MacKenzie Scott, a venture philanthropist and the&nbsp;ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff&nbsp;Bezos, said Tuesday she has given $4.2 billion to groups helping the vulnerable as the pandemic hits lives like "a wrecking ball."

In a <a href="https://medium.com/@mackenzie_scott/384-ways-to-help-45d0b9ac6ad8">blog entry</a>, Scott said she needed to help Americans who were battling a direct result of the pandemic.&nbsp;

MacKenzie Scott is the world's eighteenth most extravagant individual, having seen her wealth climb from $23.6 billion this year to $60.7 billion.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-becomes-worlds-third-richest-man-bezos-ex-wife-now-worlds-richest-woman-324475">Elon Musk becomes world's third richest man; Bezos' ex-wife now world's richest woman</a>

Quite a bit of her fortune comes from Jeff&nbsp;Bezos who is the world's most extravagant man and Amazon's CEO.&nbsp;

"This pandemic has been a destroying ball in the lives of Americans previously battling," she wrote in a blog entry on Tuesday, adding that she had picked in excess of 380 foundations to give to having thought about right around 6,500 associations.&nbsp;

"Financial misfortunes and wellbeing results the same have been more terrible for ladies, for non-white individuals and for individuals living in destitution. In the interim, it has considerably expanded the abundance of tycoons."&nbsp;

Scott, who formerly went by the name MacKenzie&nbsp;Bezos, last year signed a "giving pledge" to donate the bulk of her wealth to charity.

In a round of donations early this year, Scott gave nearly $1.7 billion to groups devoted to race, gender and economic equality, as well as other social causes.

"This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling," Scott said in a <a href="https://medium.com/@mackenzie_scott/384-ways-to-help-45d0b9ac6ad8">post</a>&nbsp;detailing her second round of giving this year.

"Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty."

Meanwhile, she noted, the wealth of billionaires has substantially increased.

Such billionaires include her ex-husband, although Scott did not mention his name.&nbsp;Bezos's wealth has reportedly grown almost 80 percent during the pandemic.

Scott said she enlisted a team of advisors that helped identify 384 organizations across the US that support people suffering from the economic toll of the pandemic.

Special attention was given to organisations working to combat hunger, poverty and racial inequity in communities, according to Scott.

Targets for support included food banks, employment training services, legal defense funds, debt relief programs and civil rights advocacy groups.

The groups that received donations "have dedicated their lives to helping others, working and volunteering and serving real people face-to-face at bedsides and tables, in prisons and courtrooms and classrooms, on streets and hospital wards and hotlines and frontlines of all types and sizes, day after day after day," Scott said.

Scott was left a multi-billionaire after her divorce last year from&nbsp;Bezos.

She ranked 20th on a Forbes real-time list of the world's richest people index on Tuesday, with a net worth of $56 billion -- after taking her latest donations&nbsp;into account. Bezos&nbsp;was at the top of that list with a net worth of $185 billion.

MacKenzie Scott, a venture philanthropist and the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, said Tuesday she has given $4.2 billion to groups helping the vulnerable as the pandemic hits lives like "a wrecking ball.

MacKenzie Scott, a venture philanthropist and the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, said Tuesday she has given $4.2 billion to groups helping the vulnerable as the pandemic hits lives like "a wrecking ball." In a blog entry, Scott said she needed to help Americans who were battling a direct result of the pandemic. MacKenzie Scott is the world's eighteenth most extravagant individual, having seen her wealth climb from $23.6 billion this year to $60.7 billion. Also read: Elon Musk becomes world's third richest man; Bezos' ex-wife now world's richest woman Quite a bit of her fortune comes from Jeff Bezos who is the world's most extravagant man and Amazon's CEO. "This pandemic has been a destroying ball in the lives of Americans previously battling," she wrote in a blog entry on Tuesday, adding that she had picked in excess of 380 foundations to give to having thought about right around 6,500 associations. "Financial misfortunes and wellbeing results the same have been more terrible for ladies, for non-white individuals and for individuals living in destitution. In the interim, it has considerably expanded the abundance of tycoons." Scott, who formerly went by the name MacKenzie Bezos, last year signed a "giving pledge" to donate the bulk of her wealth to charity. In a round of donations early this year, Scott gave nearly $1.7 billion to groups devoted to race, gender and economic equality, as well as other social causes. "This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling," Scott said in a post detailing her second round of giving this year. "Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of color, and for people living in poverty." Meanwhile, she noted, the wealth of billionaires has substantially increased. Such billionaires include her ex-husband, although Scott did not mention his name. Bezos's wealth has reportedly grown almost 80 percent during the pandemic. Scott said she enlisted a team of advisors that helped identify 384 organizations across the US that support people suffering from the economic toll of the pandemic. Special attention was given to organisations working to combat hunger, poverty and racial inequity in communities, according to Scott. Targets for support included food banks, employment training services, legal defense funds, debt relief programs and civil rights advocacy groups. The groups that received donations "have dedicated their lives to helping others, working and volunteering and serving real people face-to-face at bedsides and tables, in prisons and courtrooms and classrooms, on streets and hospital wards and hotlines and frontlines of all types and sizes, day after day after day," Scott said. Scott was left a multi-billionaire after her divorce last year from Bezos. She ranked 20th on a Forbes real-time list of the world's richest people index on Tuesday, with a net worth of $56 billion -- after taking her latest donations into account. Bezos was at the top of that list with a net worth of $185 billion.

Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott donates $4.2 billion in four months

Shanghai&nbsp;Fosun&nbsp;Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd on Wednesday said it will buy at least 100 million doses of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a> from Germany's BioNTech SE for use in mainland China next year if the vaccine receives approval.

China has been rapidly developing its own Covid-19 vaccine candidates and ramping up production facilities, but local firms have also been partnering with foreign developers to supply the world's most populous country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-expands-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-reassure-its-safety-350100" hreflang="en">US expands Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine rollout; reassure its safety</a>

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group said its subsidiary had entered into an agreement with the German firm aimed at ensuring "an adequate supply" of vaccines in China, adding it will make an initial payment of 125 million euros ($152 million) before year-end for 50 million doses.

Pfizer and BioNTech's mRNA vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in countries such as the US, the UK and Singapore.

Its vaccine is based on cutting-edge technology that uses synthetic versions of molecules called messenger RNA to hack into human cells, and effectively turn them into vaccine-making factories.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-joins-us-uk-to-inoculate-people-with-the-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-349832">Canada joins US, UK to inoculate people with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine</a>

China has granted emergency-use status to two candidate vaccines from state-backed Sinopharm and one from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. It has approved a fourth, from CanSino Biologics Inc, for military use.

Separately, Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd aims to have enough capacity to produce at least 100 million doses of a vaccine candidate from British partner AstraZeneca PLC by year-end.

Late on Tuesday, Tibet Rhodiola&nbsp;Pharmaceutical Holding Co said it has agreed to double the supply of the Sputnik-V vaccine to its Russian home. It now aims to make enough doses for at least 40 million Russians next year.

The jabs will cost 420 yuan ($64), but the statement did not clarify which vaccine was being offered.

Fosun&nbsp;Pharma&nbsp;has brought two BioNTech candidate COVID-19 vaccines into clinical trials in China and is yet to receive regulatory approval for either.

Fosun Pharma is majority-owned by Fosun International, a Chinese conglomerate that owns France-based resort giant Club Med and travel firm Thomas Cook.

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd on Wednesday said it will buy at least 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from Germany's BioNTech SE for use in mainland China next year if the vaccine receives approval.

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd on Wednesday said it will buy at least 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from Germany's BioNTech SE for use in mainland China next year if the vaccine receives approval. China has been rapidly developing its own Covid-19 vaccine candidates and ramping up production facilities, but local firms have also been partnering with foreign developers to supply the world's most populous country. Also read: US expands Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine rollout; reassure its safety Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group said its subsidiary had entered into an agreement with the German firm aimed at ensuring "an adequate supply" of vaccines in China, adding it will make an initial payment of 125 million euros ($152 million) before year-end for 50 million doses. Pfizer and BioNTech's mRNA vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in countries such as the US, the UK and Singapore. Its vaccine is based on cutting-edge technology that uses synthetic versions of molecules called messenger RNA to hack into human cells, and effectively turn them into vaccine-making factories. Also read: Canada joins US, UK to inoculate people with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine China has granted emergency-use status to two candidate vaccines from state-backed Sinopharm and one from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. It has approved a fourth, from CanSino Biologics Inc, for military use. Separately, Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd aims to have enough capacity to produce at least 100 million doses of a vaccine candidate from British partner AstraZeneca PLC by year-end. Late on Tuesday, Tibet Rhodiola Pharmaceutical Holding Co said it has agreed to double the supply of the Sputnik-V vaccine to its Russian home. It now aims to make enough doses for at least 40 million Russians next year. The jabs will cost 420 yuan ($64), but the statement did not clarify which vaccine was being offered. Fosun Pharma has brought two BioNTech candidate COVID-19 vaccines into clinical trials in China and is yet to receive regulatory approval for either. Fosun Pharma is majority-owned by Fosun International, a Chinese conglomerate that owns France-based resort giant Club Med and travel firm Thomas Cook.

Chinese pharmaceutical company Fosun Pharma to buy 100 million doses of BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine

The Hungarian Parliament passed a raft of sweeping measures on Tuesday that curtail the rights of gay citizens and make it more difficult for opposition parties to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party in future elections.

The new laws also relax oversight of the spending of public funds, which critics say will allow the government to use state money to benefit loyalists.

The legislation includes a constitutional amendment that critics say lowers the legal threshold for the government to declare a state of emergency, while also removing meaningful oversight of its actions while such a decree is in place.

The same amendment would also effectively bar gay couples from adopting children in Hungary by defining a family as including a man as the father and a woman as the mother. The amendment could also make it harder for single parents to adopt.

“Wherever it was possible, Fidesz chose to cement its power even more with these laws,” Agnes Kovacs, a legal expert with the Eotvos Karoly Policy Institute, said of Orban’s party.

She said the laws were cause for “grave concern” in a nation where Orban has already torn at the fabric of democratic institutions over more than a decade in power.

Orban, a populist autocrat who has proudly stated his vision of creating what he calls an “illiberal” state, has hollowed out many of the checks and balances viewed as integral to healthy democratic governance. He has aligned the executive, legislative and judicial branches to do his party’s bidding, making such sweeping legislation both possible and hard to challenge.

When pushing the new legislation, the government justified its actions in a written explanation by saying the constitution “is a living framework which expresses the will of the nation, the manner in which we want to live.”

But the will of the nation is increasingly indistinguishable from Orban’s will. And there are few critical voices left in the country to hold the government to account since Orban’s allies have gained control over the vast majority of independent media outlets. At the same time, his government has waged a relentless campaign against nongovernmental organizations dedicated to promoting good governance.

Renata Uitz, a professor of comparative constitution law at Central European University, said the new rules regarding the use of emergency powers, which now can be declared over broadly defined political disturbances, gave even more power to the executive.

Previously, she said, “you actually had to try and stage a coup and forcefully change the constitutional order.” Now, she said, an unruly demonstration might be enough for the government to invoke the law. These changes are slated to take effect in 2023, after Hungary’s next elections.

Orban, like other leaders in East and Central Europe, has also stepped up his attacks on LGBT people, casting them as an enemy of the state and of Christian values — much in the same way he demonized migrants in the past. As the government campaign has intensified, surveys have shown a rise in homophobia.

Earlier this year, the government adopted legislation tying an individual’s gender to the person’s sex and chromosomes at birth — the first law of its kind in Europe and a clear attack on transgender rights.

The new legislation barring gay couples from adopting children comes at a time when Orban’s far-right government is dealing with the downfall of a key party official in a sex and drugs scandal.

Jozsef Szajer, a longtime ally of the prime minister, resigned from the party and gave up his seat in the European Parliament in late November after he was caught violating coronavirus restrictions in Brussels by attending what the host described as a gay orgy.

The police apprehended Szajer and said they had discovered ecstasy in his belongings. Szajer has denied that the drugs were his, but admitted having attended the “house party.”

While Orban’s nativist policies have drawn criticism from the European Union, his government has successfully parried the bloc’s attempts to curb Hungary’s slide into authoritarianism.

Orban, along with the government of Poland, held the fate of the $2.2 trillion EU budget deal hostage for weeks as they fought against measures that would have firmly linked financial assistance to measures designed to ensure member states adhere to the rule of law. The two countries dropped their veto after a compromise was reached to water down the requirements.

The budget deal, in the view of many outside experts, may actually end up bolstering Orban because his government stands to receive a large infusion of cash before the country’s 2022 national elections.

Orban has already been accused by critics of using public funds to reward loyalists and build support.

In the legislation passed on Tuesday, the government has redefined public funds in a way that critics say will make it much more difficult for journalists to scrutinize the use of the money.

“Orban constantly changes the rules to the game,” said Akos Hadhazy, an opposition lawmaker. “Hungary is sure to receive massive subsidies from the EU over the next two years, which will make it easier for the prime minister to issue payouts to those who serve him.”

The Hungarian Parliament passed a raft of sweeping measures on Tuesday that curtail the rights of gay citizens and make it more difficult for opposition parties to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party in future elections.

The Hungarian Parliament passed a raft of sweeping measures on Tuesday that curtail the rights of gay citizens and make it more difficult for opposition parties to challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his party in future elections. The new laws also relax oversight of the spending of public funds, which critics say will allow the government to use state money to benefit loyalists. The legislation includes a constitutional amendment that critics say lowers the legal threshold for the government to declare a state of emergency, while also removing meaningful oversight of its actions while such a decree is in place. The same amendment would also effectively bar gay couples from adopting children in Hungary by defining a family as including a man as the father and a woman as the mother. The amendment could also make it harder for single parents to adopt. “Wherever it was possible, Fidesz chose to cement its power even more with these laws,” Agnes Kovacs, a legal expert with the Eotvos Karoly Policy Institute, said of Orban’s party. She said the laws were cause for “grave concern” in a nation where Orban has already torn at the fabric of democratic institutions over more than a decade in power. Orban, a populist autocrat who has proudly stated his vision of creating what he calls an “illiberal” state, has hollowed out many of the checks and balances viewed as integral to healthy democratic governance. He has aligned the executive, legislative and judicial branches to do his party’s bidding, making such sweeping legislation both possible and hard to challenge. When pushing the new legislation, the government justified its actions in a written explanation by saying the constitution “is a living framework which expresses the will of the nation, the manner in which we want to live.” But the will of the nation is increasingly indistinguishable from Orban’s will. And there are few critical voices left in the country to hold the government to account since Orban’s allies have gained control over the vast majority of independent media outlets. At the same time, his government has waged a relentless campaign against nongovernmental organizations dedicated to promoting good governance. Renata Uitz, a professor of comparative constitution law at Central European University, said the new rules regarding the use of emergency powers, which now can be declared over broadly defined political disturbances, gave even more power to the executive. Previously, she said, “you actually had to try and stage a coup and forcefully change the constitutional order.” Now, she said, an unruly demonstration might be enough for the government to invoke the law. These changes are slated to take effect in 2023, after Hungary’s next elections. Orban, like other leaders in East and Central Europe, has also stepped up his attacks on LGBT people, casting them as an enemy of the state and of Christian values — much in the same way he demonized migrants in the past. As the government campaign has intensified, surveys have shown a rise in homophobia. Earlier this year, the government adopted legislation tying an individual’s gender to the person’s sex and chromosomes at birth — the first law of its kind in Europe and a clear attack on transgender rights. The new legislation barring gay couples from adopting children comes at a time when Orban’s far-right government is dealing with the downfall of a key party official in a sex and drugs scandal. Jozsef Szajer, a longtime ally of the prime minister, resigned from the party and gave up his seat in the European Parliament in late November after he was caught violating coronavirus restrictions in Brussels by attending what the host described as a gay orgy. The police apprehended Szajer and said they had discovered ecstasy in his belongings. Szajer has denied that the drugs were his, but admitted having attended the “house party.” While Orban’s nativist policies have drawn criticism from the European Union, his government has successfully parried the bloc’s attempts to curb Hungary’s slide into authoritarianism. Orban, along with the government of Poland, held the fate of the $2.2 trillion EU budget deal hostage for weeks as they fought against measures that would have firmly linked financial assistance to measures designed to ensure member states adhere to the rule of law. The two countries dropped their veto after a compromise was reached to water down the requirements. The budget deal, in the view of many outside experts, may actually end up bolstering Orban because his government stands to receive a large infusion of cash before the country’s 2022 national elections. Orban has already been accused by critics of using public funds to reward loyalists and build support. In the legislation passed on Tuesday, the government has redefined public funds in a way that critics say will make it much more difficult for journalists to scrutinize the use of the money. “Orban constantly changes the rules to the game,” said Akos Hadhazy, an opposition lawmaker. “Hungary is sure to receive massive subsidies from the EU over the next two years, which will make it easier for the prime minister to issue payouts to those who serve him.”

Hungary passes laws curtailing gay rights and expanding executive power

Retailers have urged the British public not to stockpile food or toilet roll in the event of a no-deal&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;as time runs out for the UK and the EU to reach a trade agreement.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said shops were stockpiling items to ensure a “sufficient supply of essential products" amid the uncertainty but asked customers not to buy more than normal.

From January 1, the UK will be outside the EU single market and exporters will face a barrage of new regulations and checks that are expected to cause delays and shortages for British shoppers.

And if the ongoing post-Brexit trade talks between Britain and the European Commission fail to reach an agreement in the next two weeks, a return to trade tariffs will push prices up.

Authorities on both sides of the new divide insist they are ready for the shock, but businesses like the ECS-2XL logistics platform in Zeebrugge have not stood by waiting for instructions. &nbsp;

Britain and the EU agreed on Sunday to "go the extra mile" in the coming days to try to reach an elusive trade agreement despite missing their latest deadline to avert a turbulent exit at the end of the month.

Britain's Business Secretary Alok Sharma&nbsp;said he was confident food supplies would be maintained even if Britain leaves the bloc without a trade deal.

Britons stocked up on long-life goods in March as the country entered a COVID-19 national lockdown, stripping some shelves bare and forcing many people to queue for hours or drive further than normal to find goods such as toilet roll, tinned tomatoes, and rice.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said on Sunday that retailers were doing everything they could to prepare for all eventualities on Jan. 1 - increasing their stocks of tins, toilet rolls and other longer life products so there would be a sufficient supply of essential products.

It also said there was no need for the public to buy more food than usual as the main impact would be on imported fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, which cannot be stored for long periods by either retailers or consumers.

The BRC has warned of higher prices without a trade deal. Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, has said consumers should expect price increases of between 3 per cent&nbsp;and 5 per cent.

Retailers have urged the British public not to stockpile food or toilet roll in the event of a no-deal Brexit as time runs out for the UK and the EU to reach a trade agreement.

Retailers have urged the British public not to stockpile food or toilet roll in the event of a no-deal Brexit as time runs out for the UK and the EU to reach a trade agreement. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said shops were stockpiling items to ensure a “sufficient supply of essential products" amid the uncertainty but asked customers not to buy more than normal. From January 1, the UK will be outside the EU single market and exporters will face a barrage of new regulations and checks that are expected to cause delays and shortages for British shoppers. And if the ongoing post-Brexit trade talks between Britain and the European Commission fail to reach an agreement in the next two weeks, a return to trade tariffs will push prices up. Authorities on both sides of the new divide insist they are ready for the shock, but businesses like the ECS-2XL logistics platform in Zeebrugge have not stood by waiting for instructions. Britain and the EU agreed on Sunday to "go the extra mile" in the coming days to try to reach an elusive trade agreement despite missing their latest deadline to avert a turbulent exit at the end of the month. Britain's Business Secretary Alok Sharma said he was confident food supplies would be maintained even if Britain leaves the bloc without a trade deal. Britons stocked up on long-life goods in March as the country entered a COVID-19 national lockdown, stripping some shelves bare and forcing many people to queue for hours or drive further than normal to find goods such as toilet roll, tinned tomatoes, and rice. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said on Sunday that retailers were doing everything they could to prepare for all eventualities on Jan. 1 - increasing their stocks of tins, toilet rolls and other longer life products so there would be a sufficient supply of essential products. It also said there was no need for the public to buy more food than usual as the main impact would be on imported fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, which cannot be stored for long periods by either retailers or consumers. The BRC has warned of higher prices without a trade deal. Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, has said consumers should expect price increases of between 3 per cent and 5 per cent.

UK: Retailers urge public not to stockpile food as threat of no-deal Brexit looms

Nigeria's faltering response is emboldening&nbsp;Boko&nbsp;Haram&nbsp;or the Islamic State in&nbsp;West Africa Province.

While&nbsp;Nigeria's government has repeatedly said it has defeated Boko Haram. Yet after more than 10 years of fighting the armed group, violence is on the rise in the northeast.

Boko Haram and its rival, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) group,&nbsp;have until now waged an insurgency in the northeast of the country and neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, killing thousands and displacing millions of people.

It has been nearly a decade since a relatively peaceful Maiduguri-based Islamic sect transformed into one of the world’s most brutal transnational terror groups.

The latest abduction of 333 schoolchildren claimed by Boko Haram comes nearly three years after 111 schoolgirls were snatched by jihadists in northern Nigeria, and six after 276 girls were taken from Chibok in a raid that shocked the world.

The man purporting to be the group's leader, Abubakar Shekau, offered no proof for the claim. Reuters was unable to verify the audio and Nigerian authorities did not immediately comment.

In a region where criminal gangs often rob and kidnap civilians for ransom, gunmen took the boys from the Government Science school in Kankara town on Friday. Katsina state authorities say some managed to escape but around 320 were still missing.

"We are behind what happened in Katsina," said the man in the audio, which reached Reuters via a Whatsapp message.

"What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his holy prophet."

Boko&nbsp;Haram&nbsp;carried out the 2014 kidnap of more than 200 girls from a school in the northeastern town of Chibok. Since then, about half of those girls have been found or freed, dozens have been paraded in propaganda videos, and an unknown number are believed to have died.

More than 30,000 people have been killed since&nbsp;Boko&nbsp;Haram&nbsp;began its insurgency, which aims to create an Islamic state.

A demoralised and underequipped army is being blamed for slow progress against militants in Nigeria. However, Nigerian soldiers have complained of being under-equipped despite billions in defence spending.

Arms looted in the 2011 fall of Libya’s former leader Muammer Gaddafi reportedly made their way to Boko Haram fighters.&nbsp;

Nigeria's faltering response is emboldening Boko Haram or the Islamic State in West Africa Province. While Nigeria's government has repeatedly said it has defeated Boko Haram.

Nigeria's faltering response is emboldening Boko Haram or the Islamic State in West Africa Province. While Nigeria's government has repeatedly said it has defeated Boko Haram. Yet after more than 10 years of fighting the armed group, violence is on the rise in the northeast. Boko Haram and its rival, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) group, have until now waged an insurgency in the northeast of the country and neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, killing thousands and displacing millions of people. It has been nearly a decade since a relatively peaceful Maiduguri-based Islamic sect transformed into one of the world’s most brutal transnational terror groups. The latest abduction of 333 schoolchildren claimed by Boko Haram comes nearly three years after 111 schoolgirls were snatched by jihadists in northern Nigeria, and six after 276 girls were taken from Chibok in a raid that shocked the world. The man purporting to be the group's leader, Abubakar Shekau, offered no proof for the claim. Reuters was unable to verify the audio and Nigerian authorities did not immediately comment. In a region where criminal gangs often rob and kidnap civilians for ransom, gunmen took the boys from the Government Science school in Kankara town on Friday. Katsina state authorities say some managed to escape but around 320 were still missing. "We are behind what happened in Katsina," said the man in the audio, which reached Reuters via a Whatsapp message. "What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his holy prophet." Boko Haram carried out the 2014 kidnap of more than 200 girls from a school in the northeastern town of Chibok. Since then, about half of those girls have been found or freed, dozens have been paraded in propaganda videos, and an unknown number are believed to have died. More than 30,000 people have been killed since Boko Haram began its insurgency, which aims to create an Islamic state. A demoralised and underequipped army is being blamed for slow progress against militants in Nigeria. However, Nigerian soldiers have complained of being under-equipped despite billions in defence spending. Arms looted in the 2011 fall of Libya’s former leader Muammer Gaddafi reportedly made their way to Boko Haram fighters.

Why Nigeria failed to defeat Boko Haram

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike&nbsp;Pompeo&nbsp;on Tuesday accused Russia of&nbsp;continuing to "threaten Mediterranean stability" and sowing "chaos, conflict, and division" in countries around the region.

“All of these actions clearly demonstrate that if anyone is playing political games and trying to stall progress in regional conflicts, it is Russia, which only acts to advance its own interests to the detriment of the entire region,” Pompeo said in a statement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-urges-greece-turkey-to-resolve-mediterranean-row-pledges-support-330951">Pompeo urges Greece, Turkey to resolve Mediterranean row; pledges support</a>

In a statement on "Russian Influence in the Mediterranean," the outgoing Secretary of State blasted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over comments that the United States is playing political games in the Mediterranean region and turned the tables to say it is Russia that is undermining stability in Syria, Libya, and other countries.

Lavrov "again gets the facts wrong and attempts to rewrite history," Pompeo said, denouncing Moscow's actions.

His statement came the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin finally congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden on his victory over Donald Trump in the November presidential election.

Russia maintains a sizable naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean and regularly conducts naval maneuvers in the area. It had conducted&nbsp;live-fire naval exercises in the region,&nbsp;where there are escalating tensions between Turkey and regional neighbors Greece and Cyprus over rights to offshore energy resources.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-impose-sanctions-on-turkey-over-russian-s-400-defense-system-349164">US to impose sanctions on Turkey over Russian S-400 defense system</a>

Russia, which is involved in energy projects across the region, has significantly strengthened its military, political and economic ties with Turkey in recent years. Moscow and Ankara are coordinating closely on their military presence in Syria, while Turkey has purchased Russia’s advanced S-400 missile defense system and broken ground on a Russian-built nuclear power plant on its southern coast.

The United States imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defences and targeted the top Turkish defence development body, its president, and three employees.

The move, focused on the defence sector, including Turkey's Defence Industries Directorate (SSB), has drawn condemnation from NATO-ally Ankara and is likely to further strain Erdogan's relations with Western allies.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Russia of continuing to "threaten Mediterranean stability" and sowing "chaos, conflict, and division" in countries around the region.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Russia of continuing to "threaten Mediterranean stability" and sowing "chaos, conflict, and division" in countries around the region. “All of these actions clearly demonstrate that if anyone is playing political games and trying to stall progress in regional conflicts, it is Russia, which only acts to advance its own interests to the detriment of the entire region,” Pompeo said in a statement. Also read: Pompeo urges Greece, Turkey to resolve Mediterranean row; pledges support In a statement on "Russian Influence in the Mediterranean," the outgoing Secretary of State blasted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over comments that the United States is playing political games in the Mediterranean region and turned the tables to say it is Russia that is undermining stability in Syria, Libya, and other countries. Lavrov "again gets the facts wrong and attempts to rewrite history," Pompeo said, denouncing Moscow's actions. His statement came the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin finally congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden on his victory over Donald Trump in the November presidential election. Russia maintains a sizable naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean and regularly conducts naval maneuvers in the area. It had conducted live-fire naval exercises in the region, where there are escalating tensions between Turkey and regional neighbors Greece and Cyprus over rights to offshore energy resources. Also read: US to impose sanctions on Turkey over Russian S-400 defense system Russia, which is involved in energy projects across the region, has significantly strengthened its military, political and economic ties with Turkey in recent years. Moscow and Ankara are coordinating closely on their military presence in Syria, while Turkey has purchased Russia’s advanced S-400 missile defense system and broken ground on a Russian-built nuclear power plant on its southern coast. The United States imposed sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian ground-to-air defences and targeted the top Turkish defence development body, its president, and three employees. The move, focused on the defence sector, including Turkey's Defence Industries Directorate (SSB), has drawn condemnation from NATO-ally Ankara and is likely to further strain Erdogan's relations with Western allies.

Russia sowing 'chaos and conflict' in Mediterranean region, says Pompeo

The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued a positively-worded briefing document about the Moderna <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">Covid-19 vaccine</a> ahead of a meeting by experts on whether to grant it emergency approval.

The FDA was upbeat on the vaccine, saying there were "no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA (emergency use authorization" and confirmed an overall efficacy of 94.1 per cent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-administers-first-coronavirus-vaccine-donald-trump-congratulates-americans-349779" hreflang="en">US administers first coronavirus vaccine; Donald Trump congratulates Americans</a>

The comments were made in documents prepared for Thursday's meeting of outside experts, who will discuss whether to endorse a U.S. emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna shot.

The FDA typically follows the advice of the panel, but is not required to do so. Moderna&nbsp;is the second vaccine the FDA has considered, behind one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany's BioNTech, which was authorized last week.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moderna-to-charge-25-37-for-covid-19-vaccine-344644">Moderna to charge $25-$37 for COVID-19 vaccine</a>

Hospitals began giving the Pfizer shots on Monday and the United States is counting on the Moderna vaccine to fulfill its promise to inoculate 20 million people this month.

One dose protection

The FDA said that there appeared to be some protection for trial participants after the first dose of Moderna's vaccine, which is given in two shots, with 28 days between inoculations, but there was not enough information on longer term protection.

It said that vaccine efficacy was 80.2 per cent&nbsp;in participants who only received one dose at the time of the interim analysis, which was based on data collected as of November&nbsp;7.

They said that serious side effects in the trial of the vaccine represented medical events that occur in the general population at a similar frequency as observed in the study.

The FDA did flag the possibility that the vaccine was contributing to Bell's palsy, a type of facial paralysis also reported by participants in the Pfizer trial.

Moderna reported four cases of Bell's palsy, including three among people who had the vaccine and 1 in the placebo group. The company said that three of the cases had resolved itself.

Although the FDA said that the trial participants with Bell's palsy had predisposing factors, the "potential contribution of the vaccine to the manifestations of these events of facial palsy cannot be ruled out".

Pfizer reported six cases of Bell's palsy, including 4 in the vaccine arm, which it said was a rate typical of the general population.

Moderna shares, which have risen nearly eight-fold this year up to Monday's closing price, were up 1.8 per cent&nbsp;before the bell.

The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued a positively-worded briefing document about the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine ahead of a meeting by experts on whether to grant it emergency approval.

The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued a positively-worded briefing document about the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine ahead of a meeting by experts on whether to grant it emergency approval. The FDA was upbeat on the vaccine, saying there were "no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA (emergency use authorization" and confirmed an overall efficacy of 94.1 per cent. Also read: US administers first coronavirus vaccine; Donald Trump congratulates Americans The comments were made in documents prepared for Thursday's meeting of outside experts, who will discuss whether to endorse a U.S. emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna shot. The FDA typically follows the advice of the panel, but is not required to do so. Moderna is the second vaccine the FDA has considered, behind one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany's BioNTech, which was authorized last week. Also read: Moderna to charge $25-$37 for COVID-19 vaccine Hospitals began giving the Pfizer shots on Monday and the United States is counting on the Moderna vaccine to fulfill its promise to inoculate 20 million people this month. One dose protection The FDA said that there appeared to be some protection for trial participants after the first dose of Moderna's vaccine, which is given in two shots, with 28 days between inoculations, but there was not enough information on longer term protection. It said that vaccine efficacy was 80.2 per cent in participants who only received one dose at the time of the interim analysis, which was based on data collected as of November 7. They said that serious side effects in the trial of the vaccine represented medical events that occur in the general population at a similar frequency as observed in the study. The FDA did flag the possibility that the vaccine was contributing to Bell's palsy, a type of facial paralysis also reported by participants in the Pfizer trial. Moderna reported four cases of Bell's palsy, including three among people who had the vaccine and 1 in the placebo group. The company said that three of the cases had resolved itself. Although the FDA said that the trial participants with Bell's palsy had predisposing factors, the "potential contribution of the vaccine to the manifestations of these events of facial palsy cannot be ruled out". Pfizer reported six cases of Bell's palsy, including 4 in the vaccine arm, which it said was a rate typical of the general population. Moderna shares, which have risen nearly eight-fold this year up to Monday's closing price, were up 1.8 per cent before the bell.

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine shows 'no specific safety concerns', says US FDA

Natural disasters like wildfires which devastated parts of the United States and a&nbsp;record number of hurricanes in the Atlantic caused $76 billion in insured losses during 2020,&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;Re&nbsp;said on Tuesday.

The 40 per cent&nbsp;increase from $54 billion in 2019 dwarfed the $7 billion in man-made losses during 2020, the&nbsp;reinsurance company said in its sigma estimate for the year.

Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/double-crisis-natural-disasters-dont-stop-for-coronavirus-308890">Double crisis: Natural disasters don't stop for coronavirus</a>

Insurers covered less than half of the total losses, dishing out $83 billion, making 2020 the fifth-costliest year for the industry since 1970, Swiss Re said in a statement.

Disasters in the United States,&nbsp; severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires accounted for a full 70 percent of the $76 billion which went to cover losses in natural catastrophes.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/flooded-streets-trees-fall-down-as-hurricane-sally-makes-landfall-in-us-328179">Flooded streets, trees fall down as Hurricane Sally makes landfall in US</a>

In California, Oregon and Washington State, more&nbsp;than 800 wildfires burned close to 6 million acres, destroying thousands of structures and triggering billions in insured claims.

The North Atlantic hurricane season brought 30 named storms, causing $20 billion in insurance claims, the company said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/fans-are-drawing-parallels-between-v-for-vendetta-and-the-year-2020-heres-why-341245">Fans are drawing parallels between 'V for Vendetta' and the year 2020. Here's why</a>

Five storms hit Louisiana alone, although most of the landfalls did not hit densely populated areas,&nbsp;reducing the total level of insured losses from the $97 billion level seen in 2017.

Swiss Re cautioned that climate change was expected to exacerbate such perils, driving more extreme weather events such as wildfires and floods.

"As with COVID-19, climate change will be a huge test of global resilience," Jerome Jean Haegeli, Swiss Re group chief economist, said in the statement.

"But while COVID-19 has an expiry date, climate change does not, and failure to 'green' the global economic recovery now will increase costs for society in future," he warned.

Swiss Re said its estimates excluded claims related to the coronavirus pandemic.

This year has been marked by an extremely active North Atlantic hurricane season with a record 30 named storms, Swiss Re said. That includes five that made landfall in the US state of Louisiana alone,&nbsp;another record.

Swiss Re pointed out that most of the US landfalls did not hit densely populated areas this year, meaning insured losses from the hurricanes were relatively low at $20 billion.

That is far lower than during less active hurricane seasons that featured fewer but more devastating storms in the US at least, such as the $97 billion spent by insurers in 2017 to cover losses from Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and $87 billion in 2005 on Katrina.&nbsp;

"Large-scale climate conditions in the North Atlantic suggest elevated hurricane activity for 2021 and likely beyond," Martin Bertogg, head of catastrophe perils at Swiss Re, said in the statement.

"This increases the probability of a catastrophic landfall. Combined with the loss impact of secondary perils accelerated by climate change, insured catastrophe losses will only rise in the future," he warned.

"As with COVID-19, climate change will be a huge test of global&nbsp;resilience," said Jerome Jean Haegeli,&nbsp;Swiss&nbsp;Re&nbsp;Group Chief Economist.

"But while COVID-19 has an expiry date, climate change does not, and failure&nbsp;to 'green' the global economic&nbsp;recovery now will increase costs for society in future."

It noted its catastrophe loss estimates excluded claims&nbsp;related to COVID-19, which it said would take considerably longer than normal to assess and tally.

Natural disasters like wildfires which devastated parts of the United States and a record number of hurricanes in the Atlantic caused $76 billion in insured losses during 2020, Swiss Re said on Tuesday.

Natural disasters like wildfires which devastated parts of the United States and a record number of hurricanes in the Atlantic caused $76 billion in insured losses during 2020, Swiss Re said on Tuesday. The 40 per cent increase from $54 billion in 2019 dwarfed the $7 billion in man-made losses during 2020, the reinsurance company said in its sigma estimate for the year. Also read| Double crisis: Natural disasters don't stop for coronavirus Insurers covered less than half of the total losses, dishing out $83 billion, making 2020 the fifth-costliest year for the industry since 1970, Swiss Re said in a statement. Disasters in the United States, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires accounted for a full 70 percent of the $76 billion which went to cover losses in natural catastrophes. Also see: Flooded streets, trees fall down as Hurricane Sally makes landfall in US In California, Oregon and Washington State, more than 800 wildfires burned close to 6 million acres, destroying thousands of structures and triggering billions in insured claims. The North Atlantic hurricane season brought 30 named storms, causing $20 billion in insurance claims, the company said. Also read: Fans are drawing parallels between 'V for Vendetta' and the year 2020. Here's why Five storms hit Louisiana alone, although most of the landfalls did not hit densely populated areas, reducing the total level of insured losses from the $97 billion level seen in 2017. Swiss Re cautioned that climate change was expected to exacerbate such perils, driving more extreme weather events such as wildfires and floods. "As with COVID-19, climate change will be a huge test of global resilience," Jerome Jean Haegeli, Swiss Re group chief economist, said in the statement. "But while COVID-19 has an expiry date, climate change does not, and failure to 'green' the global economic recovery now will increase costs for society in future," he warned. Swiss Re said its estimates excluded claims related to the coronavirus pandemic. This year has been marked by an extremely active North Atlantic hurricane season with a record 30 named storms, Swiss Re said. That includes five that made landfall in the US state of Louisiana alone, another record. Swiss Re pointed out that most of the US landfalls did not hit densely populated areas this year, meaning insured losses from the hurricanes were relatively low at $20 billion. That is far lower than during less active hurricane seasons that featured fewer but more devastating storms in the US at least, such as the $97 billion spent by insurers in 2017 to cover losses from Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and $87 billion in 2005 on Katrina. "Large-scale climate conditions in the North Atlantic suggest elevated hurricane activity for 2021 and likely beyond," Martin Bertogg, head of catastrophe perils at Swiss Re, said in the statement. "This increases the probability of a catastrophic landfall. Combined with the loss impact of secondary perils accelerated by climate change, insured catastrophe losses will only rise in the future," he warned. "As with COVID-19, climate change will be a huge test of global resilience," said Jerome Jean Haegeli, Swiss Re Group Chief Economist. "But while COVID-19 has an expiry date, climate change does not, and failure to 'green' the global economic recovery now will increase costs for society in future." It noted its catastrophe loss estimates excluded claims related to COVID-19, which it said would take considerably longer than normal to assess and tally.

From storms to wildfires: Natural and man-made disasters cost insurance industry $187 billion in 2020

Brazil's health regulator on Monday accused China of not being transparent in efforts to win emergency approval for its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">Covid-19 vaccine</a> CoronaVac, currently in the final phase of trials in the hard-hit country.

In a statement, Anvisa warned against the "influence of issues related to geopolitics" in promoting vaccines. "The Chinese criteria applied to grant the authorization of emergency use in China are not transparent," it said.&nbsp;

CoronaVac, produced by the Chinese private laboratory Sinovac in collaboration with the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo, has been the subject of heated political debate in Brazil.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-will-not-buy-chinas-sinovac-vaccine-says-president-jair-bolsonaro-336929">Brazil will not buy China's Sinovac vaccine, says President Jair Bolsonaro</a>

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a consistent critic of China, has repeatedly cast doubt on the CoronaVac vaccine being developed by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Meanwhile, Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said the state expected to start vaccinating its residents in January, though&nbsp;Brazil's most populous state will not be able to use CoronaVac until it is approved by Anvisa.

"Brazil&nbsp;is the international leader in the evaluation process for CoronaVac," Anvisa said in a statement on its website on Monday.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/why-is-china-conducting-phase-3-trials-in-other-countries-chinas-vaccine-test-to-start-in-brazil-315027/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The vaccine has had an emergency use authorization in China since June of this year. The Chinese criteria for granting emergency use authorization are not transparent, and there is no available information about the criteria currently in use by Chinese authorities to make these decisions."

China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbing said on Tuesday China had been attaching "great importance" to the safety and efficacy of its vaccines.

While&nbsp;Brazil's health regulator has long been largely apolitical, Bolsonaro has been appointing allies to it in recent months, stoking fears among health professionals that its decisions may be affected by political considerations.

At least tens of thousands of people have taken the Sinovac vaccine in China's emergency use program, officially launched in July, that targets limited groups of high-risk people.

China has not made public details of how it determines whether a novel coronavirus vaccine is qualified for emergency use. Its National Health Commission did not respond to a request for comment.

A Sinovac representative declined to comment but referred to a news conference in October at which a health official said the emergency inoculation was launched after stringent reviews and in accordance with China's laws and World Health Organization's rules.

These vaccines showed "very good safety and immunogenicity readings in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials", the official said at the time.

CoronaVac is undergoing Phase 3 testing in Sao Paulo.

The Brazilian government has said that it has guaranteed access to 300 million vaccine doses, primarily those developed by the University of Oxford in alliance with the AstraZeneca group and the Brazilian health institute Fiocruz.&nbsp;

It has also negotiated another 70 million doses from Pfizer.&nbsp;

Bolsonaro's administration presented a vaccination "plan" last week, but did not say when the roll-out would begin.

The Supreme Court has ordered the government to announce the start date before 1650 GMT Wednesday.

Brazil has been hit hard by the pandemic, which has already claimed more than 181,000 lives and infected almost seven million people.

Brazil's health regulator on Monday accused China of not being transparent in efforts to win emergency approval for its Covid-19 vaccine CoronaVac, currently in the final phase of trials in the hard-hit country.

Brazil's health regulator on Monday accused China of not being transparent in efforts to win emergency approval for its Covid-19 vaccine CoronaVac, currently in the final phase of trials in the hard-hit country. In a statement, Anvisa warned against the "influence of issues related to geopolitics" in promoting vaccines. "The Chinese criteria applied to grant the authorization of emergency use in China are not transparent," it said. CoronaVac, produced by the Chinese private laboratory Sinovac in collaboration with the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo, has been the subject of heated political debate in Brazil. Also read: Brazil will not buy China's Sinovac vaccine, says President Jair Bolsonaro Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a consistent critic of China, has repeatedly cast doubt on the CoronaVac vaccine being developed by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Meanwhile, Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said the state expected to start vaccinating its residents in January, though Brazil's most populous state will not be able to use CoronaVac until it is approved by Anvisa. "Brazil is the international leader in the evaluation process for CoronaVac," Anvisa said in a statement on its website on Monday. "The vaccine has had an emergency use authorization in China since June of this year. The Chinese criteria for granting emergency use authorization are not transparent, and there is no available information about the criteria currently in use by Chinese authorities to make these decisions." China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbing said on Tuesday China had been attaching "great importance" to the safety and efficacy of its vaccines. While Brazil's health regulator has long been largely apolitical, Bolsonaro has been appointing allies to it in recent months, stoking fears among health professionals that its decisions may be affected by political considerations. At least tens of thousands of people have taken the Sinovac vaccine in China's emergency use program, officially launched in July, that targets limited groups of high-risk people. China has not made public details of how it determines whether a novel coronavirus vaccine is qualified for emergency use. Its National Health Commission did not respond to a request for comment. A Sinovac representative declined to comment but referred to a news conference in October at which a health official said the emergency inoculation was launched after stringent reviews and in accordance with China's laws and World Health Organization's rules. These vaccines showed "very good safety and immunogenicity readings in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials", the official said at the time. CoronaVac is undergoing Phase 3 testing in Sao Paulo. The Brazilian government has said that it has guaranteed access to 300 million vaccine doses, primarily those developed by the University of Oxford in alliance with the AstraZeneca group and the Brazilian health institute Fiocruz. It has also negotiated another 70 million doses from Pfizer. Bolsonaro's administration presented a vaccination "plan" last week, but did not say when the roll-out would begin. The Supreme Court has ordered the government to announce the start date before 1650 GMT Wednesday. Brazil has been hit hard by the pandemic, which has already claimed more than 181,000 lives and infected almost seven million people.

Brazil drug agency Anvisa accuses China of being ambiguous on COVID-19 vaccine emergency use

Researchers at&nbsp;Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have built up a coronavirus mortality risk calculator&nbsp;to help prioritise certain groups for vaccination.

"The scientists who built up the adding machine anticipate that it should be helpful to general wellbeing experts for evaluating mortality chances in various networks, and for organizing certain gatherings for immunisation as Covid-19 antibodies become accessible," according to an official delivery.&nbsp;

The coronavirus mortality risk calculator assesses its results&nbsp;by analysing sociodemographic and pre-existing conditions for the population in a country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-western-countries-hoard-vaccines-9-out-of-10-in-low-income-countries-to-miss-out-348585">As western countries hoard vaccines, 9 out of 10 in low-income countries to miss out</a>

The calculator&nbsp; is as of now utilised for assessing Covid-19 mortality chances in people across the United States. The adding machine depends on a calculation that uses data from existing enormous examinations to gauge the mortality danger of Covid-19 for people dependent on age, sexual orientation, sociodemographic factors, and diverse ailments.&nbsp;

"Our number cruncher speaks to a more quantitative methodology and should supplement other proposed subjective rules, for example, those by the National Academy of Sciences and Medicine, for deciding individual and network chances and distributing immunizations," said study senior creator Nilanjan Chatterjee, Ph.D., Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the divisions of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Bloomberg School.&nbsp;

The investigation enumerating the danger adding machine is introduced in a paper distributed in the diary Nature Medicine.&nbsp;

The scientists likewise built up an intelligent guide to show numbers and the extent of people at different degrees of dangers across urban communities, areas, and States inside the United States as a team with PolicyMap Inc.&nbsp;

"Individuals may see comprehensively that with a previous condition, for example, heftiness or diabetes, for instance, they are at higher danger, however with our number cruncher, they should have the option to comprehend their danger such that considers various elements," Chatterjee said.&nbsp;

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently conceded emergency use authorisation (EUA) to American drug manufacturer Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">Covid-19 vaccine</a>.&nbsp;

Recently, the UK additionally allowed a brief authorisation for crisis use for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 mRNA immunization (BNT162b2), against Covid-19. Different nations, for example, Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico have endorsed the Pfizer-BioNTech antibody according to past reports.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have built up a coronavirus mortality risk calculator to help prioritise certain groups for vaccination.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have built up a coronavirus mortality risk calculator to help prioritise certain groups for vaccination. "The scientists who built up the adding machine anticipate that it should be helpful to general wellbeing experts for evaluating mortality chances in various networks, and for organizing certain gatherings for immunisation as Covid-19 antibodies become accessible," according to an official delivery. The coronavirus mortality risk calculator assesses its results by analysing sociodemographic and pre-existing conditions for the population in a country. Also read: As western countries hoard vaccines, 9 out of 10 in low-income countries to miss out The calculator is as of now utilised for assessing Covid-19 mortality chances in people across the United States. The adding machine depends on a calculation that uses data from existing enormous examinations to gauge the mortality danger of Covid-19 for people dependent on age, sexual orientation, sociodemographic factors, and diverse ailments. "Our number cruncher speaks to a more quantitative methodology and should supplement other proposed subjective rules, for example, those by the National Academy of Sciences and Medicine, for deciding individual and network chances and distributing immunizations," said study senior creator Nilanjan Chatterjee, Ph.D., Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the divisions of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Bloomberg School. The investigation enumerating the danger adding machine is introduced in a paper distributed in the diary Nature Medicine. The scientists likewise built up an intelligent guide to show numbers and the extent of people at different degrees of dangers across urban communities, areas, and States inside the United States as a team with PolicyMap Inc. "Individuals may see comprehensively that with a previous condition, for example, heftiness or diabetes, for instance, they are at higher danger, however with our number cruncher, they should have the option to comprehend their danger such that considers various elements," Chatterjee said. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently conceded emergency use authorisation (EUA) to American drug manufacturer Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech for their Covid-19 vaccine. Recently, the UK additionally allowed a brief authorisation for crisis use for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 mRNA immunization (BNT162b2), against Covid-19. Different nations, for example, Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico have endorsed the Pfizer-BioNTech antibody according to past reports.

Scientists develop coronavirus risk calculator to determine who should get vaccine first

Scientists in Japan said Tuesday they were left "speechless" when they saw how much asteroid dust was inside a capsule delivered by the Hayabusa-2 space probe in an unprecedented mission.

The Hayabusa-2 space probe collected surface dust and pristine material last year from the asteroid Ryugu, around 300 million kilometres (200 million miles) away, during two daring phases of its six-year mission.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-pics-after-a-six-year-long-journey-capsule-carrying-asteroid-samples-arrives-in-japan-348342">In pics: After a six year-long journey, capsule carrying asteroid samples arrives in Japan</a>

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said its staff initially spotted some black particles sitting on the bottom of the capsule's sample-catcher when they pulled out the container on Monday.

By Tuesday, scientists found more of the soil and gas samples in a compartment that stored those from the first of Hayabusa's two touchdowns on the asteroid last year.

''We have confirmed a good amount of sand apparently collected from the asteroid Ryugu, along with gases,''&nbsp;JAXA Hayabusa2 project manager Yuichi Tsuda said in a video message during an online news conference.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japanese-spacecraft-hayabusa-2-on-its-way-back-to-the-earth-347838/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

''The samples from outside of our planet, which we have long dreamed of, are now in our hands.''

Tsuda called the successful return of asteroid soil and gas samples a major scientific milestone."

The pan-shaped capsule, 40 centimeters (15 inches) in diameter, was dropped by Hayabusa2 from space to a predetermined spot in a sparsely populated Australian desert on Dec. 6 at the end of its six-year round trip to Ryugu, more than 300 million kilometers (190 million miles) from Earth. 
The capsule arrived in Japan last Tuesday for research that will scientists hope will provide insight into the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.

Hirotaka Sawada, a JAXA scientist, was the first to look inside the capsule's sample-catcher. Sawada said he was ''almost speechless''&nbsp;with surprise and joy when he found that the samples inside included were just the expected dust size but also the size of grain and pebbles.

Soil samples in photos shown in Tuesday's presentation looked like dark coffee grounds or black sesame seeds.

Scientists are hoping samples from the asteroid's subsurface can provide information from billions of years ago that are unaffected by space radiation and other environmental factors. JAXA scientists say they are particularly interested in organic materials in the samples to learn about how they were distributed in the solar system and if they are related to life on Earth.

Sei-ichiro Watanabe, a Nagoya University earth and environmental scientist working with JAXA, said having more sample material to work with than expected is great news as it will expand the scope of studies.

The samples were gathered from two touchdowns that Hayabusa2 made last year on Ryugu. The landings were more difficult than expected because of the asteroid's extremely rocky surface.

The first landing collected samples from Ryugu's surface and the second from underground. Each was stored separately. JAXA said it will look into another compartment, used for a second touchdown, next week, and will continue an initial examination ahead of the later studies of the material.

Following studies in Japan, some of the samples will be shared with NASA and other international groups for additional research beginning in 2022.&nbsp;

Scientists in Japan said Tuesday they were left "speechless" when they saw how much asteroid dust was inside a capsule delivered by the Hayabusa-2 space probe in an unprecedented mission.

Scientists in Japan said Tuesday they were left "speechless" when they saw how much asteroid dust was inside a capsule delivered by the Hayabusa-2 space probe in an unprecedented mission. The Hayabusa-2 space probe collected surface dust and pristine material last year from the asteroid Ryugu, around 300 million kilometres (200 million miles) away, during two daring phases of its six-year mission. Also see: In pics: After a six year-long journey, capsule carrying asteroid samples arrives in Japan The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said its staff initially spotted some black particles sitting on the bottom of the capsule's sample-catcher when they pulled out the container on Monday. By Tuesday, scientists found more of the soil and gas samples in a compartment that stored those from the first of Hayabusa's two touchdowns on the asteroid last year. ''We have confirmed a good amount of sand apparently collected from the asteroid Ryugu, along with gases,'' JAXA Hayabusa2 project manager Yuichi Tsuda said in a video message during an online news conference. ''The samples from outside of our planet, which we have long dreamed of, are now in our hands.'' Tsuda called the successful return of asteroid soil and gas samples a major scientific milestone." The pan-shaped capsule, 40 centimeters (15 inches) in diameter, was dropped by Hayabusa2 from space to a predetermined spot in a sparsely populated Australian desert on Dec. 6 at the end of its six-year round trip to Ryugu, more than 300 million kilometers (190 million miles) from Earth. The capsule arrived in Japan last Tuesday for research that will scientists hope will provide insight into the origins of the solar system and life on Earth. Hirotaka Sawada, a JAXA scientist, was the first to look inside the capsule's sample-catcher. Sawada said he was ''almost speechless'' with surprise and joy when he found that the samples inside included were just the expected dust size but also the size of grain and pebbles. Soil samples in photos shown in Tuesday's presentation looked like dark coffee grounds or black sesame seeds. Scientists are hoping samples from the asteroid's subsurface can provide information from billions of years ago that are unaffected by space radiation and other environmental factors. JAXA scientists say they are particularly interested in organic materials in the samples to learn about how they were distributed in the solar system and if they are related to life on Earth. Sei-ichiro Watanabe, a Nagoya University earth and environmental scientist working with JAXA, said having more sample material to work with than expected is great news as it will expand the scope of studies. The samples were gathered from two touchdowns that Hayabusa2 made last year on Ryugu. The landings were more difficult than expected because of the asteroid's extremely rocky surface. The first landing collected samples from Ryugu's surface and the second from underground. Each was stored separately. JAXA said it will look into another compartment, used for a second touchdown, next week, and will continue an initial examination ahead of the later studies of the material. Following studies in Japan, some of the samples will be shared with NASA and other international groups for additional research beginning in 2022.

Asteroid samples from Hayabusa-2 space probe leave Japanese scientists 'speechless'

Ultraviolet (UV) light-transmitting diodes (UV-LEDs) can kill the novel coronavirus&nbsp;proficiently, rapidly, and economically, as per an investigation that says the new development could be introduced in cooling and water frameworks.&nbsp;

The research, published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, evaluated the cleansing proficiency of UV-LED illumination at various frequencies on an infection from the group of Covids, which incorporates the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2.&nbsp;

This is the first study conducted on the disinfection efficiency of UV-LED irradiation at different wavelengths or frequencies on a virus from the family of coronaviruses.&nbsp;

"The whole world is presently searching for successful answers to purify the Covid," said Hadas Mamane, co-creator of the investigation from the American Friends of Tel Aviv University in the US.&nbsp;

To sterilise a transport, train, sports corridor, or plane by compound splashing, the researchers said actual labor is required alongside an ideal opportunity for the synthetic substances to follow up on a superficial level.&nbsp;

"Sanitisation frameworks dependent on LED bulbs, notwithstanding, can be introduced in the ventilation framework and forced-air system, for instance, and clean the air sucked in and afterward produced into the room," Ms. Mamane said.&nbsp;

"We found that it is very easy to execute the Covid utilizing LED bulbs that transmit bright light. We murdered the infections utilizing less expensive and all the more promptly accessible LED bulbs, which burn-through little energy and don't contain mercury like ordinary bulbs," she added.&nbsp;

The researchers accept the exploration has business and cultural ramifications, given the far-reaching utilization of such LED bulbs.&nbsp;

With essential changes, researchers said the bulbs can be introduced in cooling, vacuum, and water frameworks, and in this way have the option to effectively disinfect enormous surfaces and spaces from the novel coronavirus.

The specialists said the framework should be planned so an individual isn't straightforwardly presented to the light, adding that it is perilous to utilize the UV-LED to clean surfaces inside homes.

Ultraviolet (UV) light-transmitting diodes (UV-LEDs) can kill the novel coronavirus proficiently, rapidly, and economically, as per an investigation that says the new development could be introduced in cooling and water frameworks.

Ultraviolet (UV) light-transmitting diodes (UV-LEDs) can kill the novel coronavirus proficiently, rapidly, and economically, as per an investigation that says the new development could be introduced in cooling and water frameworks. The research, published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, evaluated the cleansing proficiency of UV-LED illumination at various frequencies on an infection from the group of Covids, which incorporates the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2. This is the first study conducted on the disinfection efficiency of UV-LED irradiation at different wavelengths or frequencies on a virus from the family of coronaviruses. "The whole world is presently searching for successful answers to purify the Covid," said Hadas Mamane, co-creator of the investigation from the American Friends of Tel Aviv University in the US. To sterilise a transport, train, sports corridor, or plane by compound splashing, the researchers said actual labor is required alongside an ideal opportunity for the synthetic substances to follow up on a superficial level. "Sanitisation frameworks dependent on LED bulbs, notwithstanding, can be introduced in the ventilation framework and forced-air system, for instance, and clean the air sucked in and afterward produced into the room," Ms. Mamane said. "We found that it is very easy to execute the Covid utilizing LED bulbs that transmit bright light. We murdered the infections utilizing less expensive and all the more promptly accessible LED bulbs, which burn-through little energy and don't contain mercury like ordinary bulbs," she added. The researchers accept the exploration has business and cultural ramifications, given the far-reaching utilization of such LED bulbs. With essential changes, researchers said the bulbs can be introduced in cooling, vacuum, and water frameworks, and in this way have the option to effectively disinfect enormous surfaces and spaces from the novel coronavirus. The specialists said the framework should be planned so an individual isn't straightforwardly presented to the light, adding that it is perilous to utilize the UV-LED to clean surfaces inside homes.

Coronavirus can be killed efficiently, quickly, and cheaply using UV-LEDs: Study

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Vyomica Berry

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