YOUR WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE
- Spanish researchers report that a 31 year old female health professional got infected with Covid twice in a space of 20 days: she got infected with the Delta variant in late December and Omicron in January. This is the shortest interval yet recorded between infections. The researchers say that this means reinfections are possible even in fully-vaccinated individuals. In the UK, reinfections in the UK need a 90-day interval between positive tests. The new data suggests nearly 900,000 people may have been infected with Covid twice as of April.
- The United Nations Environment Programme has named Sir David Attenborough a Champion of the Earth. The award honours the 95-year-old’s dedication to keeping the world informed about nature and climate change. The stories told by him include celebrated documentaries like ‘The Green Planet’ and ‘A Plastic Ocean’. Sir David urged the world to act now to help combat climate change and save the planet, pointing out that any environmental success stories should give people hope for the future.
- Netflix, facing growing competition from rivals, has announced a drop in 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of 2022, and warned that it might lose 2 million more by the end of July. Adding to its woes was its recent exit from Russia, while recent price increases in some countries have not helped. In order to turn its slowed revenue growth around, Netflix announced a crackdown on households sharing passwords. Netflix estimates that 100 million households might be watching the service for free using shared passwords.
- At least six people, the pilot among them, were killed when a small plane crashed on a major road in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. Several other people were injured on the ground when the plane, originally headed to the south-eastern town of Jacmel, crashed into the suburb of Carrefour. The country’s civil aviation authority blamed engine failure for the crash, also noting that a distress signal had been sent by the plane 20 minutes into the flight.
- Sophie Wilmès, the Belgian Foreign Minister as well as the deputy PM, announced her temporary resignation from government to support her husband, recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo had been thoroughly consulted before the announcement and commended her decision. He added that Wilmès will officially retain her government position, but her powers will be temporarily delegated to other ministers by a royal decree. Wilmès confirmed that her family will reassess her situation at the end of the summer.
- Jamhuriat hospital, in Kabul, is one of only three cancer centres still operating in Afghanistan. In its cramped and under-resourced cancer ward, Afghan doctors are struggling to save the life of five-year-old Fazlur Rahman who has a stage four tumour in his neck. Thanks to the International Committee of the Red Cross treatment is free, but patients have to purchase some of the medication themselves. Raising even $100 is a huge obstacle for Fazlur’s dad, Abdul, a farmer. The return of Taliban rule has left the Afghan economy in shambles.
NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMELA MOORE
Date: 22/04/22
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