Israeli study finds huge boost in antibodies after 4th jab
Preliminary data shows a second booster brings about a five-fold increase in antibodies that battle COVID-19.
More evidence is emerging that the Omicron coronavirus variant is causing milder symptoms than previous strains, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
Britain’s vaccine minister has said people hospitalised with COVID-19 were broadly showing less severe symptoms than before.
Meanwhile, countries including China and the Philippines tightened restrictions to slow down contagions.
Arrests after female Muslim activists ‘put up for sale’ in fake auction in India
Police in India have detained a woman accused of organising a fake online auction in which hundreds of prominent female Muslims were put up “for sale” on a website.
There were shock waves of anger and disgust in India after it emerged that a website calling itself Bulli Bai, an offensive term for Muslims, had set up a pretend auction of more than 100 Muslim women, including journalists, academics, activists, scholars and artists, where they were to be “sold” as servants for negligible sums.
Although no real transactions took place, the Bulli Bai website featured photos of the women, many taken from their social media and manipulated. A large number of the women targeted have been vocal critics of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government and many said the purpose of the site was to humiliate and silence outspoken Muslim women and help fracture India down sectarian lines.
IHU: New Covid variant with 46 mutations worries experts in France
While the world is grappling with the highly infectious Omicron, strain of Covid, scientists in France have identified a potentially worrying new variant, which has 46 mutations.
Named IHU, the new B.1.640.2 variant has so far infected 12 people living in southeastern France. The first case was linked to a person with a travel history to Cameroon, western Africa, said researchers in a paper published on medRxiv.
However, experts were quick to announce that just because a new variant had been discovered, that did not necessarily mean IHU will prove as infectious as other strains, including Omicron.
South Africa Parliament arson suspect appears in court
The man faces five counts, including two of arson. Meanwhile, firefighters said the blaze was back under control after strong winds had fanned the embers.
A 49-year-old man charged with arson in connection with the fire in South Africa's Parliament appeared in court on Tuesday.
The man was facing five charges including arson, theft, housebreaking and contravention of the National Key Points Act.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told reporters outside the court that man was also found with an explosive, but did not provide further details.
Sudan: Thousands protest against military rule after PM's resignation leaves army in control
Sudanese security forces fired tear gas Tuesday at anti-coup protesters in Khartoum chanting slogans against the military days after the resignation of the country's civilian premier, witnesses said.
Protesters shouted "No, no to military rule" and called for the disbandment of Sudan's ruling council headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who led an October 25 coup that derailed a transition to civilian rule.
Thousands of protesters gathered across Sudan, including in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman as well as the eastern city of Port Sudan and the South Darfur capital of Nyala.
Demonstrators in east Khartoum "burnt car tyres and built rock barricades on the streets," witness Sawsan Salah said.
Yuzhou: Second Chinese city forced into Covid lockdown
China has put a second city into total lockdown after just three asymptomatic Covid cases were discovered.
Yuzhou - which has a population of 1.1 million - saw its transport system shut down and all but essential food stores closed overnight.
It follows a similar lockdown in Xi'an, where 13 million have been confined to their homes since 23 December.
The strict measures come ahead of the Lunar New Year and the Winter Olympics due to be held in Beijing.
No comments:
Post a Comment