Editor's Pick: A global hunt for oxygen

The Hindu Newsletter - The Hindu Newsletter - Editor's Pick [logo] Editor's Pick Sunday | 25 April, 2021 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( [alt_text]( A global hunt for oxygen [border=0]( The Central government has announced the [dropping of customs duty]( on COVID-19 vaccines, oxygen and equipment for the delivery of oxygen for a period of three months. The government said that the decision taken at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister was to mitigate the [ongoing crisis in oxygen supply]( across the country. Scores of people on ventilator support [have died in Delhi](and [Maharashtra]( as hospitals ran short of oxygen. Many hospitals have shut their doors to critical patients due to the shortage, while some hospital managements have approached the courts for a solution. While courts and governments have issued several orders to [ensure smooth transport of oxygen]( and to prevent hoarding, the massive gap between demand and supply remains in many States. India is increasingly looking abroad for means to solve the oxygen production and delivery crisis. The Ministry of Defence is airlifting 23 [oxygen generating plants from Germany](, while cryogenic tanks for transporting the gas are coming in from [Singapore and Saudi Arabia](. The Hindu has reported that the government and Indian embassies in several countries are now coordinating efforts to procure oxygen and ensure an undisrupted supply chain. Offers of help have come in from Russia. Even China and Pakistan, with whom there have been physical conflicts in recent times, have offered resources. However, there has been some bad blood over the U.S.'s slow response to the crisis in India, with criticism that it was stockpiling vaccines that could be used in India and was also [preventing export of raw materials]( needed by [Pune-based SII]( to manufacture the Novovax vaccine. These diplomatic efforts that form the background of the cut in customs duty is what makes this story important. [underlineimg] The Hindu Explains [Arrow] [Why is the government tweaking the National Pension System?]( [Arrow][Why did plans for a European Super League collapse in just 48 hours?]( [underlineimg] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( [underlineimg] Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by what per cent by 2030 relative to 2005 levels? 1. 23% 2. 36% 3. 52% 4. 68% To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today's Best Reads [[border=0] N.V. Ramana | Justice for all]( [[ On the bridge over the Tiau river in Mizoram ] The Mizos and Myanmarese share deep cultural bonds that go beyond the citizen-refugee divide]( [[Scarcity: A good 13% of villages with winter crops are in critically water-depleted regions.] Groundwater depletion may reduce winter cropping intensity by 20% in India]( [[border=0] ‘The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback’ review: Reimagining the horse and its unique place in Indian history]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](mailto:rm-0bfrqgtbbf2f90kaup33rtbysa8hkuz@newsalert.thehindu.com?subject=Unsubscribe&body=You will be unsubscribed from our mailing list.)