THE WORLD THIS WEEK
New Variant of COVID -19, Omicron found in South Africa
On Friday World Health Organization (WHO) categorized a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, in South Africa as a 'variant of concern'. The name of the variant id=s Omicron. The Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa identified the variant on Monday and detected a group related SARS-CoV-2 virus, the lineage name of the virus is B.1.1529.
Preliminary analysis suggested it has multiple spike protein mutations and it is highly infectious. South Africa has reported a four-fold increase in new cases over the last two weeks. This Omicron virus has some mutations that are characterized and well known such as phenotypic impact, affecting transmissibility and immune evasion. These mutations have already been detected in the Alpha and Delta variants.
However, there are some rarely observed until now and not well-characterized mutations in this variant and this is part of the concern. The National Institute for Communicable Disease of South Africa has said that "no unusual symptoms" have been reported following infection with the Omicron virus.
America's leading infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci said that the Omicron variant is in "fluid motion" in South Africa right now. US scientists are coordinating with South African scientists to test the strain and find out whether it does or does not evade the antibodies created with the help of vaccination.
Dozens killed in Listvyazhnaya mine in Russia
A blast happened on Thursday Listvyazhnaya coalmine when coal dust caught fire in a ventilation shaft. This is Russia's worst mining disaster in a decade. Fifty-one people have been killed and among the dead were five rescue workers, and the sixth was found alive and taken to the hospital. Rescuers suffocated as they tried to reach dozens of missing miners.
At the time of the accident on Thursday, there were 287 people in the mine, some 2,175 miles east of Moscow. Forty-nine people were taken to the hospital and many managed to get out of the mine, some of them suffering from smoke inhalation.
The methane gas explosion had filled the mine with smoke and the victims died because of a lack of Oxygen and a high concentration of poisonous gas. Still, dozens of trapped and rescue operations had to suspend because of the high concentration of Methane gas.
US adds 27 Chinese technology firms to its restricted trade list
The U.S administration added a dozen Chinese companies to its trade blacklist on Wednesday. U.S officials have long complained that Chinese companies are beholden to the People's Republic of China but they are collecting sensitive information of the U.S on behalf of the People's Liberation Army.
Those eight restricted Chinese technology entities were added to the restricted list because o their active role in assisting the Chinese military's quantum computing efforts. This move of Joe Biden comes as growing tension between the U.S and China over the status of the Taiwan issue.
U.S Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo wrote in a statement, "Global trade and commerce should support peace, prosperity and good-paying jobs, not a national security risk." This restriction is committed to protecting our national security.
Afghan Prime Minister mentioned they saved women's dignity and defends Taliban's rule
Afghanistan's Prime Minister defended the Taliban's rule on Saturday, saying the rule was not to blame for this aggravated economic crisis and is working to repair the corruption of the expelled government. The previous government had run "the weakest system in the world", he said pointing to the corruption of the ousted government.
He further said,
“The Taliban is eliminating corruption and securing people's safety and woman's dignity around the country.”
After securing their rule over the country three months ago, Mohammed Hassan Akhund said,
"We are trying as much as possible to solve the problems of people. We are working overtime in every department."
Adding to this he said groups have formed committees to resolve the economic crisis of the country and pay salaries to government employees, who have largely gone without pay for months.
All the ministers of the cabinet came from the Taliban's rank. These days, the Taliban have not completely barred women from the public sphere as they did during their previous rule.
However, they ordered all the woman government employees not to come to work and even not let the high school girls return to school, but they allowed younger girls for schooling. He insisted The Islamic Emirate – as the Taliban call their government – ' has served woman's dignity.
Author
Debomita Dey
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