The US FDA approves the new Covid vaccine. Here’s the best time to get it.
With the summer Covid wave still rising, experts say the timing for getting vaccinated is important.
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the new COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.
It’s the third time the vaccines have been updated to match circulating strains since the original series. The shots should be available within days. The agency hasn’t yet approved a third vaccine, from drugmaker Novavax.
World’s second-largest diamond found in Botswana
August 23 2024
The second-largest diamond ever found – a rough 2,492-carat stone – has been unearthed in Botswana at a mine owned by Canadian firm Lucara Diamond.
It is the biggest find since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are in the British Crown Jewels.
The diamond was found at Karowe mine, about 500km (300 miles) north of Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.
Botswana’s government said it was the largest diamond ever discovered in the southern African state.
Ten migrants drown in river on Serbia-Bosnia border
August 23 2024
At least 10 migrants – including a mother and her baby girl – have drowned after their boat capsized while trying to cross the Drina River, which separates Serbia and Bosnia, Serbia’s Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said.
Authorities said at least 18 other migrants, including three children, arrived safely on the Bosnian side of the border on Thursday. It is unclear how many people may be missing.
Bad weather halted search efforts, with officials in both countries now planning to resume the operation on Friday morning. Parts of the river are up to 200m (656ft) wide.
Local media also reported a search was under way for a smuggler who took the migrants across the river.
Bosnia’s border police confirmed the incident took place on Thursday morning, without providing any further details.
Serbian officials also confirmed that an incident had taken place near the border town of Ljubovija, with police adding that the majority of the migrants were people from Morocco.
Serbian Interior Minister Dacic later said the “lifeless body of a baby, approximately nine months old” was discovered by members of the internal affairs ministry. “Unfortunately, this baby is the tenth victim of the boat capsizing”, he said in quotes cited by AFP news agency.
The baby “was with its mother, whose body was recovered from the river earlier”, the ministry said.
Vladan Rankic, the head of Bosnia’s water rescue team, said on Thursday a search and rescue operation had to be halted because of bad weather.
“So far we have found 10 drowned people. We do not know the exact number of people we are looking for, but the search will continue tomorrow in the early hours of the morning,” he told the Association Press Television News.
Serbia and Bosnia are among the main transit countries on the route through the Western Balkans into the European Union.
In September 2023, according to the EU’s border police organisation Frontex, the route overtook the Central Mediterranean route through Italy in numbers of irregular border crossings, with many migrants crossing through Bulgaria.
The Serbian government says over a million people from Asia and Africa have crossed into the country since the refugee crisis of 2015. More than one million migrants entered Europe that year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to government data, the majority attempting to cross into Serbia in recent months came from Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, Morocco and Pakistan.
But the number of migrants transiting through Serbia has decreased significantly over the years.
Serbian police recorded 10,389 illegal entries in the first half of 2024, which is nearly 70% less than the previous year.
Serbian officials have credited the drop to tighter cooperation with Austrian police and with Frontex.
Many migrants use smugglers to enter Serbia from Bulgaria and North Macedonia and then try to cross into EU members Hungary or Croatia.
Asia markets mostly rise as investors assess business activity data from the region and Fed minutes
August 22, 2024
Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose on Thursday, as investors digested business activity data from Australia and Japan and awaited PMI numbers from India.
The Bank of Korea has also held its benchmark interest rate at 3.5%, in line with expectations. The BOK noted in its release that inflation in South Korea has continued its downward trend, although it did point out that there was a need to monitor real estate prices and household debt.
This comes after the Federal Reserve released minutes for its July meeting, where the summary revealed that some participants made the case to ease rates at the July meeting instead of September.
However, “the vast majority” of participants at the July 30-31 meeting “observed that, if the data continued to come in about as expected, it would likely be appropriate to ease policy at the next meeting,” the summary said.
Kenyans Assured of Uninterrupted & Cheap Power Supply Amid Weather Changes
The Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (Kengen) has assured Kenyans of uninterrupted power supply from their hydroelectric stations despite the onset of the dry season.
In a press release on August 22, KenGen emphasized that its proactive water management strategy, particularly at the Seven Forks dams in Embu and Machakos counties will ensure consistent power generation.
“Kenyans can rest assured that the benefits of affordable and reliable Hydroelectric Power (HEP) will continue, even as the heavy rains that recently swept across the country begin to subside,” said KenGen.
“This initiative is part of KenGen’s commitment to securing a stable and cost-effective energy supply for the nation.”
Emphasizing the company’s commitment to effective service delivery, KenGen’s Managing Director, Eng. Peter Njenga said that optimal dam levels are being maintained so as to allow continuous power generation throughout the year.KenGen’s Managing Director, Eng. Peter Njenga. PHOTO/KenGen
KenGen’s Water Management System at the Seven Forks Dams
“As KenGen, we have taken significant steps to manage our water resources efficiently. This means that even in the dry seasons, we can continue to produce clean and affordable hydroelectric power, which remains a vital component of the national grid,” said Eng. Peter Njenga.
He explained that five dams in the Seven Forks system were currently operating at optimal levels, injecting clean energy into the national power grid.
“As of this morning, Masinga Dam, the largest in the cascade, recorded a water level of 1,056.35 meters against a maximum level of 1,056.50 meters above sea level, while Kiambere Dam, the last in the cascade, recorded 698.68 meters against a maximum of 700 meters,” he noted.
Eng. Njenga expressed confidence in the company’s ability to continue providing reliable energy, noting their water management program was a testament to their commitment to delivering clean and affordable electricity to Kenyans.
“Despite the change in weather patterns, we have positioned ourselves to ensure that hydropower remains a stable source of energy for Kenyans throughout the year,” he said.
Also, Eng. Njenga highlighted the benefits of hydroelectric power, citing its contribution to reducing carbon emissions, thereby contributing to the global fight against climate change.
“HEP is not only a cost-effective source of electricity, but it also plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions. By relying on renewable energy sources like hydro, geothermal, wind, and solar, we are contributing significantly to Kenya’s climate goals and the global fight against climate change,” he added
He also assured that the company’s proactive measures have prevented flooding in downstream communities living along the Tana River, underscoring KenGen’s commitment to energy production and community safety.
“Even during the peak rainy seasons, we were able to control the flow of water downstream, minimizing the effects of flooding and reducing the potential damage to property and loss of life.”
“This is a clear indication of our commitment not only to energy production but also to the safety and well-being of the communities around us,” said Njenga
Cult member jailed for killing two-year-old daughter
August 22 2024
Tillie Craig disappeared in 1987, sparking a decades-long search
A cult member who beat her two-year-old daughter to death over her failure to properly complete chores in Australia has been sentenced to nine years in jail.
Tillie Craig disappeared from the Ministry of God farm in 1987, sparking a decades-long search by her father, who was told she’d been adopted.
In reality, Tillie had been killed with a plastic pipe. Her remains were then allegedly burned by the sect’s leader and scattered at the commune in regional New South Wales (NSW).
Ellen Rachel Craig, 62, was charged with her daughter’s murder in 2022 after a tip-off to police. She later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
When sentencing Craig on Wednesday, Justice Natalie Adams accepted that Craig had not intended to cause serious harm to Tillie, but said calling her death a tragedy would be “a gross understatement”.
“She died at the hands of someone whose role it was to protect her,” she told the NSW Supreme Court.
According to the agreed facts read in court, children at the commune were required to do chores, regardless of their age, and were often disciplined with a piece of black pipe.
On 7 July, 1987, Tillie had been sweeping when her mother – “unhappy” with the quality of the work – beat her to death.
Craig, who was 25 at the time, later brought her daughter inside and said, “She’s stopped breathing” and “Oh no, no she’s gone”.
The court heard she laid Tillie in a bathtub and waited for the cult leader – known as Alexander Wilon or “Papa” – to return, at which point he prayed for the resurrection of the girl.
Wilon is then accused of cremating Tillie before scattering her ashes and forbidding the cult members from speaking of what happened.
He was charged with being an accessory to murder – and later over separate sexual assault allegations – but the terminally ill man has since been declared unfit to stand trial.
Craig was expelled from the cult by November 1987 and travelled to her home country of New Zealand, where she lived under several aliases until her arrest and extradition in 2021.
In a segment of a letter that was read to the court Craig apologised for her crime, claiming “something happened” to her as a mother at the farm.
“My actions were horrible, terrible, horrific.”
“I will never forgive myself for what I have done,” she wrote, adding that she wanted “justice” for her daughter and was “at peace” with her imprisonment.
Tillie’s father, Gerard Stanhope – who visited the cult several times during his desperate search for his daughter – did not know she had died until his ex-partner was arrested.
“I spent years… waking up every day with the hope in my heart that I would find her, and going to bed devastated that I was unable to do so,” Stanhope said in a victim impact statement read to the court, as reported by SMH.
“I didn’t find out until more than 30 years later that my daughter was already gone.”
Craig will be eligible for parole after six years in custody, in November 2027
Bangladesh to raise rates, says new bank chief
Bangladesh will announce a decision to raise interest rates from 8.5% to 9% in a day or two, the new central bank chief has told the BBC in an exclusive interview.
Dr Ahsan H Mansur said he will raise rates further to 10% or more in the coming months to tame inflation.
Soaring prices have been a major concern for Bangladesh, with its currency also under pressure with remittances drying up and garments exports badly impacted by political unrest.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had asked Bangladesh to tighten its monetary policy and keep exchange rates flexible while extending a $4.7bn (£3.6bn) bailout for the South Asian nation.
Dr Mansur said he was in conversation with the body to “augment” and “front load” this amount by an additional $3bn.
He said Bangladesh was also seeking an additional $1.5bn from the World Bank and $1bn each from the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Internet blackouts and curfews preceding the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime earlier this month have also put pressure on prices.
Dr Mansur, a veteran economist who spent three decades at the IMF, was named governor of Bangladesh Bank last week by the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Trump speaks behind bullet-proof glass at rally
22 August 2024
Donald Trump stood behind bullet-proof glass while he address supporters at a rally.
The former president was speaking in North Carolina, at his first outdoor rally since his attempted assassination in Pennsylvania in July.
At the rally Trump commented on how the Barack and Michelle Obama has criticised him during their speeches at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday night.
There was a heavy security presence at the rally, with protective snipers seen around the event.
Nigeria Roundup: Mpox cases, cholera cases
22 August 2024
Mpox cases
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has observed a significant decline in suspected and confirmed Mpox cases across the country, with 51 new suspected cases reported between weeks 29 to 32 of 2024. According to Nairametrics
there have been 1,125 confirmed cases and 17 deaths since 2017. The NCDC advises vigilance and measures to curb the spread of Mpox, particularly in states currently reporting cases. The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency due to a severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Cholera cases
Nigeria has seen a rise in cholera cases and deaths, with 121 new suspected cases reported in five states.
The country has recorded a total of 5,951 suspected cases and 176 deaths between January and August 2024. This surge is linked to contaminated water supply, unregulated street beverages, and open defecation. Children under 5 are the most affected group. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has called for a unified effort to combat the outbreak
Canadian freight railroads shut down, dealing a potential blow to North America’s economy
Thu August 22, 2024
A locomotive moves rail cars at the Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail yard in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.
Canada’s two major freight railroads have shut their operations, according to management of the two companies, locking out 9,000 members of the Teamsters union who operate the trains and dealing a potential blow to both the Canadian and US economies.
Nearly a third of the freight handled by the two railroads — Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern (CPKC) — crosses the US-Canadian border, and the shutdown could disrupt operations in a number of US industries, including lasts.
“CPKC is acting to protect Canada’s supply chains, and all stakeholders, from further uncertainty and the more widespread disruption that would be created should this dispute drag out further resulting in a potential work stoppage occurring during the fall peak shipping period,” the company said in a Thursday statement shortly after the start of the lockout at 12:01 am ET. “Delaying resolution to this labor dispute will only make things worse.”
The shutdown would drive home how closely linked the two nations’ economies are, with many industries depending on the free movement of goods across the border for their efficient operations.
For example, some US auto plants could temporarily shut down if they’re unable to get engines, transmissions or stampings done at Canadian plants. US farmers might find shortages of fertilizer and US water treatment plants near the Canadian border could run of out chlorine they use to purify water.
This is the first time that both major Canadian railroads have shut down at the same time due to a labor dispute. The most recent work stoppage in the industry was a 60-hour strike at Canadian Pacific in 2022. Before that, there was a nine-day strike at Canadian National in 2019.
Thursday’s action is different from a strike, in which the members of the union refuse to report for work. In this case, management is the one telling the nearly 9,000 union members that they can’t work.
CPKC spokesperson Patrick Waldron said it was better to stop operations now and reach a conclusion, rather than having the union go on strike later this fall.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, said in a statement early Thursday.
But the railroads deny that the changes they are seeking would increase safety risks, saying all proposals provide greater safety protections than required by recently strengthened Canadian regulations.
The companies said it is the union’s fault that there could not be an agreement reached before the deadline. They both called on the government to step in and refer the dispute to binding arbitration, which it has thus far refused to do.
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