Narinder Nanu / AFP
Almost two weeks after a senior Pakistani official confirmed the existence of backchannel talks between Pakistan and India, fresh information suggests this quiet process is now situated at a delicate point and could go either way depending on the response from New Delhi.
A national debate was generated by a story published in
Dawn newspaper on April 25 headlined
Indian offer led to ‘quiet’ talks on all major issues that detailed a deliberate effort by the two South Asian rivals to engage in secret talks aimed at reducing tension and initiating an effort to resolve outstanding disputes.
While the debate raged over whether discussing a possible resolution of the Kashmir issue with India was a prudent policy at this time, some key nuances were overlooked. One reason for this was the direction that the debate took as it veered off from the contents of the original story and began to fuel itself from various other interpretations of what the senior offic
New York City wants to offer the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to tourists
From CNN s Laura Ly
People take in the view at Times Square in New York on March 9. Noam Galai/Getty Images
New York City has now administered 6,809,451 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.
City officials also announced an intention to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to any tourist who visits New York City, pending state approval.
De Blasio announced that the city wants to install mobile Covid-19 mobile vaccination sites at various tourist attractions throughout the city such as Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Highline to offer the J&J vaccine. The mayor said the city needs state approval to vaccinate non-New Yorkers and that they plan to begin as soon as they get that approval.
India reports highest-ever 24-hour surge in Covid-19 cases and a record-high daily death toll
From CNN’s Swati Gupta in Delhi
A health worker walks inside the Commonwealth Games stadium temporarily converted into a Covid-19 care center in New Delhi, India, on May 5. Money Sharma/AFP/Getty Images
India reported a 412,262 new Covid-19 cases Thursday, a new single-day record, according to a CNN tally compiled from figures released by the Indian Health Ministry.
To date, authorities have identified 21,077,410 cases of coronavirus.
The country also reported 3,980 Covid-19 related deaths on Thursday, another new single-day record. It was the ninth consecutive day that the number of fatalities identified in a 24-hour period exceeded 3,000.
Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said he was “deeply grateful” for the support that will “help add to our oxygen capacities.”
The second shipment from Ireland to India contains two oxygen generators, 548 oxygen concentrators, 365 ventilators and other medical equipment.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly tweeted that the two oxygen generators will each be able to supply a small hospital.
“A second flight of life-saving supplies from Ireland has arrived in India. Two oxygen generators (each enough to supply small hospitals) plus hundreds of ventilators, mask ventilators and oxygen concentrators,” he said.
A second flight of life-saving supplies from Ireland has arrived in India. Two oxygen generators (each enough to supply small hospitals) plus hundreds of ventilators, mask ventilators and oxygen concentrators. pic.twitter.com/EkbsvpgHDo
PM Jacinda Ardern says there are no plans for repatriation flights for New Zealanders in India.
The New Zealand High Commission in India’s bizarre Twitter plea for oxygen was for a sick local staff member. The staff-member was one of several locally-engaged staff who have contracted Covid-19 within the compound. Prime Minsiter Jacinda Ardern told TVNZ’s
Breakfast the strange public request from the High Commission for more oxygen was for a local staff member who was critically ill. The request – made not to the Government but to the youth leader of an Opposition Party – was successful, but has been deleted by the Commission, who have apologised for the serious breach of diplomatic protocol.