New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 6.4 crore cases and more than 1.4 lakh deaths.
Suspected hackers from North Korea recently tried to target key players such as Johnson & Johnson and Novavax Inc that are in the race to develop treatments for Covid-19. Number of hospitalisations in the US have crossed 1,00,000 for the first time since the pandemic began. And a low-profile Vancouver biotechnology company has provided a crucial piece to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
North Korea-linked hackers targeted J&J, Novavax
Hackers suspected to be from North Korea have tried to break into at least nine health organisations, including key players “in the race to develop treatments” for Covid-19, reports Reuters.
The list of targeted organisations include vaccine developers such as AstraZeneca, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson and Novavax Inc.
Four persons who had investigated the attacks said the hackers “used web domains mimicking online login portals to try and trick staff…into revealing their passwords”.
The report quoted Novavax spokesperson Amy Speak as saying, “We are confident we can continue to progress with our Covid-19 vaccine candidate without disruption and that these incursions do not pose a risk to the integrity of our data.”
The number of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 in North Korea is not known.
Also read: Why we should not be worried about embracing the new Covid vaccines
US now has more than 1,00,000 Covid-19 patients in hospitals
For the first time since the pandemic began, the number of hospitalisations in the US crossed 100,000 Wednesday, reports The New York Times.
The report quoted data from the Covid Tacking Project, according to which the number of hospitalised patients has reached 1,00,226. “The numbers paint a sobering picture of what the next few weeks may look like,” the report noted.
It quoted Philip Landrigan of the Boston College as saying: “Any thinking person has to be worried.”
Despite this increase in number of hospitalisations, the share of people infected with coronavirus who are admitted to hospitals vis-a-vis the total number of infected people has actually been shrinking, the report said.
US has recorded 1,43,13,941 cases and 279,865 deaths.
Vancouver firm gives crucial piece of Pfizer vaccine
The Covid-19 vaccine by Pfizer-BioNTech that was approved in the UK Wednesday has put a low-profile Vancouver biotechnology company known as Acuitas Therapeutics on the map, reports The Globe and Mail.
The company that has been working in the emerging field of therapies known as “messenger RNA” has proven “to be a critical piece of three Covid-19 vaccine projects” including the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
“Acuitas’ technology, known as lipid nanoparticle, or LNP, is best described as a cross between a delivery driver, a bodyguard and a stager for MRNA drugs, which encompass many of the coronavirus vaccines,” the report noted.
It also quoted the company’s founder, Thomas Madden, who compared mRNA to a delicate ornament, as saying that LNP funtions to “package the ornament so it is protected in the journey”.
Canada has recorded 3,89,775 cases and 12,325 deaths.
Britons welcome vaccine news, but some raise concerns
Britons have welcomed the news of the UK government approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, even though concerns were raised by some, reports Al Jazeera.
On Wednesday, the UK became the first western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine.
The reports highlighted the remarks of a few experts, including Oksana Pyzik of the University College London, who said, “We have over 200 companies that have been focusing on developing a vaccine, they have unlimited resources and all of the world’s talents have been focused on this problem.”
Diarmaid McDonald, an organiser at a patient-led campaign group, said concerns have been raised since the US and others were taking longer to approve the vaccine.
Meanwhile, for one Sharmeen Suleman, a travel agent, the more important question will be the functionality of the vaccine rather than its safety, the report noted.
UK has recorded 16,59,256 cases and 59,699 deaths.
France will carry out border checks to stop skiers
France will now carry out random border checks to stop skiers from crossing into Switzerland and Spain for the holiday season, reports The Guardian.
This would also include mandatory quarantining of returning holidaymakers.
The report quoted Prime Minister Jean Castez as saying: “The goal is to avoid French citizens getting contaminated.”
“While Alpine resorts in France will technically be open over Christmas, ski lifts and other essential winter sports infrastructure, as well as bars and restaurants, will not,” the report noted.
So far, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for a Europe-wide shutdown of winter sports till 10 January.
France has recorded 22,44,635 cases and 53,816 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Nurses wanted: Swamped hospitals scramble for pandemic help: The Associated Press
‘I died too’: A year after outbreak, Wuhan kin struggle to move on AFP
Also read: ‘It was worth taking the risk’ — Why Covid vaccine volunteers signed up for trials