The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world. The total number of cases now stands at over 120 million, with over 2.6 million deaths. The situation is particularly critical in Europe, where several countries are seeing a sharp increase in cases. Italy, France, Germany, and Poland are all grappling with a third wave of infections. Several countries have implemented new restrictions and lockdowns in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
India is also experiencing a surge in cases, with over 50,000 new cases being reported daily. The government announced that it will open up vaccination to all adults starting in May in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout continues around the world. Over 400 million doses have been administered, with the majority of those in high-income countries. The WHO has called for a more equitable distribution of vaccines to ensure that lower-income countries are not left behind.
Several countries, including the US and China, have also pledged to donate millions of doses to other countries. In other Scotland News Today, tensions continue to rise between Russia and the West. The Russian government has expelled several European diplomats in response to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from several European countries last week. The move is seen as a further escalation in the ongoing diplomatic conflict between Russia and Western countries.
In the Middle East, the situation remains tense as well. The conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to escalate, with both sides exchanging rocket fire in recent days. The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire, but both sides seem determined to continue fighting. In Myanmar, protests against the military junta continue, despite a crackdown by the authorities.