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The Dhauladhar range of mountains is visible from the city due to a drop in pollution levels, on day ten of the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. Photo: Hindustan Times / Contributor

People are able to see blue skies for the first time in years as India's three-week coronavirus lockdown has drastically cut air pollution across the country, The Washington Post writes.

Why it matters: India is notorious for its air pollution — among the worst in the world. The speedy drop in the level of particle pollution by nearly 60% in capital city New Delhi has surprised experts, but the clean air has come at a cost for the country.

What's next: Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to extend the country's lockdown, originally set to expire April 14.

The India Gate before:

Photo: Biplov Bhuyan/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

The India Gate after:

Photo: Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images

The Yamuna River before:

A man rows his boat surrounded by toxic foam and smog caused by pollution in November. Photo: Sahiba Chawdhary/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Yamuna River after:

A boy swims in the Yamuna River during the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Amarjeet Kumar Singh/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Taj Mahal before:

Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images

The Taj Mahal after:

Photo: Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Go deeper: The pandemic and pollution

Go deeper

Updated 1 hour ago - World

U.S. sending $100M in aid to India as country sets new COVID records

A COVID-19 patient, laying on a rickshaw, receiving oxygen provided by a Gurdwara, a place of worship for Sikhs, along the roadside in Ghaziabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, on Wednesday. Photo: Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images

The White House announced the U.S. is sending more than $100 million worth of supplies to India — which set new records for COVID-19 cases and deaths in a single day on Thursday.

Driving the news: Coronavirus cases are surging in India amid a widespread oxygen shortage and slow vaccine rollout. The country's pandemic death toll surpassed 200,000 on Wednesday, amid reports that COVID fatalities and cases are going uncounted.

China launches Tianhe module of new space station

People watch the Long March-5B Y2 rocket carrying the core module of China's space station, Tianhe, blasting off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Wenchang, Hainan Province, on Thursday. Photo: Wang Longhua/VCG via Getty Images

Officials in China launched the core element of a new permanent space station into orbit on a Long March-5B Y2 rocket from Wenchang in Hainan Province, Thursday, per the BBC.

Why it matters: The launch from Wenchang Space Launch Center marks a significant step in the space program drive of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, seen as a rival to the U.S. in space.

Updated 4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

In photos: Biden's historic address to Congress

President Biden arrives ahead of his speech a joint session of Congress as Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Speaker of the House U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi look on. Photo: Michael Reynolds - POOL/Getty Images

President Biden delivered a historic address before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday — the eve of his 100th day since taking office.

Driving the news: Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made history as the first women to lead the Senate and House during a president's congressional address. The event was also notable for having pandemic restrictions in place that included having virtual guests.