The pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine is being withdrawn worldwide after the company acknowledged for the first time in court documents that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect, according to a report in the British Newspaper 'The Telegraph'. AstraZeneca has announced that the vaccine was being removed from markets for commercial reasons. It further said that the vaccine was no longer being made or supplied, having been superseded by updated vaccines that fight new variants. The application to withdraw the vaccine was made on March 5 and came into effect on May 7. The vaccine can be no longer used in the European Union following the company's decision to withdraw its "marketing authorisation." Similar applications will be submitted in the UK and other nations in the coming months that have given a go-ahead to the vaccine, known as Vaxzevria. In recent months, Vaxzevria has come under scrutiny over a very rare side effect, which causes blood clots and low blood platelet counts. In court documents, AstraZeneca in the High Court in February admitted that the vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS". TTS which stands for Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome has been associated with at least 81 deaths in the UK and hundreds of serious injuries. More than 50 alleged victims and grieving relatives have filed a lawsuit against AstraZeneca in a High Court case. AstraZeneca has insisted that the decision to withdraw the vaccine is not related to the case or admission that it can cause TTS and termed the timing a pure coincidence, according to The Telegraph report. "We are incredibly proud of the role Vaxzevria played in ending the global pandemic. According to independent estimates, over 6.5 million lives were saved in the first year of use alone and over three billion doses were supplied globally. Our efforts have been recognised by governments around the world and are widely regarded as being a critical component of ending the global pandemic," The Telegraph quoted AstraZeneca as saying. In a statement, the pharmaceutical giant said, "As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed, there is a surplus of available updated vaccines", adding that it has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied, The Telegraph reported. It further announced its decision to initiate the withdrawal of the marketing authorisations for Vaxzevria within Europe. The company said, "We will now work with regulators and our partners to align on a clear path forward to conclude this chapter and significant contribution to the Covid-19 pandemic." Last week, AstraZeneca reiterated its commitment to patient safety while emphasising the vaccine's overall safety profile. An AstraZeneca spokesperson had stated, "Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems. Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines." This comes in the wake of a recent admission by AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company, that its Covid vaccine Covishield and Vaxzevria "can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)." Despite these rare occurrences, the pharmaceutical company maintained that extensive clinical trial data and real-world evidence consistently support the vaccine's safety and efficacy. Regulatory agencies worldwide continue to assert that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of such extremely rare side effects. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
08 May,2024 10:44 AM IST | Cambridge | ANIVladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents. The longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin, Putin’s new term doesn’t expire until 2030. At the ceremony inside the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin placed his hand on the Russian Constitution and vowed to defend it as a crowd of hand-picked dignitaries looked on. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 May,2024 07:35 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesBritish officials say the names and bank details of thousands of serving British soldiers, sailors and air force members have been exposed in a data breach at a payroll system. The Ministry of Defence said Defence Secretary Grant Shapps would make a statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon “setting out the multi-point plan to support and protect personnel”. The ministry would not comment on a Sky News report that Chinese hackers are suspected of carrying out the cyberattack. Cabinet Minister Mel Stride told Sky that “we are not saying that at this precise moment”. British media reported that the government will blame “hostile and malign actors” but will not name the country it believes is responsible. The breach occurred at a third-party payroll system holding bank details of all serving armed forces personnel and some veterans. In a few cases, addresses may also have been exposed. So far, investigators have found no evidence that data have been removed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 May,2024 07:33 AM IST | London | AgenciesAn Israeli tank brigade seized control on Tuesday of the Gaza Strip side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, authorities said, moving forward with an offensive in the southern city. The Israeli 401st Brigade entered the Rafah crossing early Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said, taking “operational control” of the crucial crossing. Israel’s seizure and closing of the Rafah crossing in Gaza raises concerns that already scarce supplies will be further depleted and lead to a “catastrophic” disaster. It’s the main route for aid entering the besieged enclave and exit for those able to flee into Egypt. Footage released by the Israeli military showed a tank entering the crossing. Details of the video matched known features of the crossing and showed Israeli flags flying from tanks that seized the area. The Israeli military claimed it seized the crossing after receiving intelligence it was “being used for terrorist purposes”. Hamas accepts proposal on hostage release Hamas has accepted a proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, marking a potential breakthrough in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, CNN reported. The proposal, outlined in a document obtained by CNN from a reliable source in the region, lays out a comprehensive plan aimed at de-escalating tensions and paving the way for sustainable peace. A Palestinian youth with a child walks through the rubble in Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan district. Pic/AFP According to the document, the agreement will be implemented in three phases, each lasting 42 days. The first phase entails the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and the sick, over the course of six weeks. In exchange, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from parts of Gaza, reconnaissance flights will be halted for 10 hours daily, and disarmed Palestinians will be allowed free movement throughout the Gaza Strip. Additionally, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are set to be released, with specific criteria outlined for the exchange process, as reported by CNN. Israel says deal is unsatisfactory Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the proposal was far from Israel’s demands but that he would send a delegation to Cairo for talks. “While the Hamas proposal is far from meeting Israel’s core demands, Israel will dispatch a ranking delegation to Egypt in an effort to maximise the possibility of reaching an agreement on terms acceptable to Israel,” a statement said. 2 Palestinians held for incitement Israeli police arrested two Palestinians in Jerusalem with ties to Hamas, the police said on Tuesday. One suspect, a 35-year-old man, was arrested on Monday, the other, 39, was arrested last week also. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 May,2024 07:30 AM IST | Jerusalem | AgenciesDonald Trump is accusing Joe Biden of offering a weak response to antisemitism, wielding the clashes on colleges campuses over the war in Gaza as a campaign issue. But Trump's attacks ignore his own long history of rhetoric that invokes the language of Nazi Germany and plays on stereotypes of Jews and politics. The latest example came over the weekend, when Trump " accusing the White House of having a role in his multiple state and federal criminal prosecutions " told Republican donors gathered for a private retreat at his Florida resort that Biden is running a "Gestapo administration," referring to the secret police force of Nazi Germany. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, called it a "deliberate tactic" to attack Biden and distract from his own track record. "It's wholly aligned with his long history of offensive and irresponsible comments when it comes to the Jewish community, including the normalization of antisemitism," Spitalnick said. Biden's campaign called it "despicable" and an attack on law enforcement. Trump's attempts to claim a moral high ground against antisemitism come as the Democratic president is navigating the intense divisions of the Israel-Hamas war and the resulting unrest from demonstrations. Trump and other Republicans have seized on the disruptions on college campuses, which have at times been violent, as a sign of weakness from Biden and Democrats. It's also the latest example of Trump's timeworn tactic of repackaging a censure he's received and stamping it on his opponents. As pro-Palestinian demonstrations have broken out at college campuses, some people have reported antisemitic chants and messages at and around the protests and some Jewish students have said they have felt unsafe on campus. Trump's campaign on Monday released a video on Yom Hashoah, Israel's Holocaust remembrance day, that aimed to contrast the 2024 presidential candidates' responses on antisemitism. The video shows images of Trump visiting Israel and speeches he has given pledging to stand with Jewish people and confront antisemitism, while showing footage of the protests on campuses and clips of Biden responding to protesters upset with his administration's support for Israel in its war against Hamas. One of the clips shows Biden saying, "They have a point," but does not include the next sentence in which Biden said, "We need to get a lot more care into Gaza." Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for Trump's campaign, criticized Biden for taking "weeks to even talk about the Biden Campus Protests" and not condemning what she described as "pro-Hamas, pro-genocide mobs," saying "the sad truth is that he needs their votes." "Jewish Americans and Jewish leaders around the world recognize that President Trump did more for them and the State of Israel than any President in history," Leavitt also said Monday. Trump also spoke about the protests as he arrived in court Monday for his trial in a felony hush money case. Noting Columbia University has cancelled its main commencement ceremony following weeks of pro-Palestinian protests, Trump said "that shouldn't happen." He also claimed that many protesters were backed by Biden donors. "Ok, are you listening Israel? I hope you're listening, Israel. Hope you're getting smart," Trump said. Biden has said he condemns "the antisemitic protests" and last week, he broke days of silence and called for "order" after some schools cleared demonstrators by force, leading to clashes. James Singer, a spokesperson for Biden's campaign, said Biden stands against antisemitism but Trump does not. "Trump has praised neo-Nazis, dined with neo-Nazis, echoed the rhetoric of neo-Nazis, and reportedly praised the accomplishments of Adolf Hitler," Singer said in a statement. "He cannot lead us, so he seeks to divide us with the oldest of ideas " hate, anger, revenge, and retribution." After white nationalists chanting "Jews will not replace us!" rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 and clashed with anti-racism protesters, Trump drew some of his fiercest backlash as president when he said that there " were very fine people, on both sides. " Trump last week downplayed Charlottesville, saying the deadly rally was "nothing" compared to ongoing pro-Palestinian campus protests. Not long after launching his third White House campaign in 2022, Trump drew widespread condemnation for having dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club with a Holocaust-denying white nationalist and the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, shortly after he made weeks of antisemitic comments. He's drawn criticism on his third White House campaign for using language echoing that used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are "poisoning the blood of our country," and labelled his opponents as "vermin." Trump has also been accused of promoting antisemitic tropes as he's suggested that Jewish people who vote for Democrats " hate Israel" and hate "their religion" are "very disloyal to Israel." Critics have said the comments evoke the drop of dual loyalty, accusing Jews of being more loyal to their religion than their country. After Trump's reference to "Gestapo" over the weekend, Jonathan Sarna, an American Jewish history professor at Brandeis University, said there are "great dangers" in the Nazi comparisons. "Not only it's historically incorrect, it's morally offensive," Sarna said. "The problem is looking to associate whatever you don't like with the most evil forces, ignoring all the crucial differences. At that point, we forget what the Holocaust really was." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 May,2024 02:03 PM IST | New York | APA Uyghur rights advocacy organisation, the World Uyghur Congress, released a statement opposing the ongoing Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Europe, claiming that China's deepening ties with Russia are ignorance of the human rights abuses inflicted by China on the Uyghur community. Chinese President Xi Jinping made his six-day visit to Europe, marking his first trip to the continent since 2019, with the exception of his trip last year to Russia. "Despite recent developments within Europe, including arrests and charges related to Chinese espionage, as well as China's deepening ties with Russia, European countries exhibit varying degrees of concern amid increasing views of China as a 'systemic rival'. Xi's trip aims to address criticism while highlighting areas that remain receptive to Chinese influence," the WUC said on Sunday. WUC president Dolkun Isa said, "France must raise the continuous human rights abuses committed by the Chinese regime inside East Turkistan, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as across Europe, with China's growing transnational repression". He also mentioned that "the Uyghur genocide must be raised publicly by the French President Emmanuel Macron, urging Xi Jinping to end the ongoing erasure of our people, reflecting the resolution adopted by the Assemble Nationale recognizing the Uyghur genocide." The statement read, "In France, the increasing trade deficit of the EU with China, as well as the war in Ukraine, will be on the agenda in the presidential meeting. Whereas particularly in Serbia and Hungary, the growing investment ties with China and the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by NATO on May 7, 1999, will contribute significantly to Beijing's enduring mistrust of NATO." As per WUC statement, "The World Uyghur Congress opposes the openness displayed by Europe towards the People's Republic of China (PRC) and its leader, Xi Jinping. Particularly, Hungary's position blocking the discussion on China's human rights abuses and the Uyghur genocide is of concern, as well as the recent news on the China-Europe Railway Express, a train set to transport agricultural goods produced by Uyghur forced labour which left East Turkistan for Salerno, Italy on May 3." "In light of the EU forced labour regulation and due diligence directive, products made by forced labour, produced inside and outside the EU, and companies involved in these violations through their supply chains face bigger scrutiny. Yet, one thing significantly missing is the focus on Uyghur forced labour," the statement added. "France should nevertheless raise China's state-import forced labour scheme and advocate for a strengthening of the EU's trade tools against these violations. The WUC furthermore calls on Macron and Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission to explicitly raise Beijing's abuses against Tibetans, Hong Kongers, and Uyghurs and take a strong stance against the CCP's growing transnational repression, which endangers the lives of the community's diaspora and the security and sovereignty of European nations" the statement by WUC said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 May,2024 08:43 AM IST | Munich | ANIRussian plans to hold drills simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons, the Defence Ministry announced on Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine. The drills are in response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation”, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. It was the first time that Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, though its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises. Tactical nuclear weapons have a lower yield compared to massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles intended to obliterate entire cities. The announcement appeared to be a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies about becoming more deeply involved in the more than two-year war. French President Emmanuel Macron repeated last week that he doesn’t exclude sending troops to Ukraine, and UK. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kyiv’s forces will be able to use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. The Kremlin branded those comments as dangerous, heightening tension between Russia and NATO. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 May,2024 08:18 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesThe Israeli military struck a Hamas command and control centre located in a UN complex in central Gaza on Sunday night which served as a staging ground for multiple attacks against ground forces and humanitarian efforts, the Israel Defence Forces said. Meanwhile, the army said three soldiers were killed and 11 injured in a rocket attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing earlier in the day. The command and control facility was used as a staging ground for multiple attacks on Israeli troops in Gaza’s central corridor in recent weeks. Furthermore, the forward operations base was used to carry out attacks on humanitarian efforts trying to increase the distribution of aid to the Strip’s civilians. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 May,2024 07:33 AM IST | Tel Aviv | AgenciesAn Israeli airstrike in the town of Mays al Jabal in south Lebanon killed four civilians and wounded several others, Lebanese state media and the town’s municipality reported. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the strike took place “while a number of the town’s residents were inspecting their homes and shops and the damage they sustained” in previous strikes. Those attacks came over seven months of near-daily clashes between the Hezbollah militant group and Israeli forces against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hezbollah ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said its jet targeted military infrastructure in the southern Lebanese town belonging to Hezbollah, which has clashed with Israeli troops since October 8. Hezbollah on Sunday said it conducted at least 10 attacks targetting Israeli military positions and surveillance gear near the tense Lebanon-Israel border. US push for Qatar to expel Hamas strident American pressure on Qatar to expel the Hamas leadership is mounting as the Gulf state’s mediation of another ceasefire collapsed. The Biden administration blames Hamas for the failure of ceasefire talks and the situation raises questions about where the terror group may relocate. Protesters leave USC after police arrive Students protesting the war in Gaza abandoned their camp at the University of Southern California late Sunday after being surrounded by police and threatened with arrest, while Northeastern University’s commencement ended peacefully at Boston’s Fenway Park. Kerem Shalom crossing shut for aid Israel has closed the major entry point for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza after a Palestinian armed group launched rockets at a military installation near the site, according to Al Jazeera. The Israeli military, on Monday, announced that it has closed the Karem Abu Salem gate. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 May,2024 07:31 AM IST | Beirut | AgenciesIndian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is ready to fly into space for the third time on Tuesday as the pilot aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in its the first crewed test flight. Boeing’s Starliner will blast off for the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Starliner will carry Williams, 58, and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station, marking what could be a momentous and long-awaited victory for the beleaguered Boeing programme. The scheduled lift-off is set for 22:34 local time on Monday (8:04 am IST on Tuesday) “We are all here because we are all ready. Our friends and family have heard about it and we’ve talked about it and they are happy and proud that we are part of the process to fix it all,” the BBC quoted Williams as saying. The mission has been delayed for several years because of setbacks in the spacecraft’s development. If it is successful, it will become the second private firm able to provide crew transport to and from the ISS, alongside Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 May,2024 07:29 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesThe head of the United Nations’ atomic watchdog will travel Monday to Iran, where his agency faces increasing difficulty in monitoring the Islamic Republic’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war. Rafael Mariano Grossi already has warned Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. He has acknowledged the agency can’t guarantee that none of Iran’s centrifuges may have been peeled away for clandestine enrichment. Those challenges now find themselves entangled in attacks between Israel and Iran, with the city of Isfahan apparently coming under Israeli fire. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
07 May,2024 07:25 AM IST | Jerusalem | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
