THE WORLD THIS WEEK
1. Moscow announces one-week lockdown amid COVID surge
A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a week-long countrywide paid holiday from October 30 to November 7 to counter the ongoing spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths, Moscow has declared a lockdown as it prepares to hit a "historic peak" in its coronavirus campaign. Non-essential stores, schools, and gyms will be closed in Russia's capital between October 28 and November 7, while restaurants and cafés will only be able to offer takeaway services.
The action comes amid Russia began to register over 1,000 COVID fatalities each day for the first time since the pandemic began, as well as 33,740 new cases. On Thursday, 7,897 new illnesses were reported in Moscow, the highest number since June 26.
2. Saudi Arabia sets a target of zero carbon emissions by 2060
Saudi Arabia's crown prince announced on Saturday that the world's largest oil exporter aspires to achieve zero-net emissions by 2060 and to more than double its yearly carbon emission reduction target.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his energy minister stated that Saudi Arabia, an OPEC member, will combat climate change while maintaining oil market stability, emphasising the ongoing significance of hydrocarbons.
They were speaking at the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), which takes place ahead of COP26, the United Nations climate change meeting in Glasgow at the end of the month, which aims to agree on further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming.
3. Surgeons successfully test pig kidney transplants in human patients in US
Surgeons successfully attached a pig's kidney to a human and monitored the organ's regular function for more than 50 hours, for the first time. They believe that this innovation might solve
donor organ shortages for life-saving transplants. While complex medical procedures like this have been performed on mammals before, this is the first time a pig kidney has been transplanted into a human body and not been rejected. The doctors tried the technique on a brain-dead patient, which meant the patient was already on life support and had no chance of recovery.
4. Communal violence rocks Bangladesh
Last week's Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh resulted in at least six deaths and hundreds of injuries due to communal violence and turmoil. Several incidents of unidentified Muslim men attacking religious buildings of minority cultures have been recorded around the country.
According to PTI, the violence started over an alleged blasphemy incident at a Durga Puja pavilion in Cumilla, which borders Chandpur and is around 100 kilometres from Dhaka, prompting the deployment of paramilitary troops in more than half of the administrative districts.
5. US to formalize deal with Pakistan for using its airspace for military operation in Afghanistan; Pakistan rejects the reports
The US administration informed legislators on Friday that the country is close to formalising an agreement with Pakistan for the use of its airspace to carry military and intelligence operations in Afghanistan, as per CNN reports.
Islamabad has expressed a willingness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in exchange for assistance with its own counterterrorism activities. However, another source told CNN that the discussions are still underway and that the parameters of the deal, which has not yet been finalised, might alter.
However, Pakistan dismissed the reports on Saturday about an agreement with the US to utilise its airspace for intelligence operations in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Author:
Vasundhara Tiwari
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