Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel s diplomatic reporter
Ultra-Orthodox Jews at the scene of a deadly crush during Lag BaOmer festival at Mt. Meron in northern Israel, April 30, 2021 (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Officials from around the world sent their condolences to Israel on Friday morning, following the stampede at Mount Meron that killed at least 45 people and injured over 150 others.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.
“We mourn the lives lost, extend our deepest condolences to the families, and pray for the injured to recover quickly,” he wrote on Twitter.
In a tweet, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: “Our hearts go out to the people of Israel tonight following the terrible tragedy at Mount Meron.” He sent condolences to the families of the victims and well-wishes to those injured.
Freedom House, a US government-funded non-profit, non-governmental organisation publishes an annual report on democracy, political freedom, and human rights titled
Freedom in the World. In the 2021 Report, of a total of 195 countries, 82 were found free, 59 partly free, and 54 not free. India’s status as a democracy was downgraded from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly Free,’ primarily on account of alleged ‘rising violence and discriminatory policies’ and ‘a crackdown on expressions of dissent.’ This brought a sharp repartee from India’s External Affairs Minister who said, “We have a set of self-appointed custodians of the world who find it very difficult to stomach that somebody is not looking for their approval.” He highlighted the fact that India had shared its vaccines with 70 countries in the world. “Tell me, how many vaccines have the internationalist nations given?” he asked.
Sens. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, wrote a letter to President Joe Biden April 27 asking him to ramp up aid to India amid the countryâs deepening COVID crisis.
âAs co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, we are watching with growing alarm the unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, which has overwhelmed hospitals and the overall health system in India,â wrote Cornyn and Warner. âIndia is the now the epicenter of this crisis and faces a severe shortage of testing kits, vaccines, oxygen equipment, personal protective equipment, and medical facilities.â
THE STANDARD
WORLD
An anti-coup protester splashes red paint on student uniforms after they hanged them outside a school during a demonstration against the re-opening of the school by the junta government at Yangon, Myanmar, Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Demonstrations have continued in many parts of the country since Saturday s meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as have arrests and beatings by security forces despite an apparent agreement by junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing to end the violence. [AP]
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have reaffirmed their shared commitment to democratic values and mutual support for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.
Story highlights
On Wednesday, Russian President Putin called Indian PM Modi and assured full support for India to deal with the Covid crisis
Three more countries Russia, South Korea, and Canada announced assistance to India to deal with the COVID-19 crisis as supplies continue to come from other parts of the world including Singapore.
On Wednesday, Russian President Putin called Indian PM Modi and assured full support for India to deal with the Covid crisis. Russian foreign ministry in a statement said that the country will deliver a large batch of medical aid to India which includes oxygen concentrators, lung ventilators, and other necessary medical supplies and drugs in next coming days. It said, The Russian leadership has made a decision in the spirit of friendship and especially privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and with the goal of combating a surge in the coronavirus incidence.