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US to restrict travel from southern Africa amid new Covid variant scare
As per advice from his chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, Biden said on Friday that from Monday, his administration will restrict air travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi as a "precautionary" measure to prevent the newly discovered Omicron variant of coronavirus from spreading into the US.
WHO classifies B.1.1.529 as 'variant of concern' named Omicron
The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to WHO from South Africa on November 24, 2021. The epidemiological situation in South Africa has been characterized by three distinct peaks in reported cases, the latest of which was predominantly the Delta variant. The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on November 9, 2021.
Soaring prices prompt concerns amid currency drop in Turkey
Turkish currency lira has lost about 40 per cent of its value this year against the US dollar, while the annual inflation hit almost 20 per cent in October. he currency tumbled to a fresh historic low against the greenback on Tuesday, and one dollar was traded at 13.50 liras. Grocery stores, shops and supermarkets in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul have been continuously reflecting the losing value of the lira to the prices.
LeT motivations, world view were very compatible with ISI leeadership
The Senate hearings, which had inputs from intelligence officials, FBI and NYPD, had in detail discussed the LeT as the perpetrator of the ghastly Mumbai attacks. The hearings testified that LeT was founded by three individuals, one of whom was supposedly a mentor to Osama bin Laden. "But it became very quickly tied to ISI because its motivations and its world view were very compatible with the leadership of the ISI at that time," they said.
Colonels and majors acting like kings: Pak Chief Justice
Stating that colonels and majors were acting like kings, the Chief Justice said, "What the colonels and majors desire, happens." A three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice and comprising Justices Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed and Ijazul Ahsan was hearing the issue of military lands being used for commercial purposes at the Supreme Court's Karachi registry.
US-bound migrant caravan dwindles, moves through Mexico's Gulf Coast
Comprising about 4,000 to 5,000 mostly Central American and Haitian migrants at one point, the caravan currently numbers about 500 people, Xinhua news agency quoted local media reports as saying. Most of the migrants have accepted offers from Mexico's National Institute of Migration (INM) to be taken to shelters set up in specific states to regularize their stay in Mexico for a fixed period of time on humanitarian grounds.
'Smash-and-grab' robberies hit California high-end stores
In a statement on Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said that at least five people went inside an open Nordstrom store in the city's Canoga Park neighbourhood on Wednesday evening, reports Xinhua news agency. The attack happened at around 6.45 p.m. when a group of five suspects burst into the store and ran out with items that included about seven to eight expensive purses worth an estimated $25,000.
Japan not pleased with F-35 Fighters, looks to either upgrade it or opt for F-22 like aircraft
The country had announced the sixth-generation stealth fight aircraft program three years ago which was popularly known as F-X or F-3. Taking the growing disputes from China and North Korea into consideration, the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) has been seriously rethinking the fighter's capacity to carry missiles compared to the American supplied F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
15 more nations recognise India's Covid vaccines
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said, "Mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates continues! Fifteen more recognitions for India's vaccination certificate,". "Mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates with India: Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestine, Philippines, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine," MEA said in a statement.
New Covid variant in S.Africa affecting those under 25
Professor Anne von Gottberg from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said the variant had been detected in about 100 genomes so far. Regarding the affected group, South Africa's Health Minister Joe Phaahla said: "They are at great risk," Times Live reported. KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (Krisp) genome sequencer Professor Tulio de Oliveira said the new variant "is concerning for predicted immune-evasion and transmissibility".
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