Covid vaccine boomerang: Experts in US warn of risks of booster vaccines fuelling surge in Omicron infections
As scientists and mainstream media sounded the alarm this week about a new Covid-19 variant sweeping through the Northeast, in the United States, the author of an opinion in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggested Covid-19 vaccines could be fuelling new variants. In her January 1 opinion piece, Allysia Finley...
American mother, daughter who own a funeral home jailed for 20 years for dissecting and selling 570 body parts
A funeral home operator accused of illegally dissecting 569 bodies and selling their parts has been sentenced to 20 years in jail. Megan Hess, 46, ran the business, Sunset Mesa – and the body parts entity Donor Services – from the same building in Montrose, Colorado, in the United States....
Biden hosts African leaders to counter growing Chinese, Russian influence as he prepares to visit the continent
Leaders from 49 African countries will convene in Washington today for the US-Africa Leaders Summit, as US President Joe Biden attempts to signal his commitment to a region that has been expanding ties with US rivals. As the summit kicks off, expect three days of group meetings and themed forums...
Over 48,000 academics at University of California strike for higher pay, protection against harassment
Research has ground to a halt across the University of California (UC) as tens of thousands of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and non-faculty academic staff members went on strike. Since November 14, around 48,000 academic workers across UC – which has 10 campuses and nearly 300,000 students — have stopped...
How Trump administration, CIA plotted to kidnap and assassinate journalist Julian Assange
CIA officials under the Trump administration plotted to kidnap and assassinate journalist and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange when he was hiding at Ecuador’s embassy in London, a new report has revealed. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reports that, the plans, if true, would mean no journalist or source is...
White supremacism: Taliban success in Afghanistan is a model for Americans who believe in civil war in the US
As the United States-backed government in Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and US troops raced to leave the country, White supremacist and anti-government extremists have expressed admiration for what the Taliban accomplished, a worrying development for US officials who have been grappling with the threat of domestic violent extremism. That...
It’s hurray and gunfire celebration for Taliban Islamists as last American soldiers leave Afghanistan
Celebratory gunfire resounded across the Afghan capital on Tuesday as the Taliban took control of the airport following the withdrawal of the last US troops, marking the end of a 20-year war that left the Islamist group stronger than it was in 2001. Shaky video footage distributed by the Taliban...
US gun violence: Counselling ties high suicide incidence to easy firearm access in homes
The risk of death by suicide in the United States is higher when guns are easily accessible in a home, research finds. However, keeping firearms unloaded and locked away in homes resulted in a decreased suicide and homicide incidence in the past five years, according to the findings. This was...
Biden’s defence: We gave Afghans a chance to shape their future, but they lacked the will to fight for it
US President Joe Biden said he stands “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan in remarks prompted by the rapid takeover of the country by Taliban forces in recent days. Speaking to reporters assembled in the East Room at the White House, Biden set out the strategic...
How overmedication may lead to 150,000 premature deaths, 4.6m inpatients and cost US taxpayer $62 billion
When the risk of the medications outweighs their potential benefits, patients are in danger of significant health consequences. Every day, 750 older adults are hospitalised due to serious side-effects from their medications, including falls, allergic reactions and internal bleeding. With each additional medication prescribed, the risk of an adverse reaction...
