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According to the WHO, just 10 countries have administered 75% of all vaccine supply, while low-income countries have vaccinated barely 2% of their people. Now, a new strain has been reportedly found in Sweden. In other developments, the world's eyes remain on Afghanistan, which is in a state of chaos since the Taliban took over

IANS photo

Lashing out on nations who have and are planning to roll out booster vaccines against COVID, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the Delta variant is creating hotspots of hospitalisation and death in places with low levels of vaccination and limited public health measures. "Vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity," he added.

A new strain of COVID-19 Delta variant is causing worry among experts. While much is not known about this strain which has been found in Sweden, many are worried if this is more transmissible.

A footage which showed a young child being handed over a wall to Western soldiers at Kabul airport surfaced and the British Defence secretary Ben Wallace admitted that they can't evacuate unaccompanied minors. Afghan nationals have been gathering outside the Australian embassy in New Delhi. They said that they have heard that Australia is giving visa to refugees, but they have no clear answer in the India capital.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden stands by his decision in Afghanistan even as Democratic-led congressional committees in the United States are vowing to press President Biden's administration on what went wrong as the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan and the United States left scores of Americans and thousands who helped them over the years in grave danger. The anger from members of both parties is palpable and will test an administration seeking to notch signature domestic policy achievements on infrastructure, health and social programs before next year's midterm election.

In other developements around the world, US President Joe Biden announced that his administration is taking new actions on masks, vaccination and booster shots amid a Covid-19 resurgence driven by the highly contagious Delta variant across the country. Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Biden said he is directing the Education Department to use its legal authority against some governors who are trying to block local school officials from requiring students to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus, reports Xinhua news agency.

Also read: Afghanistan won't be a democracy, says senior Taliban leader

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 209.2 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 4.39 million and vaccinations soared to over 4.78 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University. 

19 August 2021

15:58 IST

CISF recovered three gold bars weighing about 500 gm worth approximately Rs 23 lakh from a passenger at Imphal Airport on August 18. On questioning, the passenger confessed that he was carrying gold bars concealed in body cavity (rectum): CISF

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I welcome Calcutta High Court's decision on West Bengal post-poll violence. It's the first step in getting justice for those who suffered punishment for choosing a political party and endured crimes like violence, murder, rape etc: NHRC fact-finding team member Atif Rasheed