Two cases of the new Indian variant of Covid-19 have been detected in London, as the health crisis worsens in India. The variant, also known as B.1.617, is currently designated as a “variant under investigation” (VUI) rather than a “variant of concern” (VOC), such as those first identified in Kent, Manaus (Brazil) or South Africa. According to the Evening Standard an analysis of test results suggests two of these cases were in Brent and Harrow. Covid-19 expert, Dr Duncan Robertson, of Loughborough university, told the Paper: “We do not have full information on the 77 cases the variant under investigation first detected in India. We do know that at least one case has been detected in Brent and at least one case has been detected in Harrow.
Pakistan seeks specific actions for India talks to move aheadInternational 2021-04-24, by Editor Comments Off 0
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan is willing to move forward in its engagement with India, potentially including formal bilateral dialogue on resolving the Kashmir dispute, if its eastern neighbour takes certain specified steps “to ease lives” in Kashmir, senior Pakistani sources have told Al Jazeera.
The Pakistani sources, who have knowledge of the situation and spoke to Al Jazeera, shared for the first time a list of “examples” of actions that the Indian government could take in Indian-administered Kashmir to move the talks closer to a formal bilateral dialogue.
India Covid crisis: Medical supplies that are exempt from customs duty
Web report/Dubai
AFP
Covid vaccines also exempt from duty with immediate effect for three months.
The import of medical supplies necessary in India’s fight against a recent surge in Covid cases have been granted full exemptions from customs duty.
In a meeting on Saturday chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to augment the availability of medical-grade oxygen, 16 oxygen and oxygen-related equipment have been declared exempt from basic customs duty and health cess for three months with immediate effect.
A Finance Ministry release said that the decision will boost the availability of these items as well as make them cheaper.
KARACHI: Expressing concern and sympathy over growing cases of Covid-19 in India, Pakistan’s premier social welfare organisation Edhi Foundation has offered help to the neighbouring country.
Faisal Edhi, managing trustee of the Edhi Foundation and son of the world famous philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, said they had been closely following the impact that the Covid-19 crisis had cast on the people of India.
“We are very sorry to hear about the exceptionally heavy impact that the pandemic has had on your country, where a tremendous number of people are suffering immensely,” wrote Mr Edhi. He said that “as a neighbouring friend, we sympathise with you greatly and during this strenuous time, we would like to extend our help in the form of a fleet of 50 ambulances along with our services to assist you in addressing, and further circumventing, the current health conditions”.
UN Climate Chief: We re not there yet 10:07
Jeffrey Sachs is a professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and president of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. His most recent book is The Ages of Globalization (Columbia University Press, 2020). The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion at CNN. (CNN)By every standard, President Joe Biden s climate change summit was a remarkable success. With great diplomatic dexterity, Biden and climate envoy John Kerry assembled world leaders representing 82% of world carbon emissions, 73% of the world population and 86% of world economic output to commit to bold climate action.