ASIA TODAY India, free doses of the Covid vaccine for the anniversary of independence

Other news of the day: in Sri Lanka, protesters return occupied buildings to the government; dysentery cases increase in Afghanistan; since last year, dengue cases in Vietnam have more than doubled; Shanghai issues new heat wave alert, Grozny to build Islamic crescent-shaped airport.

INDIA

Starting this week and for 75 days, India will supply free doses of the Covid vaccine. According to a local official, the move was taken to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence, which will be celebrated on August 15. Until now, vaccination was only free for those over 60 years of age and health personnel. 92% of the Indian population have not yet received the booster.

SRI LANKA

According to the Sri Lankan media, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not take a flight to Singapore after arriving in the Maldives. Previously, Reuters He had reported that Rajapaksa would fly to Singapore and from there he would send his resignation letter, but this has not yet been received by the Speaker of Parliament. This morning the demonstrators decided to return the occupied buildings to the government.

AFGHANISTAN

Rising temperatures and a lack of adequate sanitary facilities is causing a increase in cases of dysentery in several provinces of Afghanistan. Every day more than 100 sick patients arrive at the Kabul hospital, doctors say. In Helmand province alone, 15 people have already died.

VIETNAM

Dengue cases have doubled compared to last year, as announced by the Minister of Health of Vietnam. The country registered 89,120 new cases in the first half of 2022, compared to 35,936 the previous year. “It is estimated that the number of infected will continue to rise, with more serious cases requiring hospitalization,” the ministry said.

CAMBODIA

Cambodian authorities arrested 11 Chinese citizens allegedly involved in illegal drug trafficking. The police seized two tons of ketamine in three different provinces and in the capital, Phnom Penh. On the occasion of the National Day of the Fight against Drugs, celebrated on June 26, the Cambodian Minister of the Interior, Sar Kheng, declared that during 2021, the police seized more than 10,000 tons of drugs. However, only 6,000 were destroyed.

CHINA

For the third time so far this year, Shanghai issued an alert anticipating a new heat waveTemperatures of up to 40 degrees are expected in the city of 25 million inhabitants in the next 24 hours. Shanghai has issued 17 such notices since 1873. Due to the use of air conditioners, the power grid is operating at full capacity.

RUSSIA – NORTH KOREA

North Korea’s ambassador to Russia, Sin Hon Chol, handed Donetsk ambassador Olga Makeeva the document by which the Pyongyang government officially recognizes the breakaway republic of Donbass.

CHECHNYA

In Grozny, the capital of the Russian Republic of Chechnya, construction has begun on a new international airport, whose shape will be inspired by the Islamic crescent. The announcement, in a triumphant tone, was made by President Ramzan Kadyrov, who explained that the airport will be named after his father Akhmat, the historic president who put an end to the conflicts of the 1990s.