World News

Here are some ways to stay safe this holiday season, with omicron dominating the holidays

Here we go again. Just when you thought you could go back to normal, a new, highly-mutated coronavirus variant has emerged in the U.S. Scientists aren’t sure if the omicron variant is more severe or milder, but early evidence suggests it’s more adept at evading the immune systems than other strains. Omicron is the most transmissible variant of coronavirus yet, according to several warning signs. Many people are now wondering if it’s time for us to change our safety habits. You don’t have a 2020 hibernation. Experts agree that we are in a different place than last winter. There are now many COVID-19 boosters and vaccines. The current vaccines provide protection against severe diseases with omicron, which is a good thing. However, Dr. Abraar Karan at Stanford University, an infectious disease physician, says that there is good hope that the current vaccines offer protection against severe disease with omicron.

Don’t panic but be aware of the risks you are willing to take. We asked several infectious disease experts for their advice on how to live in the age of omicron. Keep in mind that things are constantly changing so be alert. As we learn more, public health advice could change. Do I need to mask indoors again, even if it is not necessary? If you aren’t vaccinated, please don’t mask indoors. Experts agree. If you’re at greater risk of serious disease due to your age, underlying health conditions, or if it is a common occurrence in your community, you should wear masks. We know vaccines don’t always protect the elderly and immunocompromised. “The things we’ve gotten tired doing, we need keep doing them, especially indoors,” says Dr. Tom Frieden (ex-director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California San Francisco, said that this advice would still be valid if there were no omicron variant. “Because we still have [delta] case circulating in the country.” Although you don’t need to wear a mask outside, it is a good idea if you are in a group and don’t know the vaccination status of others, Dr. Julie Vaishampayan (chair of the public health committee of Infectious Disease Society of America) said during a Thursday media briefing.

Do I need to upgrade my N95, KN95, or another highly protective mask? Three-ply cloth or surgical masks can prevent the spread of infectious particles, if they fit well and provide some protection. However, experts recommend that an N95 or KN95 respirator be used in public areas. This is especially important if you are at high risk. Frieden says that if you’re older, or have a weaker immune system, you should consider using an N95 mask. Karan, a Stanford University professor, suggests that people with other conditions that could put them at greater risk such as obesity, diabetes, or poorly controlled diabetes should upgrade to a high-quality N95/KN95 mask. Karan suggests that you also upgrade your mask if you live with someone who is at high risk. Gandhi notes that double masking with a surgical mask and a cloth mask will increase your protection.

Should I cancel my holiday travel plans Dr. Henry Wu, Emory TravelWell Center director and associate professor of infectious disease at Emory University School of Medicine, advises that you not cancel your holiday travel plans too soon. Anyone who is considering traveling should take the time to consider both your own risk and certain practical considerations about their destination. The U.S. now requires that all travelers to the U.S., even those returning home, be tested for the coronavirus at least one day before they depart. You will need to know where to find a test that qualifies if you are in another country. This could prove to be a logistical nightmare. Keep in mind that the situation on ground is constantly changing so make sure to keep an eye on the CDC’s travel warnings. You should avoid countries that are experiencing a surge or have overcrowded health systems. Wu states that you don’t want your health to be compromised by overcrowded hospitals. Although domestic travelers are not required to test before they fly, it is a good idea to do so both before and after you arrive. This is especially true if you are visiting someone with high-risk conditions. Wu will do the same when he visits his parents in Hawaii next week. He says, “I will, even if it’s not necessary, test myself before I go, and I think I’ll take some self-test kits home when I get back, just to make sure I’m not infected at that time.” Wu states that if you aren’t vaccinated, 65 or older, or have any medical conditions that could make you more susceptible to severe COVID-19-related diseases, it is a good idea to reconsider whether now is a good time for you to travel. Wear a tight-fitting, high-quality mask if you fly or take public transport to your destination. Should I bother to get a booster, given all the concerns about omicron evading our vaccines? This week, the Biden administration urged people to get a booster to protect against omicron. This recommendation is consistent with recent science that boosters increase your antibody levels. A preprint study showed that a third dose mRNA vaccines could produce a stronger immune response, according to Dr. Kavita Patel. She is a Brookings Institution nonresident fellow and primary care physician. This could provide greater coverage against a variant such as omicron, she said. “This is why I think you are hearing many of us, many doctors and public health people, scientists saying boosters really do matter.” Paul Bieniasz, a Rockefeller University virologist who studies how the immune response broadens over time. He agrees. He says, “I’m someone who’s been vaccinated 3 times and I think that’s absolutely right.” Gandhi states, “I believe anyone who is around immunocompromised people should absolutely be ensured they boost.” “I protested global vaccine equity and was not going to get a booster. I received one because my father, an immunocompromised man, needs it.

Is it safe for large indoor gatherings such as holiday parties? Do guests need to test their own health before they arrive? Safety is important. But so is gathering with loved one at this time of the year. There are steps you can take that will lower the risk for everyone. Vaishampayan says, “What we need is to add more layers of protection.” Karan says that everyone should have gotten a COVID-19 vaccination and booster shot, if they are eligible. If you have rapid antigen testing, make sure your guests have one. This is especially important for those who are traveling from other parts. “It’s a great way of preventing someone who is infected from getting in and infecting another person,” Dr. Carlos Del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at Emory University, said to reporters this week. Karan points out that “testing is really just a snapshot in the past,” so ensure guests test the day before the actual gathering. This is because if the virus is still incubating and a person was just exposed, they can test negative one day and positive another. However, rapid antigen tests can be expensive. The most expensive one will run you about $12 per test, if you can find one. This week, the Biden administration announced plans to address this issue. People with private insurance will be able to get reimbursements for at-home tests and health clinics will offer free testing to the uninsured. Gandhi suggests that you prioritize testing anyone who has not been vaccinated, or is vaccinated, but is showing symptoms. Vaishampayan suggests that the party be moved outdoors if the weather permits. You can improve ventilation indoors by opening windows, as the temperature allows, at minimum. Gandhi suggests that guests with immunocompromised should avoid areas that are not well ventilated and to wear masks if they are eating or drinking. Or consider skipping large gatherings, says Karan. Karan says, “If you have a high risk person at home, this may not be the time to host large gatherings because vaccines here don’t completely stop transmission. They just reduce the likelihood it could happen.” Should I avoid dining indoors in restaurants? Wu says there is no clear answer for every situation. He says, “I just evaluate each situation individually.” Consider transmission levels in your area, ventilation and, most importantly, your risk level. Wu said that he assesses the restaurant’s crowdedness and ventilation before deciding whether it is safe to go. Karan suggests that indoor dining should be avoided if you want to be safe. Scientists are still learning more about microns. He recommends that indoor dining be avoided until you have more information about omicron. His best advice? “Be conservative right now.”

World News

Ukraine war: Kyiv secures a bridgehead across the key Dnipro River, reports

But military experts warn that advancing from positions across the Dnipro could be very difficult.

Ukrainian troops have set up positions on the east bank of the Dnipro River in southern Kherson region, reports say.The region is partially Russian-held and crossing the river could be significant in future offensives.The US-based Institute for the Study of War says Russian military bloggers have posted “enough geolocated footage and text reports to confirm” the advance.BBC Ukraine says its military sources have reported a “certain movement across [the] Dnipro” near Kherson city.

Ukraine’s military has not confirmed the movement, while Russia has denied the reports.But if the reports that Ukraine has secured a bridgehead on the east bank are correct, it could be significant in helping Kyiv drive Russian troops back.A Ukrainian advance in the area could, in the future, even cut the land corridor to Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014.However, military experts say any Ukrainian troop movements in the bridgehead area – which is crisscrossed by floodplains, irrigation canals and other water obstacles – would be a tough task.And Ukrainian advances would be further complicated by Russia’s significant advantage in the air.

Ukraine’s military has for some time publicly spoken about preparations for a major counter-offensive, without specifying where and when it could be launched.Until now, all of the Kherson region on the east bank of the Dnipro has been under Russian control, with the wide river serving as a natural barrier.The regional capital – sitting on the west bank – was liberated by Ukrainian forces last November.Celebrations as Ukraine takes back key city KhersonPutin visits occupied Kherson region in UkraineIn Sunday’s report, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said “geolocated footage published on 23 April indicates that Ukrainian forces are operating in areas north-west of Oleshky on the east” bank of Dnipro.

The ISW added there was not enough information to analyse the scale of the reported Ukrainian advance – or the further intentions of the Ukrainian military.On Monday, Russia’s WarGonzo military blogger reported that Ukrainian troops were “trying to gain a foothold on Bolshoi Potemkin [Velykyi Potyomkin – Ukrainian] island”, which is located between the new and old channels of the Dnipro.

World News

India’s population will surpass China this week, according to UN

Last week, a different UN body said the milestone would be passed later in 2023.

India is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation by the end this week. A different UN body predicted last week that India would surpass China by the middle this year. The Asian nations have accounted more than a quarter of the global population since over 70 years. The UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs said in a press release that “China will soon relinquish its long-held position as the world’s largest country”.

The UN Population Fund said last week that India would have 2.9 million more people than China by the middle of 2023. China’s birthrate has dropped recently, and its population shrank last year for first time since 1961. India’s population will continue to grow for several decades, it said. However, fertility rates in India are also dropping – from 5.7 babies per woman in 1950, to 2.2 today. In November, the world population reached 8 billion. Experts say that the growth rate is slower than it used to be, and is now at its lowest level since 1950.

World News

Scientists are concerned about recent rapid ocean warming.

There’s growing concern that the oceans are heating up quickly – and scientists are unsure of the implications.

It has never warmed up this much, so quickly. Scientists don’t fully understand why. But they worry that, combined with other weather events, the world’s temperature could reach a worrying new level by the end of next year. Scientists do not fully understand why it has happened. But they are concerned that combined with other weather conditions, the temperature of the planet could reach a new alarming level by the end next year. They are less efficient in absorbing planet-warming gases.

In the last 15 years, Earth’s heat has increased by 50 percent, with the majority of that extra heat going into the oceans. This has real world implications – not only was the temperature of the oceans a record in April, but in some areas the difference over the long term is enormous. Image source: Getty ImagesIn march, sea surface temperatures along the east coast of North America reached 13.8C above the 1981-2011 average. Karina Von Schuckmann, lead author of the study and oceanographer with the research group Mercator Ocean International, said: “It is not yet clear why such a rapid and huge change is occurring.”

“We have doubled heat in the climate system over the last 15 years. I don’t think this is climate variability, but it could be. We do see the change. “An interesting factor that could influence the level of heat entering the oceans is a reduction in shipping pollution. In 2020, the International Maritime Organisation implemented a regulation to lower the sulphur in fuel burned by ships. This has had an immediate impact on reducing the amount aerosol particles released in the atmosphere. Aerosols that pollute the air also reflect heat back into the space, so removing them could have caused more heat to reach the oceans.

The average surface temperature of the oceans has risen by 0.9C since pre-industrial times, with 0.6C of that increase occurring in the last 40. This is less than the rise in air temperatures on land which have increased by 1.5C. Oceans absorb heat much deeper than land and require more energy to heat. This has real-world implications. It is especially damaging to coral reefs. Extreme weather will increase as heat from the upper ocean surface increases hurricanes and cyclones. This means they become more intense and longer-lasting.Sea-level rise: warmer waters take up more space – known as thermal expansion – and can greatly accelerate the melting of glaciers from Greenland and Antarctica that flow into the oceans.

This increases global sea levels and increases the risk of coastal flooding. Warmer water has a lower ability to absorb CO2. The oceans will absorb less CO2 if they continue to warm. This will lead to more CO2 accumulating in the atmosphere, further warming the air. “The Australian Bureau model strongly suggests a strong El Nino.” Hugh McDowell, from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, said that the trend has been in that direction and that all climate models have been trending towards a stronger event. Mr McDowell warned that predictions are less reliable at this time of the year.

Other researchers are more optimistic. Experts believe that a fully-formed event will follow. “If we have a new El Nino on top of that, it will probably cause an additional global warming of 0.2-0.25C,” Dr Josef Ludescher from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research said. “The impact of El Nino is reduced a few months following the peak. This is why 2024 is likely to be the warmest year on record. “Image source, Anadolu Agency.” And we may, we’ll be close to 1.5C and perhaps we’ll temporarily go over. El Nino is likely to disrupt weather patterns in Australia and around the world. It will also weaken the monsoon. There are also more fundamental concerns that as heat is absorbed by the oceans, they may be less able store excess energy.

One scientist described being “extremely stressed and worried”. Karina von Schuckmann says that some research has shown the world warming in jumps. Little changes over years are followed by sudden leaps upwards. After El Nino subsides, temperatures may drop again. She told BBC News that “we still have a window of opportunity to act and we should take advantage of this to reduce the effects.” Graphics by Erwan RIVALL.

World News

Wagner in Sudan: what have Russian mercenaries done?

The Wagner group denies involvement in the current conflict, but there’s evidence it has previously been active in Sudan.

Russian Wagner mercenary forces are accused of having commercial and military ties with Sudan. However, the group denies involvement in the current conflict. Yevgeny Praighozin, who has close ties to President Vladimir Putin, has stated that “not one Wagner PMC [private company] fighter has ever been present in Sudan”. We have found no evidence of Russian mercenaries currently inside the country. There is evidence of Wagner’s previous activities in Sudan. Mr Prighozin’s operations in the nation have been targeted by US and EU sanctions. Gold-mining DealsIn 2017, Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir, during a trip to Moscow, signed a number of deals.

These included an agreement to establish a Russian naval base at Port Sudan along the Red Sea as well as “concessions on gold mining” between Russian company M Invest, and the Sudanese Ministry of Minerals. The According to a CNN investigation, gold was transported overland into Central African Republic where Wagner operates – exports that were not recorded in Sudanese trade data.

The BBC has not independently confirmed these images. In 2021, a Wagner linked Telegram channel published photos of an unnamed top Wagner leader awarding Sudanese soldier memorabilia during a ceremony that took place two years earlier. TelegramAnd, in July 2022 this channel distributed a clip allegedly showing Wagner’s mercenaries performing par The same source linked the Instagram profile of a Russian mercenary who called himself a “freelancer”. He shared stories of his exploits on Sudan in posts dating from August and Oct 2021. How influential is Wagner? The US Treasury claims that the Wagner Group has been involved in “paramilitary activities, support for maintaining authoritarian regimes and exploitation natural resources”. The relationship between the Royal United Services Institute and the UK-based Royal United Services Institute has grown since then.

“In 2018, they had around 100 men actively training Sudanese forces,” says Dr Joana De Deus Pereira from the UK. Sudanese media reported that the number grew to 500 and that they were mainly based in the south-west, near Um Dafuq and close to Sudan’s borders with the Central African Republic. According to Dr Samuel Ramani who wrote a book on Russia’s activities throughout Africa, the Wagner Group created its own media campaigns in order to keep President Bashir in power. Image source: AFP. This caused friction with the president’s security forces and Wagner switched its support to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who overthrew him.

Dr Ramani says that while the Foreign Ministry in Moscow opposed the coup, Prigozhin, and the Wagner Group, welcomed al-Burhan’s takeover. According to Dr Ramani it was between 2021 and 2022 when the Wagner Group increased their connections with the Rapid Support Forces, which is currently fighting Sudan’s regular army led by Gen Burhan. Mr Pri “Wagner had links with both General al-Burhan and Mr Hemedti in different degrees and ways,” she says. Wagner’s presence in AfricaWagner fighters are widely reported to be in the Central African Republic for several years, guarding diamond mines in the country, as well in Libya and Mali.

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Sudan fighting: Foreign nationals and diplomats evacuated

Several countries are helping their citizens leave the capital, Khartoum, following a week of fighting.

Several other countries have also started organising evacuations, starting on Sunday. France, Germany Italy and Spain have also started organising evacuations. A vicious power struggle has caused violence throughout the country. The UK government was able to airlift British diplomatic staff and their families out in a “complex” and “rapid” operation. Foreign Minister James Cleverly stated that options to evacuate remaining British nationals were “severely restricted”.

The German army reported that the first of three flights had left Sudan bound for Jordan with 101 people aboard. Italy and Spain evacuated citizens – the Spanish mission included citizens of Argentina, Colombia, Ireland Portugal, Poland Mexico, Venezuela, and Sudan. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his government had evacuated diplomatic staff. More than 150 people were evacuated to the Saudi Arabian port Jeddah by sea, including citizens from Egypt, Pakistan, and Gulf countries. Many foreign students from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East have also been trapped in Khartoum. They have made desperate calls for assistance.

The US announced on Sunday that a disaster response team will be sent to the region to “coordinate humanitarian response to those in need, both within and outside Sudan.” “Samantha Power, from the US Agency for International Development(USAID), said that the team would initially work out of Kenya and give priority to getting “life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in need.” The World Health Organization reports that the fighting has injured thousands and killed more than 400.

The death toll may be higher than 400, because people are unable to access healthcare due to the closure of most hospitals in the city. The fighting has also affected the western region of Darfur where the RSF was first formed. The UN has warned that 20,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled Sudan in search of safety in Chad across the border.