Trial To Resume For Cops Accused Of Violating Floyd's Rights

 

An image of George Floyd is projected on a screen in front of the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue on July 28, 2020, in Richmond, Virginia, US (AP)

Evidence about Minneapolis Police Department policies and training is expected to be the focus as testimony resumes for a second week in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights.

Federal prosecutors say former officers J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao didn't follow their training when they failed to act to save Floyd's life on May 25, 2020, as fellow officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the Black man's neck for 9 1/2 minutes while Floyd was handcuffed, face down and gasping for air.

Kueng knelt on Floyd's back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders back.

Inspector Katie Blackwell, the police department's former head of training, is expected to be back on the witness stand on Monday.

Blackwell began her testimony last week, saying that officers are instructed that they have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer is using unreasonable force. She said officers are taught to use the least amount of force necessary and to stop once the person is no longer resisting.

They also must render any necessary medical aid until medical personnel arrive to make sure that we do everything we can to save a person's life.

She said Kueng, Lane and Thao acted in a way that was inconsistent with department policies.

But Kueng's attorney, Thomas Plunkett, suggested the department failed the officers. Plunkett said when officers are trained in use-of-force scenarios, intervention is not taught.

"There's no intervention scenario, isn't that correct?" Plunkett said.

"Not one exactly for intervention," Blackwell said.

Blackwell also agreed that recruits are told that they should never argue with an instructor. Lane and Keung were rookies, while Chauvin was the most senior of the four officers at the scene that day.

Blackwell spent hours talking about policy and training. She said Thao took repeated refresher courses on use-of-force policies, including as recently as 2018 and 2019, and that Lane and Kueng had repeated lessons on the same subjects while attending the academy in 2019.

Officers had responded to a 911 call about Floyd, 46, trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner store. Bystander cellphone video of the killing triggered worldwide protests and a re-examination of racism and policing. 

Kueng, who is Black, Lane, who is white, and Thao, who is Hmong American, are charged with willfully depriving Floyd of his constitutional rights while acting under government authority.

One count against all three officers alleges that they saw that Floyd needed medical care and failed to help. A count against Thao and Kueng contends that they didn't intervene to stop Chauvin. Both counts allege that the officers' actions resulted in Floyd's death.

Prosecutors have argued that the willful standard can be met by showing blatantly wrongful conduct that deprived Floyd of his rights.

Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in state court last year and pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge. Lane, Kueng and Thao also face a separate state trial in June on charges alleging that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter. 

Hindu-Muslim Polarisation Won’t Work In UP Polls: Rakesh Tikait

 

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait (Facebook)

Voters in Uttar Pradesh would favour only those talking about the welfare of farmers and polarisation on religious lines would not benefit those indulging in it, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has said.

He claimed farmers were going through "troubled times" in Uttar Pradesh as they were getting less value for their produce and were forced to pay "exorbitant" electricity bills.

"The (election) issues are farmers, unemployed youth and inflation for the middle class. But efforts are being made to polarise Hindu-Muslim voters through regular statements on Jinnah and Pakistan. But, this will not work out for those doing it and will instead harm them," Tikait told PTI in an interview on Friday.

He, however, did not name any party or individual.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hit out at the Samajwadi Party and its president Akhilesh Yadav, calling them supporters of Pakistan and "worshippers of Jinnah".

Adityanath's remark ostensibly refers to the SP president's recent statements on Pakistan and its founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Asked if he would campaign against the BJP, the Bharatiya Kisan Union leader, who was a prominent face of the year-long stir against the three farm laws at Delhi borders, said he had no such plans.

"I am not a politician, I stay away from political parties. I only talk about the issues of farmers and urge people to question their leaders. I will continue to raise the issue of farmers,” he said.

"In Uttar Pradesh, farmers are going through troubled times. Not only do farmers here get less value for their produce, but they are also forced to pay exorbitant rates of electricity," he added.

Refusing to predict the winner of the upcoming polls, Tikait claimed farmers were not happy with the present dispensation and this will reflect in the results.

"I cannot comment on where the election is headed or which party will come out victorious. However, the farmers I meet are not happy with the current state of affairs. What further troubles them is that their children have no avenues of employment. I think the farmers and locals will keep these things in mind when they vote," he said.

The politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh will witness seven-phase voting starting February 10. The results will be declared on March 10 along with other poll-bound states of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur.

Tikait also urged people to keep an eye on the activities of the district magistrates and superintendents of police during counting of votes in the state as "these officers may favour the government in power."

Asked how the BJP would perform in western Uttar Pradesh after the RLD-SP alliance, Tikait said, "I think voters will favour those who are not against farmers. They will support those who are not polarising Hindu and Muslim voters. People will favour those who talk about their issues and not only about Pakistan and Jinnah".

Tikait, who hails from Muzaffarnagar district of western UP, said he was pursuing the Lakhimpur Kheri case in which eight people, including four farmers, died on October 3.

The farmers were allegedly mowed down by a vehicle carrying BJP workers. The other four victims included two BJP workers, allegedly lynched by angry protesters.

Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish is the main accused in the case and is currently in jail.

"I have come to Lucknow to discuss some issues related to the case with senior officials. The local farmers and family members of the farmers killed in the violence have made it clear that justice will be done only after law will take its course against minister of state Ajay Mishra Teni. Police have not yet made him an accused in the case," Tikait said.

FB Parent Meta Creates Powerful AI Supercomputer

 

Facebook’s parent company Meta on Monday said it has created what it believes is among the fastest artificial intelligence supercomputers running today.

The social media giant said it hopes the machine will help lay the groundwork for its building of the metaverse, a virtual reality construct intended to supplant the internet as we know it today.

Facebook said it believes the computer will be the fastest in the world once it is fully built around the middle of the year.

Supercomputers are extremely fast and powerful machines built to do complex calculations not possible with a regular home computer. Meta did not disclose where the computer is located or how much it is costing to build.

The computer, which is already up and running but is still being built, is called AI Research SuperCluster. Meta says it will help its AI researchers build “new and better” artificial intelligence models that can learn from “trillions” of examples and work across hundreds of different languages simultaneously and analyze text, images and video together.

The way Meta is defining the power of its computer is different from how conventional and more technically powerful supercomputers are measured because it relies on the performance of graphics-processing chips, which are useful for running “deep learning” algorithms that can understand what’s in an image, analyze text and translate between languages, said Tuomas Sandholm, a computer science professor and co-director of the AI center at Carnegie Mellon University.

“We hope RSC will help us build entirely new AI systems that can, for example, power real-time voice translations to large groups of people, each speaking a different language, so they can seamlessly collaborate on a research project or play an AR game together,” Meta said in a blog post.

The company said its supercomputer will incorporate “real-world examples” from its own systems into training its AI. It says its previous efforts used only open-source and other publicly available data sets.

“They are going to, for the first time, put their customer data on their AI research computer,” Sandholm said. “That would be a really big change to give AI researchers and algorithms access to all that data.”

(AP)

China Demands US Halt Olympics 'Interference'

 

The athletes' village at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, China (Reuters)

China is demanding the US end “interference” in the Beijing Winter Olympics, which begin next week, in an apparent reference to a diplomatic boycott imposed by Washington and some of its allies.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the demand in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday Beijing time, according to a news release posted on the Foreign Ministry's website.

The US has said it will not send dignitaries to the Games, which open Feb. 4, in a protest over China's detention of an estimated 1 million or more Uyghur and other Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, along with crackdowns on human rights elsewhere in the country.

The boycott does not prevent U.S. athletes from taking part in the Games, which are being held under strict anti-pandemic restrictions. China has also protested what it says are calls within the State Department to withdraw staff and their dependents from the embassy and consulates around China over the tightening of rules.

The news release said Wang also called for an end to U.S. support for self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. Wang also complained that the U.S. hasn't altered tough political and economic policies toward China under the administration of President Joe Biden, despite its expressed wishes for a less confrontational relationship. 

A brief statement from the State Department said that Blinken and Wang exchanged views on how to manage strategic risk, health security and climate change. It did not mention the Olympics or Taiwan. Blinken underscored the economic and security risks posed by Russian aggression against Ukraine, the statement said. The phone call follows the appointment of veteran diplomat Nicholas Burns as the new U.S. ambassador to China, a position that has remained empty for more than a year.

 

Air India Likely To Be Handed Over To Tata This Weekend

 

Representational Image

Air India is likely to be handed over to the Tata group by the end of this week, senior government officials said on Monday.

After a competitive bidding process, the government had on October 8 last year sold Air India to Talace Private Limited — a subsidiary of the Tata group's holding company — for Rs 18,000 crore.

Following that, on October 11, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was issued to the Tata group confirming the government's willingness to sell its 100 per cent stake in the airline. On October 25, the Centre signed the share purchase agreement (SPA) for this deal.

Officials said on Monday that the remaining formalities regarding this deal are expected to be completed in the next few days, and the airline will be handed over to the Tata group by the end of this week.

As a part of the deal, the Tata group will also be given Air India Express and a 50 per cent stake in ground handling arm Air India SATS.

Tatas had on October 8 beat the Rs 15,100 crore offer by a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100 per cent stake in the loss-making carrier.

While this will be the first privatisation since 2003-04, Air India will be the third airline brand in the Tatas' stable — it holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines Ltd. 

Taliban Hold First Talks In Europe Since Afghan Takeover

 

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (Reuters)

The Taliban and western diplomats have began their first official talks in Europe since they took over control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

The closed-door meetings were taking place at a hotel in the snow-capped mountains above the Norwegian capital.

Taliban representatives will be certain to press their demand that nearly USD 10 billion frozen by the United States and other Western countries be released as Afghanistan faces a precarious humanitarian situation.

“We are requesting them to unfreeze Afghan assets and not punish ordinary Afghans because of the political discourse,” said Taliban delegate Shafiullah Azam on Sunday night.

“Because of the starvation, because of the deadly winter, I think it's time for the international community to support Afghans, not punish them because of their political disputes.” Ahead of the talks, western diplomats met with Afghan women's rights activists and human rights defenders to hear from civil society in Afghanistan and the Afghan diaspora about their demands and assessment of the current situation on the ground.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the EU, the US, Britain, France, Italy and hosts Norway. The three-day talks opened on Sunday with direct meetings between the Taliban and civil society representatives. A joint statement tweeted overnight by Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan deputy culture and information minister, following the talks reads that “participants of the meeting recognized that understanding and joint cooperation are the only solutions to all the problems of Afghanistan,” and emphasized that “all Afghans need to work together for better political, economic and security outcomes in the country.”

The United Nations has managed to provide some liquidity and allowed the Taliban administration to pay for imports, including electricity. But the UN has warned that as many as 1 million Afghan children are in danger of starving and most of the country's 38 million people are living below the poverty line.

Faced with the Taliban's request for funds, Western powers are likely to put the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan high on their agenda, along with the West's recurring demand for the Taliban administration to share power with Afghanistan's minority ethnic and religious groups.

Since sweeping to power in mid-August, the Taliban have imposed widespread restrictions, many of them directed at women. Women have been banned from many jobs outside the health and education fields, their access to education has been restricted beyond sixth grade and they have been ordered to wear the hijab. The Taliban have, however, stopped short of imposing the burqa, which was compulsory when they previously ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s.

The Taliban have increasingly targeted Afghanistan's beleaguered rights groups, as well as journalists, detaining and sometimes beating television crews covering demonstrations.

A U.S. delegation, led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West, plans to discuss “the formation of a representative political system; responses to the urgent humanitarian and economic crises; security and counterterrorism concerns; and human rights, especially education for girls and women,” according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department.

The Scandinavian country, home to the Nobel Peace Prize, is no stranger to diplomacy. It has been involved in peace efforts in a number of countries, including Mozambique, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Colombia, the Philippines, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Myanmar, Somalia, Sri Lanka and South Sudan.

Zen Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh Dies At 95

 

Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh at the opening ceremony of a requiem mass at the Non Nuoc pagoda in Soc Son mountain, Vietnam (Reuters)

Thich Nhat Hanh, the revered Zen Buddhist monk who helped spread the practice of mindfulness in the West and socially engaged Buddhism in the East, has died. He was 95.

The death was confirmed by a monk at Tu Hieu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam, who said that Nhat Hanh, known as Thay to his followers, died at midnight on Saturday. The monk declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak to media.

A post on Nhat Hanh's verified Twitter page attributed to The International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism also confirmed the news, saying, "We invite our beloved global spiritual family to take a few moments to be still, to come back to our mindful breathing, as we together hold Thay in our hearts." 

Born as Nguyen Xuan Bao in 1926 in Hue and ordained at age 16, Nhat Hanh distilled Buddhist teachings on compassion and suffering into easily grasped guidance over a lifetime dedicated to working for peace. 

In 1961 he went to the United States to study, teaching comparative religion for a time at Princeton and Columbia universities.

For most of the remainder of his life, he lived in exile at Plum Village, a retreat center he founded in southern France. 

There and in talks and retreats around the world, he introduced Zen Buddhism, at its essence, as peace through compassionate listening. 

Still and steadfast in his brown robes, he exuded an air of watchful, amused calm, sometimes sharing a stage with the somewhat livelier Tibetan Buddhist leader Dalai Lama.

"The peace we seek cannot be our personal possession. We need to find an inner peace which makes it possible for us to become one with those who suffer, and to do something to help our brothers and sisters, which is to say, ourselves," Nhat Hanh wrote in one of his dozens of books, The Sun My Heart. 

The Dalai Lama said he was saddened by the death of his friend and spiritual brother. 

In his peaceful opposition to the Vietnam War, his support for Martin Luther King and most of all, his dedication to sharing with others not only how mindfulness and compassion contribute to inner peace, but also how individuals cultivating peace of mind contribute to genuine world peace, the Venerable lived a truly meaningful life.

Surviving a stroke in 2014 that left him unable to speak, he returned to Vietnam in October 2018, spending his final years at the Tu Hieu Pagoda, the monastery where he was ordained nearly 80 years earlier.

Nhat Hanh plunged into anti-war activism after his return to his homeland in 1964 as the Vietnam War was escalating. There, he founded the Order of Inter-being, which espouses engaged Buddhism dedicated to non-violence, mindfulness and social service.

In 1966, he met the US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in what was a remarkable encounter for both. Nhat Hanh told King he was a Bodhisattva, or enlightened being, for his efforts to promote social justice. 

The monk's efforts to promote reconciliation between the U.S.-backed South and communist North Vietnam so impressed King that a year later he nominated Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

In his exchanges with King, Nhat Hanh explained one of the rare controversies in his long life of advocating for peace over the immolations of some Vietnamese monks and nuns to protest the war. 

"I said this was not suicide, because in a difficult situation like Vietnam, to make your voice heard is difficult. So sometimes we have to burn ourselves alive in order for our voice to be heard, so that is an act of compassion that you do that, the act of love and not of despair," he said in an interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey. 

Jesus Christ died in the same spirit. 

Sulak Sivaraksa, a Thai academic who embraced Nhat Hanh's idea of socially engaged Buddhism, said the Zen master had suffered more than most monks and had been involved more for social justice. 

"In Vietnam in the 1950s and 1960s, he was very exposed to young people, and his society was in turmoil, in crisis. He was really in a difficult position, between the devil and the deep blue sea -- the Communists on the one hand, the CIA on the other hand. In such a situation, he has been very honest as an activist, as a contemplative monk, as a poet, and as a clear writer," Sivaraksa was quoted as saying. 

According to Nhat Hanh, Buddhism means to be awake and mindful of what is happening in one's body, feelings, mind and in the world. If you are awake, you cannot do otherwise than act compassionately to help relieve the suffering you see around you. So Buddhism must be engaged in the world. If it is not engaged, it is not Buddhism. 

Both North and South Vietnam barred Nhat Hanh from returning home after he went abroad in 1966 to campaign against the war, leaving him, he said, like a bee without a beehive. 

He was only allowed back into the country in 2005, when the communist-ruled government welcomed him back in the first of several visits. Nhat Hanh remained based in southern France.

The dramatic homecoming seemed to signal an easing of controls on religion. 

Nhat Hanh's followers were invited by the abbot of Bat Nha to settle at his mountain monastery, where they remained for several years until relations with the authorities began to sour over Nhat Hanh's calls for an end to government control over religion.

By late 2009 to early 2010, Nhat Hanh's followers were evicted from the monastery and from another temple where they had taken refuge. 

Over nearly eight decades, Nhat Hanh's teachings were refined into concepts accessible to all.

To weather the storms of life and realize happiness, he counseled always a mindful return to the breath, even while doing routine chores like sweeping and washing dishes.

"I try to live every moment like that, relaxed, dwelling peacefully in the present moment and respond to events with compassion," he told Winfrey. 

Nhat Hanh moved to Thailand in late 2016 and then returned to Vietnam in late 2018, where he was receiving traditional medicine treatments for the after-effects of his stroke and enjoyed strolls around the temple grounds in his wheelchair, according to the Buddhist online newsletter LionsRoar.com.

It was a quiet, simple end to an extraordinary life, one entirely in keeping with his love for taking joy from the humblest aspects of life. "No mud, no lotus," says one of his many brief sayings.

Unlikely That Foreign Power Is Behind 'Havana Syndrome' Cases: CIA

 

The CIA believes it is unlikely that Russia or another foreign adversary is using microwaves or other forms of directed energy to attack hundreds of US officials who attribute symptoms associated with brain injuries to what's come to be known as the 'Havana Syndrome'.

The agency's findings, according to one official familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence, drew immediate criticism from those who have reported cases and from advocates who accuse the government of long dismissing the array of ailments.

Investigators have studied hundreds of cases reported globally by US intelligence officers, diplomats, and military personnel and whether the injuries are caused by exposure to forms of directed energy. People affected have reported headaches, dizziness, nausea and other symptoms consistent with traumatic brain injuries.

Most cases under review by intelligence officers have been linked to other known medical conditions or to environmental factors, the official said, adding that in some cases, medical exams have revealed undiagnosed brain tumours or bacterial infections.

A few dozen cases are unresolved and remain under active investigation, the official said. The involvement of a foreign adversary has not been ruled out in those cases.

In a statement, CIA Director William Burns said the agency's commitment to its officers' health was unwavering.

“While we have reached some significant interim findings, we are not done,” Burns said. “We will continue the mission to investigate these incidents and provide access to world-class care for those who need it.”

Mark Zaid, a Washington lawyer representing intelligence officers who have reported cases, asserted that the CIA is having a revolt within its workforce among people who do not want to take overseas assignments for fear of being attacked.

Of the findings, Zaid tweeted, “Too bad this is contradicted by classified information that CIA won't release.” Zaid did not immediately respond to a message seeking further comment.

Havana Syndrome cases date to a series of reported brain injuries in 2016 at the US Embassy in Cuba. Incidents have been reported by diplomats, intelligence officers and military personnel in the Washington area and at global postings. Russia has long been suspected by some intelligence officers of using directed-energy devices to attack US personnel.

Democrats and Republicans have pressed President Joe Biden's administration to determine who and what might be responsible and to improve treatment for victims. Biden last year signed a bill intended to provide better medical care for victims. The State Department also appointed a new coordinator for its review into cases after victims criticised the previous coordinator.

At a news conference on Thursday in Berlin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that after meeting with people who had reported cases, “there is no doubt in my mind that they have had real experiences, real symptoms and real suffering. We are going to continue to do everything we can, with all the resources we can bring to bear, to understand, again, what happened, why, and who might be responsible... And we are leaving no stone unturned.”

 

Pak Woman Sentenced To Death For 'Blasphemous' WhatsApp Messages

 

Representational Image

A Pakistani court on Wednesday sentenced to death a woman for sending 'blasphemous messages' to her estranged friend.

Anika Attique was convicted by a court in Rawalpindi on the complaint of Farooq Hassanat, who had filed a case against her in 2020. She was charged with committing blasphemy against the prophet, insulting Islam and violating the cybercrime laws.

As per the details of the case, Anika and Farooq were friends but differences erupted between the two and an extremely angry Anika WhatsApped him ‘blasphemous’ messages.

He asked her to delete the messages and say sorry for her action, but she refused. Consequently, Farooq filed a complaint against her with the cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which after an initial probe, filed the case and arrested her for probe and prosecution.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws were enacted by former military dictator Zia-ul Haq in the 1980s. Nobody has been executed under these laws, but several people have been killed on mere suspicion of committing blasphemy.

Last year, a Sri Lankan man working as a manager in a factory in Sialkot city was lynched by a mob after he was accused of blasphemy.

 

Opinion: Net Zero A Remote Prospect For Unsettled Kazakhstan

Cars queue at a filling station in Almaty on 9 January 2022. A rise in the price of liquefied petroleum gas used for vehicles sparked unrest in Kazakhstan in the first week of January (Image: Valery Sharifulin/Alamy Live News)

 

In December 2020, during the Climate Ambition Summit, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced Kazakhstan would reach net-zero emissions by 2060. 

The pledge of a long-term contribution on climate change and the implementation of the Paris Agreement is not unique. Many states have pledged to do the same by 2050 or 2060. What matters now is how countries will reach these targets. Monitoring their progress requires consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in five sectors: energy, industrial processes, waste management, agriculture, and forests and land use. It is impossible to stop emissions in all these sectors at the moment.

Even if all heat and energy production came from renewable sources and electric cars replaced all conventional automobiles, this would only remove greenhouse gas emissions in one sector. It is unrealistic, for example, to expect to eliminate emissions of methane from cows and rice production, nitrous oxide from fertiliser use, greenhouse gas emissions from waste. 

In any scenario, each country must make it to zero emissions for those sources for which it is possible and offset greenhouse gas emissions when it is unlikely they can be avoided. The second can be done by carbon sequestration, such as expanding forested areas or carbon capture and storage (which involves high upfront costs and investment).

The energy sector can, in theory, reach net zero

Kazakhstan emits 365 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, approximately 0.6% of the global total. Meanwhile, per capita greenhouse gas emissions are among the highest in the world, and are roughly equal to Australia, Canada and the US.

In September 2021, the Kazakh authorities presented a draft “net-zero carbon emissions by 2060” strategy. This outlines plans to reduce emissions to 230 million tons of CO2 equivalent a year by 2030 and 10 million tons by 2060. Implementing the plan requires total investment of about USD 666.5 billion. The draft strategy has yet to be publicly debated and officially approved. However, it will provide a platform for the public discussion of the country’s long-term climate pledge.

Coal is the source of nearly half of Kazakhstan’s greenhouse gas emissions. The share of renewable energy sources is gradually increasing, but today stands at only 3% of total production. The pace of transition to renewable energy sources lags far behind what is required for the pledged 100% by 2060. A transition to net-zero emissions in Kazakhstan’s energy sector is considered achievable from a technological perspective. Thus, it is necessary to completely switch to renewable sources in the production of heat and electricity, halt the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, and use electric or hydrogen-fuelled transportation. It may take 15-20 years for renewables to be integrated into every household and public parking lot. Similarly, Kazakhstan needs to stop the production, import and sale of petrol or gas-powered automobiles no later than 2045.

Ambition and pathway to net zero in Kazakhstan do not match up

An analysis of the country’s strategies and the narrative in the mass media suggests the government is ill-prepared to implement the transition. The country has a long-term goal for the share of renewable sources to reach 50% by 2050, the final year by which the coal industry is expected to be in operation. This timeframe does not correspond with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions in Kazakhstan by 2060 and should be shifted to an earlier date.

At COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021, many countries adopted a declaration on accelerating the transition to 100% zero-emission cars and vans. This sets a goal for national governments to sell only zero-emissions new cars and vans by 2040. However, along with China, Russia and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan opted not to join this initiative. Current trends indicate that these developing countries will experience carbon leakage from the developed world through the transfer of its outdated technologies for the production of cars and vans. Therefore, it is doubtful that investments in mass production of such vehicles will be made in Kazakhstan.

Moreover, many of the Kazakh government’s existing initiatives and plans do not allow net-zero emissions in the energy sector to be achieved by 2060. The planned investment in the incineration of solid municipal waste in the country’s six cities is one example. Annually, up to 5 million tons of solid municipal waste is generated in Kazakhstan; incinerating this will result in the emission of 3.5-6 million tons of CO2. More than 100 million tons of municipal solid waste have accumulated in landfills. If this waste is incinerated, the annual greenhouse gas emissions from the use of waste-to-energy technology may reach 10 million tons annually by 2060, and the bulk of emissions from the waste management sector would go to the energy sector.

Additionally, agricultural and industrial processes release 37 million tons of CO2e and 21.7 million tons in CO2e, respectively. The country’s current economic plan aims to significantly increase production in agriculture and the production of cement and other construction materials, releasing significant greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, no available technologies will reduce them completely.

The limits of offsetting

The draft of the 2060 net-zero strategy proposes to negate greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture with carbon sequestration in land use and forestry. But in Kazakhstan, land use and forestry is still a source of emissions, contributing 9.6 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually. Other, currently unavoidable, industrial greenhouse gas emissions, such as those from cement, glass, aluminium and steel, are expected to be offset through investments in carbon capture and storage. The lack of detail on these technologies in the strategy leads to the conclusion that this is an attempt to fit the data to the final goal. Large-scale planting of green spaces is an ambitious task for a country facing the impacts of increasing aridity and water scarcity for irrigating crops.

With regard to offsetting emissions through carbon capture and storage, the most optimistic estimates show that it will need to negate tens of millions of tons of CO2 annually. At a cost of USD 70-100 per ton of carbon captured and stored, the desired offset would require billions of dollars annually. In the draft of the “net-zero emissions by 2060” strategy, the necessary carbon capture and storage investments are given at around USD 37.5 billion. The real figure is expected to be much higher, and it is unrealistic that such funds will be invested in Kazakhstan.

This explains why we should not expect the net-zero emissions goal to be completed by 2060. At current rates of progress, the target doesn’t seem on track in the energy sector alone. There are also unavoidable emissions from agriculture, industry and waste, and offsetting those sectors is a challenge even for developed countries. The goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 looks more like a manifestation of solidarity with the international community and a promise to strive to be better than we are now. Therefore, it’s likely to become a game-changer when we purposefully and consistently move towards it and not postpone it for tomorrow. (TheThirdPole)

 

 

Concerned About Efforts To Exclude Afghan Women From Public: UN

 

These concerns are exacerbated in the cases of women from “ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities such as the Hazara, Tajik, Hindu and other communities, whose differences or visibility make them even more vulnerable in Afghanistan” (Reuters)

UN human rights experts have voiced grave concern over attempts by the Taliban in Afghanistan to steadily erase women and girls from public life, saying women from ethnic and religious minorities such as the Hazara, Tajik, Hindu and other communities are even more vulnerable in the war-torn country.

“We are concerned about the continuous and systematic efforts to exclude women from the social, economic, and political spheres across the country,” more than 35 independent UN human rights experts said on Monday.

They said these concerns are exacerbated in the cases of women from "ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities such as the Hazara, Tajik, Hindu and other communities, whose differences or visibility make them even more vulnerable in Afghanistan."

“Today, we are witnessing the attempt to steadily erase women and girls from public life in Afghanistan, including in institutions and mechanisms that had been previously set up to assist and protect those women and girls who are most at risk,” the experts said, making a reference to the closure of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the physical occupation of the premises of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

The experts said they are also extremely disturbed by reports of extra-judicial killings and forced displacement of ethnic and religious minorities, such as the Hazara, which would “suggest deliberate efforts to target, ban, and even eliminate them from the country.”

The group said Taliban leaders in Afghanistan are institutionalising large-scale and systematic gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls.

The experts reiterated their alarm expressed since August 2021, when the Taliban took over the country, at a series of restrictive measures that have been introduced since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, particularly those concerning women and girls.

“Taken together, these policies constitute a collective punishment of women and girls, grounded on gender-based bias and harmful practices,” the experts said.

The experts also noted the increased risk of exploitation of women and girls, including of trafficking for the purposes of child and forced marriage as well as sexual exploitation and forced labour.

The experts voiced concern that these exclusionary and discriminatory policies are being enforced through a wave of measures such as barring women from returning to their jobs, requiring a male relative to accompany them in public spaces, prohibiting women from using public transport on their own, as well as imposing a strict dress code on women and girls.

“In addition to severely limiting their freedom of movement, expression and association, and their participation in public and political affairs, these policies have also affected the ability of women to work and to make a living, pushing them further into poverty,” the experts said.

Further, the experts said the continued denial of the fundamental right of women and girls to secondary and tertiary education, on the premise that women and men have to be segregated and those female students abide by a specific dress code is gravely concerning.

Other efforts aimed at dismantling systems designed to prevent and respond to gender-based violence have included discontinuing specialised courts and prosecution units responsible for enforcing the 2009 Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and preventing many women aid and social workers from being able to fully perform their jobs and assist other women and girls.

While these measures have affected women and girls of all spheres of life, the experts highlighted their particular concerns for women human rights defenders, women civil society activists and leaders, women judges and prosecutors, women in the security forces, women that were former government employees, and women journalists, all of whom have been considerably exposed to harassment, threats of violence and sometimes violence, and for whom civic space had been severely eroded, the experts said.

“We are also deeply troubled by the harsh manner with which the de facto authorities have responded to Afghan women and girls claiming their fundamental rights, with reports of peaceful protesters having been often beaten, ill-treated, threatened, and in confirmed instances detained arbitrarily,” the experts said.

The experts reiterated their call to the international community to step up urgently needed humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people, and the realisation of their right to recovery and development. The financial and humanitarian crisis has been particularly devastating for groups in situations of heightened vulnerability within the Afghan population, particularly women, children, minorities and female-headed households.

At the same time, the international community must continue to hold the de facto authorities accountable for continuous violations of the rights of half of the Afghan society and to ensure that restrictions on women's and girl’s fundamental rights are immediately removed.

“Any humanitarian response, recovery or development efforts in the country are condemned to failure if female staff, women-led organisations, and women in general -- particularly those from minority communities -- continue to be excluded from full participation in the needs assessments as well as in the decision-making, design, implementation, and monitoring of these interventions,” the experts said.

C'garh: Jersey Cow Gives Birth To Calf With Three Eyes

The calf has an additional eye in the middle of her forehead and also four holes in the nostril. Its tail looks like a ‘jata’ (heap of matted hair) and its tongue is also longer than normal calves

 

A farmer’s jersey cow has given birth to a rare calf with three eyes and four nostril holes in a village in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon.

As word spreads, a large number of people are queuing up at the farmer’s house to worship the calf, calling it an “incarnation of God”.

The female calf was born to a cow owned by the farmer, Hemant Chandel, a resident of Nawagaon Lodhi village, on January 13.

The calf has an additional eye in the middle of her forehead and also four holes in the nostril. Its tail looks like a ‘jata’ (heap of matted hair) and its tongue is also longer than normal calves, Chandel told PTI over the phone.

Citing a veterinarian, the farmer said the health condition of the calf is good.

“However, due to its long tongue, the calf is facing difficulties in drinking milk from the cow. We are helping in feeding her,” he added.

Chandel said that his cow of HF jersey breed had earlier given birth to three calves but all were born with normal anatomy.

“The latest calf born with the rare anatomy has surprised everyone. We believe that the Almighty has taken birth in our house,” he added.

As the news about this rare calf spread, residents of nearby villages and towns have started visiting Chandel’s house to worship it as an avatar of Lord Shiva.

People are seen queuing up outside Chandel’s house and offering flowers and coconut to the calf.

However, a veterinary doctor said such cases happen due to abnormal growth of the embryo and it is not a supernatural thing.

"It should not be considered a miracle. Such things happen due to the abnormal development of the embryo. Generally, such calves are weak in health," said Kamlesh Chaudhary, a private veterinary practitioner.

Dr Dinesah Mishra, who heads the Raipur-based Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, said that such cases happen due to congenital (by birth) anomalies.

“People should not link such incidents with faith or superstition. In many incidents, it has been seen that people, particularly from rural areas, worship such animals with deformities due to the lack of awareness," he added. "(it needs) to be explained scientifically (to people) about such deformities in animals so that they can properly take care of their livestock."

WHO Chief Accused Of Misconduct By His Country

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Reuters)

 

The government of Ethiopia has sent a letter to the World Health Organization, accusing its Ethiopian director-general of misconduct, after his sharp criticism of the war and humanitarian crisis in the country.

Ethiopia nominated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to be the head of the UN health agency four years ago, but says he has not lived up to the integrity and professional expectations required from his office, accusing him of interfering in Ethiopia's internal affairs, according to a  press release issued late on Thursday. 

"Through his acts, (Tedros) spread harmful misinformation and compromised WHO's reputation, independence and credibility," Ethiopia's ministry of foreign affairs said. 

WHO had no immediate response to the claims. 

Tedros, an ethnic Tigrayan, has repeatedly deplored the situation in his home country and called for humanitarian access to the conflict-ridden region of Ethiopia. 

"Nowhere in the world are we witnessing hell like Tigray," said Tedros at a media briefing on Wednesday. 

He cited a missive WHO had received recently from a physician in the region, who said health authorities had run out of basic medicines for diseases, including diabetes, in June and were now using expired stocks and intravenous fluids.

Tedros condemned Ethiopia's blockade of international access to Tigray, saying that WHO had not been allowed to send any supplies to the region since July, noting the UN agency had access to Syria and Yemen even during their worst conflicts. 

He said there should be unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray and that just respecting the constitutional order would bring this problem to a "peaceful conclusion".

He continued: "Of course, I am from that region and from the northern part of Ethiopia. But I am saying this without any bias. "

The Ethiopian government said Tedros was using his office to advance his political interest at the expense of Ethiopia and that he continues to be an active member of the Tigray People's Liberation Front; Tedros was foreign minister and health minister when the TPLF dominated the country's ruling coalition. 

The Tigray People's Liberation Front, the political party that runs the Tigray region, has been clashing with Ethiopian federal forces since the country's Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister accused the heavily armed regional government of attacking a military base. 

Each government regards the other as illegitimate after a months-long falling-out amid political reforms.

In September, France, Germany and other European countries nominated Tedros for a second term as WHO's director-general, the first time any candidate was not supported by his or her home country. 

Tedros is expected to be confirmed for another five-year term in May, as he is running unopposed. 

Under Tedros, WHO came under withering criticism from the Trump administration over allegations of grievous missteps in responding to COVID-19 and for allegedly colluding with China in the early phases of the outbreak. 

Tedros has been a leading voice urging rich countries and vaccine makers to do more to improve access to COVID shots in the developing world -- a call that has largely gone unheeded. 

Last year, WHO faced mounting pressure over revelations from an AP investigation and an independent panel that found senior management were informed of sexual abuse allegations during the agency's response to an Ebola outbreak in Congo.

UN Chief Warns Millions Of Afghans Are On 'Verge Of Death'

 

FILE PHOTO: Children share tea and bread for breakfast at an orphanage before going to school in Kabul, Afghanistan on October 12, 2021 (Reuters)

 

The United Nations chief warned on Thursday that millions of Afghans are on the “verge of death," urging the international community to fund the UN's USD 5 billion humanitarian appeals, release Afghanistan's frozen assets and jump-start its banking system to avert economic and social collapse.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that “freezing temperatures and frozen assets are a lethal combination for the people of Afghanistan,” and “rules and conditions that prevent money from being used to save lives and the economy must be suspended in this emergency situation.”    

Afghanistan's aid-dependent economy was already stumbling when the Taliban seized power in mid-August amid the chaotic departure of US and NATO troops after 20 years.

The international community froze Afghanistan's assets abroad and halted economic support, unwilling to work with the Taliban, given their reputation for brutality during their 1996-2001 rule and refusal to educate girls and allow women to work.    

The UN says 8.7 million Afghans are on the brink of starvation and Guterres said it's critical to rapidly inject liquidity into the Afghan economy “and avoid a meltdown that would lead to poverty, hunger and destitution for millions.”

It's “absolutely essential” to avoid a breakdown, he stressed, “because with the present situation you have Afghans on the verge of death.”

The secretary-general said the United States has “a very important role to play because most of the financial system in the world operates in dollars” and the United States has frozen $7 billion in Afghan foreign reserves, mainly held in the US.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, are scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on Friday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Guterres said one reason for the meeting is to try and create “mechanisms that allow for an effective injection of funds into the Afghan economy and, at the same time, create the conditions for the financial system in Afghanistan to be able to operate in the local currency.”

The UN chief said international funding should be allowed to pay the salaries of doctors, sanitation workers, electrical engineers and other civil servants, as well as help Afghan institutions deliver health care, education and other key services.

Last month, the World Bank transferred USD 280 million from a reconstruction trust fund it administers for Afghanistan to the UN children's agency, UNICEF, and the World Food Program for their operations in the country, Guterres said.

“I hope the remaining resources — more than $1.2 billion — will become available to help Afghanistan's people survive the winter,” he said.

While appealing to the international community to support the Afghan people, Guterres said he was making an equally urgent appeal to Taliban leaders “to recognise and protect the fundamental human rights, and in particular the rights of women and girls,” and to build government institutions in which all Afghans feel represented.

“Across Afghanistan, women and girls are missing from offices and classrooms,” Guterres said. “No country can thrive while denying the rights of half of its population.”

When Am I Contagious If Infected With Omicron?

 

It’s not yet clear, but some early data suggests people might become contagious sooner than with earlier variants — possibly within a day after infection.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the few days before and after symptoms develop. But that window of time might happen earlier with Omicron, according to some outside experts.

That’s because Omicron appears to cause symptoms faster than previous variants — about three days after infection, on average, according to preliminary studies. Based on previous data, that means people with Omicron could start becoming contagious as soon as a day after infection.

With previous variants, people became contagious two to four days after infection. And people remain contagious a couple days after symptoms subside.

Researchers say it’s too early to know whether that shorter incubation period for Omicron translates into earlier contagiousness. But it would help explain the variant’s rapid spread.

Dr. Amy Karger of the University of Minnesota Medical School recommends that people test themselves at three days and five days after exposure if possible.

“A lot of people are turning positive by day three,” Karger says, referring to Omicron. “There’s basically an opportunity here to catch people earlier than you would with the other variants.”

"If you only have one test, it’s fine to wait until day five," Karger says.

People who have Covid-19 symptoms should get tested immediately if possible.

Lab-developed tests are more sensitive than rapid tests so they should be able to pick up the virus by day three after exposure, if not earlier.

People who don’t develop symptoms generally have much lower viral levels, so it’s far less clear when or if they become infectious.

Still, those who test positive but don’t have symptoms should isolate for at least five days, under the latest CDC guidelines. The agency came under criticism for not requiring a negative test before leaving isolation, but even after tweaking the guidelines officials said that step should be optional.

People with symptoms should stay isolated until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours. (AP)

Covid-19: How Bad Is Omicron?

 

(The Conversation: By Tim Spector, King's College London)

For nearly two years, millions of members of the public have been submitting daily health reports to the ZOE Covid Study, helping us to track the pandemic as it unfolds. In particular, the 480 million reports submitted via the study’s app have shown that as the virus has evolved, so too have the symptoms it causes.

Back in 2020, it quickly became clear that the original and alpha versions of the coronavirus caused three very common symptoms—cough, fever and loss of smell—as well as at least 20 others. These included fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, muscle pains and gastrointestinal problems, as well as more unusual phenomena such as skin rashes and “Covid tongue”.

When delta appeared, we then noticed a shift in the most frequently reported symptoms. Previously common symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever and loss of smell fell down the rankings. Cold-like symptoms—including a runny nose, sore throat and persistent sneezing – became more common, along with a headache and cough, particularly in people who had been vaccinated.

Omicron appears to be continuing the trend set by delta. It’s causing symptoms that are much more like a regular cold, particularly in people who’ve been vaccinated, and fewer general systemic symptoms, such as nausea, muscle pains, diarrhoea and skin rashes.

We looked at health reports from people who reported having Covid in December, as omicron spread through the UK, and compared them with data from early October, when delta was the dominant variant. We then checked our findings from this comparison by also analysing data from a small group of contributors who had been told by the government that their positive PCR results were suspected or confirmed omicron infections.

What are the symptoms of omicron?

Our analysis showed no significant difference in the overall symptom profile of delta and omicron, with the top five symptoms in both time periods being a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and a sore throat. But when it comes to the overall prevalence of the symptoms, there are some clear differences.

For example, anosmia (loss of smell or taste) was in the top ten in October but has fallen to 17th place. What was once a key indicator of Covid is now only seen in around one in five people testing positive. And according to our data, less than a third of people (29 percent) will ever experience a fever, which is also far less common than we’ve seen in the past.

Importantly, we found that only half of people with Covid had any of the classic three symptoms of fever, cough or loss of sense of smell, suggesting that the government’s guidance for PCR testing (which suggests that you should get a test if you have one of these three symptoms) is woefully outdated.

How bad is omicron?

This new variant is much more infectious than previous variants, causing a surge in cases across the UK and in other countries. And although it’s not yet clear whether we will be facing an overwhelming wave of hospitalisations from the disease, it’s important to remember that while omicron and delta may feel like a cold to many of us, it can still kill or cause long-term symptoms that disrupt daily life, especially for people who have not been vaccinated or are immunocompromised.

So far, we’ve seen the majority of cases in younger people, but we’re also now seeing cases rising in older age groups while the overall infection rate remains so high. The recent rise in positive cases in the over-75s is worrying, but we’re hopeful that the high levels of vaccination in the UK in older and more vulnerable groups will continue to translate to milder symptoms and few hospitalisations. The major problem with omicron is more the wave of sickness absence it’s causing in key health staff.

Is it omicron or a cold?

As we head further into the depths of winter here in the UK there are some pretty nasty colds going around, as well as the perennial flu. The ZOE Covid Study app data tells us the symptoms caused by the current Covid variants are very similar to those of a regular cold. This means that it’s not possible to know for sure what you’ve got based on symptoms alone. When the rate of Covid is high, a new sore throat, runny nose or unusual fatigue should be treated as Covid until you’ve been tested.

Because contributors to the ZOE Covid Study app log any daily symptoms they’re experiencing, as well as any Covid test results, we’re also able to track the prevalence of non-Covid colds. Just three months ago, around one in 12 people with new respiratory symptoms tested positive for Covid. However, with omicron around 50 percent of “new colds” currently are, in fact, Covid.

So if you or a family member are feeling unwell, there’s a good chance that it could be Covid, especially if you’re snuffling and sneezing a lot. You should stay home and get tested to be sure. Bear in mind that although lateral flow tests are good, especially if you swab both your throat and nose, they are less sensitive than PCR tests. When you do one, try and repeat it in the following days, as a single negative lateral flow result isn’t a guarantee that you aren’t infected.

Finally, regardless of the government guidelines, whether you have Covid or not, it’s best to stay at home if you’re feeling ill with strange or cold-like symptoms, and to avoid contacts and wear a mask if you do go out, to avoid spreading your germs to others who may be more vulnerable. 

Total Lockdown Will Not Be Imposed In Delhi, Assures CM Kejriwal

Kejriwal said the government had to impose restrictions out of compulsion and reiterated that a complete lockdown will not be implemented

 

The Centre's representatives have assured the Delhi government that COVID-related curbs imposed in the capital will be replicated across the NCR, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday, noting that it is difficult to predict when the third wave of infections will peak.

He said the government had to impose restrictions out of compulsion and reiterated that a complete lockdown will not be implemented.

The chief minister also said Delhi is likely to record around 20,000 COVID cases on Tuesday.

"At a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, we told the representatives of the Centre that the restrictions should be implemented in the entire NCR and not just in Delhi. They have assured us that restrictions implemented in Delhi will be replicated in the region," Kejriwal told reporters at the Lok Nayak Hospital.

It cannot be predicted when the third wave will peak. The number of daily cases has been oscillating between 20,000 and 22,000 for three days, with a positivity rate of 24 per cent to 25 per cent, but "it doesn't mean that cases won't increase," he said in response to a question.

Delhi on Monday logged 17 deaths due to COVID-19 and 19,166 infections in a day as the positivity rate rose to 25 per cent, the highest since May 4 last year, according to official figures.

As of Monday, the city had 65,803 active cases. Of these, 44,028 are in home isolation, the data showed.

Nearly 8,000 Detained In Kazakhstan Amid Unrest

 

An interior view shows an electronics store that was looted during mass protests triggered by fuel price increase in Almaty, Kazakhstan on January 9, 2022 (Reuters)

The authorities in Kazakhstan said on Monday that nearly 8,000 people were detained by police during protests that descended into violence last week and marked the worst unrest the former Soviet nation has faced since gaining independence 30 years ago.

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry reported that a total of 7,939 people have been detained across the country. The National Security Committee, Kazakhstan's counterintelligence and anti-terrorism agency, said on Monday that the situation in the country has stabilized and is under control.

The authorities have declared Monday a day of mourning for dozens of victims of the unprecedentedly violent unrest. The country's Health Ministry said on Sunday that 164 people, including three children, were killed in the unrest.

The demonstrations began on Jan. 2 over a near-doubling of prices for a type of vehicle fuel and quickly spread across the country, apparently reflecting wider discontent with the authoritarian government.

In a concession, the government announced a 180-day price cap on vehicle fuel and a moratorium on utility rate increases. As the unrest mounted, the ministerial cabinet resigned and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev replaced Nursultan Nazarbayev, former longtime leader of Kazakhstan, as head of the National Security Council.

One of the main slogans of the past week's protests (Old Man Out!) was a reference to Nazarbayev, who served as president from Kazakhstan's independence until he resigned in 2019 and anointed Tokayev as his successor. Nazarbayev had retained substantial power at the helm of the National Security Council.

Despite the concessions, the protests turned extremely violent for several days, with government buildings set ablaze and dozens of people killed. In Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, the protesters stormed and briefly seized the airport. For several days, sporadic gunfire was reported in the city streets.

The authorities declared a state of emergency over the unrest, and Tokayev requested help from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-led military alliance of six former Soviet states. The group has authorised sending about 2,500 mostly Russian troops to Kazakhstan as peacekeepers.

Tokayev has said the demonstrations were instigated by terrorists with foreign backing, although the protests have shown no obvious leaders or organisation. On Friday, he said he ordered police and the military to shoot to kill terrorists involved in the violence.

In a statement on Monday morning, Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said that peaceful protests throughout the country were hijacked by terrorist, extremist and criminal groups.

According to preliminary data, the attackers include individuals who have military combat zone experience in the ranks of radical Islamist groups. Currently, the law enforcement agencies and armed forces of Kazakhstan are confronting terrorists, not peaceful protesters, as some foreign media misrepresent it, the statement said.

The National Security Committee said on Monday that hotspots of terrorist threats in the country have been neutralized. (AP)

Indian-Origin Sikh Taxi Driver Assaulted Outside JFK Airport

 

Representational Image

In yet another case of suspected hate crime, an Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver in the US has been assaulted by an unidentified man, who knocked off his turban and also used expletives against him outside the JFK International Airport, New York, according to a video on social media.

The undated 26-second video was uploaded by Navjot Pal Kaur on micro-blogging site Twitter on January 4, showing a man assaulting the Sikh taxi driver outside the airport. She said the video was shot by a bystander at the airport.

The person can be heard allegedly using expletives against the victim. He repeatedly hits and punches him and knocks off his turban.

“This video was taken by a bystander at John F. Kennedy International Airport. I do not own the rights to this video. But I just wanted to highlight the fact that hatred continues to remain in our society and unfortunately I’ve seen Sikh cab drivers get assaulted again and again,” Kaur tweeted.

Further details about the driver or the cause of the incident were not available.

The video led to angry reactions by the community members.

“Another Sikh cab driver assaulted. This one at JFK Airport in NYC. So upsetting to see. But it’s crucial that we don’t look away… What I am sure of is how painful it is to watch our fathers and elders get assaulted while they’re just trying to live an honest life."

“For those who aren’t Sikh, I can’t put into words what it means to have your turban knocked off — or to see someone else’s turban knocked off. It’s visceral and gut-wrenching and just so disheartening to witness,” Simran Jeet Singh, author and Director for the Aspen Institute’s Inclusive America Project, tweeted.

The National Sikh Campaign said, “We are only a few days into the new year and there has already been a hate crime committed against a Sikh. A bystander recorded an unidentified man attacking a Sikh taxi driver, ultimately knocking off the driver’s turban.”

“No additional details have been released outside of the video, but we know this story too well. A Sikh person goes about their daily lives only to be senselessly attacked by someone. Common road rage between people can escalate when someone who is ignorant of who we are takes their disdain for our turbans and becomes violent,” it said.

This is not the first time a Sikh taxi driver has been assaulted in the US.

An Indian-origin Sikh Uber driver was in 2019 assaulted and racially abused in the US state of Washington in a suspected hate crime. The driver told the police that he believes his race prompted the attack.

In 2017, a 25-year-old Sikh cab driver in New York was assaulted and his turban knocked off by drunk passengers.

Kazkh Prez Orders 'Lethal Force' Against Protesting 'Terrorists'

 

Protesters talk to each other as they gather in support of Kazakh opposition and against deploying Kyrgyzstan's troops to Kazakhstan during a rally in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 (AP)

The President of Kazakhstan said on Friday he authorised law enforcement to open fire on “terrorists” and shoot to kill, a move that comes after days of extremely violent protests in the former Soviet nation.

In a televised address to the nation, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev blamed the unrest on “terrorists” and “militants” and said that he had authorized the use of lethal force against them.

“Those who don't surrender will be eliminated,” Tokayev said.

He also blasted calls for talks with the protesters made by some other countries as “nonsense.” 

“What negotiations can be held with criminals, murderers?” Tokayev said.

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry reported on Friday that 26 protesters had been killed during the unrest, 18 were wounded and more than 3,000 people have been detained. A total of 18 law enforcement officers were reported killed as well, and over 700 sustained injuries.

Kazakhstan is experiencing the worst street protests since the country gained independence three decades ago. The demonstrations began over a near-doubling of prices for a type of vehicle fuel and quickly spread across the country, reflecting wider discontent over the rule of the same party since independence.

Protests have turned extremely violent, with government buildings set ablaze and scores of protesters and more than a dozen law enforcement officers killed. Internet across the country has been shut down, and two airports closed, including one in Almaty, the country's largest city.

In a concession, the government on Thursday announced a 180-day price cap on vehicle fuel and a moratorium on utility rate increases. Tokayev has vacillated between trying to mollify the protesters, including accepting the resignation of his government, and promising harsh measures to quell the unrest, which he blamed on “terrorist bands.”

In what was seen as one such measure, the president has called on a Russia-led military alliance for help.

The alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, includes the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and has started deploying troops to Kazakhstan for a peacekeeping mission.

Kazakh officials have insisted that the troops will not be fighting the demonstrators, and instead will take on guarding government institutions.

On Friday, Tokayev declared that constitutional order was “mainly restored in all regions of the country" and that "local authorities are in control of the situation.” The president added, however, that “terrorists are still using weapons and are damaging people's property” and that “counterterrorist actions” should be continued.

Skirmishes in Almaty were still reported on Friday morning. Russia's state news agency Tass reported that the building occupied by the Kazakh branch of the Mir broadcaster, funded by several former Soviet states, was on fire.

However, the Almaty airport — stormed and seized earlier by the protesters — was back under the control of Kazakh law enforcement and CSTO peacekeepers, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Friday. The airport will remain shut until Friday evening, local TV station Khabar 24 reported, citing the airport's spokespeople.

In other parts of the country, some things started to go back to normal. In the capital, Nur-Sultan, access to the internet has been partially restored, and train traffic has been resumed across Kazakhstan.

The airport in the capital is operating as usual, Khabar 24 reported. According to the TV channel, airlines will resume domestic flights to the cities of Shymkent, Turkestan and Atyrau, as well as flights to Moscow and Dubai, starting from 3 p.m.

Computer Model Predicts Omicron May Evolve To Increase Transmission, Immune Escape

 

Mutations in Omicron can strengthen the affinity of the coronavirus variant for the human cells, which could increase its infectivity and evasion of antibodies, according to researchers.

Scientists from Boston College in the US have developed a computer model that can predict mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and provide insights into future variants of concern before they emerge.

The team used the model to develop an initial set of predictions about the role of mutations on infectivity and immune response evasion of Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants with human host cells.

"We find that Omicron has not reached its full potential to bind human host cells," said Babak Momeni, Assistant Professor at Boston College.

"We identify mutations that can strengthen the virus affinity for the human cell, which could increase infectivity and evasion of antibodies," said Momeni, lead researcher on the project.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is suspected to be the most infectious yet by binding to human receptors better than the Delta variant.

The yet-to-be peer-reviewed research posted on the preprint repository bioRxiv found that Omicron may have the potential to continue to evolve even stronger binding to increase transmission and infectivity.

The spike protein of the coronavirus binds to a receptor on the host cells, called ACE2, which allows the virus to enter the cells and infect it.

Binding is the first step for infection, and several mutations in previous variants of concern have been shown to be important for increasing the spike's binding to human ACE2.

"We use a fully quantum mechanical model to theoretically assess how different mutations in the spike can contribute to its increased, or decreased, binding strength to human ACE2," said Momeni.

"The modelling shows that Omicron binds to receptor proteins stronger than the Delta variant," he said.

The model predicts what mutations allow better binding to host receptors and better evasion of antibodies, the researchers said.

Such mutations can potentially lead to a future variant of concern, they said.

"Having this knowledge from our model would help with readiness for detecting and preventing, as well as treating, emerging and future variants," Momeni added.

He, however, cautioned that increased infectivity is only one important aspect in variants of concern.

"It is also important to monitor the severity of symptoms and the ability of the variant to evade antibodies and vaccines," the researcher said.

The study found that Omicron's spike proteins bind better than the Delta variant to the human ACE2 receptor.

However, not all mutations in the spike protein's targeting system -- known as a receptor binding domain -- are beneficial for binding.

This suggests factors other than binding may also be involved in determining how the variant evolves.

One possible explanation is that the variant has acquired mutations to evade host antibodies, Momeni said.

Such mutations can be detrimental to its binding to the host receptor and were followed by additional compensatory mutations to recover, or even improve, its receptor binding. 

'Bulli Bai' App Case: Mumbai Police Arrest One More Student

 

Mumbai cyber police have arrested one more student from Uttarakhand in connection with the 'Bulli Bai' app case, an official said on Wednesday. The student, identified as Mayank Rawal (21), was nabbed from the northern state in the early hours of Wednesday, the official said. 

The cyber cell of Mumbai Police had earlier arrested Shweta Singh (19), alleged to be the main culprit, from Uttarakhand, and engineering student Vishal Kumar Jha (21) from Bengaluru in connection with the case.

The Mumbai Police had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified persons following complaints that doctored photographs of hundreds of Muslim women were "uploaded for auction" on the app called 'Bulli Bai', hosted on the open-source software platform GitHub.

While there was no actual 'auction' or 'sale', the purpose of the app seemed to be to humiliate and intimidate the targeted women, many of whom are active social media users.

The Mumbai cyber police station has also registered a case against the app's unidentified developers and Twitter handles which promoted it. 

 

Why Are So Many Vaccinated People Getting COVID-19 Lately?

 

A couple of factors are at play, starting with the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant. Omicron is more likely to infect people, even if it doesn't make them very sick, and its surge coincided with the holiday travel season in many places.

People might mistakenly think the COVID-19 vaccines will completely block infection, but the shots are mainly designed to prevent severe illness, says Louis Mansky, a virus researcher at the University of Minnesota.

And the vaccines are still doing their job on that front, particularly for people who've gotten boosters.

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine still offer strong protection against serious illness from omicron. While those initial doses aren't very good at blocking omicron infection, boosters, particularly with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, rev up levels of the antibodies to help fend off infection.

Omicron appears to replicate much more efficiently than previous variants. And if infected people have high virus loads, there's a greater likelihood they'll pass it on to others, especially the unvaccinated. Vaccinated people who get the virus are more likely to have mild symptoms, if any, since the shots trigger multiple defenses in your immune system, making it much more difficult for omicron to slip past them all.

Advice for staying safe hasn't changed. Doctors say to wear masks indoors, avoid crowds and get vaccinated and boosted. Even though the shots won't always keep you from catching the virus, they'll make it much more likely you stay alive and out of the hospital. (AP)