Britain is facing a "tidal wave" of infections from the new Omicron coronavirus variant, ministers have warned, as they sound the alarm on rapid transmission rates in London and across the country.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/13/uk/uk-omicron-infections-tidal-wave-gbr-intl/index.html

The new coronavirus omicron variant has spread rapidly around the world. It has already been detected in 57 countries on six continents.
Christian Drosten, chief virologist at the Charite hospital in Berlin, is particularly concerned about the speed at which omicron is spreading. In South Africa and the United Kingdom, the number of cases is doubling every three to four days.
Another cause for concern is that omicron can partially elude the protective effects of existing vaccines. This means that even those who are vaccinated, including those who have received a booster shot, can become infected with the variant.
Recent studies all show a strong, approximately 40-fold reduction in the neutralizing effect of antibodies in a number of combinations of vaccination and natural infection. This means that neither naturally nor vaccine-induced antibodies can bind the virus well and thus prevent it from entering the human cell. In other words, omicron has the potential to evade the body's immune response in some cases.
https://p.dw.com/p/446gP

In this spookily prescient booklet, people are advised to keep six feet apart, avoid shaking hands and only send one person per household out to do the shopping.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210107-the-432-year-old-manual-on-social-distancing

A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine boosts antibodies five-fold a week after the shot is administered, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday, citing preliminary findings of an Israeli study.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-study-finds-fourth-dose-covid-19-vaccine-boosts-antibodies-five-fold-pm-2022-01-04/

In South Africa's capital, Pretoria, members of the Khoisan community burn incense outside a magistrate's court as they wait for the release of their leader. He was arrested the previous day for growing cannabis at the Union Buildings, the seat of government.

With California bracing for an unprecedented number of hospitalizations amid a staggering surge in coronavirus infections, health officials pleaded with residents Friday to reserve emergency rooms for true emergencies and not run to them in a search for scarce virus tests.
https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-california-public-health-f8f3cada493dbab20a824cddc6a3355d

FILE - Respiratory therapist Frans Oudenaar, left, and registered nurse Bryan Hofilena cover a body of a COVID-19 patient with a sheet at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 2021. The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
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FILE - Respiratory therapist Frans Oudenaar, left, and registered nurse Bryan Hofilena cover a body of a COVID-19 patient with a sheet at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 2021. The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The fast-moving omicron variant may cause less severe disease on average, but COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are climbing and modelers forecast 50,000 to 300,000 more Americans could die by the time the wave subsides in mid-March.
https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-omicron-covid-19-deaths-08f8db29985b992d5ef98ccfa1459eb7

The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting next week, now that federal officials are emphasizing their better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings.
https://apnews.com/article/biden-government-free-n95-masks-program-2b4a59953281ca16028244ab9a5b1d6e

Meat Loaf, the singer best known for the "Bat Out of Hell" album and the song "I'd Do Anything for Love," has died at the age of 74. He also appeared in more than 50 films and TV shows.
https://p.dw.com/p/45s9q

New Covid sub-variant – nicknamed the “Son of Omicron” – is spreading fast.
While the findings have not yet been peer reviewed, they suggest the risk of the sub-variant BA.2 for global health is “potentially higher” than that of the original Omicron strain.
https://wwwizzards.com/BA2

Russian millionaire offers bounty for Putin. A Russian billionaire is not one of the oligarchs backing Putin's play.
https://youtu.be/h_Ku1Ki4VWs

A selection of powerful news photographs taken around the world this week.
~~~
Una selección de fotografías de noticias poderosas que se toman en todo el mundo esta semana.
https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-60619314

March 14 is Pi Day in honor of the first three digits of the mathematical constant π (3.1415...). But it's also a flimsy, yet delicious, excuse to celebrate an enduring culinary concept: the many edible varieties of pie around the world.
~~~
El 14 de marzo es el Día de Pi en honor a los tres primeros dígitos de la constante matemática π (3,1415...). Pero también es una endeble, aunque deliciosa, excusa para celebrar un concepto culinario perdurable: las muchas variedades comestibles de tarta en todo el mundo.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/pies-around-the-world/index.html

Marina Ovsyannikova ran on to the set behind the news anchor in prime time, brandishing a poster saying "Stop the War!", it was an unprecedented moment of dissent against the Kremlin which reached into living rooms across the country.

Ms Ovsyannikova, who has a Ukrainian father and Russian mother, has been fined 30,000 roubles (£214, $280) for an anti-war video she had also released.

Her protest is extraordinary in more ways than one.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60749064

When it comes to Covid, the United States specializes in denialism.
Deny the human-to-human transmission of the virus when China’s first cases were publicized in late 2019. Deny that the virus is airborne.
Deny the need for boosters across all adult age groups.
There are many more examples, but now one stands out – learning from other countries.

In the past couple of weeks, the UK and several countries in Europe, including Germany, France and Switzerland, are experiencing a new wave.
At least 12 countries, geographically extending from Finland to Greece, are experiencing new increases in cases, some quite marked, such as Austria exceeding its pandemic peak, and Finland with an 85% increase from the prior week.
Many of these countries are also showing a rise in hospital admissions.
Indications within the United States support the idea that new wave is already getting started.
Wastewater surveillance is relatively sparse in the United States, but 15% of the 410 sites where it was conducted between 24 February to 10 March 2022 showed a greater than 1000% increase compared with the prior 15-day period.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/16/once-again-america-is-in-denial-about-signs-of-a-fresh-covid-wave


This is the sixth warning from the UK and Europe to the United States.

Stunning photos featuring flocks of birds
Danish photographer Soren Solaer's work normally showcases stars such as Adele and Bjork. But he chose a different motif for another project: starlings. His photos of flocks of birds often resemble abstract paintings.
https://p.dw.com/p/48MqW

Arnold is back!!
I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share.
https://twitter.com/Schwarzenegger/status/1504426844199669762

A video address by Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Russian people was trending on Russian Twitter on Friday and has sparked reaction.

In it, Schwarzenegger warns Russians they are being fed misinformation about their country's assault on Ukraine.

Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, he says: "You started this war, and you can stop it".

His intervention has been praised by Russians who oppose the war in Ukraine.

Writing on the Telegram app, opposition politician Lev Shlosberg said it had been filmed "with respect towards us, Russian people".

"Arnold Schwarzenegger has a unique ability to talk to anyone with persuasion, respect and on equal terms. Wits, power and justice. Have a listen. Think about it. Understand," Mr Shlosberg said.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60794809

People seem to forget but this happened:
On August 23, 1989, about 2 million people from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania formed a human chain that united all 3 countries to show the world their desire to escape the Soviet Union and the communism that brought only suffering and poverty. This power stretched 600 km.
~~~
La gente parece olvidar pero esto sucedió:
El 23 de agosto de 1989, alrededor de 2 millones de personas de Letonia, Estonia y Lituania formaron una cadena humana que unió a los 3 países para mostrar al mundo su deseo de escapar de la Unión Soviética y el comunismo que solo traía sufrimiento y pobreza. Esta potencia se extendía 600 km.

What you are about to read is a direct translation of an article written by a russian propagandist. This is what real #Russia wants. Please read and share. This text will soon be translated into other languages so that everyone in the world can read about Russia’s crimes.
https://medium.com/@kravchenko_mm/what-should-russia-do-with-ukraine-translation-of-a-propaganda-article-by-a-russian-journalist-a3e92e3cb64