Japan suspends Moderna vaccine
Last Thursday, the Japanese government suspended the use of 1.63 million does of the Moderna vaccine for Covid-19 after contamination was found in unused vials. This suspension raises concern for the country as it is facing a supply shortage amidst a surge of new Covid-19 cases. The Japanese Health Ministry stated that the contamination was reported from multiple vaccination sites, with the possibility that some of the does may have already been administered. However, there has yet to be any report of adverse heath effects. The Japanese drugmaker in charge of sales and distribution of the vaccine, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., asked Moderna to conduct an emergency investigation of the contamination, to which the manufactures agreed and are cooperating with authorities. As a precaution the batch in question and two adjacent lots have been put on hold.
Attack in Ethiopia leaves 150 dead
Last Thursday the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission stated that it received reports from residents that 150 people were killed in August from an alleged attack by the Ormo Liberation Army. The Oromo Liberation Army was declared a terrorist group by Ethiopian government earlier this year. The killings occurred in East Wollega in the Oromia region on Aug. 18 and were followed by another attack the next day that left another 60 dead. According to a statement by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission the first attack occurred a day after security forces stationed in the area left.
Ancient four-legged whale discovered
Scientists in Egypt have identified a new species of whale with four legs, last Thursday, that lived around 43 million years ago. The fossil, named amphibious Phiomicetus Anubis, was discovered in Egypt’s Western Dessert. The whale would have weighed an estimated 1,300 pounds and stretch 10 feet in length. The newly discovered whale would have been able to walk on land or swim in water, different from modern whales that developed from land mammal-like deer 10 million years ago. Phiomicetus Anubis is believed to be the earliest type of semiaquatic whale to be discovered in Africa.
72 killed in Kabul airport attack
Last Thursday, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a crowd of Afghan citizens fleeing to Kabul’s airport over the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. At least 60 Afghans and 12 United States soldiers were killed during the attack. Afghan officials stated that another 12 service members and 140 Afghans were wounded. U.S. officials said that the complex attack was believed to have been carried out by the Islamic State Group. Western officials had warned of a major attack, urging individuals to leave the airport but it largely went unheeded due to desperate citizens hoping to escape the country in the last few days of a United States led evacuation. The U.S. will have officially end its 20-year presence on Aug. 31.
