Press TV's news headlines

India runs out of COVID-19 vaccines

In India, several states have run out of COVID-19 vaccines as daily infection cases set another global record. The shortage comes a day before a planned nationwide inoculation drive. Officials in the capital, New Delhi, and Karnataka state have announced that the vaccination drive for adults would not begin on Saturday, urging citizens not to show up at vaccination centers. Authorities in the financial capital of Mumbai have also announced shutting down inoculation centers for three days from Friday. India has reported yet another record single day infections of over 386-thousand and nearly 35,00 more deaths since Thursday. The explosion in infections has caused a severe shortage of hospital beds and oxygen supplies.

Eurozone double-dip recession

The eurozone economy has entered into a second recession in less than a year as growth in the 19-member monetary union is hard hit by coronavirus-related restrictions. The Eurozone’s GDP shrank by point-six percent in the first three months of this year. That’s according to the European Union’s statistics office, Eurostat. The negative growth in the single-currency zone follows a point-seven percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2020. Portugal recorded the highest slump compared to the previous quarter. However, Germany was Europe’s worst-hit major economy, posting a quarterly contraction of 1.7 percent. Europe has been hit hard by a second and third wave of the pandemic. Much of the continent was subjected to some form of lockdown in the first three months of this year to contain infections.

Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border clashes

Kyrgyzstan says its death toll from Thursday’s border clashes with Tajikistan has climbed to 31. According to the Kyrgyz health ministry, some 120 people were also injured. The country also evacuated thousands of its citizens from two districts following the worst fighting between the two Central Asian rivals in years. Tajikistan has reported two injuries on its side but local media there say 10 people were killed and 90 others injured. Clashes first broke out between civilians from both sides over a disputed water reservoir. The situation quickly escalated into an exchange of fire between border guards. The two sides announced a ceasefire later that day. But, shooting was reported during the night. Over a third of the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is disputed.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk