Raphael Stevens

In this articleFOREThe executive director of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore, has told CNBC that it  is “very worried” about the current Covid-19 crisis in India and urged the world to send urgent help to the country.Speaking during World Immunization Week, Fore also said it was a “race to save lives” through vaccinations, particularly in some of the world’s poorest countries with “very fragile” health systems. India is in the midst of a deadly second wave of the virus. On Saturday, daily coronavirus cases in the country passed 400,000 for first time; total cases in India have now topped 19 million, and more than 215,000 people have died from Covid in the country.”It is worrying for several reasons. One, is it a precursor to what might happen in other countries, particularly countries in Africa, with much weaker healthcare systems?” Fore said last week.”It’s worrying because their health care system has been overwhelmed. It is the need for oxygen and therapeutics that we just have not seen in this pandemic in another country at this scale.”People wearing protective face masks wait to receive a vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination centre in Mumbai, India, April 26, 2021.Niharika Kulkarni | ReutersFore said both UNICEF and the COVAX global vaccine program had sent help to the country, and aid from other nations was making a big difference. “But it’s not enough because India is part of our supply chain. So, it is both where we source many of the vaccines, it’s also where we need to give help as a world to India now,” she added.UNICEF is the United Nations agency responsible for providing aid to children across the world.’Help us now’One consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic is that the world has stopped paying attention to other routine immunizations, Fore warned. Around 60 routine immunization campaigns have been stopped globally, as countries focus on tackling the pandemic.To address these challenges — while continuing to help the recovery from the global pandemic — the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and other partners, are supporting a global strategy known as Immunization Agenda 2030. The initiative aims to save 50 million lives through “an ambitious new global strategy to maximize the lifesaving impact of vaccines through stronger immunization systems.”Fore said that around half of the world’s vaccinations come about as a result of UNICEF’s routine immunizations of children.”Polio, measles, yellow fever … all of these are vaccines that children need, but they’re also vaccines that adults need. So we are asking for families to come into primary health clinics in their own communities, bring their children in, get vaccinated for these childhood diseases, also get a Covid vaccine, and we can save 50 million lives,” she said.Asked if she had a message for global leaders today, Fore said: “Well, help us now.”Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF on July 05, 2018 in BERLIN, GERMANY.Ute Grabowsky/Photothek via Getty Images”We are worried that the world is not paying attention to things like routine immunizations. We cannot lose this population, our children, to one epidemic while we are worried about Covid as a pandemic for our world, so please help us now,” she added.Despite the ongoing global pandemic, Fore said the time was right to focus on such initiatives.”People now realize that vaccines are important, that vaccines work, that they save lives, and right now we are in a race to save lives,” she said.”So if we can save them through a routine immunization program, reaching out to everyone in a society, that will help both routine immunizations and it will help Covid.”Global investmentHowever, Fore told CNBC that it can be hard to focus global investment on supporting the programs.”Under the Covax facility there’s been a call for $23 billion, which sounds like an enormous amount, but really, when you look at global GDP and what is available in the world, it’s a very small number,” she said.”So you realize that as a world we could afford this, and if we could get vaccines out to children and to adults in the coming years, we will be a world that would have more equity, more fairness, more health across the board.” More

A woman wearing a protective face mask walks past a graffiti, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on a street in Mumbai, India, March 30, 2021.Francis Mascarenhas | ReutersIndia’s second wave of Covid-19 infections shows no signs of slowing down as the country’s overwhelmed health-care system faces supply shortages for hospital beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines.The World Health Organization said last week that one in every three new coronavirus cases globally is being reported in India.Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is facing criticism for allowing large crowds to gather for religious festivals and election rallies in various parts of the country. Commentators said the mass gatherings likely turned into super spreader events.Cases in the second wave started rising in February, when India reported an average of about 10,000 infections a day. But the situation progressively worsened in April, ending the month by repeatedly setting new global records for daily cases. India kicked off May by reporting more than 400,000 new cases.Nearly 7 million cases were reported for the month, a huge share of the more than 19 million India has recorded during the entire pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsScientists say the spike in cases is partially due to variants of the coronavirus circulating in India at the moment.”There is at least emergence of two important dominant variants, one is a U.K. variant, one is an Indian variant,” Manoj Murhekar, director of the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, told CNBC on Friday.The Indian government reportedly said last month that 80% of cases in Punjab were due to the highly contagious U.K. variant, which is known as B.1.1.7.Meanwhile, the Indian variant is known as B.1.617 and has multiple sub-lineages with slightly different characteristic mutations. The WHO classified it as a variant of interest in its epidemiological update on the pandemic last week.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsMaharashtra, which is home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, is the hardest hit state and also the epicenter for the second wave.India’s richest state went into a lockdown in mid-April to break the chain of transmission. Reports said Maharashtra’s state government extended restrictions until May 15.Murhekar told CNBC that at the moment, very little is known about what proportion of the infected cases are due to a variant. He said India needs to step up its surveillance for variants so that there’s meaningful data from each region and state on which variants are circulating in each.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsIn April, India crossed 200,000 reported deaths. JHU data showed more than 48,000 people lost their lives to the disease last month.Though the death rate is comparatively low, it is likely that there is an undercounting of fatalities as multiple media reports suggest crematoriums and burial grounds are overwhelmed with bodies of those who died from Covid-19.The international community has responded with promises to send help to India, including $100 million in medical aid from the United States.Experts have said that India’s best shot at tackling the outbreak is by stepping up its vaccination efforts.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsSince launching its mass inoculation drive in January, India has administered more than 154 million vaccine doses as of April 30, according to government data.That implies a little over 10% of the population has received at least one of the two shots required. But the percentage of people who have completed their vaccination is only about 2% of the total population, at around 27.9 million as of April.Starting in May, India is opening vaccinations to anyone age 18 and older.Murhekar said that the kind of herd immunity India needs to reduce transmission can only be achieved through vaccination.”It will take many days and many months, basically, till we have a critical mass, which is vaccinated against Covid,” he added.Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwardsBut the country is facing vaccine shortages and several states have reportedly run out of supply.The supply crunch is expected to last through July, according to the CEO of India’s top vaccine maker, Serum Institute, which is producing AstraZeneca’s shot. Adar Poonawalla recently told the Financial Times that his firm is set to increase vaccine production capacity from about 60 million to 70 million doses a month to 100 million.The other vaccine being administered is Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.New Delhi has recently approved the Russia-developed Sputnik V and authorized foreign-made vaccines that have been granted emergency approval by the U.S., U.K., European Union, Japan and World Health Organization-listed agencies.— CNBC’s Nate Rattner contributed to this report. More

In this articleMANUA football fan chants slogans before a protest against the ownership of Manchester United.Andy Barton, SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty ImagesManchester United’s Premier League game against Liverpool at Old Trafford has been postponed following protests against the Glazer family.Hundreds of fans got into the stadium ahead of the behind-closed-doors contest, which was originally scheduled for a 4.30pm kick-off before being delayed and then called off completely.Discussions are taking place around finding a new date for the fixture.Two police officers were injured during Sunday’s demonstrations, with one hospitalised after “sustaining a significant slash wound to his face”, according to Greater Manchester Police.A United statement read: “Following discussion between the Police, The Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs, our match against Liverpool has been postponed due to safety and security considerations around the protest today. Discussions will now take place with the Premier League on a revised date for the fixture.Read more from Sky SportsGary Neville: Owners to blame for protestMan Utd fans break into Old Trafford and protest on pitchOle Gunnar Solskjaer: Fans have right to to voice anger”Our fans are passionate about Manchester United, and we completely acknowledge the right to free expression and peaceful protest.”However, we regret the disruption to the team and actions which put other fans, staff, and the police in danger. We thank the police for their support and will assist them in any subsequent investigations.”Liverpool said they were in “full agreement” with the decision to postpone and will continue to have dialogue with Manchester United, the Premier League and the local authorities to find a suitable date to reschedule.”It is our position that public safety must be the number one factor in any such decision, with the ability to provide a secure environment for the participants, staff and officials being a particular priority,” said a club statement.Police officers monitor football fans during a protest against the Glazer’s ownership of Manchester United.Andy Barton, SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty Images”It was clearly not possible for this to be guaranteed today due to a situation which escalated rapidly.”The Premier League condemned all the “acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated COVID-19 breaches” in a statement after the postponement was confirmed.”The security and safety of everyone at Old Trafford remains of paramount importance,” a Premier League statement read.”We understand and respect the strength of feeling but condemn all acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated COVID-19 breaches.”Fans have many channels by which to make their views known, but the actions of a minority seen today have no justification. We sympathise with the police and stewards who had to deal with a dangerous situation that should have no place in football.”The rearrangement of the fixture will be communicated in due course.”Man Utd fan protests and postponement – A timeline1pm – Fans begin congregating outside the trinity statue on the Old Trafford forecourt, as another group starts to protest at the Lowry Hotel, where the United team are staying ahead of the game.2pm – The numbers of protestors swell to thousands outside Old Trafford, with firecrackers being let off and a group of supporters beginning to march towards the Munich Tunnel.2.30pm – United fans breach security and invade the stadium, taking to the Old Trafford pitch. Flares are let off, firecrackers are thrown and one supporter is seen wielding one of the corner flags.3pm – The stadium is in lockdown. A sweep of the stadium is required and there is said to be damage to the pitch.3.30pm – Despite mounting uncertainty over the status of the match, the Premier League proceeds to publish the official team sheet one hour before the scheduled kick-off time.3.55pm – The Premier League issues a statement in which it confirms the match will not kick off at its scheduled start time5.40pm – Officials confirm the game will be postponed.5.50pm – The Premier League calls the postponementSupporters also gathered outside the team’s hotel – The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, where the United team were staying before the game – ahead of Sunday’s match at Old Trafford.Greater Manchester Police said they were “aware” the protests were due to take place and “were working closely alongside partners to ensure those that attended were kept safe whilst enabling their right to peaceful protest”.”By late afternoon around 200 protestors had gathered outside the Lowry and over 1,000 at Old Trafford,” the police statement read.”Officers continued to closely monitor the situation, engaging with those present but as the groups grew in size; it became clear that many of those present were not intending to exercise their right to peaceful protest. Flares were let off and bottles thrown at officers.”Protestors outside Old Trafford became especially aggressive and antagonistic towards police before a group of about 100 forced entry to the ground with some United staff having to lock themselves in rooms.”Those in the stadium were evicted by officers but outside on the forecourt hostility grew with bottles and barriers being thrown at officers and horses.”Many United supporters are still angry and upset over their club’s role as one of the founder members of the proposed breakaway European Super League.The plans added to years of discontent and protests from supporters following the controversial takeover by the Glazers in 2005.United owner Joel Glazer, unveiled as Super League vice-chairman when the announcement was made, apologised in an open letter to all the club’s fans after they were forced to pull out of the plans.However, that apology seems to have been rebuffed by the club’s supporter base who protested outside Old Trafford last week which followed even more protesting at United’s Carrington training ground. 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Indonesian ride-hailing app Gojek has announced plans to make every car and motorcycle on its platform an electric vehicle (EV) by 2030 in an ambitious three-pronged sustainability strategy.Dubbed the “Three Zeros” agenda, the company aims to reach zero emissions, zero waste and zero socio-economic barriers by the end of the decade, co-founder and co-CEO Kevin Aluwi told CNBC.The plans will see the 11-year-old company invest in a series of EV pilot programs across Southeast Asia, as well as launching a “world-first” in-app carbon offsetting feature. However Aluwi said the plans would also require external support.”We’re definitely going to put our money where our mouth is,” said Aluwi. “But it goes without saying that it’s impossible for us to be driving this solely,” he continued, highlighting the need for public and private collaboration to build the supporting infrastructure.We’re definitely going to put our money where our mouth is. But it goes without saying that it’s impossible for us to be driving this solely.Kevin Aluwico-founder and co-CEO, GojekAlready, Gojek has seen strong interest from battery manufacturers, nickel providers and Indonesian authorities keen to assist with the shift to green energy in the world’s fourth most populous country and surrounding region, Aluwi said.”Indonesia is one of the largest motorcycle-based transportation countries, so there’s a ton of interest around this from all kinds of parties and we see ourselves as primarily a facilitator in making this happen.”In addition, the company announced a series of social mobility initiatives, including establishing an employee-led council to push corporate diversity, equality and inclusion programs as well as helping micro and small businesses digitize. It also pledged to only partake in gender diverse panels for speaking events.Aluwi said the plans would help Gojek address some of the barriers to inclusivity present in both the company and Indonesia as a whole.”We’re very, very far from where we need to be if I can be brutally honest about ourselves. But I do think that our commitments are the first step in rectifying that,” he said. “Indonesia is a very diverse and complex country when it comes to these topics.”An Indonesian driver of ride-hailing service Gojek and his passenger commute in Jakarta 5 March 2021.NurPhoto | Getty ImagesThe plans were announced Friday in the company’s first sustainability report, which details the company’s environmental, social and governances (ESG) targets. The goals are to be disclosed and reviewed annually.”It is no longer a question of whether companies should report on their sustainability impact,” Allinettes Adigue, head of ASEAN at the Global Reporting Initiative, which provides benchmarks for companies and governments’ ESG commitments, said in the report’s release.”It is now a question of whether what companies report are accurate and relevant, and clearly communicates their impact on the economy, environment and society,” he added.The announcement follows news that Gojek is set to merge with Indonesian e-commerce company Tokopedia to form multi-function app GoTo.An IPO is definitely an area, an activity, a milestone that we know is on the cards for us at some point.Kevin Aluwico-founder and co-CEO, GojekUnder the combined entity, the country’s two most valuable start-ups will reportedly target a valuation of up to $40 billion as they pit themselves against fellow Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab in the public markets.”An IPO is definitely an area, an activity, a milestone that we know is on the cards for us at some point,” said Aluwi, though he would not be pushed on timings.Last month, SoftBank-backed Grab announced it is set to go public through a SPAC merger with Altimeter Growth Corp. in a deal that values the company at $39.6 billion — the largest blank-check merger to date. More

Ground staff unload coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relief supplies from the United States at the Indira Gandhi International Airport cargo terminal in New Delhi, India April 30, 2021.Prakash Singh | ReutersWASHINGTON – White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said Sunday that the Biden administration is looking to distribute the coronavirus vaccine to India and other countries now that millions of Americans have received their doses.In recent weeks, India has grappled with a staggering rise in new coronavirus infections. Over the weekend, India reported 400,000 daily cases, bringing the nation’s cumulative total to 19,557,457 cases, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins. The spike may have been triggered by a highly contagious Covid variant, known as B.1.617, which was first identified in the country.The variant has since been identified in other countries, including the United States.On Friday, the White House announced that it would restrict travel from India as the country works to counter its surge of Covid-19 infections.”We are rushing aid to India,” Klain said during an interview on CBS program “Face the Nation.”Klain said that the U.S. has sent therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators and protective equipment to the world’s largest democracy as well as raw materials crucial for vaccine production.”Our U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is going to the WTO next week to start talks on how we can get this vaccine more widely distributed, more widely licensed, more widely shared,” he said when asked if the Biden administration would relax patent protections on the coronavirus vaccine.Klain added that he expected the White House to have more to say on the matter in the coming days.Earlier this month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed lifting the patent protections of the coronavirus vaccine with Biden, according to a readout of the call. The relaxation would grant governments quicker and more affordable access to the lifesaving doses.Last week, the Biden administration announced that it will immediately make raw materials needed for India’s coronavirus vaccine production available. The U.S. response came after Britain, France and Germany pledged aid to India, the world’s largest democracy. Rich nations have come under fire in recent days for hoarding the raw materials needed to make the shots. More