KEY COVID NOS. WORLDWIDE

Pos   /   Country   /   New Daily cases   /   Total Deaths   /        Daily Deaths /           Active Cases   /           Deaths/1M Pop.

               World    35,49,909            /             56,56,125            /             10,240   /             7,09,14,726               /             725.6

1             USA        4,97,351              /             9,02,140              /             2,689     /             2,81,78,981               /             2,701

2             France   3,92,168              /             1,30,015              /             268        /             66,11,004               /             1,985

3             Spain     1,30,888              /             92,767   /             176        /             37,81,060            /               1,983

4             UK          96,871   /             1,55,040              /             338        /             31,28,589            /               2,265

5             Italy       1,55,697              /             1,45,159              /             389        /             27,06,453               /             2,406

6             India      2,51,209              /             4,92,327              /             570        /             21,05,611               /             351

7             Brazil     2,28,972              /             6,25,169              /             662        /             20,59,596               /             2,909

8             Germany              1,89,363              /             1,18,065              /             182        /               17,73,272            /             1,402

9             Netherlands        64,555   /             21,253   /             14           /             10,46,063            /               1,236

10           Russia    88,816   /             3,28,770              /             665        /             9,46,156              /               2,251

11           Belgium               61,227   /             28,902   /             39           /             8,88,776              /               2,477

12           Argentina            77,729   /             1,20,352              /             333        /             8,15,390               /             2,625

13           Switzerland         20,705   /             12,764   /             6             /             8,04,156              /               1,458

14           Sweden                /             15,744   /                            /             7,11,377              /               1,544

15           Poland   57,659   /             1,04,636              /             262        /             7,09,875              /               2,770

16           Norway 24,288   /             1,439     /                            /             6,24,141              /             262

17           Mexico  48,627   /             3,04,308              /             532        /             6,21,832              /               2,322

18           Turkey   82,180   /             86,661   /             174        /             5,96,019              /               1,010

19           Portugal               65,706   /             19,744   /             41           /             5,58,129              /               1,945

20           Denmark              47,914   /             3,674     /             18           /             4,92,922              /               631

34           Philippines           18,191   /             53,736   /             74           /             2,26,521              /               480

41           Bangladesh         15,807   /             28,288   /             15           /             1,58,000              /               169

54           Pakistan               7,539     /             29,162   /             25           /             91,854   /             128

107        Sri Lanka              2,523     /             15,369   /             23           /             14,705   /             713

ADDRESS RUSSIA’S ‘LEGITIMATE CONCERNS’, CHINA TELLS U.S.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday told his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken that Russia’s “legitimate concerns” needed to be addressed amid rising tensions over Ukraine.

The U.S. Secretary of State, in the phone call, “underscored the global security and economic risks posed by further Russian aggression against Ukraine and conveyed that de-escalation and diplomacy are the responsible way forward”, the U.S. State Department quoted him as saying.

The phone call on Thursday came as Mr. Blinken said the U.S. had given Moscow a document “setting out a serious diplomatic path forward” and highlighting U.S. concerns about Russian actions, including a build-up of troops.

China, which maintains close relations with Russia, has been largely muted on the crisis except for calling for diplomacy.

Mr. Wang’s comments in the call with Mr. Blinken are the strongest yet in support of Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to be in Beijing next week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and attend the opening of the Winter Olympics on February 4.

Mr. Wang said China “calls on all parties to remain calm and refrain from inflaming tensions or hyping up the crisis” and added that “the security of one country should not be at the expense of the security of others, and regional security should not be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs”, referring to NATO.

He said that “Russia’s legitimate security concerns should be taken seriously and addressed.”

AFTER OMICRON WAVE, COVID-19 WILL RETURN BUT PANDEMIC WILL NOT, SAYS LANCET STUDY

The pandemic is likely to end soon even though the Covid-19 infections will continue, according to a study published in The Lancet journal. “After the Omicron wave, Covid-19 will return but the pandemic will not," it has claimed.

“Covid-19 will become another recurrent disease that health systems and societies will have to manage. The era of extraordinary measures by governments and societies to control SARS-CoV-2 transmission will be over," it said.

The Impact of the virus, it pointed out, will be less going forward. “The impacts of future SARS-CoV-2 transmission on health, however, will be less because of broad previous exposure to the virus, regularly adapted vaccines to new antigens or variants, the advent of antivirals, and the knowledge that the vulnerable can protect themselves during future waves when needed by using high-quality masks and physical distancing."

The study also said that a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine increases the level of antibodies that can effectively neutralise the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

US SUPREME COURT TO GET ITS FIRST BLACK WOMAN JUDGE, SAYS JOE BIDEN

President Joe Biden said Thursday he will nominate a Black woman to the US Supreme Court for the first time in history, filling the vacancy left by retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

"I've made no decision except (the) person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity," Biden said in an address from the White House.

"And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court."

Biden, speaking at a podium alongside Breyer, also indicated that he would seek a speedy nomination process, promising to name his candidate by the end of February.

The exit of Breyer, who is 83, gives Biden a likely smooth opportunity to name a replacement to the lifelong seat on the Supreme Court while his Democratic Party retains control of the Senate.

The Supreme Court is currently split between six conservatives and three liberals. Biden will now be able to nominate another liberal-leaning jurist to the court, maintaining the balance.

ENGLAND REVERTS TO PLAN A COVID RULES, MASKS NO LONGER LEGALLY REQUIRED

Face coverings will no longer be a legal requirement in indoor spaces from Thursday as England reverts to Plan A coronavirus lockdown measures, amid a continued fall in the Omicron variant infection rate.

Under plans announced by the UK government earlier this month, mandatory Covid-19 vaccination certification will also end but venues may choose to use the NHS Covid Pass showing vaccination status or a negative Covid test voluntarily.

The work from home where possible guidance had been withdrawn last week as part of a staggered rollback of all Plan B measures, which came into force on December 8, 2021.

Under Plan A, it is “suggested” that people wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where they might come into contact with people they do not normally meet. Meanwhile, it is still a legal requirement for those with Covid-19 to self-isolate for 10 days with the option to end self-isolation after five full days following two negative lateral flow device (LFD) tests on days five and six.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that though infections continue to fall, Omicron remains prevalent across the country – especially in the young and the elderly. Remaining cautious and taking precautionary measures is vital alongside vaccines and testing to control the spread of Covid-19, it said.

The DHSC said as the virus becomes “endemic”, the government will set out a long-term strategy for living with Covid-19 and replacing legal requirements on self-isolation with advice and guidance urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others.

UK PM FACES FIRE OVER CLAIMS HE PRIORITISED PETS OVER PEOPLE DURING AFGHAN EVACUATION

Awaiting a report into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street that could force his resignation, PM Boris Johnson was on the defensive on Wednesday over another issue — whether he authorised the evacuation of cats and dogs from Afghanistan. Johnson is approaching a critical moment for his leadership as he prepares to publish findings from an internal inquiry conducted by a civil servant, Sue Gray, into a string of gatherings held in Downing Street while Britons were subject to strict coronavirus rules. On Wednesday in Parliament, Johnson rejected calls for him to quit, insisting that he was “getting on with the job”.

But the PM also came under attack after an email was made public suggesting that he falsely denied his role in the rescue of cats and dogs from Afghanistan by a British animal charity last year as Kabul fell to the Taliban. Johnson has dismissed as “nonsense” claims that he intervened in the

evacuation of the Nowzad animal charity, run by Pen Farthing, a former member of the British military, and had prioritised the safety of cats and dogs over that of people. Those denials appeared to be contradicted by a message from a British diplomat made public Wednesday by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

The email, written by an official working for Zac Goldsmith, a minister and close ally of Johnson, said that the animal rescue charity “had received a lot of publicity” and noted that the PM “has just authorised their staff and animals to be evacuated. ” John Healey, who speaks for the opposition Labour Party on defence issues, said Wednesday that “once again, the prime minister has been caught out lying about what he has been doing and deciding. ” The latest blow to Johnson came on a second day of confusion over the timing of the publication of Gray’s report. Her findings will be submitted first to Downing Street before they are released to the public. Johnson has promised to then make a statement to Parliament, and many Conservative lawmakers are waiting for that before they decide whether to try to oust the PM.

UN NAVY FIRES 45 SAILORS FOR REFUSING COVID VACCINES

The US navy has kicked out 45 sailors for refusing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus — the first dismissals of navy personnel since the deadline for active-duty sailors to be inoculated passed on November 28. All of the sailors were given either honorable or entry-level discharges for disobeying a lawful order obligating them to be vaccinated. Nearly half were within their first six months of service. The Navy announced the news on Wednesday, noting that 5,035 active-duty sailors and 2,960 reservists remained unvaccinated.