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Queen Elizabeth’s Death, Great Loss to the World, Says Abdulsalami
Former Military Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar on Friday described the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as a “great loss” for the entire world.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday, the ex-Nigerian leader expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Queen Elizabeth.
“The death of the queen, who led Britain through turbulent times in the world is a great loss not only for the British people, but also the international community,” he said.
Abubakar lauded the queen’s extremely important role in world peace and stability.
“My family’s thoughts and prayers are with the new King Charles III, the entire Royal Family and all commonwealth nations at this time of mourning and sadness.
“The beloved Queen represented the UK and Commonwealth with balance and wisdom.
“She guaranteed stability in moments of crisis and kept alive the values of tradition in a society in constant and profound evolution.
“Her spirit of service, her dedication and the deep dignity with which she held office for such a long time has been a constant source of admiration for generations to come.
“May the Queen rest in eternal peace,’’ Abdulsalami said. (NAN)
TIME
People Age Out of Crime. Prison Sentences Should Reflect That
There’s no question: Our legal system loves long prison sentences. From 2000 to 2019, the number of people serving sentences of 10 years or longer exploded from 587,000 to 773,000, according to a new report from The Sentencing Project. Those 773,000 people account for more than half of the U.S. prison population.
Extreme sentences have become so commonplace in the U.S. that 10 years can seem like a relatively minor punishment, perhaps woefully inadequate for serious offenses. But 10 years is an enormously long period of time – one in which people can experience profound growth, especially in their younger years.
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That’s why we believe incarcerated people should have the opportunity to have their sentence re-evaluated after 10 years. In fact, the American Bar Association just passed a resolution recommending precisely that.
Make no mistake. This does not mean opening the prison doors for everyone after a decade. It just means giving incarcerated people the chance to show how they’ve changed and why they deserve a second look. An external body (a judge, for example) would then determine whether to reduce the sentence.
From a scientific perspective, this model makes a lot of sense. Everyone may know that young people are more likely to commit crimes than older people. But it’s important to know why. It’s largely because the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, problem-solving, and impulse control – does not fully develop until the mid-20s. So young people often exhibit immaturity, irresponsibility, recklessness, and susceptibility to negative influences and outside pressure – which the Supreme Court has recognized in cases involving extreme sentencing of youth. In 2010 in Graham v. Florida, for example, the Court wrote that because young people “have lessened culpability they are less deserving of the most serious forms of punishment.”
Think about it this way: Many people in their 30s would never dream of repeating the choices they made a decade earlier.
An overwhelming amount of research confirms that people age out of crime. It’s also clear that people released after decades of imprisonment rarely commit new crimes upon release, even those who had been convicted of the most serious crimes.
Revisiting sentences is not just about showing mercy; the entire community stands to benefit from the abundance of talent wasted behind bars. Many incarcerated people take classes, learn new skills, and earn degrees while in prison. Returning citizens often serve as credible messengers to guide at-risk youth, work as violence interrupters, and help promote public safety. They’re hard-working, tax-paying community members.
They also heal communities. Many incarcerated people have been separated from their children and aging parents for years or decades. Second looks can return fathers and mothers to support their sons and daughters, and sons and daughters to act as caregivers to aging parents.
Consider just one example of an incarcerated person who we know is truly deserving of a second chance. RC was 17 years old when an older man assaulted his friend during a dice game in New York. RC reacted by getting a gun and firing a shot that killed the man. At sentencing, the judge referred to RC as an irredeemable menace and in sentencing him to 25 years to life stated that RC should never again walk free. Ten years later, RC became a prison hospice worker, mobility aide, and sign language interpreter, revered by prisoners and staff alike. He languishes in prison with no mechanism for anyone to see the man he has become, one of many people we have met who would be an upstanding citizen outside prison bars.
Fortunately, momentum is growing to make that possible. In 2019, Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Karen Bass introduced the Second Look Act to permit p[...]
TIME
When Will Charles Officially Be Crowned King?
Charles Mountbatten-Windsor has waited more than 70 years to fulfill the job that he was born to do. With the passing of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday, the former Prince of Wales has automatically become Britain’s next sovereign. But the process of his coronation, and the national period of mourning that will precede it, has only just begun.
Britain has officially entered a period of national mourning, which will last until the date of the Queen’s state funeral in around 10 days’ time. In the interim period, several ceremonial events will be underway, including the formal accession ceremony for King Charles III at St. James’s Palace on Saturday, where he will formally be proclaimed the new monarch. Although the U.K. parliament and its devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are now officially adjourned, lawmakers will gather in the House of Commons on Friday and Saturday to pay tribute to the Queen. Flags will continue to be flown at half-mast. The official guidance set out by the British government on Friday said that there is no obligation for major events to be canceled or postponed during the mourning period, though many already have.
[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Read More:Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Steadfast Monarch, DiesWhile Charles will already be assuming his royal duties as the monarch, including an address to the nation on Friday at 6 p.m. local time, his symbolic accession to the throne, the coronation, will have to wait. This is partly a matter of logistics. Although much of what happens after the monarch’s passing has been meticulously planned, King Charles III’s coronation will require even more detailed planning.
The event, which is set to be televised as Queen Elizabeth II’s was, involves more than a thousand years of tradition and is expected to be attended by world leaders and representatives of the Commonwealth. But the event is also expected to be shorter and less expensive than that of Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953, according to The Telegraph, a decision that may reflect the Royal Family’s desire to reflect a more modern, slimmed-down monarchy. A modest coronation could also be seen as more appropriate given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in Britain, which has prompted the British government to announce a major economic intervention to keep energy prices down during winter. (Unlike royal weddings, the coronation is paid for by the British government.)
While the coronation is a highly symbolic event with plenty of pomp and pageantry, it is also considered a “solemn religious ceremony,” according to the Royal Family. The event will be held in Westminster Abbey and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the principle leader of the Church of England, of which King Charles III is now its spiritual head.
But it’s also a matter of sensitivity: With the nation still grieving Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, it could be seen as inappropriate to hold the coronation too soon after her death. The Queen waited a full 16 months after her accession to the throne for her coronation to take place. Although no date has yet been set for King Charles’ III coronation, it does have an official code name: Operation Golden Orb.
TIME
After Queen Elizabeth II’s Death, Many Indians Are Demanding the Return of the Kohinoor Diamond
Shortly after British monarch Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Sept. 8, the word “Kohinoor” began trending on Indian Twitter.
It was a reference to one of the world’s most famous gems. The Kohinoor diamond is just one of 2,800 stones set in the crown made for Elizabeth’s mother, known as the Queen Mother—but the 105-carat oval-shaped brilliant is the proverbial jewel in the crown.
In India, it is notorious for the way in which it was acquired by the British. The history of the KohinoorWhen it was mined in what is now modern-day Andhra Pradesh, during the Kakatiyan dynasty of the 12th-14th centuries, it was believed to have been 793 carats uncut. The earliest record of its possession puts it in the hands of Moguls in the 16th century. Then the Persians seized it, and then the Afghans.
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The Sikh Maharajah, Ranjit Singh, brought it back to India after taking it from Afghan leader Shah Shujah Durrani. It was then acquired by the British during the annexation of Punjab. The East India Company got hold of the stone in the late 1840s, after forcing the 10-year-old Maharajah Dunjeep Singh to surrender his lands and possessions.
Read More: Countries May Cut Ties With Monarchy After Queen’s Death
The company then presented the gem to Queen Victoria. Prince Albert, her consort, asked for it to be recut and it was set in the crowns of Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary before being placed in the Queen Mother’s crown in 1937.
The Queen Mother wore part of the crown at her daughter’s coronation in 1953. The Kohinoor has been among the British crown jewels since then, but governments in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India have all laid claim to the diamond.
https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-52102893.jpg?w=560&w=560 <figcaptionTim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images The crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, containing the famous Kohinoor diamond, pictured on April 19, 1994. Britain’s controversial possession of the Kohinoor diamondWhile no plans for the future of the gem have been disclosed, the prospect of it remaining in the U.K. has prompted many Twitter users in India to demand its return.
“If the King is not going to wear Kohinoor, give it back,” wrote one.
Another said the diamond “was stolen” by the British, who “created wealth” from “death,” “famine” and “looting.”
It is not the first time that the diamond’s return has been sought. Upon India’s independence in 1947, the government asked for the diamond back. India made another demand in the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. These demands fell on deaf ears, with the U.K. arguing that there are no legal grounds for the Kohinoor’s restitution to India.
British-Indian author and political commentator Saurav Dutt says the chances of the U.K. returning the jewel are slim. More from TIMERead More: Why King Charles III Was an Unpopular Heir
True, the British recently facilitated the return of the Benin Bronzes—72 artifacts looted by British soldiers in the 19th century—to the Nigerian government. But Dutt says the British royal establishment is still “married to this romantic version of empire, even though it is long dead, and has lost its power.” The Kohinoor is a symbol of that power, Dutt argues, and in turning it over, he believes the Royals “would essentially be eviscerating themselves.”
At the very least, King Charles III must acknowledge the “black history” of the Kohinoor diamond, Dutt says.
“A recognition of the fact that it was obtained through stealth and deception would be a significant step at this stage, that lays the groundwork for the next generation to be able to give it back,” he tells TIME.
Many Indians may not have that patience. In the wake of the Queen’s death, there is only one demand on Indian Twitter: “Now can we get our #Kohinoor back?”
Voice of America
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UN Chief: Flood-Ravaged Pakistan Wrongly Attacked by 'Blind' Nature
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, while referring to Pakistan’s catastrophic floods, said Friday that “humanity has declared war on nature and nature is striking back.”
Guterres spoke in Islamabad at the start of his two-day visit to express solidarity with the flood-ravaged South Asian nation. He said nature is blind and it is not striking back at those who have contributed more to the war on nature.
“It’s like nature has attacked the wrong targets. It should be those that are more responsible for climate change that should have to face this kind of challenge,” Guterres said.
He described Pakistan among the places most affected by the consequences of climate change.
The country of about 220 million people contributes less than 1% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, but it is constantly listed among the top 10 countries vulnerable to climate change.
“So, there is an obligation of the international community to massively support Pakistan in these circumstances, and there is an obligation of the international community to take seriously the need to drastically reduce emissions," he said.
Guterres renewed his call for increasing international support to help Pakistan deal with the emergency, promising mobilization of more U.N. resources.
"We know that our contribution is limited. We know that what we do is a drop in the ocean of the needs, but we are totally committed,” he said.
Pakistan is currently being hit by catastrophic and unprecedented floods stemming from historic monsoon rains that began in mid-June. The U.N. says the seasonal downpours "have broken a century-long record" and dumped more than five times the 30-year average for rainfall in some parts of the country.
The flooding has claimed the lives of about 1,400 people, including nearly 500 children, and has affected 33 million others, with nearly 700,000 people made homeless, and has drenched one-third of Pakistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. Nearly 13,000 people have been injured and upwards of 750,000 livestock have perished in floodwaters,
Pakistani officials say damage to infrastructure and property also has been colossal, as more than 1.7 million homes have been washed away or damaged. The flooding has turned most of southern Sindh province, one of the hardest-hit regions, into an “ocean of water,” according to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman.
The U.N. has called for $160 million in international assistance to help the flood victims. The World Health Organization has said more than 6.4 million flood victims need humanitarian support.
The National Disaster Management Authority, in its latest situation report, said the raging floodwaters have washed away 246 bridges, nearly 7,000 kilometers of roads, and swamped more than 809,370 hectares of farmland across the country. Officials estimate the disaster could have cost the country between $15 billion and $20 billion in losses, and the reconstruction process could take years.
More than 50 international humanitarian relief flights have arrived in Pakistan as of Friday from countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, China, France, Iran, Britain, Azerbaijan, Norway, the United States and Kazakhstan.
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Android 13 QPR1 adds animation to Quick Settings toggles - 9to5Google
1. Android 13 QPR1 adds animation to Quick Settings toggles 9to5Google
2. Here's what's new in Android 13 QPR1 Beta 1 Android Police
3. Google’s unannounced “felix” and “lynx” devices show up in Android 13 QPR1 Beta 1 XDA Developers
4. Upcoming Pixel tablet and dock appear in new Android 13 animations 9to5Google
5. Hidden code shows Face Unlock is coming to the Pixel 6 Pro PhoneArena
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Post Politics Now: Biden heading to battleground state of Ohio to tout semiconductor law - The Washington Post
1. Post Politics Now: Biden heading to battleground state of Ohio to tout semiconductor law The Washington Post
2. Intel's groundbreaking ceremony in central Ohio WBNS 10TV
3. Vulnerable Democrat who previously welcomed Biden won't say if she'll attend Friday event with president Fox News
4. What is the Midwest Semiconductor Network? Kristina M. Johnson The Columbus Dispatch
5. Road closures around Intel site because of President Biden's visit to central Ohio WBNS 10TV
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Camilla, King Charles' longtime love, has a divisive history. What do we know about the Queen Consort? - CNN
1. Camilla, King Charles' longtime love, has a divisive history. What do we know about the Queen Consort? CNN
2. The making of 'Queen Camilla' Reuters
3. With Queen Elizabeth's Death, Indians Want Kohinoor Returned TIME
4. Queen Consort Camilla Meets With Meets Crowds At Buckingham Palace Forbes Breaking News
5. What is queen consort? A look at the title King Charles' wife Camilla was given after Queen Elizabeth's death Fox News
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NASA spacecraft set to intentionally crash into an asteroid to help save Earth - Fox Weather
1. NASA spacecraft set to intentionally crash into an asteroid to help save Earth Fox Weather
2. Asteroid-slamming DART spacecraft catches 1st photo of target Space.com
3. Will 1614-foot asteroid Bennu ever crash into Earth? NASA's OSIRIS-REx craft watching closely HT Tech
4. NASA Asteroid-Smashing DART Mission Snaps First Look at Its Target CNET
5. NASA's DART spacecraft captures images of its target asteroid 20 million miles away Interesting Engineering
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his own party,” according to Sanjay Kumar at the Center for the Study of Developing Societies in New Delhi. “That is the biggest crisis facing the Congress,” he said.
Other analysts agree. They say, while the campaign marks a starting point to revive the party, it has simply not done enough in recent years to offer a credible alternative to the BJP and to Modi, whose rankings continue to stay high despite such problems as mounting unemployment and inflation.
“Rahul Gandhi simply has not clicked with the people of India. And the Congress Party is showing little signs of reviving. It has been accused of becoming a party that is flabby, stagnant, a party of the drawing room, used to being in power while the leadership is accused of entitlement in a young, aspirational India,” said independent political analyst Neerja Chowdhury. “To hit the road again and go back to the people is a good idea but it is uncertain whether it will work,” she said.
The jury is out on whether the march can help the Congress Party’s revival.
“Can this stand-alone event do it? There is a big question mark on it,” Kumar said, although, according to him, it could “trigger a momentum in favor of the party and have some positive impact on its image if not its electoral prospects.”
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This 'CSI: Miami' actress was threatened by a stalker for 12 years. The FBI caught him after he left his DNA on a fast-food straw - CNN
This 'CSI: Miami' actress was threatened by a stalker for 12 years. The FBI caught him after he left his DNA on a fast-food straw CNNView Full Coverage on Google News
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Shares of Smith & Wesson fall after gun maker reports drop in demand - CNBC
1. Shares of Smith & Wesson fall after gun maker reports drop in demand CNBC
2. Smith & Wesson's sales plunge to lowest level in 13 years, stock falls toward 2-year low MarketWatch
3. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial Results Yahoo Finance
4. Smith & Wesson shares drop as report shows weaker gun demand Reuters
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'Substantial victory' for Kyiv as Russian front crumbles near Kharkiv - Reuters
1. 'Substantial victory' for Kyiv as Russian front crumbles near Kharkiv Reuters
2. Ukraine launches surprise counterattacks against Russian troops while they're distracted in the south CNBC
3. Ukrainian soldiers advance 30 miles in 3 days in Kharkiv amid major counter-offensive Fox News
4. Ukraine has retaken 1,000 square kilometres in a week - Zelensky BBC
5. Top Russian Commander of Invading Army Captured by Ukraine—Report Newsweek
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Voice of America
Rights Groups Say Zambia's Defamation Law Is Used to Silence Critics of President
Zambian rights groups are calling on the government to make good on a vow to repeal a defamation law they say is being used to silence critics of President Hakainde Hichilema. The call comes after Zambian police arrested an opposition leader this month under the colonial-era law for insulting the president.
Zambian court Tuesday charged the leader of the opposition Patriots for Economic Progress party, Sean Tembo, with hate speech, which carries a punishment of a fine of up to $6,000 and two years in prison if he is found guilty.
The charge followed Tembo’s September 1 arrest after he posted online criticism of President Hakainde Hichilema’s monthly fuel price hikes, comparing them to menstruation.
While the charge was reduced, Zambian rights groups note the arrest was the latest carried out under a harsh, colonial-era law against defaming the president.
The 1965 law carries a punishment of up to three years in prison for insults against the president and has been used by past governments to silence critics.
Campaigning for president in last year’s election, which he won, Hichilema promised to revoke the law.
In the past year, though, rights groups say Zambian police arrested 12 people under the law, including members of opposition political parties. Two were released, six were jailed, and four, including Tembo, are awaiting trial.
Chama “Pilato” Fumba is a popular musician and director of the group People’s Action for Accountability and Good Governance in Zambia. He himself has been arrested several times for insulting Zambia’s president.
He says the defamation of the president as a law is very backwards and very unnecessary in a democratic country like ours. "This law should be scrapped off our constitution as it does not represent our interests and our aspirations as a country. It is a bad law that even good presidents can become bad presidents.”
Hichilema’s spokesman was quoted in Zambian media saying the president had nothing to do with opposition leader Tembo’s arrest.
Cornelius Mweetwa is a lawyer and spokesman for the ruling United Party for National Development.
He says Zambia’s opposition is being petty in complaining about the law.
“It has nothing to do with restriction of the freedom of speech because this is not a law promulgated and enacted under the new dawn administration. It is a law that has always been in force but one where now the opposition wants to take advantage of to be insulting the president when they are arrested so that they can say no change has occasioned in Zambia. Deep down their hearts they know that this is a different Zambia. This is Zambia that the people wanted and voted for.”
Mweetwa would not say whether the government plans to amend the controversial law.
Macdonald Chipenzi is director of Zambian rights group Governance, Elections, Advocacy, and Research Services.
He says the government will continue to abuse the defamation law if there are no campaigns to end it.
“So, the only thing that is required now is to call for the immediate review or reform of this law so that it is not infringing on the freedom of the people and also try to bring in the aspect of civic education on the responsibilities of citizens as they express themselves as they enjoy this freedom.”
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard met with Hichilema in Zambia in March and repeated their position that the law should be repealed, citing its past use against critics, opposition, and journalists.
The president said his government was committed to upholding human rights, liberties, and freedoms but would maintain strict adherence to the rule of law.
The Zambian court has not yet set a date for Tembo’s trial.
eople who have served 10 years in federal prison to petition a court for resentencing. In the meantime, federal court judges are utilizing the First Step Act of 2018 – which made changes to compassionate release that enabled an unprecedented number of people serving long sentences to be re-sentenced during the pandemic. Washington, DC, allows those who committed crimes as emerging adults—under age 25—to petition for resentencing after 15 years of imprisonment. And states such as Oregon, Illinois, and California allow individuals serving lengthy sentences to demonstrate that they’ve earned an opportunity for another review.
We’ve changed an enormous amount as a society over the past decade. And yet, our legal system assumes that people can’t do the same. That needs to change. Let’s build on the momentum and ensure all incarcerated people get a second look after 10 years.
bout this year’s flu season: Despite all the talk of pandemic fatigue, he thinks there’s been a cultural shift in the way people manage infectious diseases.
“People are, in general, much more aware now about the importance of infection control,” Webb says. “I would hope that we have a different culture in terms of recognizing that when you’re ill, it’s best to stay home.”
TIME
Flu and COVID-19 Could Make for a Rough Fall and Winter
The last two flu seasons in the U.S. were mercifully mild—one of the few silver linings of the pandemic, as COVID-19 mitigation measures likely also prevented many cases of influenza.
But our luck may run out this year. Australia, which often serves as an (imperfect) predictor of what’s to come for the U.S., has had its worst flu season in half a decade this year, CNN reports. Flu season also started early in Australia this year, another possible harbinger of what’s to come in the Northern Hemisphere.
Dr. Alicia Fry, chief of the epidemiology and prevention branch within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) influenza division, cautions that “if you’ve seen one flu season, you’ve seen one flu season”—meaning the virus is unpredictable and guesses about it aren’t always accurate. “Whether it will be a severe season or a mild season, or what to expect, or what viruses might circulate—that we really just don’t know,” Fry says.
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Nonetheless, there are some factors that could set up the U.S. for a more serious flu season this year, says Dr. Brandon Webb, an infectious disease specialist at Utah’s Intermountain Medical Center. Flu season severity varies quite a bit from year to year, depending on factors including immunity in the population and which influenza strain is circulating. “Individuals who get influenza the year prior probably carry over some incomplete or partial immunity,” Webb explains. Since few people got infected during the past two flu seasons, “we’re looking at globally, and especially in the U.S., record low community immunity levels to influenza.”
The relaxation of COVID-19 mitigation measures like masking, social distancing, and remote working and schooling could also allow influenza to spread as it did before the pandemic, Fry says.
Read More: You Can Still Get Long COVID If You’re Vaccinated and Boosted
The possibility of a heavy flu season colliding with the still widely circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus is concerning for the health care system, Webb says. “If we have even a moderate-to-high influenza season that generates 300,000 or 400,000 hospitalizations and are also having to deal with a fall or winter COVID wave, that could put a strain on hospital systems around the country,” he says.
The best thing for individuals to do is get vaccinated sooner rather than later, Fry says.
On Sept. 1, federal health officials recommended that people 12 and older get a new bivalent COVID-19 booster, which targets currently circulating Omicron variants. The updated shots are available to adolescents, teenagers, and adults who are at least two months out from their last COVID-19 vaccine dose (though some experts recommend waiting a bit longer). Meanwhile, the CDC recommends getting a flu shot by the end of October.
“If a person wants to get both at the same time, they can,” Fry says. In a Sept. 6 press briefing, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha concurred. “I really believe this is why God gave us two arms—one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot,” he said.
Someday, it may be even easier to get dual protection against COVID-19 and the flu. Vaccine makers Moderna and Novavax are working on shots that would target both viruses in a single injection. It’s not clear if or when these combination shots might be available, but their development offers a glimpse into what living with both COVID-19 and influenza may look like moving forward.
Many unknowns remain about even this year’s looming flu season. Webb recommends keeping an eye on both COVID-19 and influenza rates and taking precautions accordingly. People at higher risk for severe respiratory disease, including elderly people and those with underlying conditions, might want to consider wearing a mask in crowded settings.
At least one thing makes Webb optimistic a[...]
TIME
COVID-19 Boosters Help Keep People Out of the Hospital, Study Finds
As new Omicron-specific boosters become available in the U.S., a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicineemphasizes the importance and success of boosters in keeping people infected with COVID-19 out of the hospital.
The researchers analyzed data from more than 192,000 adults in 13 U.S. states who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 between January and April 2022 —when the original Omicron variant was at its peak. During this time, unvaccinated people were 10.5 times more likely to be hospitalized than people who had been fully vaccinated and boosted (with the original version of the booster). People who were vaccinated but not boosted were 2.5 times more likely to end up in the hospital than those who had received a booster.
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This “underscores the importance” of boosters in preventing hospitalizations, serious illness, and death, the study authors write. The researchers call on clinicians and public-health practitioners to “continue to promote vaccination with all recommended doses for eligible persons.”
Only about 48% of eligible people in the U.S. have received a first booster shot, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And while 80% of people in the U.S. have received at least one dose of the vaccine, this isn’t enough to provide adequate protection against severe infection. Studies from researchers and COVID-19 vaccine makers suggest that the protection provided by the vaccines wanes over time. As the findings from one Moderna study suggest, vaccine-induced immunity is likely strongest soon after people get their recommended two doses of the vaccine, and starts to weaken after that.
Read More: You Can Still Get Long COVID If You’re Vaccinated and Boosted
In the new study, those who were hospitalized and fully vaccinated were predominantly people over 58 years old. They were also more likely to have at least three underlying medical conditions and to be residents in long-term care facilities—suggesting that people with weaker immune systems do not gain the same amount of protection against COVID-19 as healthy people from vaccines and past infections. They also are more vulnerable to severe infection. Getting a booster helped improve protection for all age groups, including this one.
The study “gives further support for adults ages 65 years and older to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination,” says the study’s lead author and CDC medical officer Fiona Havers. Other measures are also important to help protect against hospitalization of older or other vulnerable individuals, “such as early access to antiviral medications if eligible, improving ventilation, getting tested, and wearing a mask,” she says.
The researchers also found that Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to be vaccinated than white patients. “Given the racial and ethnic disparities seen throughout the pandemic, the association between race and ethnicity and vaccination status among hospitalized cases should be monitored closely,” the researchers write.
On Sept. 1, the CDC authorized new Omicron-specific shots developed by Moderna (available to adults 18 years and older) and Pfizer-BioNTech (for people ages 12 and up). Though data in humans have not yet been published, public-health experts believe the new booster—which replaces the old one—will be an important way to confer continued protection. “If you are eligible,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky in a recent statement, “there is no bad time to get your COVID-19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it.”
Voice of America
Gun Violence Erupts in Uvalde, Texas Again
Officials in Uvalde, Texas, say two people were wounded Thursday when gunfire erupted in a suspected gang-related incident in the town’s Memorial Park.
In May, Uvalde was the scene of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
Uvalde police said in a statement on Facebook that two juveniles were taken to city of San Antonio hospitals Thursday for treatment of their injuries and their conditions were unknown.
The police said in a statement that four suspects are in custody and are being questioned.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement posted on Twitter that he “was outraged to learn that gang violence has endangered the Uvalde community and innocent Texans this evening.”
He said he has ordered “an additional six DPS [Department of Public Safety] trooper units to work around the clock and begin coordinating an anti-gang effort with the city.”
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‘The Crown’ Season 6 Officially Suspends Production Following Queen Elizabeth II’s Death - Variety
1. ‘The Crown’ Season 6 Officially Suspends Production Following Queen Elizabeth II’s Death Variety
2. The Crown to Stop Filming After Queen Elizabeth's Death PEOPLE
3. The Crown Pausing 'Out of Respect' for Queen Elizabeth II - IGN IGN
4. 'The Crown' Will Pause Production in Wake of Queen's Death, Showrunner Says The Daily Beast
5. Emmys BAFTA TV Tea Party Canceled Following Queen Elizabeth II’s Death Hollywood Reporter
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Trump media merger isn't dead yet after deal gets a lifeline - CNN
1. Trump media merger isn't dead yet after deal gets a lifeline CNN
2. Digital World fails again to gain enough votes to extend Truth Social merger The Washington Post
3. Trump-linked SPAC lacks votes to delay merger, adjourns shareholder meeting until October CNBC
4. Trump SPAC breaks off shareholder meeting until October 10 CNN
5. Trump Media SPAC Falls After 3-Month Deadline Extension The Wall Street Journal
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Prince Harry's Solo Departure From Balmoral Suggests the Bitter Royal Feud Has Outlived the Queen - The Daily Beast
1. Prince Harry's Solo Departure From Balmoral Suggests the Bitter Royal Feud Has Outlived the Queen The Daily Beast
2. Prince Harry Arrives At Balmoral NBC News
3. Meghan Markle's absence in Scotland likely due to Kate Middleton's decision to stay behind, expert says Fox News
4. Prince Harry was 'unable to get there in time' amid Queen's sudden passing Sky News Australia
5. Britain's Prince Harry arrives at Balmoral - ITV reporter Reuters UK
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Migrants bussed to sanctuary city Chicago are promptly shipped off to suburbs - Fox News
1. Migrants bussed to sanctuary city Chicago are promptly shipped off to suburbs Fox News
2. Chicago welcomes Texas migrants, then sends them to Burr Ridge WGN News
3. Sen. Durbin to visit Salvation Army center after third bus of migrants arrived from Texas CBS Chicago
4. As more migrants are expected to arrive in Chicago, others wait in a hotel in nearby suburb for a final step: 'I'm grateful but I also feel stuck here' Chicago Tribune
5. Burr Ridge mayor says migrants sent from Texas housed in suburban hotel CBS Chicago
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How many corgis did Queen Elizabeth II own? - AL.com
1. How many corgis did Queen Elizabeth II own? AL.com
2. Where Queen Elizabeth's beloved dogs and horses will go after her death New York Post
3. But What Will Become of Her Majesty’s Royal Corgis? Jezebel
4. Veterinarians reflect on Queen Elizabeth's legacy and love of animals DVM 360
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Queen Elizabeth death reactions: King Charles, Liz Truss, Elton John - USA TODAY
1. Queen Elizabeth death reactions: King Charles, Liz Truss, Elton John USA TODAY
2. Death of Queen Elizabeth: King Charles Arrives At Buckingham Palace The New York Times
3. The Queen's sense of humour remembered: from off-mic quips to tea with Paddington Guardian News
4. The Queen’s greatest attribute? Keeping herself to herself The Independent
5. The Queen, the royals and the excruciating race against the clock The Independent
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What Makes Your Brain Different From a Neanderthal’s? - The New York Times
1. What Makes Your Brain Different From a Neanderthal’s? The New York Times
2. Study reveals striking differences in brains of modern humans and Neanderthals The Guardian
3. Human TKTL1 implies greater neurogenesis in frontal neocortex of modern humans than Neanderthals Science
4. Key Differences Revealed Between Brains of Modern Humans and Neanderthals SciTechDaily
5. Modern Humans Generate More Brain Neurons Than Neanderthals Neuroscience News
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King Charles III meets crowds outside Buckingham Palace – BBC News - BBC News
1. King Charles III meets crowds outside Buckingham Palace – BBC News BBC News
2. King Charles Should Not Squander the Queen’s Hard-Earned Goodwill National Review
3. King Charles III takes the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II l ABC7 ABC7
4. What will Charles do now? The Economist
5. Queen Elizabeth's death leaves crown to King Charles, Prince William USA TODAY
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EU to claw back energy firms' profits rather than cap Russian gas price - Reuters
1. EU to claw back energy firms' profits rather than cap Russian gas price Reuters
2. Fear of Russian reprisal could hold back EU gas price cap Markets Insider
3. Russia has warned against capping energy prices. But Europe is thrashing out the details regardless CNBC
4. Grid operators, exchanges call for EU to change power price rule Reuters
5. EU energy ministers to meet in Brussels amid energy crisis Al Jazeera English
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Voice of America
California to Phase Out Gas-Fueled Cars, But Are Residents Ready?
California regulators announced late last month that they adopted a plan to require that all new vehicles sold in the state run on electricity or hydrogen by 2035. Angelina Bagdasaryan has the story from Los Angeles, California, narrated by Anna Rice. Video by Vazgen Varzhabetian.
