New Covid variant may spread more easily than others
A new Omicron subvariant, NB.1.8.1, is spreading in the U.S. after a surge in China, though LP.8.1 remains the dominant strain nationally.
The World Health Organization has designated NB.1.8.1 a variant under monitoring, noting its spread to 22 countries, including the U.S., and a rise in prevalence from late March to April.
The WHO states that current data suggests NB.1.8.1 does not cause more severe illness than other variants, but it may spread more easily due to its ability to bind more tightly to human cells.
Experts believe current Covid vaccines should remain effective against NB.1.8.1 in preventing severe disease.
The Trump administration's plan to limit access to Covid vaccines is raising concerns among experts about potential impacts on vaccine availability and insurance coverage.
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The Guardian
31 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump raises specter of further attacks against Iran after US military operation
Fresh from ordering military strikes on Iran, Donald Trump on Saturday raised the specter of further attacks against Iran if its leadership did not engage in peace talks in a sweeping and at times ominous televised late night address delivered from the White House. The remarks suggested that the president, who has repeatedly said he wanted to bring peace to global conflicts, at least partly viewed the strikes against Iran's enrichment facilities as a tactic to force negotiations – just days after he had suggested he would given Iran two weeks before deciding on an attack. Flanked by his vice-president, JD Vance; the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth; and the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, Trump said from the Cross Hall of the White House that the strikes were aimed at destroying Iran's ability to enrich uranium to a level where it could be used in nuclear weapons. 'The strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,' Trump said. Trump's address sparked a concerned reaction from some advisers in his orbit who had cautioned against US involvement against Iran because of the potential for the US military to become dragged into a protracted conflict to topple Iran's leadership as Israel has pushed. 'I'm not sure the talk Maga wanted to hear. It sounded open-ended. They either shut down the nuclear power facility, or give up, or surrender. Very open-ended,' Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser who had a three-hour lunch with the president on Thursday, said in a special broadcast of his War Room show. Trump claimed in the speech that the three nuclear facilities in Iran bombed by the US were 'completely and totally obliterated'. But the address was short on detail about the bombing operation against three nuclear sites at Natanz and Fordow, the key facility buried deep underground, and at Isfahan, where Iran was believed to have stored supplies of uranium that had been enriched to near-weapons grade. A US official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the dark-of-night operation involved six B-2 bombers dropping a dozen of the 30,000lb 'bunker buster' bombs, formally known as GBU-57s, to try to reach the bottom of the Fordow facility located deep under a mountain. One B-2 bomber also dropped two GBU-57s on the Natanz facility, in addition to the US navy launching 30 Tomahawk missiles on Natanz and Isfahan, the official said – a strike package far larger than many defense officials had expected. Aside from his claim of military success, Trump's remarks were most notable in warning of more attacks if Iran did not start negotiations to end the conflict with Israel and accede to his demands to stop enriching uranium. They also appeared to double as a warning against any retaliation by Iran. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion 'There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,' Trump said. 'Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.' Trump also appeared to offer some justification for the bombing run, making the argument that Iran posed a direct threat to not just Israel but also the US. In doing so, after months of hesitancy, he re-embraced the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and said they had worked together as a team. 'For 40 years, Iran has been saying: 'Death to America, Death to Israel.' They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. In particular, so many were killed by their general Qassem Suleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue,' Trump said.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Bill Maher calls for Democratic party to take action after Whoopi Goldberg's outrageous comments on The View
Bill Maher criticized Whoopi Goldberg and The View after the co-host compared life for Black Americans to the conditions faced by women under Iran 's oppressive theocracy. The Real Time with Bill Maher host called for the Democratic party to 'do something' about the popular daytime talk show after the major media figure's controversial comments. On the Friday episode, Maher, 69, initially praised what he called a return to 'sanity' by Democrats, pointing to a recent New York Times editorial that took a more measured liberal stance. 'We were talking about the trans[gender] issue before, and The New York Times really has come over on that to the sensible, liberal, not crazy woke position,' he said. 'A great first step to bringing the Democrats back to sanity,' he added before calling for a reform for the hit show. '... and a second would be we gotta do something about The View,' the longtime comedian continued. Goldberg, 69, initially sparked backlash during a heated exchange with co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin on Wednesday that saw her compare life for Black Americans to that of women in Iran. The Real Time with Bill Maher host called for the Democratic party to 'do something' about The View (pictured) after the major media figure's controversial comments Griffin, 35, outlined Iran's severe human rights abuses, including the execution of LGBTQ individuals and the imprisonment of women for appearing in public without head coverings. Goldberg pushed back, saying, 'Let's not do that, because if we start with that - we've been known in this country to tie gay folks to the back of a car. I'm sorry, they used to just keep hanging Black people.' Griffin responded, arguing that the situations in Iran and the US are not comparable. Wesley Hunt, a US Representative from Texas who was a guest on Maher's Friday evening broadcast, rejected Goldberg's characterization, pointing to his own life as a sign of progress. 'My district in the great state of Texas is actually majority white and was carried by President Trump by 25 points,' Hunt said. 'I'm a direct descendant of a slave - my great-great-grandfather was born on Rosedown Plantation. I am literally being judged not by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character.' Hunt emphasized the significance of his election: 'That's progress - because a lot of white people had to vote for me. A lot. So I don't ever want to hear Whoopi Goldberg conversation about how it's worse to be Black in America right now.' He also pointed to his family's story as a reflection of how far the country has come, noting that his father, who grew up under Jim Crow, is now the parent of a US congressman elected in a majority-white district - as a Republican. 'That's America,' Hunt said. During the segment, CNN contributor Paul Begala referenced Juneteenth - the national holiday commemorating the end of slavery - and questioned why President Donald Trump seemed reluctant to fully embrace the occasion. 'I don't want it,' Hunt replied. 'I don't want Black History Month. I don't want all these days designed to make everyone feel special. I'm an '80s baby - people are too sensitive nowadays. We're all Americans.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Major Donald Trump sports ally divides opinion with his take on bombing of Iranian nuclear sites
Auburn basketball coach and loyal Donald Trump supporter Bruce Pearl has divided social media with his support of the president's bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. Trump announced US military launched a 'very successful attack' on Saturday night on three Iranian nuclear sites including the Fordo uranium enrichment plant, as Washington joined Israel's air campaign against Tehran. Trump said on social media that a 'full payload of BOMBS' was dropped on the highly-secretive, underground facility at Fordo. He then said in a televised address to the nation that the key nuclear sites belonging to 'the bully of the Middle East' had been 'completely and fully obliterated' by the attack. Pearl, a passionate Trump supporter, took to social media to heap praise on the president and America's military personnel. He wrote: 'Thank you Mr president for your strength and vision, keeping us safe. Proud of our troops! 'You did what no one has had the courage to do for far too long. You were patient and clear. Pray for Peace through prosperity in the Middle East, expand now on the AA. You prevented a War'. But fans quickly flooded his replies with divided opinions. One of those in agreement with Pearl replied to his post: 'Love me some Coach Bruce Pearl! Always appreciate courage to call it like it is.' A second posted: 'Thank you coach Pearl for always standing tall for America because it takes a strong man to have the guts to stand up for your beliefs'. A third said they 'could not have said it any better'. But not all of the replies were positive. One user who disagreed with his position told Pearl to 'stick to basketball'. Another critic commented: 'Bruce - you may want to stick to hoops. Not sure how this prevents war? More than likely the exact opposite.' It comes just days after Pearl was also thrilled to see how Trump has been handling the country's border security. 'We didn't need new laws, we just needed a president that would enforce the ones we already had! President @realDonaldTrump is making America safe again!,' he wrote on X. Pearl, who previously slammed Kamala Harris for her 'woke progressive beliefs,' expressed his support for legal immigration in November after Trump had won a second term in office. 'President Trump won big because more Americans believed he will fix Inflation, secure our border, support legal immigration, bring peace to the world through strength and put America first,' he said on X. 'I pray and I believe he will work for all Americans, uniting us as one nation under God!' The fresh US military entanglement in the Middle East comes despite Trump's promises to avoid another of his country's 'forever wars' in the region. Iran had vowed to retaliate against US forces in the region if Washington got involved. 'We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,' Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. 'A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.' Trump added that 'all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors.' Trump announced a little before 8 p.m. Saturday that the United States had dropped bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran - after on Thursday giving himself two weeks to make a decision on whether the U.S. would join Israel's war with the Islamic regime Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordo plant as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked. Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attacks, while the United States also gave key ally Israel a 'heads up' before the strikes, a senior White House official said. In a second post announcing his address to the nation from the White House, Trump said that 'IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR.' He described it as a 'historic' moment for the United States, Israel and the world.
