Month: August 2022
Monoclonal Antibody Might Prevent Malaria
Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted by certain types of mosquitoes. Despite various prevention efforts from insecticide-treated bed nets to disease-preventing medications malaria continues to exact a huge toll. The World Health Organization approved the first-ever malaria vaccine, for use in young children. The vaccine, called Mosquirix, is given in three doses
DR Congo to “kick out” UN
The Democratic Republic of Congo has asked the spokesman of the UN peacekeeping mission to leave the country as soon as possible. The Congolese government considers that the presence of this official on the national territory is not likely to promote a climate of mutual trust and serenity so essential between the Congolese institutions and
Ukraine: The situation in European nuclear plant out of control
After Russian forces occupied a Ukraine nuclear power plant in March, the situation has deteriorated says the UN’s nuclear energy chief. If the plant loses grid power due to a potential uptick of fighting in the area, backup generators and batteries are still insufficient to cool, not only the six reactors, but large pools of
Russia backs Myanmar junta
Russia backs the Myanmar junta’s efforts to “stabilise” the crisis-wracked country and hold elections next year. The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the putsch last year, with the junta accused by rights groups of committing war crimes as it struggles to crush resistance to its rule. Isolated internationally and with Western governments
Belarus test troops readiness of its troops near Ukraine
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of the Russian leader, has allowed Moscow to station its troops in Belarus and conduct large-scale military drills in the country, although Belarus has not sent troops into Ukraine. Belarus has been testing the readiness of its troops near its border with Ukraine, Kyiv said Thursday, shortly after
a new type of hepatitis in children
Mysterious cases of hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, began appearing in children around the world. They were not caused by the hepatitis viruses that typically cause the illness. The World Health Organisation has reported more than 1,000 probable cases in 35 countries. Some children have required liver transplants and at least 22 have died.
James Webb Space Telescope importance on astronomy
The James Webb Space Telescope is proving to be the most sensitive telescope ever for detecting infrared cosmic light (wavelengths just longer than those which humans can see). Radiation of this kind is interesting to astronomers for three reasons. First, it is better at penetrating dust clouds than visible light is, illuminating hitherto hidden regions
Covi-19 destroyed Cuba health system
When covid-19 first struck, Cuba sent some of its medics to countries struggling with their initial wave of patients. An impressive 89% of Cuba’s population is now fully vaccinated with its homegrown covid jabs which boast efficacy rates of up to 92.4% after three doses. But according to The Economist’s excess mortality tracker, Cuba has
Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan
China has taken to bullying countries that maintain even the most innocent ties with the island, which it claims. Lithuania, population 2.6m, has felt China’s wrath for simply allowing Taiwan to open an office with an official-sounding name in Vilnius, its capital. The trip is a symptom of America’s incoherent approach to China the country’s
Rising global inequality
As the pandemic wore on, though, its effects on global inequality shifted. Richer countries enjoyed better access to vaccines than poorer ones, and were more able to sustain spending on programmes to support incomes and bolster recoveries. The net effect of the pandemic has been to raise inequality between countries, back to the levels of