Corona vaccination program begins in the UK on Tuesday(Today)



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The Corona vaccination program is starting in Britain today (December 8). Earlier on Wednesday, the country approved Pfizer's vaccine. Initially, health workers, the elderly and care home workers will receive the vaccine. According to the UK Department of Health, the National Health Service (NHS) will be responsible for vaccinating people at risk. Meanwhile, Britain is manufacturing a refrigerator at a temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius to preserve Pfizer's corona vaccine. The Serum Institute has sought approval for the Oxford vaccine in India. The first consignment of Corona vaccine from Chinese company Sinovac has arrived in Indonesia.

UK Health Minister Matt Hancock described the start of the corona vaccination campaign as a "historic moment". He also urged everyone to play their role in preventing coronavirus.

According to a BBC report, health workers, people over the age of 80 and care home workers who initially fought corona will receive the corona vaccine. In England, 50 hospitals have been identified as corona vaccination sites. Vaccination will also begin in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from Tuesday. It has been informed that vaccinations will also be given in these places from the hospital.

A special container of the vaccine, invented by US company Pfizer and German BioNtech, has been shipped to the UK from Belgium. Later they are kept in a safe place. From there they are being sent to the hospitals where they will be vaccinated. Professor Stephen Paus, the NHS's national medical director, said the first dose of the corona vaccine had arrived in hospitals on Monday, despite many complications. Vaccination will start on Tuesday (today). Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (94) will also receive the vaccine within few weeks.

Earlier, on December 2, the United Kingdom was the first country in the world to approve the use of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. Bahrain later gave emergency approval to the vaccine. The United Kingdom is manufacturing a minus 70 degree Celsius refrigerator: The Pfizer vaccine must be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius for transportation and storage. Even the best hospitals in the world do not have a system to store vaccines at this temperature. So the UK is producing new refrigerators for safe storage of the vaccines. Public Health England said it is providing 56 specialized twin guard ultra-high temperature refrigerators. These refrigerators can store about 5 million doses of vaccine at a time.

Serum seeks emergency approval of vaccine in India: After Pfizer in India, this time the Serum Institute has sought approval for emergency application of vaccine in Oxford. The Serum Institute is one of the partners in the coroner vaccine project at Oxford University and AstraZeneca, NDTV reported on Monday. They are conducting a trial on this vaccine in India. In an application to the DCGI, India's pharmaceutical regulator, the Serum Institute said the covshield vaccine was safe. The vaccine is very tolerable. This vaccine can be used effectively in communities to prevent coronavirus. The vaccine, developed by Oxford University in the United Kingdom and the American institute AstraZeneca, has been reported to be up to 90 percent effective. Earlier, on December 4, Pfizer submitted the application to the DCGI. However, in order to get a vaccine approved in India, it has to undergo a clinical trial at the local level (in India). But Pfizer or its affiliates have not applied for such a trial in India before.

Indonesia receives first shipment of Chinese vaccine: Indonesia received first shipment of Corona vaccine from Chinese company Synovac. On Sunday, President Joko Widodo confirmed the vaccination. In an online briefing, Widodo said that they have received 12 lakh doses of the Covid-19 vaccine invented by the Chinese company Synovac Biotech Limited. He added that the government is planning to get another 18 lakh doses of vaccine in early January.

   

Lok Sabha elections are starting today in India



International Dek, Barta24.com
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Voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections in India, the world's largest democracy, begins today on Friday. In seven phases, about 97 crore voters of the country will vote and elect their preferred representatives in different parts of the country. In the first phase, polling will be held today in a total of 102 constituencies in 21 states and union territories of the country. Among them are three centers in West Bengal. The constituencies are Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.

Voting will start from 7 am on Friday (April 19) and will continue till 6 pm. Besides the central forces, the Election Commission has also trusted the state police for election security.

The main battle in the election is going to be between the ruling BJP-led NDA alliance and the Indian National Congress-led 'India' alliance. Bharatiya Janata Party, the main party of the ruling NDA alliance, is moving ahead with the target of 370 seats. And their target for alliance is 400 seats.

The Election Commission of India has completed all preparations for the polls on Friday. In the first phase, polling will be held in 102 constituencies on April 19. Security has been beefed up across the country ahead of polling.

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New sanctions on Iran



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Iran's drone program in response to retaliatory strikes against Israel.

The ban was announced simultaneously on Thursday (April 18) by two countries known to be close allies of the Jewish state.

According to the report of the British media BBC, the United States Ministry of Finance said in a statement that sanctions have been imposed on 16 individuals and 2 companies associated with the production of UAVs (drones) in Iran. They are associated with Iran's production of Shahed drones. The drone was used in the April 13 attack.

The UK is also imposing sanctions on a number of military-linked companies, individuals and institutions linked to Iran's development of drones and ballistic missiles.

Iran launched an expected and unexpected attack on Israel on Saturday night. On April 13, the attack was carried out in revenge for the killing of some senior army officers in the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, the capital of Syria.

Iran used more than three hundred drones and missiles in this major attack. Israel claimed to have destroyed most of them in the air. The United States, United Kingdom, France and Jordan helped Israel to prevent this attack.

Israel has announced a counter attack on Iran in response to this attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has the right to defend itself.

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Nine people including Kenyan army chief killed in a helicopter crash



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Kenya's Defense Chief General Francis Omondi Ogolla and 9 top military officers were killed in a helicopter crash.

Several media outlets including BBC and AFP reported this news around 11:00 PM Bangladesh time on Thursday (April 18) citing the country's police source.

A senior Kenyan police officer told AFP the helicopter caught fire shortly after takeoff, killing nine senior commanders, including General Ogolla.

According to the BBC report, Kenyan President William Ruto called an emergency meeting of the country's Security Council after the military helicopter crashed. His spokesperson confirmed the matter.

According to local media, all those on the helicopter were senior military officers. Among them was General Francis Ogolla, Chief Military Adviser to the President. However, the BBC could not verify the authenticity of these reports.

According to reports, the helicopter came down in Kenya's Rift Valley and burst into flames. Rescue teams have been sent to the accident site.

Kenyan President William Ruto said an investigation team has been sent to the scene to investigate the cause of the helicopter crash.

"Our motherland has lost one of its most valiant generals," he said. General Ogolla's death is an irreparable loss to us.

Ogolla joined the Kenya Defense Forces in 1984. He was trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force and as an instructor pilot with the Kenya Air Force (KAF). Ogolla was the Chief of the Kenyan Air Force before becoming the Deputy Military Chief. Last year, the country's president promoted him to become the army chief.

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Palestinian membership in the United Nations was blocked by the US veto



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The United States has blocked Palestine's path to full membership as a state in the United Nations.

On Thursday (April 18), the country vetoed the resolution in the Security Council.

The draft resolution recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly that Palestine be admitted as a full member of the United Nations. 12 of the 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution. The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained from voting. Israel's close ally, the United States, provided the veto.

Regarding the veto, US Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood said the US continues to strongly support the Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution. The vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood. We want them to come to a solution through direct negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the US veto as unjust, immoral and unreasonable. In a statement, he said, the US veto defies the will of the international community.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the United States for vetoing the proposal, saying it was a "shameful rejection". Terrorism will not be rewarded.

Although Palestine is not currently a member of the United Nations, in 2012 it gained observer status at the United Nations. Palestine has been trying for years to gain full membership of the United Nations.

However, their request must first be approved by the Security Council and then at least two-thirds of the UN General Assembly.

Palestine first applied for full membership in 2011. Palestine reapplied for membership earlier this month amid Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

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