New COVID variant detected in South Africa, most mutated variant so far

A new coronavirus variant, C.1.2, has been detected in South Africa and a number of other countries, with concerns that it could be more infectious and evade vaccines, according to a new preprint study by South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform. The study is awaiting peer review.

US Drone Strike Kills “Planner” Of Kabul Attacks

The United States has carried out a drone strike against an Islamic State (IS) group “planner” in eastern Afghanistan after an attack outside Kabul’s airport killed 13 U.S. troops and at least 169 Afghans, officials say.

US General Warns Of More Attacks After Kabul Airport Bombings

U.S. General Kenneth F. McKenzie has warned of more attacks after 12 American troops were killed in suicide blasts and shootings around Kabul’s main airport. “They range from rocket attacks to suicide vehicles for a small to a bigger vehicle as well as a walking vest-wearing suicide attacker,” he said.

Kabul Airport Suicide Blasts Kill Four U.S. Marines

Four U.S. Marines were among dozens killed in twin suicide attacks and gunfire at Kabul’s airport, U.S. officials and other sources said. Three American Marines and roughly 120 other people were injured. The blasts and gunfire erupted around Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Afghanistan’s Taliban Rulers Appoint Former U.S. Terror Suspect As Defense Minister

Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban group has appointed a suspected terrorist who was held at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay prison facility as acting defense minister. The Islamist rulers named ex-detainee Abdul Qayyum Zakir, a mullah or Muslim mosque leader, as a minister, reported the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel citing a Taliban source.

China Warns Of Counterattack Against Those Questioning Coronavirus Origins

China warned Wednesday it would retaliate with “a counterattack” against those questioning whether the coronavirus leaked from its labs after U.S. President Joe Biden indicated he would make public findings of an intelligence investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emboldened Iran To Hold War Drills With Russia and China

Iran is set to hold a series of war drills with Russia and China, as the hardline regime celebrates the United States’ bungled evacuation in Afghanistan and boosts its enrichment of nuclear weapons-grade uranium to historically high levels.

WHO Chief Wants Delay Of COVID Booster Jabs

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) demanded Monday a two-month moratorium on COVID-19 “booster shots” to reduce vaccine inequality.  WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned wealthy nations for stockpiling vaccines as poorer countries struggle to administer coronavirus jabs to their people.

NATO: ‘20 Killed At Kabul Airport’

The NATO military alliance says at least 20 people died in the last week near Kabul airport in attempts to flee Afghanistan by plane after the Islamist Taliban group captured the capital.

Twitter Hosts Taliban, Other Sites Closed

While it has banned former U.S. President Donald J. Trump from its service, the social networking site Twitter continues to host accounts of high-profile officials linked to the Islamist Taliban group.

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