation changes introduced by the government last week as part of the national budget, the milk tax was introduced which is 18 per cent on packaged milk.&nbsp;

Earlier, it was exempted from any tax. Before the tax was imposed, which resulted in an increase in retail prices by 25 per cent, the cost of milk was similar to the prices in other countries like&nbsp;Nigeria and Vietnam, said Muhammad Nasir, who is a spokesman for the local unit of Dutch dairy producer Royal FrieslandCampina NV.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/if-left-unchecked-jaishankar-takes-veiled-dig-at-pak-china-at-sco-summit-737849">'If left unchecked..': Jaishankar takes veiled dig at Pak, China at SCO summit</a>

The costlier price of milk will only increase the inflation that the South Asian country is battling amid a deepening economic crisis that has led to stagnation in wages and erosion of spending power.

Child health is also likely to decline because of the increase in milk prices as 40 per cent of the country has been living in poverty.

“It will deny nutrition from a population that is already suffering from malnutrition,” said Nasir, in a text message to Bloomberg.&nbsp;

Nearly 60 per cent of Pakistani children, who are under five&nbsp;years of age, are anaemic and nearly 40 per cent of them are suffering from stunted growth.

<h2>Pakistanis express displeasure of surge in milk price on social media</h2>

Taking to social media platforms, the Pakistanis expressed displeasure over the price hike of milk.&nbsp;

“Bone-breaking inflation is on its peak! Milk prices in Pakistan have surged by more than 20% following the imposition of a new tax, making the dairy staple more expensive in Karachi than in Paris, Melbourne, and Amsterdam,” one of the users wrote on X.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bone breaking inflation is on its peak! 
 
Milk prices in Pakistan have surged by more than 20% following the imposition of a new tax, making the dairy staple more expensive in Karachi than in Paris, Melbourne, and Amsterdam. <a href="https://t.co/EApfF1iB7C">pic.twitter.com/EApfF1iB7C</a>
— Qazi Asif (@QMAAsif) <a href="https://twitter.com/QMAAsif/status/1808829866705350990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

“Milk prices in Pakistan surged by more than a fifth after a new tax was applied, making the dairy staple more expensive than in France, Australia and some other developed nations. Great going,” said another user.

Watch:&nbsp;7 killed, 18 injured in bus accident in Pakistan's Karachi

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/7-killed-18-injured-in-bus-accident-in-pakistans-karachi-736544/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The taxes were raised by the Pakistan government by 40 per cent, which was the highest on record. The increase was part of the national budget introduced last week which was aimed at meeting conditions proposed by the International Monetary Fund for getting a new bailout.

(With inputs from agencies)

The milk prices increased by more than a fifth in Pakistan after the government introduced a new tax which made the dairy staple costlier than it is in Australia, France and other developed countries.

The milk prices increased by more than a fifth in Pakistan after the government introduced a new tax which made the dairy staple costlier than it is in Australia, France and other developed countries. In the supermarkets of Karachi, Ultra-high temperature or UHT milk is being sold for Rs 370 ($1.33) per litre. As per the data collected by Bloomberg, the milk costs $1.29 in Amsterdam, $1.23 in Paris, and $1.08 in Melbourne. In the taxation changes introduced by the government last week as part of the national budget, the milk tax was introduced which is 18 per cent on packaged milk. Earlier, it was exempted from any tax. Before the tax was imposed, which resulted in an increase in retail prices by 25 per cent, the cost of milk was similar to the prices in other countries like Nigeria and Vietnam, said Muhammad Nasir, who is a spokesman for the local unit of Dutch dairy producer Royal FrieslandCampina NV. Also Read: 'If left unchecked..': Jaishankar takes veiled dig at Pak, China at SCO summit The costlier price of milk will only increase the inflation that the South Asian country is battling amid a deepening economic crisis that has led to stagnation in wages and erosion of spending power. Child health is also likely to decline because of the increase in milk prices as 40 per cent of the country has been living in poverty. “It will deny nutrition from a population that is already suffering from malnutrition,” said Nasir, in a text message to Bloomberg. Nearly 60 per cent of Pakistani children, who are under five years of age, are anaemic and nearly 40 per cent of them are suffering from stunted growth. Pakistanis express displeasure of surge in milk price on social media Taking to social media platforms, the Pakistanis expressed displeasure over the price hike of milk. “Bone-breaking inflation is on its peak! Milk prices in Pakistan have surged by more than 20% following the imposition of a new tax, making the dairy staple more expensive in Karachi than in Paris, Melbourne, and Amsterdam,” one of the users wrote on X. Bone breaking inflation is on its peak! Milk prices in Pakistan have surged by more than 20% following the imposition of a new tax, making the dairy staple more expensive in Karachi than in Paris, Melbourne, and Amsterdam. pic.twitter.com/EApfF1iB7C — Qazi Asif (@QMAAsif) July 4, 2024 × “Milk prices in Pakistan surged by more than a fifth after a new tax was applied, making the dairy staple more expensive than in France, Australia and some other developed nations. Great going,” said another user. Watch: 7 killed, 18 injured in bus accident in Pakistan's Karachi The taxes were raised by the Pakistan government by 40 per cent, which was the highest on record. The increase was part of the national budget introduced last week which was aimed at meeting conditions proposed by the International Monetary Fund for getting a new bailout. (With inputs from agencies)

Costlier in Karachi than in Europe! Pakistan introduces milk tax, pushes price to a record high

Several thousand people take to the streets of Cotonou, Benin's economic capital, to protest against rising prices and the violation of individual and trade union freedoms.

Benin: High cost of living drives residents to the brink

Bitcoin just shattered another record. The digital currency surged past $72,000, fueled by a massive influx of investment and the anticipation of a supply squeeze. Take a look at this next report for more…

Bitcoin rockets to record $72,000 high amid ETF surge

After a brutal crypto winter that saw bitcoin prices plummet, miners are back in action. Fueled by a recent surge in Bitcoin value – up over 400% since its 2022 lows – and the upcoming "Halving" event in April, miners are in a race to maximize profits. The halving, a pre-programmed feature of Bitcoin's code, cuts miner rewards in half, significantly impacting their income stream.

Bitcoin miners gear up for halving

Is the Bitcoin boom unsustainable?

Bitcoin rose to a record high on Tuesday, breaching the previous high set over two years ago. The original crypto didn't remain at its new all-time high for long, as many traders took advantage of the chance to book some profit. Bitcoin rose as much as 2.5% to $69,191.95 before retreating to around $62,000.

Bitcoin tops $69,000 to new record high

As per a study, thousands of sharks off the Florida coast may have become addicted to cocaine. These marine animals have been feasting on large amounts of narcotics dumped into the ocean. For decades, drug peddlers have been using the Florida coast to smuggle cocaine from South to Central America. Watch this video for all details.

Are sharks off Florida coast high on cocaine?

In New York City, not only humans, but dogs are also getting high. A rise in the intake of cannabis after the city legalised adult recreational use of the drug in 2021 has led to more dogs accidentally eating dropped marijuana products on streets and getting hospitalised.

According to the New York Times (NYT) newspaper, veterinarians are witnessing several cases a week, which was once a case per month.

Several pet owners say that their dogs are running into more dropped cannabis on the streets&nbsp;during walks. Though most dogs recover, the symptoms from consuming cannabis have petrified pet lovers.

Among the most common symptoms found in dogs are: loss of balance and difficulty walking, nausea, sleepiness and hallucinations.

Adding further problem is that some owners don’t even realise for days that their dogs had chewed on a joint while out on a walk.

<h2>Gravitas: Meet the stoned Dogs of New York</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-meet-the-stoned-dogs-of-new-york-562463/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“It’s always been a little bit of a problem, but as of late, we are seeing a rise in cases now that marijuana has been legalized here (New York)”, Dr Gabrielle Fadl, director of primary care at Bond Vet, told NYT.

So far, there is no official estimate as to how many dogs had to get medical help, but NYT estimates the numbers to be significant enough to send alarm bells to authorities.

Worryingly, the trend is not only limited to New York City, similar situations have been witnessed in other states as well, most prominently in California.

According to the estimates, in the past six years, there’s been over 400 per cent rise in calls about marijuana poisoning to the Pet Poison Helpline, a 24-hour animal poison control centre —most reported in New York and California.

Last year, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control hotline received nearly 7,000 calls for marijuana toxicity, an 11 per cent increase from the previous year.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

In New York City, not only humans, but dogs are also getting high. A rise in the intake of cannabis after the city legalised adult recreational use of the drug in 2021 has led to more dogs accidentally eating dropped marijuana products on streets and getting hospitalised.

In New York City, not only humans, but dogs are also getting high. A rise in the intake of cannabis after the city legalised adult recreational use of the drug in 2021 has led to more dogs accidentally eating dropped marijuana products on streets and getting hospitalised. According to the New York Times (NYT) newspaper, veterinarians are witnessing several cases a week, which was once a case per month. Several pet owners say that their dogs are running into more dropped cannabis on the streets during walks. Though most dogs recover, the symptoms from consuming cannabis have petrified pet lovers. Among the most common symptoms found in dogs are: loss of balance and difficulty walking, nausea, sleepiness and hallucinations. Adding further problem is that some owners don’t even realise for days that their dogs had chewed on a joint while out on a walk. Gravitas: Meet the stoned Dogs of New York “It’s always been a little bit of a problem, but as of late, we are seeing a rise in cases now that marijuana has been legalized here (New York)”, Dr Gabrielle Fadl, director of primary care at Bond Vet, told NYT. So far, there is no official estimate as to how many dogs had to get medical help, but NYT estimates the numbers to be significant enough to send alarm bells to authorities. Worryingly, the trend is not only limited to New York City, similar situations have been witnessed in other states as well, most prominently in California. According to the estimates, in the past six years, there’s been over 400 per cent rise in calls about marijuana poisoning to the Pet Poison Helpline, a 24-hour animal poison control centre —most reported in New York and California. Last year, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control hotline received nearly 7,000 calls for marijuana toxicity, an 11 per cent increase from the previous year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

In New York City, even dogs are getting high

Inflation has reached a 40-year high in the U.S., leading to recession worries on Wall Street. But it appears small businesses and customers are bearing the brunt of rising prices. For VOA, Keith Kocinski spoke with New York City vendors who are trying to keep prices down and their wheels on the ground.

WION-VOA Co-Production: US inflation reaches a new 40-year high

A California-based weed company is being sued over claims that its pre-rolled joints were not as strong enough as claimed.

Two disgruntled customers filed a class-action suit against DreamFields Brands, Inc, on October 20 for claiming that their Jeeter branded pre-rolls had low THC or tetrahydrocannabinol content—an active compound in cannabis that gives people high.

In the lawsuit, it is claimed that their pre-roll joints had only 35 per cent THC content, compared to the average 42.10 per cent THC content found in other products.

They have taken exception to their marketing slogan which says “This is the one Joint that will get you to Mars quicker than Elon Musk.”

The two plaintiffs—Jasper Centeno of Long Beach and Blake Wilson of Fresno—have accused the company of unfair competition, false advertising, and negligent representation, reports CNN.

"Because cannabis consumers generally prefer and are willing to pay more for high-THC cannabis products, declaring that their products have a very high THC content allows Defendants to charge premium rates for their cannabis products," the lawsuit claims.

They have claimed that the pot company is "systematically overstating the THC content to deceive consumers into thinking that the effects of their prerolls are more potent than they truly are."

According to the California Department of Cannabis Control regulations, companies are required to label their products with THC content expressed as either a percentage or in milligrams.

And the THC content on the label must be within 10 per cent of the actual THC content.

The lawsuit alleges that an independent test revealed that DreamFields joints actually had a lower THC content than claimed.

“Meaning customers were overpaying for a weaker product,” the lawsuit alleges.

The company, however, has denied the “baseless and ridiculous” allegations.

In a statement to CNN,&nbsp;Jeeter,&nbsp;the subsidiary of DreamFields that produced the joints said, “We take pride in our compliance and commitment to state-mandated testing procedures, including independent, third-party testing. The product and our integrity (are) something we truly value as a company, and take all the proper and legal steps before our product hits the shelves.”

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_ECF370B0-9896-1EFA-63A5-151B53F626C8@published">“However baseless and ridiculous these claims are, we take them very seriously and look forward to the truth coming to light,” the company added.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A California-based weed company is being sued over claims that its pre-rolled joints were not as strong enough as claimed. Two disgruntled customers filed a class-action suit against DreamFields Brands, Inc, on October 20 for claiming that their Jeeter branded pre-rolls had low THC or tetrahydrocannabinol content—an active compound in cannabis that gives people high.

A California-based weed company is being sued over claims that its pre-rolled joints were not as strong enough as claimed. Two disgruntled customers filed a class-action suit against DreamFields Brands, Inc, on October 20 for claiming that their Jeeter branded pre-rolls had low THC or tetrahydrocannabinol content—an active compound in cannabis that gives people high. In the lawsuit, it is claimed that their pre-roll joints had only 35 per cent THC content, compared to the average 42.10 per cent THC content found in other products. They have taken exception to their marketing slogan which says “This is the one Joint that will get you to Mars quicker than Elon Musk.” The two plaintiffs—Jasper Centeno of Long Beach and Blake Wilson of Fresno—have accused the company of unfair competition, false advertising, and negligent representation, reports CNN. "Because cannabis consumers generally prefer and are willing to pay more for high-THC cannabis products, declaring that their products have a very high THC content allows Defendants to charge premium rates for their cannabis products," the lawsuit claims. They have claimed that the pot company is "systematically overstating the THC content to deceive consumers into thinking that the effects of their prerolls are more potent than they truly are." According to the California Department of Cannabis Control regulations, companies are required to label their products with THC content expressed as either a percentage or in milligrams. And the THC content on the label must be within 10 per cent of the actual THC content. The lawsuit alleges that an independent test revealed that DreamFields joints actually had a lower THC content than claimed. “Meaning customers were overpaying for a weaker product,” the lawsuit alleges. The company, however, has denied the “baseless and ridiculous” allegations. In a statement to CNN, Jeeter, the subsidiary of DreamFields that produced the joints said, “We take pride in our compliance and commitment to state-mandated testing procedures, including independent, third-party testing. The product and our integrity (are) something we truly value as a company, and take all the proper and legal steps before our product hits the shelves.” “However baseless and ridiculous these claims are, we take them very seriously and look forward to the truth coming to light,” the company added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

California weed company sued for not getting people high enough

Eurozone inflation triggered by the ongoing gas crunch has hit a record high of 8.6%. Meanwhile, Moscow has seized control of the Sakhalin gas project.

Energy crisis brews amid Ukraine war: Eurozone inflation hits record 8.6%

When Adam Potash started driving for Lyft six months ago to help make ends meet, he was happy with the pay. The business was far from lucrative, but he was making about $200 a day before paying for costs like gas and car maintenance.

But as gas prices have risen in recent weeks, Potash has barely been breaking even. To compensate, he has focused on driving during peak customer hours and tried to fill up at cheaper gas stations in the area around San Francisco where he works. He has also reduced his driving time from about 45 hours each week to roughly 20 hours.

“It hurts. I don’t have money coming in,” Potash, 48, said of his reduced hours. “But I’m not willing to operate at a loss.”

Gig workers who drive for ride-hailing and delivery companies like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have been hit hard by rising gas prices because their ability to earn money is tied directly to driving hundreds of miles each week. And because the drivers are contract workers, the companies do not reimburse them for the cost of fueling up.

Some drivers say that they have had enough and that the added cost of gas is making an already difficult financial equation untenable. The national average price of a gallon of gas peaked at a record $4.33 last week, according to AAA. In California, where Potash lives, gas now averages $5.77 a gallon.

“High gas prices are the final nail in the coffin,” said Harry Campbell, who writes a blog called the Rideshare Guy and produces a podcast aimed at helping ride-hailing drivers. “Rising gas prices make a tough situation even tougher, and for a lot of drivers, it’s sort of the final straw that pushes them over the edge.”

In a survey last week of 325 drivers who follow his content, Campbell found that 38% were driving less because of high gas prices and 15% had quit driving altogether.

Some drivers around the country staged a boycott of ride-hailing apps Thursday, though it was difficult to say for certain how many participated. The effort, initially organized to raise awareness about driver safety, gave way to an outpouring of frustration about how high gas prices were making a tough business even tougher.

“We started organizing months ago about the poor safety, and when gas prices went through the roof, many drivers said, ‘We need to stand up and make the companies get involved in both,’” said Torsten Kunert, who gives advice to drivers on his YouTube channel, Rideshare Professor.

Uber, Lyft and DoorDash say overall driver numbers are not down. Uber said it has more active drivers now than it did in January. Both Uber and Lyft added small fees to the price of rides in most places for the next two months, a change they say will help compensate drivers.

“We know drivers and couriers are feeling the sting of record-high prices at the pump,” Liza Winship, Uber’s head of driver operations in the U.S. and Canada, said in a statement announcing the gas surcharge. Lyft echoed that sentiment in a blog post Monday.

DoorDash announced a gas rewards program Tuesday. Those who use a prepaid debit card designed for DoorDash workers will get 10% cash back at gas stations, the company said, and DoorDash is adding bonus payments depending on miles driven. Grubhub also said it would boost driver pay.

Both Uber and Lyft say that drivers have been making more money since lockdowns lifted than they did earlier in the pandemic or even pre-pandemic, even when accounting for rising gas prices. And both companies are touting a partnership with an app called GetUpside that offers some cash back rewards for getting gas.

Gridwise, an app that helps drivers track their earnings and tallies data, found that drivers’ earnings have risen nationally in recent months, from an average of $308 per week in early January to $426 in early March. But gas costs for ride-hailing drivers have also gone up, from $31 per transaction to nearly $39 in the same period.

Uber and Lyft say the entirety of their new gas fees — $0.35 to $0.55 per trip for Uber and $0.55 for Lyft — will go to the drivers. But some drivers say the action is inadequate. Gas prices, on average, have increased by 49% in the past year, according to AAA.

“That literally insulted every driver, and that was their first communication since gas prices were going up,” said Philippe Jean, an Uber and Lyft driver in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania.

Jennifer Montgomery, an UberEats driver in Las Vegas, where gas costs $5 per gallon, agreed that the gas fee “doesn’t even put a dent” in the cost of fuel, which for her has been at least $30 more each day since prices began to increase.

Montgomery, 40, said she was becoming disillusioned with the job and had begun looking for other work that did not require her to drive. She has cut her six-hour daily shifts in half because “it’s really not a profit anymore.”

“I don’t want to deliver anymore,” she said. “Especially when you have bills to pay and rising cost of rent and mortgage, groceries — it affects everything.”

Jean mostly drives for Uber and Lyft during the winter and spring, when his work as a handyman tends to slow down. He said he enjoys interacting with passengers and usually makes $300 to $400 per week, with about $60 of that going to filling his tank.

Lately, though, Jean has been paying twice that amount for gas and has had to cut back elsewhere to compensate — including by reducing his car insurance coverage.

“I’m driving Uber now hoping not to get in an accident, because if I do, I’m going to lose my car completely,” he said.

The gas price woes have actually caused Jean to drive more in the short term, because people with cars that get poor gas mileage have told him they have stopped driving. With his hybrid Toyota Prius, he figured he would be able to snap up some of their business and still be able to make some money. But Jean said he would likely give up Uber altogether later in the spring when his handyman work picks up again, because of the high gas prices.

He questioned whether he or other drivers were even profiting from the ride-sharing business at all, after all of the costs involved.

“I think personally if I sat down and did the numbers, it would be break-even,” Jean said. “I don’t think we’re making money on it anymore. I think I’m afraid to admit it to myself, because then I would definitely stop doing it.”

When Adam Potash started driving for Lyft six months ago to help make ends meet, he was happy with the pay. The business was far from lucrative, but he was making about $200 a day before paying for costs like gas and car maintenance.

When Adam Potash started driving for Lyft six months ago to help make ends meet, he was happy with the pay. The business was far from lucrative, but he was making about $200 a day before paying for costs like gas and car maintenance. But as gas prices have risen in recent weeks, Potash has barely been breaking even. To compensate, he has focused on driving during peak customer hours and tried to fill up at cheaper gas stations in the area around San Francisco where he works. He has also reduced his driving time from about 45 hours each week to roughly 20 hours. “It hurts. I don’t have money coming in,” Potash, 48, said of his reduced hours. “But I’m not willing to operate at a loss.” Gig workers who drive for ride-hailing and delivery companies like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have been hit hard by rising gas prices because their ability to earn money is tied directly to driving hundreds of miles each week. And because the drivers are contract workers, the companies do not reimburse them for the cost of fueling up. Some drivers say that they have had enough and that the added cost of gas is making an already difficult financial equation untenable. The national average price of a gallon of gas peaked at a record $4.33 last week, according to AAA. In California, where Potash lives, gas now averages $5.77 a gallon. “High gas prices are the final nail in the coffin,” said Harry Campbell, who writes a blog called the Rideshare Guy and produces a podcast aimed at helping ride-hailing drivers. “Rising gas prices make a tough situation even tougher, and for a lot of drivers, it’s sort of the final straw that pushes them over the edge.” In a survey last week of 325 drivers who follow his content, Campbell found that 38% were driving less because of high gas prices and 15% had quit driving altogether. Some drivers around the country staged a boycott of ride-hailing apps Thursday, though it was difficult to say for certain how many participated. The effort, initially organized to raise awareness about driver safety, gave way to an outpouring of frustration about how high gas prices were making a tough business even tougher. “We started organizing months ago about the poor safety, and when gas prices went through the roof, many drivers said, ‘We need to stand up and make the companies get involved in both,’” said Torsten Kunert, who gives advice to drivers on his YouTube channel, Rideshare Professor. Uber, Lyft and DoorDash say overall driver numbers are not down. Uber said it has more active drivers now than it did in January. Both Uber and Lyft added small fees to the price of rides in most places for the next two months, a change they say will help compensate drivers. “We know drivers and couriers are feeling the sting of record-high prices at the pump,” Liza Winship, Uber’s head of driver operations in the U.S. and Canada, said in a statement announcing the gas surcharge. Lyft echoed that sentiment in a blog post Monday. DoorDash announced a gas rewards program Tuesday. Those who use a prepaid debit card designed for DoorDash workers will get 10% cash back at gas stations, the company said, and DoorDash is adding bonus payments depending on miles driven. Grubhub also said it would boost driver pay. Both Uber and Lyft say that drivers have been making more money since lockdowns lifted than they did earlier in the pandemic or even pre-pandemic, even when accounting for rising gas prices. And both companies are touting a partnership with an app called GetUpside that offers some cash back rewards for getting gas. Gridwise, an app that helps drivers track their earnings and tallies data, found that drivers’ earnings have risen nationally in recent months, from an average of $308 per week in early January to $426 in early March. But gas costs for ride-hailing drivers have also gone up, from $31 per transaction to nearly $39 in the same period. Uber and Lyft say the entirety of their new gas fees — $0.35 to $0.55 per trip for Uber and $0.55 for Lyft — will go to the drivers. But some drivers say the action is inadequate. Gas prices, on average, have increased by 49% in the past year, according to AAA. “That literally insulted every driver, and that was their first communication since gas prices were going up,” said Philippe Jean, an Uber and Lyft driver in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. Jennifer Montgomery, an UberEats driver in Las Vegas, where gas costs $5 per gallon, agreed that the gas fee “doesn’t even put a dent” in the cost of fuel, which for her has been at least $30 more each day since prices began to increase. Montgomery, 40, said she was becoming disillusioned with the job and had begun looking for other work that did not require her to drive. She has cut her six-hour daily shifts in half because “it’s really not a profit anymore.” “I don’t want to deliver anymore,” she said. “Especially when you have bills to pay and rising cost of rent and mortgage, groceries — it affects everything.” Jean mostly drives for Uber and Lyft during the winter and spring, when his work as a handyman tends to slow down. He said he enjoys interacting with passengers and usually makes $300 to $400 per week, with about $60 of that going to filling his tank. Lately, though, Jean has been paying twice that amount for gas and has had to cut back elsewhere to compensate — including by reducing his car insurance coverage. “I’m driving Uber now hoping not to get in an accident, because if I do, I’m going to lose my car completely,” he said. The gas price woes have actually caused Jean to drive more in the short term, because people with cars that get poor gas mileage have told him they have stopped driving. With his hybrid Toyota Prius, he figured he would be able to snap up some of their business and still be able to make some money. But Jean said he would likely give up Uber altogether later in the spring when his handyman work picks up again, because of the high gas prices. He questioned whether he or other drivers were even profiting from the ride-sharing business at all, after all of the costs involved. “I think personally if I sat down and did the numbers, it would be break-even,” Jean said. “I don’t think we’re making money on it anymore. I think I’m afraid to admit it to myself, because then I would definitely stop doing it.”

Gig workers say high gas prices may be a breaking point

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, reports of poverty in the nation have been emerging. There have been reports of many Afghans selling possessions to buy food because of the Taliban's inability to pay wages to civil servants. Also, the urban communities are facing food insecurity similar to rural areas.&nbsp;

Residents of Kabul, however, recently complained about the high price of food materials. The residents claimed that even after a drop in dollar’s value against Afghan currency, there has been no reduction in the price of food materials.

Deen Mohammad, a resident of Kabul was quoted by a local media house saying, "The unemployment has increased. Although the dollar dropped the prices are still high."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-group-rejects-murdering-polio-vaccinators-461914">Also read |&nbsp;Afghan group rejects murdering polio vaccinators</a>

Abdul Haq Omari, the head of the chamber has highlighted how the price of food items have witnessed a rise in the international market after Russia attacked Ukraine. "The price of food materials has increased in the international market since the war in Ukraine began, so its negative impacts hit Afghanistan as well," he said.&nbsp;

The nation is also facing the threat of a “looming humanitarian crisis” in the country. Afghanistan had already been facing chronic poverty and drought but the situation has deteriorated since the Taliban seized power.

In September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that its engagement with Afghanistan will remain suspended until there is clarity on the recognition of the government led by the Taliban.

"We ask all the international charity organisations to not withhold their aid and to help our exhausted nation... so that the problems of the people could be solved," said new Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund in his first address to the nation since the Taliban took over.

(With inputs from agencies)

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, reports of poverty in the nation have been emerging. There have been reports of many Afghans selling possessions to buy food because of the Taliban's inability to pay wages to civil servants.

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, reports of poverty in the nation have been emerging. There have been reports of many Afghans selling possessions to buy food because of the Taliban's inability to pay wages to civil servants. Also, the urban communities are facing food insecurity similar to rural areas. Residents of Kabul, however, recently complained about the high price of food materials. The residents claimed that even after a drop in dollar’s value against Afghan currency, there has been no reduction in the price of food materials. Deen Mohammad, a resident of Kabul was quoted by a local media house saying, "The unemployment has increased. Although the dollar dropped the prices are still high." Also read | Afghan group rejects murdering polio vaccinators Abdul Haq Omari, the head of the chamber has highlighted how the price of food items have witnessed a rise in the international market after Russia attacked Ukraine. "The price of food materials has increased in the international market since the war in Ukraine began, so its negative impacts hit Afghanistan as well," he said. The nation is also facing the threat of a “looming humanitarian crisis” in the country. Afghanistan had already been facing chronic poverty and drought but the situation has deteriorated since the Taliban seized power. In September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that its engagement with Afghanistan will remain suspended until there is clarity on the recognition of the government led by the Taliban. "We ask all the international charity organisations to not withhold their aid and to help our exhausted nation... so that the problems of the people could be solved," said new Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund in his first address to the nation since the Taliban took over. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid extreme poverty, Kabul residents complain of high price of food materials

There is huge pressure on policymakers to raise interest rates as South Korea's inflation nears decade-high levels. Consumer inflation hovered near a 10-year high.

South Korea inflation nears decade-high levels: Pressure on policymakers to raise interest rates

Hong Kong's "zero-Covid" policy was on the ropes Saturday as authorities announced a record number of new infections, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity and warning that a tightening of virus-control measures could be needed.

Like mainland China and much of East Asia, Hong Kong has long followed a strategy of fighting the virus through contact tracing, targeted lockdowns and lengthy quarantines.

And as much of the world has chosen to open up and live with Covid-19, the city has dug in its heels, with Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam insisting she was still committed to achieving "zero-Covid" even as infections mount.

On Saturday the city recorded 351 confirmed cases, its highest daily figure since the pandemic began, with 161 cases being either untraceable or pending investigation.

"Based on the current growth rate of cases, we estimate that (medical isolation) facilities will soon be unable to quarantine all patients," health chief Sophia Chan told reporters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/my-bones-are-sticking-out-i-cry-every-day-russian-athlete-claims-food-at-beijing-winter-olympics-inedible-451017">Also read |&nbsp;'My bones are sticking out, I cry every day': Russian athlete claims food at Beijing Winter Olympics inedible</a>

Chan urged Hong Kongers to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus, though said that sewage analysis had revealed the virus had already been found in much of the city.

Health officials also said they would loosen rules that have seen thousands of close contacts of infected people detained in a government facility, suggesting they may be able to quarantine at home depending on their risk level.

This would free up hospital beds and take into account the fact that the Omicron variant -- which makes up the majority of Hong Kong's new cases -- causes milder symptoms, authorities added.

Last month authorities locked down thousands of residents of a public housing estate after a superspreader event, prompting criticism that the city's population density made home quarantine unfeasible.

Hong Kong's spike in cases came on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year holidays, during which the government warned against families gathering for festivities.&nbsp;

City leader Lam earlier said authorities could further tighten virus-control measures next week.

Hong Kong has recorded more than 15,000 confirmed coronavirus cases with 213 deaths.

Hong Kong's "zero-Covid" policy was on the ropes Saturday as authorities announced a record number of new infections, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity and warning that a tightening of virus-control measures could be needed.

Hong Kong's "zero-Covid" policy was on the ropes Saturday as authorities announced a record number of new infections, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity and warning that a tightening of virus-control measures could be needed. Like mainland China and much of East Asia, Hong Kong has long followed a strategy of fighting the virus through contact tracing, targeted lockdowns and lengthy quarantines. And as much of the world has chosen to open up and live with Covid-19, the city has dug in its heels, with Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam insisting she was still committed to achieving "zero-Covid" even as infections mount. On Saturday the city recorded 351 confirmed cases, its highest daily figure since the pandemic began, with 161 cases being either untraceable or pending investigation. "Based on the current growth rate of cases, we estimate that (medical isolation) facilities will soon be unable to quarantine all patients," health chief Sophia Chan told reporters. Also read | 'My bones are sticking out, I cry every day': Russian athlete claims food at Beijing Winter Olympics inedible Chan urged Hong Kongers to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus, though said that sewage analysis had revealed the virus had already been found in much of the city. Health officials also said they would loosen rules that have seen thousands of close contacts of infected people detained in a government facility, suggesting they may be able to quarantine at home depending on their risk level. This would free up hospital beds and take into account the fact that the Omicron variant -- which makes up the majority of Hong Kong's new cases -- causes milder symptoms, authorities added. Last month authorities locked down thousands of residents of a public housing estate after a superspreader event, prompting criticism that the city's population density made home quarantine unfeasible. Hong Kong's spike in cases came on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year holidays, during which the government warned against families gathering for festivities. City leader Lam earlier said authorities could further tighten virus-control measures next week. Hong Kong has recorded more than 15,000 confirmed coronavirus cases with 213 deaths.

Covid infections in Hong Kong reach record high, testing capacity to ramp up

The job market bounces back to pre-pandemic levels as South Korea records the largest job growth in 7 years.

South Korea records largest job growth in 7 years

Turkey's annual&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;rate surged to its&nbsp;highest&nbsp;level&nbsp;since&nbsp;2002&nbsp;in December, official data showed Monday, after a currency crisis sparked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unconventional economic policies.

Consumer prices jumped to 36.1 percent last month from the same period in 2020, up from 21.3 percent in November, according to the&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;statistics office.

The figure is the&nbsp;highest&nbsp;since&nbsp;October&nbsp;2002&nbsp;when&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;reached 33.45 percent, before the party of Erdogan came to power.

It is also more than seven times the official government target.

Erdogan's enduring success has often been attributed to the development and prosperity his government enabled after a financial crisis in 2001.

His Islamic-rooted party rose to power the following year, and he has dominated&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;politics for the past two decades as both prime minister and president.

But he faces an increasingly difficult path to re-election in polls due to be held by mid-2023.

Opinion polls show him losing in a second-round runoff against most major rivals, and his ruling alliance ceding control of parliament to an increasingly popular group of opposition parties.

But Erdogan has stuck fast to his policies, opposing interest rate hikes -- which he calls "the mother and father of all evil" -- to combat&nbsp;inflation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-thousands-protest-in-amsterdam-against-covid-restrictions-441905">Also read |&nbsp;Watch: Thousands protest in Amsterdam against Covid restrictions</a>

High interest rates are a drag on activity and slow down economic growth.

But central banks raise their policy rates out of necessity when&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;gets out of hand.

Erdogan on Monday accused "the elites" of profiting from "unearned interest income", sticking by his pledge not to raise borrowing costs.

Lira collapse

The&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;lira lost 44 percent of its value against the dollar in 2021, with the losses accelerating at the end of last year, when Erdogan orchestrated a series of sharp interest rate reductions.

The dollar soared to a historic high of nearly 18.4 liras by the time Erdogan announced new currency support measures last month that were backed by reportedly heavy indirect interest rate interventions.

The exchange rate has&nbsp;since&nbsp;slipped back down to around 13 liras to the dollar, although the&nbsp;Turkish&nbsp;currency lost a further two percent after the latest&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;reading was announced.

A dollar was worth 7.4 liras at the start of 2021.

The monthly&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;reading has turned into an politically-sensitive issue in Turkey, with opposition leaders claiming that the government is putting pressure on the statistics agency to underreport price jumps.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/technology-giants-spy-on-staff-to-prevent-unionising-report-says-441951">Also read |&nbsp;Technology giants spy on staff to prevent unionising, report says</a>

They point to separate readings prepared to independent economic institutes such as the&nbsp;Inflation&nbsp;Research Group (ENAG), which calculated last month's annual&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;rate at 82.8 percent.

The official readings show prices for most food staples raising substantially above the annual&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;rate.

The price of milk, yogurt and sunflower oil all jumped by roughly 75 percent on the year, while that of chicken rose by 86 percent.

Erdogan has raised the take-home monthly minimum rage by 50 percent, raising it to 4,250 liras (about $310, 275 liras), which economists worry will further feed&nbsp;inflation.

His government has also raised sharply raised utility costs, including those of heat, gas and electricity.

Turkey's annual inflation rate surged to its highest level since 2002 in December, official data showed Monday, after a currency crisis sparked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unconventional economic policies.

Turkey's annual inflation rate surged to its highest level since 2002 in December, official data showed Monday, after a currency crisis sparked by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unconventional economic policies. Consumer prices jumped to 36.1 percent last month from the same period in 2020, up from 21.3 percent in November, according to the Turkish statistics office. The figure is the highest since October 2002 when inflation reached 33.45 percent, before the party of Erdogan came to power. It is also more than seven times the official government target. Erdogan's enduring success has often been attributed to the development and prosperity his government enabled after a financial crisis in 2001. His Islamic-rooted party rose to power the following year, and he has dominated Turkish politics for the past two decades as both prime minister and president. But he faces an increasingly difficult path to re-election in polls due to be held by mid-2023. Opinion polls show him losing in a second-round runoff against most major rivals, and his ruling alliance ceding control of parliament to an increasingly popular group of opposition parties. But Erdogan has stuck fast to his policies, opposing interest rate hikes -- which he calls "the mother and father of all evil" -- to combat inflation. Also read | Watch: Thousands protest in Amsterdam against Covid restrictions High interest rates are a drag on activity and slow down economic growth. But central banks raise their policy rates out of necessity when inflation gets out of hand. Erdogan on Monday accused "the elites" of profiting from "unearned interest income", sticking by his pledge not to raise borrowing costs. Lira collapse The Turkish lira lost 44 percent of its value against the dollar in 2021, with the losses accelerating at the end of last year, when Erdogan orchestrated a series of sharp interest rate reductions. The dollar soared to a historic high of nearly 18.4 liras by the time Erdogan announced new currency support measures last month that were backed by reportedly heavy indirect interest rate interventions. The exchange rate has since slipped back down to around 13 liras to the dollar, although the Turkish currency lost a further two percent after the latest inflation reading was announced. A dollar was worth 7.4 liras at the start of 2021. The monthly inflation reading has turned into an politically-sensitive issue in Turkey, with opposition leaders claiming that the government is putting pressure on the statistics agency to underreport price jumps. Also read | Technology giants spy on staff to prevent unionising, report says They point to separate readings prepared to independent economic institutes such as the Inflation Research Group (ENAG), which calculated last month's annual inflation rate at 82.8 percent. The official readings show prices for most food staples raising substantially above the annual inflation rate. The price of milk, yogurt and sunflower oil all jumped by roughly 75 percent on the year, while that of chicken rose by 86 percent. Erdogan has raised the take-home monthly minimum rage by 50 percent, raising it to 4,250 liras (about $310, 275 liras), which economists worry will further feed inflation. His government has also raised sharply raised utility costs, including those of heat, gas and electricity.

Turkish inflation hits new record high after currency crisis

While the world is already struggling to get rid of the existing Delta variant of Covid, reports suggest that another variant has emerged and it could carry an “extremely high number” of mutations which could lead to further waves of the disease.&nbsp;

The B.1.1.529 variant which has 32 spike mutations in the spike protein has 10 cases in three countries. This has been confirmed by genomic sequencing. The new strain would be named 'Nu.'

The variant emerged in Botswana.&nbsp;In the region, three cases have been sequenced. Another six cases have been confirmed in South Africa, and one in Hong Kong.&nbsp;

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College, deemed the combination of mutations found in the Botswana variant as "horrific".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/court-orders-compensation-for-botched-up-treatment-at-ivf-clinic-in-belgium-431769">Also read |&nbsp;Court orders compensation for botched-up treatment at IVF clinic in Belgium</a>

He further said that the variant could be 'worse than nearly anything else about', including the highly transmissible Delta strain.&nbsp; 
Taking to his Twitter, he wrote, "Worth emphasising this is at super low numbers right now in a region of Africa that is fairly well sampled, however it very very much should be monitored due to that horrific spike profile."

Prof Francois Balloux, the director of the UCL Genetics Institute, said a large number of mutations in the variant accumulated in a “single burst." He further suggested that it may have evolved during chronic infection in a person with a weakened immune system. The person could possibly be an untreated HIV/Aids patient.

Currently, there are no cases of the B.1.1.529 variant in the UK. However, the officials at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that they were monitoring the variant.&nbsp;

Ravi Gupta, a professor of clinical microbiology at Cambridge University, after analysing the variant said that his lab found that two of the mutations on B.1.1.529 reduced antibody recognition. Also, the mutations increased the rate of infectivity.

While the world is already struggling to get rid of the existing Delta variant of Covid, reports suggest that another variant has emerged and it could carry an “extremely high number” of mutations which could lead to further waves of the disease.

While the world is already struggling to get rid of the existing Delta variant of Covid, reports suggest that another variant has emerged and it could carry an “extremely high number” of mutations which could lead to further waves of the disease. The B.1.1.529 variant which has 32 spike mutations in the spike protein has 10 cases in three countries. This has been confirmed by genomic sequencing. The new strain would be named 'Nu.' The variant emerged in Botswana. In the region, three cases have been sequenced. Another six cases have been confirmed in South Africa, and one in Hong Kong. Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College, deemed the combination of mutations found in the Botswana variant as "horrific". Also read | Court orders compensation for botched-up treatment at IVF clinic in Belgium He further said that the variant could be 'worse than nearly anything else about', including the highly transmissible Delta strain. Taking to his Twitter, he wrote, "Worth emphasising this is at super low numbers right now in a region of Africa that is fairly well sampled, however it very very much should be monitored due to that horrific spike profile." Prof Francois Balloux, the director of the UCL Genetics Institute, said a large number of mutations in the variant accumulated in a “single burst." He further suggested that it may have evolved during chronic infection in a person with a weakened immune system. The person could possibly be an untreated HIV/Aids patient. Currently, there are no cases of the B.1.1.529 variant in the UK. However, the officials at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that they were monitoring the variant. Ravi Gupta, a professor of clinical microbiology at Cambridge University, after analysing the variant said that his lab found that two of the mutations on B.1.1.529 reduced antibody recognition. Also, the mutations increased the rate of infectivity.

As world continues to battle the Delta variant, a new variant 'worse than delta' emerges

Germany's incidence rate measuring the number of new coronavirus infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days soared to 201.1 on Monday, a record since the pandemic erupted more than a year ago.

The figure, published by Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI), surpasses the last high, which had been 197.6 reached on December 22, 2020.&nbsp;

While many more people in the country have had the jab than at that point last year, vaccination rates have stagnated at under 70 percent, with officials pleading in the last days for the population to get the jab.

"For the unvaccinated, the risk is high that they will become infected in the coming months," warned RKI chief Lothar Wieler on Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/staring-into-an-abyss-un-says-3-million-in-afghanistan-45-million-worldwide-knocking-at-famines-door-427541">Also read |&nbsp;'Staring into an abyss': UN says 3 million in Afghanistan, 45 million worldwide knocking at famine's door</a>

In the eastern state of Saxony, where the incidence rate is more than twice the national average at 491.3, unvaccinated people face new restrictions from Monday.

Access to indoor dining and other indoor events will be limited to those who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of recovery.

The new rules are the toughest state-wide restrictions in Germany against non-inoculated people. Only children as well as those who cannot receive jabs for medical reasons will be exempt.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/national-mission-uk-government-to-implement-travel-restrictions-for-those-who-refuse-booster-shot-427538">Also read |&nbsp;'National mission': UK government to implement travel restrictions for those who refuse booster shot</a>

The surge in German cases comes with the country in political limbo following September's general election.&nbsp;

The incoming coalition parties, aiming to form a government by early December, have so far ruled out mandatory jabs and said there will be no new lockdowns,&nbsp;at least not for the vaccinated.

Germany's incidence rate measuring the number of new coronavirus infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days soared to 201.1 on Monday, a record since the pandemic erupted more than a year ago.

Germany's incidence rate measuring the number of new coronavirus infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days soared to 201.1 on Monday, a record since the pandemic erupted more than a year ago. The figure, published by Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI), surpasses the last high, which had been 197.6 reached on December 22, 2020. While many more people in the country have had the jab than at that point last year, vaccination rates have stagnated at under 70 percent, with officials pleading in the last days for the population to get the jab. "For the unvaccinated, the risk is high that they will become infected in the coming months," warned RKI chief Lothar Wieler on Wednesday. Also read | 'Staring into an abyss': UN says 3 million in Afghanistan, 45 million worldwide knocking at famine's door In the eastern state of Saxony, where the incidence rate is more than twice the national average at 491.3, unvaccinated people face new restrictions from Monday. Access to indoor dining and other indoor events will be limited to those who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of recovery. The new rules are the toughest state-wide restrictions in Germany against non-inoculated people. Only children as well as those who cannot receive jabs for medical reasons will be exempt. Also read | 'National mission': UK government to implement travel restrictions for those who refuse booster shot The surge in German cases comes with the country in political limbo following September's general election. The incoming coalition parties, aiming to form a government by early December, have so far ruled out mandatory jabs and said there will be no new lockdowns, at least not for the vaccinated.

Germany: Seven-day COVID-19 incidence rate rises to record high

Iran reported over 500 daily COVID-19 deaths for the first time on Sunday, its health ministry announced, as new infections also hit a record high.

Iran registered 39,619 new infections in the 24 hours to Sunday, taking the total since the pandemic started to 4,158,729, the ministry said.

During that same period it recorded 542 deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 94,015, it added.

Iranian health officials have acknowledged that the Islamic republic's COVID-19 figures underestimate the real toll.

But Iran remains the Middle East country worst hit by the pandemic.

COVID-19 infections have been surging since late June, in what officials have warned is a "fifth wave" caused by the highly infectious Delta variant.

Daily infections have hit several records over the past few weeks.

The previous recorded high for fatalities was 496, registered on April 26, at the height of the Islamic republic's previous wave.

Iran's state television said hospitals across the country were facing a "crisis" and described the health situation as bleak.

<a href="wionews.com/india-news/indias-cumulative-covid-19-vaccination-coverage-exceeds-5068-million-403885">Also read |&nbsp;India’s cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 506.8 million&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

"Although the vaccination pace has been accelerating, the observation of health protocols has dropped significantly," it said.

Iran has pinned its hopes on vaccinations to help with the health crisis.

But the innoculation campaign launched in February has progressed more slowly than authorities had planned.

Choked by US sanctions that have made it difficult to transfer money abroad, Iran says it is struggling to import vaccines for its 83 million population.

More than 12.5 million people have been given a first vaccine does, but only 3.7 million have received the necessary two jabs, the health ministry said on Sunday.

Iran's new President Ebrahim Raisi said Saturday that a "plan to transform the way to confront the coronavirus" was to be reviewed next week. He did not give any details.

Chairing a Covid task force meeting, he also vowed to "support domestic vaccine production" while "not hesitating" to import jabs from abroad.

The authorities have approved the emergency use of two locally produced vaccines, with the only mass-produced one, COVIran Barekat, still in short supply.

Last week, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the government to take &nbsp;"necessary measures" to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Iran has avoided imposing a full lockdown on the population, and instead resorted to piecemeal measures such as temporary travel bans and business closures.

Outgoing health minister Saeed Namaki has suggested a two-week shutdown to help contain the spread of the virus.

Iran reported over 500 daily COVID-19 deaths for the first time on Sunday, its health ministry announced, as new infections also hit a record high. Iran registered 39,619 new infections in the 24 hours to Sunday, taking the total since the pandemic started to 4,158,729, the ministry said.

Iran reported over 500 daily COVID-19 deaths for the first time on Sunday, its health ministry announced, as new infections also hit a record high. Iran registered 39,619 new infections in the 24 hours to Sunday, taking the total since the pandemic started to 4,158,729, the ministry said. During that same period it recorded 542 deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 94,015, it added. Iranian health officials have acknowledged that the Islamic republic's COVID-19 figures underestimate the real toll. But Iran remains the Middle East country worst hit by the pandemic. COVID-19 infections have been surging since late June, in what officials have warned is a "fifth wave" caused by the highly infectious Delta variant. Daily infections have hit several records over the past few weeks. The previous recorded high for fatalities was 496, registered on April 26, at the height of the Islamic republic's previous wave. Iran's state television said hospitals across the country were facing a "crisis" and described the health situation as bleak. Also read | India’s cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage exceeds 506.8 million "Although the vaccination pace has been accelerating, the observation of health protocols has dropped significantly," it said. Iran has pinned its hopes on vaccinations to help with the health crisis. But the innoculation campaign launched in February has progressed more slowly than authorities had planned. Choked by US sanctions that have made it difficult to transfer money abroad, Iran says it is struggling to import vaccines for its 83 million population. More than 12.5 million people have been given a first vaccine does, but only 3.7 million have received the necessary two jabs, the health ministry said on Sunday. Iran's new President Ebrahim Raisi said Saturday that a "plan to transform the way to confront the coronavirus" was to be reviewed next week. He did not give any details. Chairing a Covid task force meeting, he also vowed to "support domestic vaccine production" while "not hesitating" to import jabs from abroad. The authorities have approved the emergency use of two locally produced vaccines, with the only mass-produced one, COVIran Barekat, still in short supply. Last week, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the government to take "necessary measures" to contain the spread of the pandemic. Iran has avoided imposing a full lockdown on the population, and instead resorted to piecemeal measures such as temporary travel bans and business closures. Outgoing health minister Saeed Namaki has suggested a two-week shutdown to help contain the spread of the virus.

Iran records over 500 COVID-19 deaths, hits new high

Container shipping prices have reached record highs some 18 months after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which disrupted maritime logistics chains and drove demand sky-high.

"We are basically running out of vessels and of empty containers," Alan Murphy, head of the consultancy Sea Intelligence, told AFP.

"There's been a massive shortage of empty containers, they are in the wrong place, they are stuck in ports and not in Asia ready to be loaded."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-orders-investigation-into-ransomware-attack-that-targetted-1000-businesses-395642">Also read |&nbsp;Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses</a>

The Freightos Baltic Index, a benchmark for major shipping routes, has more than tripled in a year to nearly $7,000 (5,900 euros) for a trip from China to the west coast of the United States.

A trip to Europe has exceeded $10,000, compared with just $1,600 at the same time last year.Murphy said the unprecedented situation compounded the troubles of the last 10 years, which he said had been "really bad for the shipping lines".

Blighted by overcapacity in the sector, he said the firms "were losing money every time they were moving a container".

'Unprecedented drop'

The Covid-19 pandemic, which initially brought global shipping to a virtual standstill, did not bode well for the industry and led to "an unprecedented drop in demand", said Didier Rabattu, of Lombard Odier Investment Managers.

But this did not account for the trends among US and European consumers who during lockdown stopped spending in restaurants and theatres or going on holiday and instead used their money to purchase material goods -- many of them imported from Asia.

"Imagine how many televisions you can buy if you don't go skiing for a week with four people?" said Paul Tourret, director of France's Higher&nbsp;Institute&nbsp;of&nbsp;Maritime&nbsp;Economics (ISEMAR).

Disruptions to loading and unloading operations, from dockers falling ill and Covid restrictions to unforseen events like the shipping backlog caused the blockage of the Suez Canal in March, have only exacerbated the trend.

As a result, ship owners have never been in better shape.

The Marseille-based CMA CGM container and shipping company for example posted a net profit of more than $2 billion for the first quarter of 2021 alone, 40 times more than the previous year.

Its Danish competitor AP Moller-Maersk announced an even higher net profit of $2.7 billion for the first three months of the year -- 13 times what it saw last year.

'Reached a peak'

"It is true that shipowners are making a lot of money at the moment," Tourret said.

"But it is also a way for them to renew their fleets and accelerate their liquefied natural gas (LNG) programmes," he added.

CMA CGM placed an order in April for 22 container ships, more than half of which are LNG-powered.

Maritime transport is "one of the main emitters of sulphur dioxide", the French expert said, adding that although figures were favourable for each tonne transported, the sector nevertheless emitted levels of CO2 "comparable to Germany".

The price of container transport depends on the level of demand, but also on the supply-side capacity to meet it.

"Whether or not shipowners decide to wage a trade war is a major factor," Tourret said.

"None of them has any interest in driving prices down. Their collective discipline today must be not to sell out," he added.

The situation could last, Tourret said, driven in part by the need to transport perishable goods.&nbsp;

"If you are carrying perishable goods that will be worth nothing if they don't move, how much are you prepared to pay?" he asked.

Jean-Marc Lacave, the executive officer of the body for France's maritime service professionals, Armateurs de France, said he did not expect things to return to normal before the first quarter of 2022.

"I think we have reached a peak," he said. "If demand continues to rise, there is a not-insignificant risk that prices could rise again, but we are more or less at the top of the curve," he added.

Container shipping prices have reached record highs some 18 months after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which disrupted maritime logistics chains and drove demand sky-high.

Container shipping prices have reached record highs some 18 months after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which disrupted maritime logistics chains and drove demand sky-high. "We are basically running out of vessels and of empty containers," Alan Murphy, head of the consultancy Sea Intelligence, told AFP. "There's been a massive shortage of empty containers, they are in the wrong place, they are stuck in ports and not in Asia ready to be loaded." Also read | Joe Biden orders investigation into ransomware attack that targetted 1,000 businesses The Freightos Baltic Index, a benchmark for major shipping routes, has more than tripled in a year to nearly $7,000 (5,900 euros) for a trip from China to the west coast of the United States. A trip to Europe has exceeded $10,000, compared with just $1,600 at the same time last year.Murphy said the unprecedented situation compounded the troubles of the last 10 years, which he said had been "really bad for the shipping lines". Blighted by overcapacity in the sector, he said the firms "were losing money every time they were moving a container". 'Unprecedented drop' The Covid-19 pandemic, which initially brought global shipping to a virtual standstill, did not bode well for the industry and led to "an unprecedented drop in demand", said Didier Rabattu, of Lombard Odier Investment Managers. But this did not account for the trends among US and European consumers who during lockdown stopped spending in restaurants and theatres or going on holiday and instead used their money to purchase material goods -- many of them imported from Asia. "Imagine how many televisions you can buy if you don't go skiing for a week with four people?" said Paul Tourret, director of France's Higher Institute of Maritime Economics (ISEMAR). Disruptions to loading and unloading operations, from dockers falling ill and Covid restrictions to unforseen events like the shipping backlog caused the blockage of the Suez Canal in March, have only exacerbated the trend. As a result, ship owners have never been in better shape. The Marseille-based CMA CGM container and shipping company for example posted a net profit of more than $2 billion for the first quarter of 2021 alone, 40 times more than the previous year. Its Danish competitor AP Moller-Maersk announced an even higher net profit of $2.7 billion for the first three months of the year -- 13 times what it saw last year. 'Reached a peak' "It is true that shipowners are making a lot of money at the moment," Tourret said. "But it is also a way for them to renew their fleets and accelerate their liquefied natural gas (LNG) programmes," he added. CMA CGM placed an order in April for 22 container ships, more than half of which are LNG-powered. Maritime transport is "one of the main emitters of sulphur dioxide", the French expert said, adding that although figures were favourable for each tonne transported, the sector nevertheless emitted levels of CO2 "comparable to Germany". The price of container transport depends on the level of demand, but also on the supply-side capacity to meet it. "Whether or not shipowners decide to wage a trade war is a major factor," Tourret said. "None of them has any interest in driving prices down. Their collective discipline today must be not to sell out," he added. The situation could last, Tourret said, driven in part by the need to transport perishable goods. "If you are carrying perishable goods that will be worth nothing if they don't move, how much are you prepared to pay?" he asked. Jean-Marc Lacave, the executive officer of the body for France's maritime service professionals, Armateurs de France, said he did not expect things to return to normal before the first quarter of 2022. "I think we have reached a peak," he said. "If demand continues to rise, there is a not-insignificant risk that prices could rise again, but we are more or less at the top of the curve," he added.

Pandemic drives sea freight prices to record high

The stock of Moderna Inc. has climbed to a record high amid growing concern about a contagious variant of Covid-19 in nations including India.&nbsp;

The company said its vaccine produced protective antibodies against the Delta variant first found in India. The highly contagious variant is spreading in several countries, leading to fresh lockdowns. Moderna also became the first foreign vaccine to be approved by India.

Both developments helped in the company's shares to soar. The shares rose as much as 6.9 per cent to $238.40, breaking through the prior intraday record set earlier this month. The trading volume was about 1.2 times the 10-day average as of 12:16 p.m. in New York.

Few analysts had expressed concern about Moderna’s recent surge. This had pushed the company’s market value past $95 billion.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cipla-gets-dcgi-nod-to-import-modernas-covid-vaccine-for-restricted-emergency-use-in-india-sources-394590">Also Read |&nbsp;Cipla gets DCGI nod to import Moderna's Covid vaccine for restricted emergency use in India: Sources</a>

The vaccine stocks for Moderna and BioNTech SE have surged over the past 12 months. Shares of BioNTech hiked around 250 per cent while Moderna gained nearly 280 per cent during the period.

India's drug regulator DCGI has granted permission to Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Cipla to import.&nbsp;Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for restricted emergency use in the country.

Moderna's vaccine will be the fourth COVID-19 jab to be available in India after Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik.

"Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted permission to Cipla to import Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for restricted emergency use in the country as per the provisions of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019 under Drugs and Cosmetics Act,&nbsp; 1940," a source told PTI new agency.

The stock of Moderna Inc. has climbed to a record high amid growing concern about a contagious variant of Covid-19 in nations including India. The company said its vaccine produced protective antibodies against the Delta variant first found in India.

The stock of Moderna Inc. has climbed to a record high amid growing concern about a contagious variant of Covid-19 in nations including India. The company said its vaccine produced protective antibodies against the Delta variant first found in India. The highly contagious variant is spreading in several countries, leading to fresh lockdowns. Moderna also became the first foreign vaccine to be approved by India. Both developments helped in the company's shares to soar. The shares rose as much as 6.9 per cent to $238.40, breaking through the prior intraday record set earlier this month. The trading volume was about 1.2 times the 10-day average as of 12:16 p.m. in New York. Few analysts had expressed concern about Moderna’s recent surge. This had pushed the company’s market value past $95 billion. Also Read | Cipla gets DCGI nod to import Moderna's Covid vaccine for restricted emergency use in India: Sources The vaccine stocks for Moderna and BioNTech SE have surged over the past 12 months. Shares of BioNTech hiked around 250 per cent while Moderna gained nearly 280 per cent during the period. India's drug regulator DCGI has granted permission to Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Cipla to import. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for restricted emergency use in the country. Moderna's vaccine will be the fourth COVID-19 jab to be available in India after Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik. "Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted permission to Cipla to import Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for restricted emergency use in the country as per the provisions of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019 under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940," a source told PTI new agency.

Moderna shares soar after report that its Covid shot works against Delta variant

Gold prices rose on Monday to their highest level in more than three months, as a dip in US Treasury yields and worries over surging COVID-19 cases in some Asian countries boosted demand for the safe-haven metal.&nbsp;

Spot gold was up 0.6% at $1,853.50 per ounce by 0519 GMT, hitting its highest since February 10. US gold futures jumped 0.9% to $1,854.10.&nbsp;

"Treasury yields are falling and on the other hand, there seems to be fears about virus resurgence in Singapore, Taiwan and broader Asian-Pacific markets... driving up demand for safety," said Margaret Yang, a strategist at DailyFX.&nbsp;

Benchmark US 10-year Treasury yields slipped to their lowest in nearly a week, reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest bearing gold. &nbsp;

Singapore will shut most schools from Wednesday after the city-state reported the highest number of local COVID-19 infections in months, while Taiwan imposed new curbs on gatherings and movement.&nbsp;

In India, the world's second-worst pandemic-hit country after the United States, the tally of coronavirus infections reached nearly 24.7 million on Sunday.&nbsp;

Investors now await minutes of the US Federal Reserve's last meeting due on Wednesday for more cues on the central bank's monetary policy and any comments on rising inflation.&nbsp;

"Inflation is going to be a strong driver behind gold in the short- and medium-term. There are always concerns about Fed tapering, but the latest non-farm payroll report is helping to contain that fear," Yang said.&nbsp;

Gold is seen as a hedge against rising inflation.&nbsp;

Spot gold may rise to $1,876 per ounce, as it has broken a resistance at $1,847, according to technical analyst Wang Tao.&nbsp;

Elsewhere, silver was up 0.9% at $27.65 per ounce, after hitting a one-week high earlier in the day. Platinum gained 0.2% to $1,228 and palladium edged 0.4% higher to $2,904.72. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Gold prices rose on Monday to their highest level in more than three months, as a dip in US Treasury yields and worries over surging COVID-19 cases in some Asian countries boosted demand for the safe-haven metal.

Gold prices rose on Monday to their highest level in more than three months, as a dip in US Treasury yields and worries over surging COVID-19 cases in some Asian countries boosted demand for the safe-haven metal. Spot gold was up 0.6% at $1,853.50 per ounce by 0519 GMT, hitting its highest since February 10. US gold futures jumped 0.9% to $1,854.10. "Treasury yields are falling and on the other hand, there seems to be fears about virus resurgence in Singapore, Taiwan and broader Asian-Pacific markets... driving up demand for safety," said Margaret Yang, a strategist at DailyFX. Benchmark US 10-year Treasury yields slipped to their lowest in nearly a week, reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest bearing gold. Singapore will shut most schools from Wednesday after the city-state reported the highest number of local COVID-19 infections in months, while Taiwan imposed new curbs on gatherings and movement. In India, the world's second-worst pandemic-hit country after the United States, the tally of coronavirus infections reached nearly 24.7 million on Sunday. Investors now await minutes of the US Federal Reserve's last meeting due on Wednesday for more cues on the central bank's monetary policy and any comments on rising inflation. "Inflation is going to be a strong driver behind gold in the short- and medium-term. There are always concerns about Fed tapering, but the latest non-farm payroll report is helping to contain that fear," Yang said. Gold is seen as a hedge against rising inflation. Spot gold may rise to $1,876 per ounce, as it has broken a resistance at $1,847, according to technical analyst Wang Tao. Elsewhere, silver was up 0.9% at $27.65 per ounce, after hitting a one-week high earlier in the day. Platinum gained 0.2% to $1,228 and palladium edged 0.4% higher to $2,904.72. (With inputs from agencies)

Gold hits over three-month high on virus worries, lower US yields 

Bitcoin hit a record high above $62,000 on Tuesday as the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase prepares to launch shares on Wall Street.&nbsp;

Bitcoin reached $62,377, a huge gain of 114 per cent since the start of the year.&nbsp;

After crashing in 2018, the value of bitcoin rebounded and it has set records since late last year -- rocketing from around $12,000 in October to more than $60,000 a month ago.&nbsp;

The arrival on Wednesday of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase on the Nasdaq is one of Wall Street's most anticipated events of the year even though some question whether the cryptocurrency market is sustainable.&nbsp;

Estimates of Coinbase's value vary depending on how it is calculated, but its capitalisation is expected to range from $70 to $100 billion.&nbsp;

That would make it the largest initial public offer (IPO) for a US company since Facebook in 2012.&nbsp;

Founded in 2012, the platform allows users to buy and sell about 50 cryptocurrencies.&nbsp;

The cryptocurrency market has grown exponentially in 2021 and is now worth a staggering $2.0 trillion as it increasingly attracts interest from big names on Wall Street.&nbsp;

While anybody can 'mine' for new bitcoins, to do so requires giant data centres, which has led to platforms, such as Coinbase providing a way of trading in cryptocurrencies.&nbsp;

Banks and payment services, such as Paypal, allow transactions in certain digital currencies.&nbsp;

Despite 12-year-old bitcoin's volatility and limitations as a means of payment, it is seen as a store of value to rival and perhaps one day surpass gold as a haven investment in the face of high inflation for example.&nbsp;

Electric car giant Tesla has invested $1.5 billion in bitcoin and in March began accepting the currency as payment.&nbsp;

Tesla's multi-billionaire chief executive Elon Musk has also used social media to espouse the merits of cryptocurrencies, helping to lift interest and prices.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Bitcoin hit a record high above $62,000 on Tuesday as the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase prepares to launch shares on Wall Street. Bitcoin reached $62,377, a huge gain of 114 per cent since the start of the year.

Bitcoin hit a record high above $62,000 on Tuesday as the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase prepares to launch shares on Wall Street. Bitcoin reached $62,377, a huge gain of 114 per cent since the start of the year. After crashing in 2018, the value of bitcoin rebounded and it has set records since late last year -- rocketing from around $12,000 in October to more than $60,000 a month ago. The arrival on Wednesday of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase on the Nasdaq is one of Wall Street's most anticipated events of the year even though some question whether the cryptocurrency market is sustainable. Estimates of Coinbase's value vary depending on how it is calculated, but its capitalisation is expected to range from $70 to $100 billion. That would make it the largest initial public offer (IPO) for a US company since Facebook in 2012. Founded in 2012, the platform allows users to buy and sell about 50 cryptocurrencies. The cryptocurrency market has grown exponentially in 2021 and is now worth a staggering $2.0 trillion as it increasingly attracts interest from big names on Wall Street. While anybody can 'mine' for new bitcoins, to do so requires giant data centres, which has led to platforms, such as Coinbase providing a way of trading in cryptocurrencies. Banks and payment services, such as Paypal, allow transactions in certain digital currencies. Despite 12-year-old bitcoin's volatility and limitations as a means of payment, it is seen as a store of value to rival and perhaps one day surpass gold as a haven investment in the face of high inflation for example. Electric car giant Tesla has invested $1.5 billion in bitcoin and in March began accepting the currency as payment. Tesla's multi-billionaire chief executive Elon Musk has also used social media to espouse the merits of cryptocurrencies, helping to lift interest and prices. (With inputs from agencies)

Bitcoin hits record high above $62,000 

Iranian parliamentary election begins, hardliners set to dominate

Singapore called for heightened vigilance on Saturday, a day after Indonesian police arrested a group of men they believed were plotting a rocket attack on the wealthy city-state with the help of a Syrian-based Islamic State militant. 
 
The six suspected militants were rounded up on Friday in dawn raids on Batam island, which is about 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of Singapore, and local police chief Sam Budigusdian said they were still being held there while investigations continued. 
 
Singapore&#39;s home affairs minister, K Shanmugam, said the men had plans to hit Marina Bay, the state&#39;s glittering downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One Grand Prix Races are held alongside a giant Ferris wheel and a swanky casino resort. 
 
&quot;This shows how our enemies are thinking of different ways of attacking us,&quot; Shanmugam said in a Facebook posting. 
 
&quot;Terrorists...will seek to come in through our checkpoints; they will also try to launch attacks from just outside. And this is in addition to lone wolf attacks from radicalised individuals/groups. We have to be extra vigilant.&quot; 
 
Batam is linked to Singapore by frequent ferries and its beach resorts and golf courses are a popular weekend getaway destination for Singaporeans, who are preparing to celebrate their National Day holiday on Tuesday. 
 
 
Singapore: target for Islamic State 
 
Multi-ethnic Singapore, a major commercial, banking and travel hub that is home to many Western expatriates, has never seen a successful attack by Islamist militants.&nbsp;However, authorities did break up a plot to bomb several embassies soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and a Singaporean militant was accused of plotting to crash a hijacked plane into the city&#39;s airport in 2002. 
 
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this week Singapore was a target for Islamic State because it is &quot;a rational, open, cosmopolitan country&quot;, even though it is not involved in the US-led campaign against the group in the Middle East. 
 
The six arrested on Batam, mostly factory workers, according to local media, were suspected of having links to Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian now fighting with Islamic State in Syria. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s a link to Bahrun Naim because there was communication with Bahrun Naim, but whether they were affiliated with Bahrun Naim&#39;s group or not, this is what we&#39;re investigating now,&quot; police spokesman Agus Rianto said.&nbsp;Indonesian investigators believe that Naim was one of the masterminds behind an attack in January in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in which eight people were killed, including the four attackers. 
 
In a blog post after the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings across Paris last November, Naim urged his Indonesian audience to study the planning, targeting, timing and courage of the jihadis who killed 130 people in the French capital. 
 
 
Turning Point 
 
Asked on Friday if physical evidence of preparations for a rocket attack had been discovered, Rianto said &quot;not yet&quot;.&nbsp;Some security analysts were doubtful that a rocket attack on Singapore from Batam was feasible, but Tim Ripley of Jane&#39;s Defence Weekly said it was possible. 
 
&quot;They would be the long-range variants of the Grad rocket, originally from Russia but copied in China, Iran, Pakistan and several other countries,&quot; Ripley said. &quot;Very simple to use but very inaccurate at the ranges for this attack. The damage would depend on where they hit but the potential for casualties would be high.&quot; 
 
If the plan for a rocket launch on Singapore is confirmed, it would suggest that militants in Southeast Asia are preparing far more sophisticated attacks than those of recent months.&nbsp;Indonesia, home to the world&#39;s largest Muslim population, has itself seen attacks by Islamist militants before. The bombing of two nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people was among a spate of attacks during the 2000s. 
 
Police were largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells after that, but they now worry the influence of Islamic State will bring a resurgence of jihadi violence.&nbsp;Authorities in Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia say dozens of men have gone from those countries to join Islamic State&#39;s fight in the Middle East. 
 
Security officials fear that Naim and other Islamic State leaders are now asking supporters in Southeast Asia to launch attacks at home.&nbsp;However, Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones said it would be a departure for Naim and his supporters if they were thinking of attacking targets outside Indonesia. 
 
&quot;One thing I think is clear is Bahrun Naim has been able to establish a lot of communication with a lot of people through his social media network,&quot; Jones said. 
 
(Reuters)

Rocket attack planned on downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One races are held next to a Ferris wheel and swanky casino: Minister

Singapore called for heightened vigilance on Saturday, a day after Indonesian police arrested a group of men they believed were plotting a rocket attack on the wealthy city-state with the help of a Syrian-based Islamic State militant. The six suspected militants were rounded up on Friday in dawn raids on Batam island, which is about 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of Singapore, and local police chief Sam Budigusdian said they were still being held there while investigations continued. Singapore's home affairs minister, K Shanmugam, said the men had plans to hit Marina Bay, the state's glittering downtown waterfront, where night-time Formula One Grand Prix Races are held alongside a giant Ferris wheel and a swanky casino resort. "This shows how our enemies are thinking of different ways of attacking us," Shanmugam said in a Facebook posting. "Terrorists...will seek to come in through our checkpoints; they will also try to launch attacks from just outside. And this is in addition to lone wolf attacks from radicalised individuals/groups. We have to be extra vigilant." Batam is linked to Singapore by frequent ferries and its beach resorts and golf courses are a popular weekend getaway destination for Singaporeans, who are preparing to celebrate their National Day holiday on Tuesday. Singapore: target for Islamic State Multi-ethnic Singapore, a major commercial, banking and travel hub that is home to many Western expatriates, has never seen a successful attack by Islamist militants. However, authorities did break up a plot to bomb several embassies soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and a Singaporean militant was accused of plotting to crash a hijacked plane into the city's airport in 2002. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this week Singapore was a target for Islamic State because it is "a rational, open, cosmopolitan country", even though it is not involved in the US-led campaign against the group in the Middle East. The six arrested on Batam, mostly factory workers, according to local media, were suspected of having links to Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian now fighting with Islamic State in Syria. "There's a link to Bahrun Naim because there was communication with Bahrun Naim, but whether they were affiliated with Bahrun Naim's group or not, this is what we're investigating now," police spokesman Agus Rianto said. Indonesian investigators believe that Naim was one of the masterminds behind an attack in January in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, in which eight people were killed, including the four attackers. In a blog post after the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings across Paris last November, Naim urged his Indonesian audience to study the planning, targeting, timing and courage of the jihadis who killed 130 people in the French capital. Turning Point Asked on Friday if physical evidence of preparations for a rocket attack had been discovered, Rianto said "not yet". Some security analysts were doubtful that a rocket attack on Singapore from Batam was feasible, but Tim Ripley of Jane's Defence Weekly said it was possible. "They would be the long-range variants of the Grad rocket, originally from Russia but copied in China, Iran, Pakistan and several other countries," Ripley said. "Very simple to use but very inaccurate at the ranges for this attack. The damage would depend on where they hit but the potential for casualties would be high." If the plan for a rocket launch on Singapore is confirmed, it would suggest that militants in Southeast Asia are preparing far more sophisticated attacks than those of recent months. Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, has itself seen attacks by Islamist militants before. The bombing of two nightclubs on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people was among a spate of attacks during the 2000s. Police were largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells after that, but they now worry the influence of Islamic State will bring a resurgence of jihadi violence. Authorities in Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia say dozens of men have gone from those countries to join Islamic State's fight in the Middle East. Security officials fear that Naim and other Islamic State leaders are now asking supporters in Southeast Asia to launch attacks at home. However, Jakarta-based security analyst Sidney Jones said it would be a departure for Naim and his supporters if they were thinking of attacking targets outside Indonesia. "One thing I think is clear is Bahrun Naim has been able to establish a lot of communication with a lot of people through his social media network," Jones said. (Reuters)

Singapore on high alert as suspected militant gang arrested

The Delhi High Court has said it was &quot;unfortunate&quot; that India was still following British era recruitment process and selecting police personnel on basis of only physical strength and fitness, and advised devising of a procedure which would include criteria like emotional maturity and psychological tests. 
 
&quot;What we find in India is that the only screening done is with respect to the moral character and integrity, physical strength and (that the person is) free from medical disease.&nbsp;No evaluation pertaining to the emotional maturity, ability to remain calm in emotionally charged situations, ability to handle difficult situations and be responsive and the ability of initiative in work is conducted,&quot; a bench of justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Pratibha Rani said. 
 
The bench said it was &quot;unfortunate&quot; that India was &quot;not marching ahead in the comity of nations&quot;, where psychological tests are also conducted to ascertain suitability of a candidate commensurate to the nature of job they are being inducted to. 
 
It advised the Centre to devise a selection procedure under which those who are desirous of joining police forces would be tested with regard to not only their integrity, physical strength and fitness but also with respect to their emotional maturity, ability to be calm in charged situations, ability to exercise initiative in their work, dependability and good judgement. 
 
The observations came on a man&#39;s plea challenging the order withdrawing his appointment to post of constable in the CISF on the ground that he was an accused in a criminal case, even though he was acquitted by the trial court. 
 
It noted there were &quot;no rules to guide the authorities in Delhi Police as to in what cases despite acquittal, the person can be kept out of service or can be deprived of employment&quot;. 
 
With regard to the criteria of criminal background of a candidate, the court said it would be a violation of the Constitutional right of a person if &quot;trivial offences&quot; by him would justify the government &quot;shutting its eyes and denying employment&quot;. 
 
It said it was &quot;high time&quot; that the executive made a policy for not treating summary or ordinary conviction as a bar to entry or retention in government service, including the police force. 
 
Noting that his acquittal was &quot;honourable&quot; as it came after the prosecution led all its evidence, the high court set aside his rejection and directed that he be inducted into service as a Constable with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). 
 
It also said that &quot;he would be entitled to all benefits of seniority and continuity into service with effect from the date the person immediately beneath the petitioner in the empanelled list was made to join&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

The Delhi High Court said it was 'unfortunate' India still followed British era recruitment, selecting police only by strength and fitness

The Delhi High Court has said it was "unfortunate" that India was still following British era recruitment process and selecting police personnel on basis of only physical strength and fitness, and advised devising of a procedure which would include criteria like emotional maturity and psychological tests. "What we find in India is that the only screening done is with respect to the moral character and integrity, physical strength and (that the person is) free from medical disease. No evaluation pertaining to the emotional maturity, ability to remain calm in emotionally charged situations, ability to handle difficult situations and be responsive and the ability of initiative in work is conducted," a bench of justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Pratibha Rani said. The bench said it was "unfortunate" that India was "not marching ahead in the comity of nations", where psychological tests are also conducted to ascertain suitability of a candidate commensurate to the nature of job they are being inducted to. It advised the Centre to devise a selection procedure under which those who are desirous of joining police forces would be tested with regard to not only their integrity, physical strength and fitness but also with respect to their emotional maturity, ability to be calm in charged situations, ability to exercise initiative in their work, dependability and good judgement. The observations came on a man's plea challenging the order withdrawing his appointment to post of constable in the CISF on the ground that he was an accused in a criminal case, even though he was acquitted by the trial court. It noted there were "no rules to guide the authorities in Delhi Police as to in what cases despite acquittal, the person can be kept out of service or can be deprived of employment". With regard to the criteria of criminal background of a candidate, the court said it would be a violation of the Constitutional right of a person if "trivial offences" by him would justify the government "shutting its eyes and denying employment". It said it was "high time" that the executive made a policy for not treating summary or ordinary conviction as a bar to entry or retention in government service, including the police force. Noting that his acquittal was "honourable" as it came after the prosecution led all its evidence, the high court set aside his rejection and directed that he be inducted into service as a Constable with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). It also said that "he would be entitled to all benefits of seniority and continuity into service with effect from the date the person immediately beneath the petitioner in the empanelled list was made to join". (PTI)

Indian police recruitment to vet for emotional maturity, other psychological tests

Declared a proclaimed offender in a money laundering case and wanted in India, liquor baron Vijay Mallya was spotted at a book launch event at the London School of Economics this week that was attended by Indian High Commissioner Navtej Sarna, causing flutters back home. 
 
Social media was in a frenzy after it emerged that Sarna, who was one of the special guests at the event on Thursday evening to mark the launch of socialite Suhel Seth&#39;s new book, was also present at the event when the business tycoon arrived. 
 
As television news channels showed pictures of Sarna and Mallya in the hall where the event was held, questions were raised over the presence of the high commissioner at an event where a personality wanted by enforcement agencies in India was also present. 
 
While Suhel Seth contended that it was an open event at the LSE, where anyone could come because of the open invitation, Mallya was not invited to the high commission reception nor was he present. 
 
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also got into the act when it issued a statement, saying Sarna left the event without waiting for the interactive session after he spotted Mallya. 
 
&quot;When the High Commissioner spotted Mallya in the audience he left the stage and venue immediately after making his comments and without waiting for the interactive session,&quot; the MEA said in the statement. 
 
The MEA said, &quot;there were two clear segments, the book launch by UK Minister Jo Johnson and discussion at LSE, and later a reception at the High Commission for select guests. 
 
&quot;The list of invitations for the LSE event was determined by LSE. They have written to the High Commissioner that Mallya was not on their list. They have also said that the event was advertised widely through social media and attendees were not required to register in advance. 
 
&quot;Mallya was certainly not an invitee to the reception at the High Commission for which the invitations were issued by the High Commission, and was not present.&quot; 
(PTI)&nbsp;

Questions are being raised after India's high commissioner and a man wanted by enforcement agencies appear in the same room on TV

Declared a proclaimed offender in a money laundering case and wanted in India, liquor baron Vijay Mallya was spotted at a book launch event at the London School of Economics this week that was attended by Indian High Commissioner Navtej Sarna, causing flutters back home. Social media was in a frenzy after it emerged that Sarna, who was one of the special guests at the event on Thursday evening to mark the launch of socialite Suhel Seth's new book, was also present at the event when the business tycoon arrived. As television news channels showed pictures of Sarna and Mallya in the hall where the event was held, questions were raised over the presence of the high commissioner at an event where a personality wanted by enforcement agencies in India was also present. While Suhel Seth contended that it was an open event at the LSE, where anyone could come because of the open invitation, Mallya was not invited to the high commission reception nor was he present. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also got into the act when it issued a statement, saying Sarna left the event without waiting for the interactive session after he spotted Mallya. "When the High Commissioner spotted Mallya in the audience he left the stage and venue immediately after making his comments and without waiting for the interactive session," the MEA said in the statement. The MEA said, "there were two clear segments, the book launch by UK Minister Jo Johnson and discussion at LSE, and later a reception at the High Commission for select guests. "The list of invitations for the LSE event was determined by LSE. They have written to the High Commissioner that Mallya was not on their list. They have also said that the event was advertised widely through social media and attendees were not required to register in advance. "Mallya was certainly not an invitee to the reception at the High Commission for which the invitations were issued by the High Commission, and was not present." (PTI)

Mallya seen at book launch event attended by India's UK envoy

high

High, News on High, stories on High, articles on High, High stories at Wion, High news, High latest news