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India administered over one crore COVID-19 vaccine doses on Friday, crossing a new inoculation milestone that was hailed by top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Prime Ministee Narendra Modi.
As of 10 pm, 1,00,64,032 vaccine doses were registered with Uttar Pradesh topping the list of states with 28 lakh-plus jabs.
सबका साथ
सबका विकास
सबका विश्वास
सबका प्रयास
यह वही प्रयास है जिससे देश ने 1 दिन में 1 करोड़ से अधिक टीके लगाने का आँकड़ा पार कर लिया है। स्वास्थ्यकर्मियों का अथक परिश्रम व PM @NarendraModi जी का #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine का दृढ़ संकल्प रंग ला रहा है। pic.twitter.com/hHlUU4q3fv
— Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 27, 2021
August is India's best month in vaccination coverage; the country has crossed 15 crore doses so far - higher than 13.45 crore doses in July and 11.97 crore doses in June.
"Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat. Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success," PM Modi tweeted.
BJP president JP Nadda too lauded the feat.
Highest Number of Vaccination in a day.
India has administered more than 1 crore vaccines today.
Kudos to health workers & citizens for making this Largest & Fastest Vaccination Drive, a success. Under the leadership of @narendramodi Ji, India is fighting firmly against COVID.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 27, 2021
With this, COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country has crossed 62 crore (62,09,43,580) doses, according to a provisional report compiled at 7pm. The final report for the day would be compiled by late night, the ministry said earlier in the day.
A total of 23,72,15,353 people in the age group of 18-44 years have received the first dose and 2,45,60,807 have been administered the second dose of the vaccine since the start of the third phase of the vaccination drive, according to the health ministry.
The vaccination exercise - a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 - continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry said.
India, a country of over 130 crore people, began its inoculation drive on January 16, with health care workers getting the shot in the first phase. The net was widened in February to include frontline workers in the list of beneficiaries. In March, all above 60 and the 44+ population with comorbidities became eligible for vaccination. In April, the comorbidity clause was dropped, making all above 44 eligible for the drive. In May, the entire adult population was made eligible for the jabs.
The drive suffered a few hiccups with its pace slowing down in May, even as a brutal second wave of infections triggered an unprecedented shortage of hospital beds and life-saving medical oxygen in the country. Some states alleged that they had to put brakes on the vaccination drive due to shortage of stocks, though the Centre maintained enough vaccines were available in the country.
With inputs from PTI
Originally posted here: https://ift.tt/3kyoUWG
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India administered more than 1 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses on Friday, the highest ever vaccination achieved in a single day since the start of the inoculation drive.
As of 10 pm, 1,00,64,032 vaccine doses were registered with Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest 28 lakh-plus vaccinations on Friday.
सबका साथ
सबका विकास
सबका विश्वास
सबका प्रयास
यह वही प्रयास है जिससे देश ने 1 दिन में 1 करोड़ से अधिक टीके लगाने का आँकड़ा पार कर लिया है। स्वास्थ्यकर्मियों का अथक परिश्रम व PM @NarendraModi जी का #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine का दृढ़ संकल्प रंग ला रहा है। pic.twitter.com/hHlUU4q3fv
— Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 27, 2021
// // ]]>
With this, August is India's biggest vaccination month crossing 15 crore doses so far -higher than 13.45 crore doses administered in July and 11.97 crore doses in June.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted saying, "Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat. Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success."
Record vaccination numbers today!
Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat. Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 27, 2021
// // ]]>
In another significant achievement, the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country has crossed 62 crore (62,09,43,580) doses, according to a provisional report compiled at 7 pm. The final report for the day would be compiled by late night, the ministry said.
In a tweet, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had earlier said, "Congratulations to the citizens as India today administers historic 90 lakh COVID-19 vaccines until now - and still counting."
On 17 August, over 88 lakh doses of the vaccine were administered across the country.
A total of 23,72,15,353 people in the age group of 18-44 years have received the first dose and 2,45,60,807 have been administered the second dose of the vaccine since the start of the third phase of the vaccination drive, according to the health ministry.
The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry said.
With inputs from PTI
Originally posted here: https://ift.tt/3BgYTlr
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The number of people killed during the twin suicide bombings outside the Kabul airport on Thursday has risen to 170, an Afghan health ministry official told CBS News on Friday.
Among the dead were 13 American service members, including 10 in the US Marines. At least 18 more US troops were injured in the attack.
The blasts, claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, injected further panic into the final days of an already frenzied US-led airlift.
Kabul resident Abdul Majeed said he saw a few hundred people - dead and alive - brought overnight to hospital, as he searched for his younger brother who had been among the crowds.
"My brother was not among them," he told AFP.
Biden vows retribution against extremists in Kabul attack
US President Joe Biden, under enormous pressure over his administration's handling of the Afghan crisis, vowed to punish those responsible.
"We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," he said.
However, determined to end two decades of war in Afghanistan and citing fears of more IS attacks, Biden also insisted that he would stick to his 31 August deadline to end the airlift.
The president, speaking from the White House Thursday, said the US-led evacuation of Americans and others from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan would proceed, and indeed more than 12,000 people were airlifted from Kabul in the past 24 hours, as of Friday morning.
"We will respond with force and precision at our time, at the place of our choosing," Biden said. "These IS terrorists will not win."
'Hell on earth': International media on Kabul bomb blasts
The atrocity in Afghanistan dominated the front pages of newspapers across the world. In the United States, newspapers across the country led with the story on their front page.
The Wall Street Journal carried the headline 'Blasts kill at least 13 US troops' with an image of two women left bloodied and bewildered by the attack. This image taken by Wakil Khosar for Agence France-Presse is the main picture for most newspapers including UK's The Guardian and The Telegraph.
Refugee exodus
The Taliban have promised a softer brand of rule compared with their first stint in power, which ended in 2001 when the United States invaded following the 11 September attacks.
But many Afghans fear a repeat of their brutal interpretation of Islamic law, as well as violent retribution for working with foreign militaries, Western missions or the previous US-backed government.
On Friday morning, some evacuation flights resumed with queues of people seen lining up on the tarmac but there were no more crowds near the sites of the blasts, according to AFP reporters.
The Taliban had also blocked off the main routes to the airport as well as side roads.
As some Western allies announced an end to their airlifts, many have repeatedly warned that it is impossible to get all at-risk Afghans out by Tuesday.
About 105,000 people have been flown out of the country since 14 August, the day before the Taliban swept to power, according to the White House.
The United Nations said Friday it was bracing for a "worst-case scenario" of up to half a million more refugees from Afghanistan by the end of 2021.
The Taliban has said that Afghans with legal documents will be allowed to travel abroad after the airport reopens to commercial flights.
'More extreme'
The Taliban have allowed US-led forces to conduct the airlift while they finalise plans for their government to be announced as soon as the American troops have left.
But the Islamic State jihadists, bloody rivals of the Taliban with a record of barbaric attacks, were intent on capitalising on the chaos in Kabul.
In recent years, the Islamic State's Afghanistan-Pakistan chapter has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in those countries.
It has massacred civilians at mosques, shrines, public squares and even hospitals.
"These are people that are even more extreme than the Taliban and are basically at war with the Taliban. So it is a horribly complex situation," Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Ankara was assessing an offer to run operations at the Kabul airport, with security to be provided by the Taliban.
Terror, devastation
The blasts hit people trying to reach access gates at the airport, creating scenes of terror and devastation.
Immediately after the first, one man held a semi-conscious victim by the elbow, trying to stop his head from slipping beneath the surface of the fetid water in a canal along the perimeter of the airport.
"I will never, ever want to go (to the airport) again. Death to America, its evacuation and visas," Milad, who was near the first blast with his wife and three children, told AFP.
The Italian NGO Emergency said the hospital it operates in Kabul had been overwhelmed by more than 60 casualties, 16 of whom were pronounced dead on arrival.
The injured "could not speak, many were terrified, their eyes totally lost in emptiness, their gaze blank", the hospital's medical coordinator Alberto Zanin said in a post on the group's Twitter account.
'Bear responsibility'
The attacks led to the worst single-day toll for the US military in Afghanistan since 2011.
A clearly shaken Biden went before TV cameras to address the American people, describing the killed US troops as heroes.
Asked by a reporter if he bore any responsibility for the deaths, Biden said: "I bear responsibility fundamentally for all that's happened of late."
The Taliban, which condemned the blasts, emphasised they happened in an area under US military control.
With inputs from agencies
from Firstpost World Latest News https://ift.tt/3ynQJG7
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The wait for the Apple iPhone 13 may finally be over soon, as Apple is said to be gearing up to host a launch event for the iPhone 13 and other products on 14 September. As per a FrontPageTech report, the new launches have been planned on the exact lines of the Apple roadmap. The Cupertino giant's new lineup may include the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and iPhone 13 mini. The iPhone 13 may sport a Sunset Gold colourway with dual rear cameras and a front notch.
For the uninitiated, Apple has planned launches every year in September, on a Tuesday in either the first or second week of the month. However, as the pandemic hit, bringing nations to a grinding halt, the tech giant faced its own share of hardships. Production was delayed and consequently, the company had to shift its launch dates and put the items on sale just after a month of unveil.
With the spread of coronavirus slowing, Apple may gradually return to its original schedule of September launches. The new lineup of products may be available for pre-order a few days after the event, on 17 September.
FrontPageTech recently published a fact-backing report based on source inputs. As per the report, the iPhone 13 lineup will be up for pre-order on 17 September and the sale may start from 24 September. Backing this, a tipster shared screenshots of all the new iPhone 13 models rumoured to be available at launch, for pre-order. According to him, the AirPods 3 could also be unveiled on 30 September, and could feature IPX4 water resistance.
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/apple-iphone-13-series-launch-tipped-for-14-september-pre-orders-could-begin-from-17-september-9918691.html
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Samsung has finally introduced the latest Galaxy Watch4, Watch4 Classic, and the Galaxy Buds2 TWS in India. The company has also revealed the pricing and availability details of the same.
Samsung Galaxy Watch4 series
Samsung has introduced two smartwatches: the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Watch 4 Classic. The vanilla smartwatch comes in 40mm and 44mm dial sizes, while the Classic variant gets 42mm and 46mm size options. Both come with a number of enhanced health features. The health features include a blood oxygen monitor, the ability to measure body composition, sleep management, and more. The watches also come with a heart rate monitor, of course.
With a round watch dial and changeable straps, the smartwatches also come with over 90 exercise modes, the ability to track calories, count steps, GPS, a number of watch faces to choose from, and loads. more. It runs WearOS (a first for a Samsung watch) that is designed by both Samsung and Google and supports a number of Google and third-party apps.
The Galaxy Watch 4 (40mm) is priced at Rs 23,999 for the Bluetooth variant and Rs 28,999 for the LTE variant. It comes in Pink Gold, Black and Silver colours. The 44mm variant is priced at Rs 26,999 (Bluetooth) and Rs 31,999 (LTE). It comes in Black, Green and Silver colours.
The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic (42mm) is priced at Rs 31,999 (Bluetooth) and Rs 36,999 (LTE), while the 46mm variant is priced at Rs 34,999 (Bluetooth) and Rs 39,999 (LTE). Both options get Black and Silver colour options.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest truly wireless earbuds by the company. With an in-ear design and a number of colours options to choose from, the TWS comes with features such as ANC, dynamic two-way speaker, three-mic system, and up to 5 hours of battery life on a single charge and 15 hours with the case. It also comes with the Auto Switch feature to switch between multiple Galaxy devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at Rs 11,999 and will be available in Graphite, White, Olive Green and Lavender colours.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series and the Galaxy Buds 2 will be up for pre-order via online and offline platforms, starting August 30. The availability will start from September 10.
As for the offers, customers can get an e-voucher worth Rs 6,000 and Rs 3,000 upon pre-booking the Galaxy Watch 4 series and Galaxy Buds 2, respectively. There will be also a cashback of Rs 3,000 (for the smartwatches) and Rs 1,200 (for the Buds 2) across all leading banks.
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/samsung-galaxy-watch4-series-buds2-launched-in-india-check-out-all-the-specs-and-prices-here-9918451.html
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On 25 August, Japan-UK-based aerospace company Astroscale achieved a major milestone — its space junk removal demo satellite successfully used a magnetic system to capture and release a client spacecraft.
Space debris, or the unused man-made junk revolving in the Earth’s orbit, poses a risk of collision with other satellites.
The End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) mission was launched in March this year with the aim of being the world's first commercial mission for the demonstration of the space debris removal system. Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the satellite consisted of a 175-kg service spacecraft and a 17-kg client satellite.
The ELSA-d mission included two separate spacecraft: a “client” that poses as space debris and a “servicer” designed to remove said debris.
❔ Why is this a big deal?
️ A major challenge of #spacedebris removal, and on-orbit servicing in general, is docking with or capturing a client object.
And this test demo served as a successful validation of #ELSAd's ability to dock with a client. pic.twitter.com/BgtrgBgcoX
— Astroscale (@astroscale_HQ) August 25, 2021
The demonstration was proof that the servicer can manage to capture and release other spacecraft, according to a statement by Astroscale. The company explained that the major challenge of space debris removal — docking with, or capturing, a client object — can be managed by the servicer.
Hear from our Mission Operations team in the UK on how we achieved this.
We've got more to do but this first step paves the way for the remainder of our pioneering demos! pic.twitter.com/NyTju6J3EW
— Astroscale (@astroscale_HQ) August 25, 2021
But the mission isn’t complete yet. The ELSA-d must reattempt the capture-and-release process three more times successfully before Astroscale can consider the mission accomplished.
The servicer must capture and release the provider from a greater distance for the second attempt. After that, the process will be replicated with the provider simulating a tumbling, uncontrolled object. The final demonstration will be a “diagnosis and client search,” with the servicer inspecting the provider from a close distance, moving away, and then re-capturing it.
Astroscale is one of several companies working on the issue of space debris. NASA has estimated that over 27,000 pieces of debris are floating in the Earth’s orbit as per the global Space Surveillance Network of the Department of Defense. The amount is expected to grow as launching a spacecraft grows less expensive.
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/astroscale-successfully-demonstrated-its-space-junk-collection-satellite-can-clear-orbital-debris-9918481.html
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The atrocity in Afghanistan dominated the front pages of newspapers across the world.
On Thursday, two suicide bombers, from the Islamic State group, detonated bombs outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, killing at least 72 Afghans and 13 United States troops. The Taliban claimed that 28 of its fighters also died in the attack.
In the United States, newspapers across the country led with the story on their front page. The Wall Street Journal carried the headline 'Blasts kill at least 13 US troops' with an image of two women left bloodied and bewildered by the attack. This image taken by Wakil Khosar for Agence France-Presse is the main picture for most newspapers including UK's The Guardian and The Telegraph.
Take an early look at the front page of The Wall Street Journal https://t.co/kAoYfDNKSZ pic.twitter.com/whW0rvGL3v
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 27, 2021
The Washington Post too led with the Kabul blast, with the image of the wounded lying in hospital, with the headline 'Kabul airport blasts kill 13 US troops, dozens of Afghans'.
In India, The Indian Express said "12 US troops among those killed in blast at Kabul airport; Taliban witness, Isis-K suspect”, while the Hindustan Times has “Terror in heart of Kabul, explosions rock airport”.
Good morning. This is the #ExpressFrontPage for today. Read more news at https://t.co/WndvORZnB0 pic.twitter.com/5b0zHxyqko
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 27, 2021
Twin explosions leave #Kabul shaken, and Zydus Cadila’s #Covid19 vaccine likely to be available by October first week
Read all this and more in today's edition of Hindustan Times: https://t.co/rk1293ZzjS
Subscribe here: https://t.co/glupM3F8BD pic.twitter.com/o6Z3uwmbr8
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) August 27, 2021
The UK's Mirror had the headline “Barbaric” laid across the same picture as it reports on the “race against time” to evacuate people still stuck in Kabul and says that British troops are braced for more Isis attacks.
Tomorrow's front page: Barbaric - Carnage in Kabulhttps://t.co/w9RwJQ5xvL#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/RrmqQh0l7m
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 26, 2021
The Sun’s front page headline is “Hell on Earth” along with what it says is a picture of children showing British passports at the site of the bombing hours before it took place.
THE SUN: Hell on earth #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Pw8ceqttaq
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) August 26, 2021
The Express has “12 US troops killed in Kabul carnage”.
Tomorrow's front page: 12 US troops killed in Kabul carnage#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/7C56jNIRO7
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) August 26, 2021
Similarly, in Spain El Mundo’s headline says “Jihadism imposes its victory with a bloodbath on the US”, while El País says “Massacre in the evacuation of Kabul”.
Portada de EL MUNDO del viernes 27 de agosto.
Ya disponible en Orbyt y en la edición digital con la mejor información. pic.twitter.com/ozASW9nIXm
— EL MUNDO (@elmundoes) August 26, 2021
In Pakistan too, the Dawn carried the story on its front page with the headline '12 US troops, 60 others die in blasts at Kabul airport'.
with nputs from agencies
from Firstpost World Latest News https://ift.tt/3ks5a77
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Thirteen United States military troops were killed in the bombing attack on Kabul airport on Thursday amounting to the worst single-day loss for the Pentagon in Afghanistan since 2011.
The 13 US Marine Corps soldiers died when two bombers deployed by the Islamic State group detonated their bombs by a key gate near the airport where the troops are overseeing evacuations.
As America mourns their losses, just who are these soldiers, termed as "heroes" by President Biden, and what role do they serve in the military.
The American service members who gave their lives were heroes. Heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others. We have a continuing obligation — a sacred obligation — to their families that will last forever.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 26, 2021
Who are the US Marines
The United States Marine Corps, also referred to as the United States Marines, is a separate military service within the US Department of the Navy.
It was established on 10 November 1775, to augment the naval forces in the Revolutionary War.
After many successes, the Corps was abolished at the close of the Revolutionary War, citing economic reasons. It was then set up once again on 11 July, 1978.
The US Marines are responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combined arms, implementing its own infantry, armour, artillery, aerial and special operations forces.
Marines have participated in all wars of the United States, being in most instances first, or among the first, to fight. In addition, Marines have executed more than 300 landings on foreign shores and served in every major US naval action since 1775.
Marines and the Vietnam War
The US Marines played a significant role in the Vietnam war. They provided ground, air, supply, and logistic support in the Vietnam War for over two decades as part of III Marine Amphibious Force.
The intermittent war against the North Vietnamese Army and the guerilla war against the Viet Cong earned the Marine Corps a frightening reputation.
Vietnam was the longest war up to that time for the Marines; by its end, an approximate 13,000 had been killed in action, over 51,300 had been wounded, and 57 Medals of Honor had been awarded.
1980s and the Marines
The 1980s brought an increasing number of terrorist attacks on US embassies around the world. Marine Security Guards, under the direction of the State Department, continued to serve with distinction in the face of this challenge. In August 1982, Marine units landed at Beirut, Lebanon, as part of the multi-national peace-keeping force. For the next 19 months these units faced the hazards of their mission with courage and professionalism.
On 23 October 1983, the Marine barracks in Beirut was bombed, causing the highest peacetime losses to the Corps in its history (220 Marines and 21 other service members were killed) and leading to the American withdrawal from Lebanon.
The Gulf War
In August 1990, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait set in motion events that would lead to the largest movement of Marine Corps forces since World War II. Between August 1990 and January 1991, some 24 infantry battalions, 40 squadrons, and more than 92,000 Marines deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. Operation Desert Storm was launched 16 January 1991, the day the air campaign began.
The main attack came overland beginning 24 February when the 1st and 2d Marine Divisions breached the Iraqi defense lines and stormed into occupied Kuwait. By the morning of 28 February, 100 hours after the ground war began, almost the entire Iraqi Army in the Kuwaiti theater of operations had been rendered ineffective, resulting in a victory for the US.
The Afghanistan Campaign
As part of the United States' 'Global War on Terror', the US Marines were deployed in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban and the Al Qaeda. US Marines invaded in October 2001 to oust the Taliban, who they said were harbouring Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda figures linked to 9/11.
As per estimates, the Afghanistan war has seen more than 2,300 US Marine soldiers being killed and an additional almost 21,000 being injured.
As years passed in Afghanistan, troop deployment kept reducing and in January 2021, there were 2,500 personnel - the lowest since 2001.
In April, top US national security officials discussed their plan for final withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
On 14 April 2021, President Biden announced his intention to withdraw all regular US troops by 11 September 2021, the 20th anniversary of the 11 September attacks and four months after the initially planned 1 May deadline.
Things turned sour when the Taliban seized the capital on 15 August and the Afghan government dissolved, surprising the US government and the world alike.
The US Marines have been put in charge of the evacuations from Afghanistan, and as of 23 August, they had helped to get approximately 48,000 people out of Afghanistan and they are racing against time to get as many out before the deadline of 31 August.
Peace missions
The Marines have also extended a helping hand in humanitarian efforts.
They have been called in to contain wildfires, and have also supported hurricane relief efforts in various parts of the country.
In December 2004, when the tsunami struck numerous nations in the Indian Ocean region killing more than 150,000, Marine units were immediately deployed to Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka to assist in disaster relief operations.
Inputs from agencies
from Firstpost World Latest News https://ift.tt/2XRhN3Z
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Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800x CPU and an Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro has a lot of grunt. More importantly, it knows how to take full advantage of that grunt. With a 140W TGP and an airy chassis, that GPU is allowed to stretch its legs. Powerful fans mean that the CPU can do the same. The speakers are great, the display is phenomenal and there’s plenty of high-speed storage for all your games.
It might seem like I’m giving away the plot too early, and I might be doing just that, but one of the luxuries of reviewing great, focused products is that they deliver exactly what was promised and there’s really nothing else to say because, well, Lenovo has delivered exactly what it promised. The Legion 5 Pro is one of the best gaming laptops you can buy in this price range. It’s that simple.
Display
Gaming laptops tend to offer fast, Full HD displays. Lenovo has gone with fast (165 Hz), but also upped the resolution to 2K (2560x1600) in a 16:10 aspect ratio. Better yet, at 500 nits, this 16-inch display is nearly twice as bright as that of other gaming laptops, and it’s also perfectly calibrated. This makes a huge difference.
Apple’s displays, be it on iPads or MacBooks, look so good because they’re quite bright and colour accurate. Until the Legion 5 Pro arrived at my doorstep, I don’t think I’ve encountered a gaming laptop with a display that’s this bright and accurate. I also like the taller 16:10 aspect ratio that Lenovo has opted for here, because it makes a difference when I’m working. There’s just that little bit more room for docks, controls, and other UI elements. If you’re just gaming or watching movies, this shouldn’t matter.
Measuring with an i1DisplayPro Plus, it appears that the display maxes out at 519 nits and covers 95 percent of the sRGB spectrum. Contrast ratio was an impressive 1206:1 and average △E was a mere 0.2. And this is before calibration. △E is the variation in rendered colour from its expected value. Any value under 2 indicates that the variation is small enough to be nearly indistinguishable to the human eye.
If this were a MacBook, I’d be complaining about the lack of AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 coverage. Because it isn’t, and especially because it’s running Windows 10, which struggles with wider colour gamuts to begin with, I think Lenovo made a smart decision here by not bothering with a wide gamut display. Games and movies will draw you in, and that fast refresh rate coupled with the superb contrast ratio means you won’t miss a shot in those super competitive lobbies.
Performance
Performance is great. The laptop consistently pushed 60+ fps at its native 1600p at max settings — and nearly 200 fps in CS: GO. With DLSS – an AI-based upscaler from Nvidia – enabled, even the demanding Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition ran at a comfortable 81 fps with RTX set to High. Versus the ASUS Tuf Dash 15, which is Rs 20,000 cheaper while also packing an RTX 3070 (albeit with an Intel CPU), the Legion 5 Pro is nearly 50 percent faster when it comes to gaming. It nearly matches the RTX 3080-toting Zephyrus Duo 15 with most games, and even manages to take the lead with some others.
These performance gains are easy to explain when you look at the TGP (not TDP, which is heat dissipated) of the GPU. Most laptop GPUs are capped at about 80 W TGP, the amount of power they’re allowed to consume. The 3070 in the Tuf F15, for example, is rated at 80+5. The Legion 5 Pro allows its 3070 to get to 140 W, which is near the upper limit of what Nvidia specifies for its RTX 30-series laptop parts. That massive performance headroom allows the GPU to run fast, and the chassis design allows it to stay relatively cool while doing so. While gaming, temperatures rarely crossed 80 C and the GPU didn’t appear to throttle.
Lenovo has built some performance profiles in, and switching between these is as easy as pressing a couple of buttons. The performance mode is indicated by the colour of the power button LED.
Personally, I really like this system. While the likes of ASUS and MSI have software that let you finely tune clock speeds, power delivery, etc., I find these systems too cumbersome, and the result of all that tweaking is rarely rewarding. In any case, the Legion 5’s profiles are quick and easy to switch between and there are no gratuitous animations to distract you.
You can still tweak settings manually if you want to, but the software isn’t thrown in your face the way it is on other gaming laptops.
In max performance mode, the fans do get loud, but they don’t whine like cheap cooling fans. The hot air is pumped out the back, which saves my hands from being roasted when gaming.
Lastly, the speakers are good. They’re loud enough to drown out fan noise, have enough bass for ambience and music, and enough clarity for adequate stereo separation when playing games. They come nowhere near matching the quality of Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro speakers, but they get the job done.
I do have one complaint, and that’s to do with battery life. At just two and a half hours (with the display set to 120 nits) in our PCMark 10 Modern Office test, the Legion 5 Pro offers less than half the battery life of its rivals. Bear in mind that the Modern Office test only simulates a regular office workload, i.e. documents and graphs, web browsing, and video conferencing, etc. The test doesn’t involve gaming or heavy rendering workloads. This was with the laptop in its balanced mode. If you’re just watching videos, you can expect about five hours from this one.
Design and ergonomics
I’ve reviewed several Legion laptops over the years, and while I found them sturdy, I generally found the designs to be quite plain. That’s not the case with the Legion 5 Pro. Firstly, the body’s made of metal and feels amazing, and secondly, there’s a bit of style thrown in. People will know you’re toting a premium laptop but will also not curl their lips at overused RGB lighting and an overly colourful chassis.
Like Lenovo’s premium ThinkPads, the design of the Legion 5 Pro is, I think, understated, and I like that.
There’s plenty of I/O, and most of it is at the rear (RJ45, USB-C, 3x USB-A, HDMI and power), with only a USB-A port on the left, and a USB-C port and audio jack on the right. This leaves more room for air intakes on the sides of the device, and less clutter for your mouse-operating hand to deal with.
RAM and storage are upgradeable.
Verdict: Hard to fault a laptop this well made
If I had Rs 1.8 lakh to spare, I wouldn’t hesitate in picking up the Legion 5 Pro. This laptop is sensibly designed and is, without a doubt, one of the best gaming laptops you can get for under Rs 2 lakh. Battery life could have been better, and I’d have liked to see a bit more RAM for heavier workloads, but with a display this good and upgradeable storage, it feels churlish to complain.
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/lenovo-legion-5-pro-2021-review-a-superb-gaming-laptop-with-one-of-the-best-displays-in-the-business-9917961.html
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The Islamic State-claimed twin suicide blasts ripped through crowds outside Kabul airport on Thursday, killing over 100 people including 13 US troops and deepening panic in the final days of an already frenzied evacuation effort from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
However, the US has said that the militant organisation may not be responsible for this particular carnage. Some reports even suggested that the Taliban, given their rivalry with the IS-Khorasan Province group, was as much a target for attacks as the US.
But overall the US did a better job at making a case for the Taliban than the extremist militant group themselves, as their PR response to a tragedy of this magnitude faltered with too many and delayed responses.
Many tongues of Taliban
Foremost, the Taliban, long criticized for its ties to extremist groups, in fact, denounced the attack.
"The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing of civilians at Kabul airport, which took place in an area where US forces are responsible for security," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said in a Twitter statement, using another name for the group. He promised that the Taliban will take all necessary steps to ensure the security of its citizens.
غبرګون:
اسلامي امارت د کابل په هوايي ډګر کې په ملکي خلکو چاودنه په کلکه غندي، یاده چاودنه په هغه سیمه کې ترسره شوې چې د امنيت مسئولیت يې د امريکايي ځواکونو په لاس کې دی.
اسلامي امارت د خپلو خلکو امنيت او ساتنې ته کلک متوجه دی، د شر غوښتونکو کړيو مخه به په کلکه سره ونيول شي.
— Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) August 26, 2021
// // ]]>
Another spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had earlier denied that any attack was imminent at the airport despite several western countries' intelligence inputs claiming otherwise. After the attack, he appeared to shirk blame, noting the airport is controlled by US troops even as the group's fighters have been deployed in the area and were occasionally accused of using heavy-handed tactics to control the crowds.
Later an anonymous source from within Taliban told Reuters news agency that at least 28 members of the Taliban are among the people killed in explosions overnight outside the airport.
“We have lost more people than the Americans,” said the official, who declined to be identified. He said there was no reason to extend the August 31 deadline for foreign forces to leave the country.
Another Taliban official told The Washington Post that the group has “launched an investigation to know the nature of the blasts and why it happened.”
US denies Taliban role in Kabul blast
The US seems to have cleared Taliban of any blame in what is being labelled one of the worst tragedies involving US troopers.
US President Joe Biden, facing an all-time low approval rating at home and unprecedented criticism for a "hasty and unplanned" withdrawal, claimed that he hasn't received any proof that the Taliban was in on the plan.
The security operation at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul depended heavily on the Taliban for its effectiveness. But Biden says he doesn’t believe relying on the Taliban for help in evacuation security was “a mistake.”
"Even today 5,000 Americans got out safe. It’s not a matter of trust but of mutual self-interest. There is no evidence that I’ve been given thus far that there has been collusion between the Taliban and ISIS," the US president said.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that it is true that the Taliban has been screening people outside the gates, but there was no indication that the Taliban deliberately allowed Thursday’s attacks to happen. He said the US has asked Taliban commanders to tighten security around the airport’s perimeter.
While US intelligence officials believe al-Qaida fighters are integrated among the Taliban, US says that the Taliban, by contrast, have waged major, coordinated offensives against the Islamic State group in Afghanistan. Taliban insurgents at times joined with both the US and US-backed Afghan government forces to rout the Islamic State from parts of Afghanistan's northeast.
A US Defense Department official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was working covertly, said previously that the Trump administration had sought its 2020 withdrawal deal with the Taliban partly in hopes of joining forces with them against the Islamic State affiliate. The administration saw that group as the real threat to the American homeland.
IS also said the bomber managed to get past Taliban security checkpoints to come within 5 meters (yards) of a gathering of US soldiers, translators and collaborators before detonating his explosives. It said the Taliban were also among the casualties.
But acting Afghanistan president Amrullah Saleh wasn't convinced. He took the opportunity to point out that Taliban has had links with the Islamic State in the past.
Every evidence we have in hand shows that IS-K cells have their roots in Talibs & Haqqani network particularly the ones operating in Kabul. Talibs denying links with ISIS is identical/similar to denial of Pak on Quetta Shura. Talibs hv leanred vry well from the master. #Kabul
— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 27, 2021
// // ]]>
from Firstpost World Latest News https://ift.tt/3gzA6S0
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The new-generation Indian Chief range of motorcycles has been launched in India with prices starting at Rs 20.76 lakh. Succeeding the heritage-style Chief motorcycles introduced years ago, the 2022 India Chief line-up adopts a more minimalistic look, and comprises a total of three variants – Chief Dark Horse (starts at Rs 20.76 lakh), Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse (starts at Rs 21.40 lakh) and Indian Super Chief Limited (starts at Rs 22.82 lakh, all prices, ex-showroom). Each variant is available in a choice of three colours, with the price varying for each version by a few thousand rupees.
The New 2022 Chief Line Up in India
The wait for India is over. The 2022 Indian Chief lineup is here now.
The new #IndianChief, Indian #ChiefBobber and Indian #SuperChief offer three unique takes on the classic American V-twin. Check out the new lineup at https://t.co/g3AVlxjor6 pic.twitter.com/IcV3OK1imY
— Indian Motorcycle IN (@IndianMotorIND) August 27, 2021
All three motorcycles are powered by an 1,890 cc air-cooled engine that makes 162 Nm of torque and are equipped with a circular, four-inch Ride Command touchscreen system and three ride modes – Sport, Standard and Tour.
Standard on all three motorcycles is a 46 mm telescopic fork up front, and adjustable twin shock absorbers at the back. All three bikes are fitted with Pirelli Night Dragon tyres and have 300 mm disc brakes front and back, but it’s only the Chief Dark Horse that rides on 19-inch wheels – the other two variants ride on 16-inch wire-spoke wheels shod in chunkier tyres. The Super Chief Limited also gets a large windshield and saddlebags.
The new Chief line-up features a 15.1-litre fuel tank, preload-adjustable rear shocks, dual exhaust, LED lighting and keyless ignition among other features. The bikes have a wheelbase of 1,626 mm and seat height of 662 mm. The Chief Dark Horse weighs 304 kg (wet), which is a considerable reduction over the previous-gen Chief Dark Horse.
Commenting on the launch of the all-new Chief range in the country, Polaris India Pvt Country Manager Lalit Sharma, said, "As an ode to this brand on its 100th anniversary, we have launched the new Chief line-up of motorcycles today that will excite every ardent cruiser enthusiast in India with their technological prowess, timeless elegance and modern performance."
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/auto-tech/all-new-indian-chief-motorcycles-launched-in-india-priced-from-rs-20-76-lakh-heres-all-you-need-to-know-9917501.html
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On Thursday, 13 United States service members were killed, along with 72 Afghans, when two explosions rocked Kabul airport.
The deadly blasts came as the United States and other Western countries raced to complete a massive evacuation of their citizens and Afghan allies following the Taliban takeover of the country.
Shortly following the attacks, US president Joe Biden promised to avenge the deaths of the troops, declaring to the extremists responsible: "We will hunt you down and make you pay."
The scenes outside the Kabul airport also served up a history lesson as many compared the carnage and destruction to the deadly 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut. The Federal Bureau of Investigation later characterised that attack as the largest non-nuclear explosion since World War II.
1983 Beirut blasts: Looking back
Thirty-eight years ago, on 23 October, a suicide bomber drove a a 19-ton yellow Mercedes-Benz stake-bed truck packed with an explosive force comparable to 12,000 pounds of TNT into the US Marine barracks in Beirut.
The US Marines were in Beirut as part of a multinational force sent to Lebanon in August 1982 to oversee the Palestinian withdrawal from Lebanon. From its inception, the mission was plagued with problems, and a mounting body count.
The horrific attack killed 241 service members, including 220 Marines. It was the deadliest attack on US Marines since the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. That same day, another truck of explosives killed 58 French soldiers in the city.
The force of the explosion collapsed the four-storey building into rubble.
In response to the attack, President Ronald Reagan had said, "There are no words to properly express our outrage and I think the outrage of all Americans at the despicable act."
The US withdrew its troops from Lebanon in February 1984, just four months after the attack.
‘Smiling Death’
Perhaps most interesting was the identity of the suicide driver, later nicknamed ‘Smiling Death’ by Marines because a sentry recalled being chilled by the expression on the bomber’s face as he raced his Mercedes truck toward the building full of sleeping Marines.
Although the bomber was “blown to dust”, as a Marine survivor told reporters that day, US intelligence determined his identity and assembled a profile of his life. The most deadly terrorist attack on Americans was carried out, according to Reagan Administration sources, by a “young nobody” who had no criminal record.
Recounting the moment, Lance Corporal Eddie DiFranco, who was manning the sentry post on the driver’s side of the truck, was quoted as saying, “He looked right at me… smiled, that’s it. Soon as I saw the truck over here, I knew what was going to happen."
Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, assistant chaplain for the US Sixth Fleet, was in a nearby building when the explosion occurred and later recounted the horrific scene: “Bodies and pieces of bodies were everywhere. Screams of those injured or trapped were barely audible at first, as our minds struggled to grapple with the reality before us.”
At the time of the bombing, an obscure group called the "Islamic Jihad" claimed responsibility for the attack. Investigators later concluded that Hezbollah — the Iranian-and Syrian-sponsored proxy army — had organised the attacks
'Watershed in international terrorism'
According to Matthew Levitt, author of Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God, the 1983 blast was "really a watershed in international terrorism. This was something new."
General James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps in 2013 at a memorial, said, "The world we live in and what we knew of the future security environment was forever changed."
"It was a new way to attack the West," Amos said. "It was a cowardly attack on freedom."
The attack also saw what experts deem the birth of a modern suicide bomber.
As Timur Goksel, a security analyst and former long-serving United Nations peacekeeper in south Lebanon, says, "It was a turning point in asymmetrical warfare, especially in the Middle East. All those people who couldn't fight powerful armies such as the United States suddenly found an easy way of balancing strength on the ground. That was the beginning and we have been seeing it ever since."
Colonel Geraghty, who faced criticism for inadequate security at the Marine compound, suggested later the Beirut bombings marked the true start of the global war on terror. He drew a line from Lebanon through the Al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001, to the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Who would have thought,” he said, “years later here we are [fighting] essentially the same crowd?" he was quoted as saying to the Marine Corps Times.
Lessons learnt
The bombings dramatically altered how US officials perceived and responded to terrorist threats.
The Department of State convened a diplomatic security review panel, led by retired US Navy Admiral Bobby Inman, which recommended the creation of mandatory minimum physical security standards for diplomatic facilities, budgeting for new construction and supplemental funding to upgrade existing office buildings, and elevating the State Department Office of Security to a bureau.
It also implemented a number of countermeasures to harden US facilities overseas, including anti-ram perimeter walls, passive and active vehicle barriers, parking standoff for screened vehicles, and window treatments such as laminated glass, shatter-resistant film and locking mechanisms.
With inputs from agencies
from Firstpost World Latest News https://ift.tt/3kn4IXS
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When we talk about amazing geological features, we often limit ourselves to those on Earth. But as a geologist, I think that’s crazy – there are so many structures on other worlds that can excite and inspire, and that can put processes on our own planet into perspective.
Here, in no particular order, are the five geological structures in the solar system (excluding Earth) that most impress me.
The grandest canyon
I left out the solar system’s biggest volcano, Olympus Mons on Mars, so I could include that planet’s most spectacular canyon, Valles Marineris. Being 3,000km long, hundreds of kilometres wide and up to eight kilometres deep, this is best seem from space. If you were lucky enough to stand on one rim, the opposite rim would be way beyond the horizon.
It was probably initiated by fracturing when an adjacent volcanic region (called Tharsis) began to bulge upwards, but was widened and deepened by a series of catastrophic floods that climaxed more than 3 billion years ago.
Venus’ fold mountains
We are going to learn a lot more about Venus in the 2030s when two NASA missions and one from ESA (European Space Agency) arrive. Venus is nearly the same size, mass and density as the Earth, causing geologists to puzzle over why it lacks Earth-style plate tectonics and why (or indeed whether) it has comparatively little active volcanism. How does the planet get its heat out?
I find it reassuring that at least some aspects of Venus’ geology look familiar. For example, the northern margin of the highlands named Ovda Regio looks strikingly similar, apart from the lack of rivers cutting through the eroded, fold-like pattern, to “fold mountains” on Earth such as the Appalachians, which are the result of a collision between continents.
Blasted Mercury
I’m cheating a little with my next example, because it is both one of the solar system’s largest impact basins and an explosive volcano within it. Mercury’s 1,550km diameter Caloris basin was formed by a major asteroid impact about 3.5 billion years ago, and soon after that its floor was flooded by lavas.
Some time later, a series of explosive eruptions blasted kilometres-deep holes through the solidified lavas near the edge of the basin where the lava cap was thinnest. These sprayed volcanic ash particles out over a range of tens of kilometres. One such deposit, named Agwo Facula, surrounds the explosive vent that I have chosen as my example.
Explosive eruptions are driven by the force of expanding gas, and are a surprising find on Mercury, whose proximity to the Sun was previously expected to have starved it of such volatile substances – the heat would have made them boil off. Scientists suspect that there were in fact several explosive eruptions, possibly spaced over a prolonged timescale. This means that gas-forming volatile materials (whose composition will remain uncertain until ESA’s BepiColombo mission starts work in 2026) were repeatedly available in Mercury’s magmas.
The tallest cliff?
In soil or vegetation-rich regions on Earth, cliffs offer the largest exposures of clean rock. Although dangerous to approach, they reveal an uninterrupted cross-section of rock and can be great for fossil hunting. Because geologists love them so much, I give you the seven kilometres-high Verona Rupes. This is a feature on Uranus’s small moon Miranda that is often described as “the tallest cliff in the solar system”, including on a recent NASA website. This even goes so far as to remark that if you were careless enough to take a tumble off the top, it would take you 12 minutes to fall to the bottom.
This is nonsense, because Verona Rupes is nowhere near vertical. The only images we have of it are from Voyager 2, captured during its 1986 fly by of Uranus. It is undeniably impressive, being almost certainly a geological fault where one block of Miranda’s icy crust (the outermost “shell” of the planet) has moved downwards against the adjacent block.
However, the obliqueness of the view is deceptive, making it impossible to be sure of the face’s steepness – it probably slopes at less than 45 degrees. If you stumbled at the top, I doubt you’d even slide to the bottom. The face appears to be very smooth in the best, but rather low resolution image that we have, but at Miranda’s -170°C daytime temperature, water-ice has a high friction and is not slippery at all.
Titan’s drowned coastline
For my final example I could happily have chosen virtually anywhere on Pluto, but instead I have opted for a hauntingly Earth-like coastline on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Here, a large depression in Titan’s water-ice “bedrock” hosts a sea of liquid methane named Ligeia Mare.
Valleys carved by methane rivers draining into the sea have evidently become flooded as the sea level rose. This complexly indented coastline reminds me strongly of Oman’s Musandam peninsula, on the south side of the Straits of Hormuz. There, the local crust has been warped downwards because of the ongoing collision between Arabian and the Asian mainlands. Has something similar happened on Titan? We don’t know yet, but the way that the coastal geomorphology changes around Ligeia Mare suggests to me that its drowned valleys are more than a straightforward result of rising liquid levels. Left: Part of Titan’s Ligeia Mare, showing a coastline with valleys drowned by a sea of liquid methane. Right: The Musandam peninsula, Arabia, where coastal valleys are similarly drowned, but by a saltwater sea.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/Cornell and Expedition 63, International Space Station (ISS)
Rock and liquid water on Earth, frigid water-ice and liquid methane on Titan - it makes little difference. Their mutual interactions are the same, and so we see geology repeating itself on different worlds.
David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/these-five-impressive-geological-structures-in-our-solar-system-will-blow-your-mind-9916871.html
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Nissan has announced it will launch its all-electric microcar for the Japanese market early in 2022. Developed in partnership with Alliance partner Mitsubishi (under the NMKV Co LTD joint venture), Nissan’s micro EV will feature ‘instant acceleration, smooth driving and cabin quietness that are key characteristics of electric vehicles’, Nissan said in a statement issued early on 27 August.
Nissan has confirmed the electric microcar – believed to be previewed by the IMk concept showcased in 2019 – will be 3,395 mm long, 1,475 mm wide, and 1,655 mm high; dimensions that will help it slot into Japan’s kei car segment.
The Nissan micro EV will have a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and is expected to have a range of around 200 kilometres on a full charge, which Nissan says has been estimated keeping ‘daily needs in Japan’. The company has also confirmed the microcar will feature the Nissan Energy Share vehicle-to-home charging capability, as well as ProPilot driver assistance systems such as remote valet parking and adaptive cruise control. In case of emergencies, the microcar will also double up as a remote power source.
The Nissan micro EV will be priced at around two million yen (INR 13.50 lakh) in its home market, with local subsidies driving the price further down to around 1.5 million yen (INR 10 lakh).
Nissan recently announced that every all-new model it launches in key markets will be electrified by the early 2030s.
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/auto-tech/nissans-electric-microcar-will-come-with-20-kwh-battery-and-driver-assists-to-debut-in-2022-9917001.html
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SARS-CoV-2 has caused the greatest pandemic of the past 100 years. Understanding its origins is crucial for knowing what happened in late 2019 and for preparing for the next pandemic virus.
These studies take time, planning and cooperation. They must be driven by science — not politics or posturing. The investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2 has already taken too long. It has been more than 20 months since the first cases were recognised in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
This week US President Joe Biden was briefed by United States intelligence agencies on their investigation into the origins of the virus responsible for COVID-19, according to media. Parts of the investigation’s report are expected to be publicly released within the next few days.
An early report from the New York Times suggests the investigation does not conclude whether the spread of the virus resulted from a lab leak, or if it emerged naturally in a spillover from animals to humans.
While a possible lab leak is a line of inquiry (should scientific evidence emerge), it musn’t distract from where the current evidence tells us we should be directing most of our energy. The more time that passes, the less feasible it will become for experts to determine the biological origins of the virus.
Six recommendations
I was one of the experts who visited Wuhan earlier this year as part of the World Health Organisation’s investigation into SARS-CoV-2 origins. We found the evidence pointed to the pandemic starting as a result of zoonotic transmission of the virus, meaning a spillover from an animal to humans.
Our inquiry culminated in a report published in March which made a series of recommendations for further work. There is an urgent need to get on with designing studies to support these recommendations.
Today, myself and other independent authors of the WHO report have written to plead for this work to be accelerated. Crucial time is disappearing to work through the six priority areas, which include:
further trace-back studies based on early disease reports
SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody surveys in regions with early COVID-19 cases. This is important given a number of countries including Italy, France, Spain and the United Kingdom have often reported inconclusive evidence of early COVID-19 detection
trace-back and community surveys of the people involved with the wildlife farms that supplied animals to Wuhan markets
risk-targeted surveys of possible animal hosts. This could be either the primary host (such as bats), or secondary hosts or amplifiers
detailed risk-factor analyses of pockets of early cases, wherever these have occurred
and follow up of any credible new leads.
Race against the clock
The biological feasibility of some of these studies is time dependent. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies emerge a week or so after someone has become infected and recovered from the virus, or after being vaccinated.
But we know antibodies decrease over time — so samples collected now from people infected before or around December 2019 may be harder to examine accurately.
Using antibody studies to differentiate between vaccination, natural infection, or even second infection (especially if the initial infection occurred in 2019) in the general population is also problematic.
For example, after natural infection a range of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, such as to the spike protein or nucleoprotein, can be detected for varying lengths of time and in varying concentrations and ability to neutralise the virus.
But depending on the vaccine used, antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may be all that is detected. These, too, drop with time.
There is also a need to have international consensus in the laboratory methods used to detect SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Inconsistency in testing methods has led to arguments about data quality from many locations.
It takes time to come to agreement on laboratory techniques for serological and viral genomic studies, sample access and sharing (including addressing consent and privacy concerns). Securing funding also takes time — so time is not a resource we can waste.
Distance from potential sources
Moreover, many wildlife farms in Wuhan have closed down following the initial outbreak, generally in an unverified manner. And finding human or animal evidence of early coronavirus spillover is increasingly difficult as animals and humans disperse.
Fortunately, some studies can be done now. This includes reviews of early case studies, and blood donor studies in Wuhan and other cities in China (and anywhere else where there was early detection of viral genomes).
It is important to examine the progress or results of such studies by local and international experts, yet the mechanisms for such scientific cross-examination have not yet been put in place.
New evidence has come forward since our March report. These papers and the WHO report data have been reviewed by scientists independent of the WHO group. They have came to similar conclusions to the WHO report, identifying:
the host reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 has not been found
the key species in China (or elsewhere) may not have been tested
and there is substantial scientific evidence supporting a zoonotic origin.
Teetering back and forth
While the possibility of a laboratory accident can’t be entirely dismissed, it is highly unlikely, given the repeated human-animal contact that occurs routinely in the wildlife trade.
Still, the “lab-leak” hypotheses continue to generate media interest over and above the available evidence. These more political discussions further slow the cooperation and agreement needed to progress with the WHO report’s phase two studies.
The World Health Organisation has called for a new committee to oversee future origins studies. This is laudable, but there is the risk of further delaying the necessary planning for the already outlined SARS-CoV-2 origins studies.
Dominic Dwyer, Director of Public Health Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, University of Sydney
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
source https://www.firstpost.com/health/soon-it-will-be-too-late-to-find-out-where-and-how-the-covid-19-virus-originated-in-china-9916831.html
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Electric two-wheeler rental firm EBikeGo is now stepping into the e-scooter business with its own product. It’s named the EBikeGo Rugged G1, an electric moto-scooter billed India’s toughest e-scooter till date, and priced from Rs 84,999. For those wondering, EBikeGo is not the manufacturer itself – having only had Hero Electric scooters in its rental fleet, the aggregator has teamed up with Tamil Nadu-based Boom Motors, and the Rugged G1 appears to be a rebranded version of Boom’s own e-scooter, named the Boom Corbett. EBikeGo says the Rugged G1 will be manufactured in Coimbatore, at a plant said to be close to reaching a capacity of one lakh units soon.
EBikeGo Rugged G1 range, battery, motor
The Rugged G1 looks somewhat barebones in its appearance, with its chunky, exposed steel cradle frame, but EBikeGo is willing to back up its claims of toughness by offering a seven-year warranty on the chassis.
The Rugged is available in two versions – the single-battery G1 (Rs 84,999) and the dual-battery G1+ (Rs 1,04,999); the first 1,000 buyers will get an additional discount of Rs 5,000. These prices include the FAME-II subsidy of Rs 27,000 for the G1 and Rs 54,000 for the G1+.
The G1 has a single, 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, while the G1+ has two of them. The batteries – with an IP67 dust and water-resistance rating – are portable, slotting in under the handlebar and below the underseat storage, and EBikeGo claims can be swapped in as little time as 60 seconds. In Eco mode (top speed restricted to 35 kph), the Rugged G1 has a claimed ‘true’ range of over 80 kilometres, while the Rugged G1+ has a range of over 160 kilometres. In Power mode (top speed raised to 75 kph), range for the G1+ drops to 135 kilometres.
Charging the batteries is said to take four hours, using a standard 15 A wall-socket and the EBikeGo charger. There is no fast-charging support. Warranty for the vehicle, battery and charger is set at three years or 20,000 kilometres, and EBikeGo says it is working on extended warranty packages as well.
Power comes from a BLDC hub motor – that EBikeGo claims is the first indigenous hub motor for an Indian electric two-wheeler – that has a nominal output of 1.5 kW (2 hp) and a peak output of 3 kW (4 hp).
EBikeGo Rugged G1 specs and features
The G1 rides on 14-inch alloy wheels shod in 120/70 tyres, has a ground clearance of 175 mm, weighs 102 kg and has a claimed underseat storage space of 50 litres. Up front is a leading link suspension, and at the back are adjustable twin shock absorbers. The scooter has disc brakes front and back, and is equipped with a combined braking system (CBS).
It also has all-LED lighting, a digital instruments display, a USB charging port and optional connectivity features such as vehicle performance and service record tracking, theft prevention, charging monitor, remote bike start and more.
EBikeGo Rugged G1 availability
EBikeGo says it is in the process of setting up experience centres all across India, but will establish the first of those stories in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Goa. Pre-orders are open now, with the reservation amount set at Rs 499, and EBikeGo is aiming to commence deliveries of the scooter from November this year. In states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, the Rugged G1 will be amongst the more affordable electric scooters on sale in the country, factoring in the state subsidies.
While its rather basic appearance may make it look like it’s meant for commercial use, Irfan Khan, Founder & CEO of EBikeGo, says, “The G1 is available for everyone in the public market. In fact, we believe the market today has a lot of enthusiasts but limited economic options keeping aside the Chinese kit assembled vehicles. We are looking to be the go-to choice for the economic B2C segment.”
source https://www.firstpost.com/tech/auto-tech/ebikego-rugged-g1-electric-scooter-priced-from-rs-84999-has-160km-range-75-kph-top-speed-portable-battery-9916761.html
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https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
SARS-CoV-2 has caused the greatest pandemic of the past 100 years. Understanding its origins is crucial for knowing what happened in late 2019 and for preparing for the next pandemic virus.
These studies take time, planning and cooperation. They must be driven by science — not politics or posturing. The investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2 has already taken too long. It has been more than 20 months since the first cases were recognised in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
This week US President Joe Biden was briefed by United States intelligence agencies on their investigation into the origins of the virus responsible for COVID-19, according to media. Parts of the investigation’s report are expected to be publicly released within the next few days.
An early report from the New York Times suggests the investigation does not conclude whether the spread of the virus resulted from a lab leak, or if it emerged naturally in a spillover from animals to humans.
While a possible lab leak is a line of inquiry (should scientific evidence emerge), it musn’t distract from where the current evidence tells us we should be directing most of our energy. The more time that passes, the less feasible it will become for experts to determine the biological origins of the virus.
Six recommendations
I was one of the experts who visited Wuhan earlier this year as part of the World Health Organisation’s investigation into SARS-CoV-2 origins. We found the evidence pointed to the pandemic starting as a result of zoonotic transmission of the virus, meaning a spillover from an animal to humans.
Our inquiry culminated in a report published in March which made a series of recommendations for further work. There is an urgent need to get on with designing studies to support these recommendations.
Today, myself and other independent authors of the WHO report have written to plead for this work to be accelerated. Crucial time is disappearing to work through the six priority areas, which include:
further trace-back studies based on early disease reports
SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody surveys in regions with early COVID-19 cases. This is important given a number of countries including Italy, France, Spain and the United Kingdom have often reported inconclusive evidence of early COVID-19 detection
trace-back and community surveys of the people involved with the wildlife farms that supplied animals to Wuhan markets
risk-targeted surveys of possible animal hosts. This could be either the primary host (such as bats), or secondary hosts or amplifiers
detailed risk-factor analyses of pockets of early cases, wherever these have occurred
and follow up of any credible new leads.
Race against the clock
The biological feasibility of some of these studies is time dependent. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies emerge a week or so after someone has become infected and recovered from the virus, or after being vaccinated.
But we know antibodies decrease over time — so samples collected now from people infected before or around December 2019 may be harder to examine accurately.
Using antibody studies to differentiate between vaccination, natural infection, or even second infection (especially if the initial infection occurred in 2019) in the general population is also problematic.
For example, after natural infection a range of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, such as to the spike protein or nucleoprotein, can be detected for varying lengths of time and in varying concentrations and ability to neutralise the virus.
But depending on the vaccine used, antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may be all that is detected. These, too, drop with time.
There is also a need to have international consensus in the laboratory methods used to detect SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Inconsistency in testing methods has led to arguments about data quality from many locations.
It takes time to come to agreement on laboratory techniques for serological and viral genomic studies, sample access and sharing (including addressing consent and privacy concerns). Securing funding also takes time — so time is not a resource we can waste.
Distance from potential sources
Moreover, many wildlife farms in Wuhan have closed down following the initial outbreak, generally in an unverified manner. And finding human or animal evidence of early coronavirus spillover is increasingly difficult as animals and humans disperse.
Fortunately, some studies can be done now. This includes reviews of early case studies, and blood donor studies in Wuhan and other cities in China (and anywhere else where there was early detection of viral genomes).
It is important to examine the progress or results of such studies by local and international experts, yet the mechanisms for such scientific cross-examination have not yet been put in place.
New evidence has come forward since our March report. These papers and the WHO report data have been reviewed by scientists independent of the WHO group. They have came to similar conclusions to the WHO report, identifying:
the host reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 has not been found
the key species in China (or elsewhere) may not have been tested
and there is substantial scientific evidence supporting a zoonotic origin.
Teetering back and forth
While the possibility of a laboratory accident can’t be entirely dismissed, it is highly unlikely, given the repeated human-animal contact that occurs routinely in the wildlife trade.
Still, the “lab-leak” hypotheses continue to generate media interest over and above the available evidence. These more political discussions further slow the cooperation and agreement needed to progress with the WHO report’s phase two studies.
The World Health Organisation has called for a new committee to oversee future origins studies. This is laudable, but there is the risk of further delaying the necessary planning for the already outlined SARS-CoV-2 origins studies.
Dominic Dwyer, Director of Public Health Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, University of Sydney
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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