MANILA: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Philippines polio-free on Friday after no cases of the disease had been reported for more than a year.
The country had previously been declared polio-free in October 2000, with the last case of polio reported in 1993. But in June 2019, a three-year-old from Lanao del Sur in the southern Philippines was diagnosed with the disease. Three months later, there were 31 cases of polio in the country.
In September 2019, the Philippine Ministry of Health (DoH) announced a polio outbreak and the government, together with the WHO, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partner organizations, carried out nationwide polio campaigns to stop the spread of the virus.
« Today, one day before the Philippines celebrate Independence Day, we are celebrating polio-free status, » said Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative in the Philippines, in a press conference on Friday.
Abeyasinghe said that no poliovirus had been detected in the Philippines in the past 16 months, prompting WHO and UNICEF to declare the Philippines polio-free.
« This is a great public health win and a great example of what collaborative efforts can achieve even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, » he said. Abeyasinghe commended the Philippine authorities for the rapid mobilization and commitment of both the resources and the communities.
Despite challenges to immunization from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the DoH continued robust polio vaccination campaigns.
“The DoH quickly made decisive and sustained efforts to respond to the outbreak. It was a huge logistical undertaking, and that began the country’s long and arduous journey to protect every child from the debilitating and potentially life-threatening polio, ”Abeyasinghe said.
More than 30 million doses of oral polio vaccines were administered during 13 vaccinations and multiple rounds of testing in all three island groups in the Philippines. More than 11 million children have been vaccinated, many of them multiple doses.
Abeyasinghe recognized the « tremendous work » that has been done to contain the polio outbreak, saying the Philippines is seen as « an inspiration to the world with leaders who care for children, determination, strong leadership, and a focus on one. » common goal ”.
« Today is a defining moment for the Philippines and a quiet but important milestone for the whole world, » he said. « As long as polio is not eradicated in all countries, no country is safe. »
Polio is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease that invades the nervous system. In severe cases it can lead to permanent paralysis or even death. It can be avoided with a vaccine. Children under five are particularly at risk.
KABUL: Separate bombs hit two minivans in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood in the Afghan capital on Saturday, killing at least seven people and injuring six others, the Interior Ministry said.
The attacks were aimed at minivans on the same street in a neighborhood in west Kabul that were about 2 kilometers apart, Interior Ministry deputy spokesman Ahmad Zia Zia said.
It was not immediately clear what type of bombs were being used and no one immediately confessed to the attacks. Daesh carried out similar bombings in the area, including four attacks on four minivans earlier this month that killed at least 18 people.
The first explosion killed six people and injured two and the second explosion outside the Muhammad Ali Jinnah Hospital, which houses the majority of COVID-19 patients, killed one and wounded four.
The area where the explosions occurred is largely populated by the Hazara ethnic minority, who are mainly Shiite Muslims. Shiites are a minority in predominantly Sunni Afghanistan, and local Daesh membership has declared war on them.
Hundreds of Afghans are killed or injured each month in violence related to the country’s ongoing war. But Hazaras, who make up about 9 percent of the population of 36 million people, are left alone when deliberately attacked for their ethnicity and religion.
Violence and chaos continue to escalate in Afghanistan as the US and NATO continue to withdraw the remaining 2,500 to 3,500 American soldiers and 7,000 Allied forces. The last troops will have withdrawn by September 11th at the latest.
LONDON: Fresh from charming guides at the Summit of the Group of Seven, Queen Elizabeth II was back at her Windsor Castle residence on Saturday to watch a military parade on her official birthday.
The 95-year-old monarch sat on a podium to watch the ceremony, which despite ongoing social distancing restrictions on the state frontage did not disappoint. It was not revealed whether she was tired after meeting G-7 leaders, including US President Joe Biden, on Friday evening.
The ceremony is a gift from the Household Division of the Army Regiments, which is closely associated with the monarch. It featured soldiers who played a vital role in the COVID-19 response, as well as those who served in military operations. She could be seen beaming from ear to ear as the nine planes of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows flew by in formation, releasing their red, white and blue smoke.
The traditional Trooping the Color ceremony usually takes place in London and involves hundreds of soldiers and soldiers and thousands of spectators. However, that was not possible for the second year in a row and it was a stripped-down affair on the grounds of Windsor Castle, which is about 44 kilometers west of the capital.
It was known as Mini Trooping the Color and featured soldiers in ceremonial scarlet coats and bearskin hats. Nearly 275 soldiers and women with 70 horses were in attendance at the parade, compared to 85 soldiers who attended the ceremony last summer. A small handful of seated guests lined part of the square – a change from last year when only the military was present.
The ceremony arose from traditional preparations for battle. The colors – or flags – were worn « troops » or along the lines of soldiers so that they could be seen and recognized in battle.
Lt. Col. Guy Stone, who planned the Queen’s official birthday celebrations in the Windsor Castle Quadrangle, said he wanted to create a « memorable and uplifting day » for the monarch.
The ceremony took place a few months after the death of her 99-year-old husband Prince Philip, whose funeral also took place at Windsor Castle.
Despite mourning the loss of her 73-year-old husband, the Queen has continued to fulfill her duties, including a government-written speech at the new parliamentary session.
On Friday, she starred at a reception with the G-7 leaders and their spouses at the Eden Project, a futuristic domed botanical garden that is home to the largest indoor rainforest in the world.
She elicited laughter from her guests when she reprimanded them during a group photo: « Are you supposed to look like you’re having fun? »
Though the Queen’s real birthday is April 26th, she celebrates another in June, when British weather is hoped to be more conducive to outdoor celebrations. It’s a royal tradition that dates back to 1748 and the reign of King George II, whose actual birthday was in November.
One of the most important parts of the Queen’s official birthday is honoring those who have made a positive contribution to society.
This year’s list of honors has celebrated those who have been at the forefront of the rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines in the UK over the past few months, credited with turning the country’s pandemic response around.
Sarah Gilbert, the professor of vaccinology at Oxford University who was instrumental in developing the vaccine for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, and Kate Bingham, the former head of the UK’s Vaccines Taskforce, credited with the country’s successful procurement program, have both with Damehoods recognized.
Although the UK has had the highest number of virus-related deaths in Europe, with nearly 128,000 people lost, its vaccination program is considered one of the fastest and most coherent in the world.
AUSTIN, TEXAS: At least nine people were injured after a Saturday morning shooting in downtown Austin, according to officials in Texas.
The police said in a tweet that several victims had been injured. Austin-Travis County’s EMS reported in a series of tweets that at least 12 patients had been treated or transported to local hospitals.
It was not known how many of the injured could be gunshot wounds.
It was unclear what started the shooting. The police have not disclosed any suspects or arrests.
CARBIS BAY, England: French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday offered to restore ties with the UK as long as Prime Minister Boris Johnson stands by the Brexit divorce deal he signed with the European Union.
Relations with the bloc, and particularly France, have deteriorated since the UK completed its exit late last year, with Macron becoming the loudest critic of London’s refusal to honor the terms of part of its Brexit deal.
At a meeting of the Group of Sevens of the world’s most advanced economies in south-west England, Macron Johnson said the two countries have interests in common, but that relations could only improve if Johnson kept his word on Brexit.
« The President told Boris Johnson that Franco-British relations must be readjusted, » said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
« This can happen provided he keeps his word to the Europeans, » the source said, adding that Macron spoke to Johnson in English.
Johnson will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel later on Saturday, where she could also raise the dispute over part of the EU divorce agreement, the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol.
The UK head of state, who is hosting the G7, wants the summit to focus on global issues, but has stood its ground on trade with Northern Ireland and is calling on the EU to be more flexible in facilitating trade from the UK to the provinces.
WASHINGTON: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday expressed hope that US President Joe Biden will be less impulsive than his predecessor Donald Trump ahead of his first summit with the new US president.
In an interview with NBC News, Putin described Biden as a « career man » who has spent his life in politics.
Despite describing that relations with the United States « have deteriorated to their lowest point in recent years, » Putin said he expected to be able to work with Biden.
« My big hope is that while there are some advantages, some disadvantages, there are no impulse-based movements on behalf of the incumbent US president, » he said, according to a translation on NBC News.
“I believe that former US President Trump is an extraordinary, talented person … He is a colorful person. You may like him or not. But he didn’t come from the US establishment, ”Putin was quoted as saying.
Biden plans to bring a number of US complaints, including alleged Russian electoral interference and hacker attacks, to Putin’s summit in Geneva on Wednesday at the end of the new president’s first trip abroad.
Putin has openly admitted that in the 2016 vote he supported Trump, who expressed his admiration for the Russian leader. At their first summit, Trump notoriously appeared to accept Putin’s denial of electoral interference.
Biden said he was under no illusions about Putin and called him a « murderer » in the face of a number of high profile deaths, including Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov.
When asked directly whether he was “a murderer”, Putin giggled, but gave no yes or no answer.
« In the course of my tenure, I’ve grown used to attacks from all possible directions and from all possible spheres, on all sorts of pretexts and reasons, and of varying calibers and severity, and none of these surprises me, » he said, adding the term « killer » was a « macho » term used in Hollywood.
Such a discourse “is part of US political culture, where it is considered normal. Not here by the way, it’s not considered normal here, ”he said.
Putin also dismissed a Washington Post report as « fake news » that Russia plans to provide Iran with an advanced satellite system that would enable it to pursue potential military targets.
« At least I don’t know anything about something like that, » said the Russian leader from the Kremlin. « This is just nonsense rubbish. »
According to interviewer Keir Simmons, Putin also denied any knowledge of cyber attacks on the US and urged Biden to conclude an agreement with Russia on cyberspace.
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