India reported more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases on Monday for the twelfth day straight, taking its overall caseload to just shy of 20 million. Deaths rose by 3,417.
The nation’s total coronavirus infections stand at 19.93 million, with 368,147 new cases over the past 24 hours. Total fatalities reached 218,959, according to its health ministry.
Medical experts say real numbers across the country of 1.38 billion could be five to 10 times higher.
But the health ministry offered a glimmer of hope, reporting that positive cases relative to the number of tests conducted fell on Monday for the first time since at least April 15.
India's cases may peak from May 3 to 5 – according to a mathematical model from scientists advising the government – a few days earlier than estimated, as the virus spread faster than expected.
In Delhi, where lockdown has been extended by a week, several hospital authorities sought court intervention over oxygen supplies.
The New Delhi High Court said it would start punishing government officials if supplies of oxygen allocated to hospitals were not delivered.
India opened its vaccination campaign to people aged 18 to 44 on Saturday.
The nation is the world’s biggest producer of vaccines, but even the ongoing effort to inoculate people above 45 is stuttering. Since January, 10 per cent of Indians have received one dose, but only about 1.5 per cent have received both.
Pfizer is in discussions with the Indian government, seeking an "expedited approval pathway" for its vaccine. It also announced a donation of medicines worth more than $70 million.
"Unfortunately, our vaccine is not registered in India, although our application was submitted months ago," CEO Albert Bourla said on LinkedIn.
The severity of the crisis has prompted a number of countries to introduce travel bans and restrictions for citizens traveling to, or returning from India.
The Philippines government said on Monday that it would extend a ban on entry for Indian citizens, while Australia defended its decision to penalise its own citizens entering the country within two weeks of being in India.
The Australian government said it had "strong, clear and absolute" belief the move was legal.
Greg Hunt, Australia's minister for health, pointed to the alarming surge of coronavirus cases in India and the pressure on Australia's health system as reasons to pause travel until May 15. Australia, which has largely contained the coronavirus, closed its borders to non-citizens in March 2020.
"It's a high-risk situation in India," Mr Hunt said.
The Australian Human Rights Commission lambasted the decision, urging lawmakers to immediately review the restrictions. It will approach the government directly with its concerns, it said.
Returning residents and citizens must undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense. Australia has seen 22,245 cases of community transmission and 910 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
RESULT
Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
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Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
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UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
