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The National
2 days ago
- General
- The National
US plan to deport migrants to Libya 'will put them in extreme danger'
Plans to deport migrants from the US to Libya would put them in extreme danger and destabilise the already fragile North African nation, a report has warned. The Trump administration has been in talks to deport asylum seekers to Libya, as well as migrants living in the US who hold criminal records, though a judge has temporarily halted any removals. But a report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) has raised fears that any migrants sent to Libya face being put in violent detention centres where their lives would be at risk. The study's author Matt Herbert, head of research for North Africa and the Sahel, said Libya's competing governments – the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Government of National Stability (GNS) – both run migration detention facilities. These were set up to hold migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa but also from the Middle East, who arrive in the country to pay people smugglers to take them across the Mediterranean, as part of an agreement with the EU nations to reduce migration. Conditions in the 'migrant detention facilities are extremely poor, with limited food and water and frequent overcrowding', says Mr Herbert. 'The centres are also sites of chronic and grave human rights abuses, which have been widely recorded over the years. Physical abuse, beatings, verbal humiliation and psychological torture are commonplace, and are often used during interrogations or as punishment.' Migrants also face extortion and kidnapping by 'predatory' criminal gangs, which involves 'torture until a ransom is paid'. In many detention centres 'guards systematically demand ransoms from detainees, under threat of torture or death, mirroring the actions of criminal extortion gangs operating elsewhere. 'In some cases, there is collusion with criminal gangs or armed groups that engage in similar activities outside the facility, with detainees being transferred off-site for the purpose of extortion.' Mr Herbert warns that 'migrants deported from the US risk becoming entangled in this' should the deportations eventually go ahead. His report also highlights the impact any deportations would have on the political situation in Libya, where there is 'significant anti-migrant rhetoric, both online and from key political actors'. Migration has become a 'lightning rod' for criticism of the Tripoli-based GNU government of Hamid Dabaiba and there was 'significant tension' when it was alleged Libya would be accepting large numbers of Palestinian refugees. 'If US deportations to Libya were to route to GNU-controlled areas, they would feed into the ongoing highly politicised debate surrounding migration in the region,' says Mr Herbert. 'This would pose a particular risk to Prime Minister Dabaiba, giving his opponents a potent line of rhetorical attack and poisoning public opinion against him.' The GNU's authority is challenged by powerful militias, so 'any perceived foreign pressure to host migrants could inflame public anger, put additional strain on Prime Minister Dabaiba and his already fragile governance structures'. When it comes to the GNS, the report states that the control of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar is more "robust", which would make deportations to there more manageable. But Mr Herbert warns 'they could embolden Haftar, a strongman whose forces have been repeatedly accused of human rights abuses, possibly incentivising him to pursue deeper military ambitions or political repression'. He concludes that: 'In short, deporting migrants to Libya – regardless of which faction accepts them – would not only endanger the people involved but also feed the systems of impunity and conflict that have long plagued the country.' After American officials had said the US military could fly the migrants to the North African country as soon as mid-May but stressed that plans could change, US District Judge Brian Murphy issued an order restricting their removal. When the proposals became public, both Libyan governments publicly denied reports that the US wants to send migrants to the country. Immigration rights advocates said in court filings that individuals potentially subject to deportation to Libya also included Filipino, Laotian and Vietnamese migrants. The relatives of one Mexican national have said he had been instructed to sign a document allowing for his deportation to Libya.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Transforming India's innovation ecosystem
Classical growth models treated technology as an exogenous factor that drives development. However, modern growth theory suggests technology is an endogenous factor, a product of investments in education, innovation, and ideas. This has important implications for India's growth story. However, we have not yet fully leveraged our innovation potential. India's research and development (R&D) expenditure, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), remains around 0.7% — in comparison, it is 5.2% for South Korea, 2.6% for China, and 3.6% for the US. To bridge this gap, the ₹1 lakh crore R&D fund announced in July 2024 and the fund of funds for deep tech announced in February 2025 must be operationalised at the earliest. While we are granting more patents than ever — over 100,000 granted in 2023-24 — most of them remain uncommercialised. A study by the Fraunhofer Institute reveals that, over the last decade, payments for intellectual property rights (IPR) have increased from $4.8 billion to $14 billion. The number of IPR receipts have doubled from 0.7 to 1.5 billion. Thus, there is a wide gap between payments and receipts. At the same time, global dynamics are shifting. Advanced economies are cutting funding for research departments and universities. In the US, tensions are escalating between Harvard University and the Trump administration. Norms on student visas are also becoming stricter in developed countries. This is an opportune time for India to make a strategic leap forward in building our innovation ecosystem. We need attract and retain talent, and we need the infrastructure. Existing schemes, such as the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) and the Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN), are extremely limited in scope. We need to think big and bring the best Indian minds back to India. A dedicated national programme with two tracks can help do this. Under Track 1, we should aim to invite 500 top academics from the world's top 100 universities. These researchers should be required to spend six months of the year in India for the next five years. A startup grant of $1 million can be provided to set up research labs or projects. The goal should be to build local capacity. Track 2 can focus on offering sabbaticals to faculty from the world's top 200 universities. These sabbaticals can be supported by grants of $100,000, with annual top-ups. These researchers should be required to engage and mentor students, ensuring knowledge transfer and ecosystem development. We also need to build the requisite infrastructure for an innovation ecosystem. We need world-class innovation infrastructure, not just for design, but also for prototyping and testing — crucial for product development. Common prototyping labs and design studios in our academic institutes are one avenue. Advanced testing facilities and labs across sectors should be established, in and around clusters, in partnership with educational institutes. Our experience with digital public infrastructure (DPI) and open-access data provides a solid foundation. Take, for instance, the compute clusters being provided under the IndiaAI Mission. Similar models can be explored in deep tech areas. If we are to become a product nation, then the gap between academic and industrial research needs to be bridged. There are several successful models worldwide. The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) is a pioneering example. Based at the University of Warwick, it brings together researchers and industry, innovating across sectors such as auto, healthcare, and batteries, among others. Not just industrial research, but the centre offers academic degrees at all levels, degree internships, and hosts a skills-centre. This can serve as a potential model for India to emulate in leading institutes or Institutes of Eminence (IoE). Each year, hundreds of thousands of our students go abroad to study in countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada. Increasingly, we are seeing countries tighten norms on student visas. Immigration routes are also becoming stricter post-education. While we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on education, an alternative could be to invite these global universities to set up campuses in India. Monash University in Australia and the University of Nottingham in the UK, for instance, have set up campuses in Malaysia. New York University (NYU) set up campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. These universities collaborated with the government, industry, and existing academic institutes to establish and scale up operations. This would allow India to retain talent first, but also attract students from the Global South. Apart from playing an enabling role, governments worldwide have also given a boost to the innovation ecosystem by becoming key buyers of technology. The US' Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a pertinent example. DARPA catalysed breakthroughs like the internet and GPS, for instance. The Union government can play a similar role, catalysing innovations into real-world solutions, especially in the socio-economic sphere. Our socio-economic challenges require innovative solutions with a public purpose. India can take the lead in the technologies that will define the future — AI, quantum computing, green hydrogen, and semiconductors — through this approach. Grand challenges can play a catalytic role in this aspect. With outcome-based tenders and phased grants with buy-back commitments, the government can send strong market signals and reduce technology adoption risk. To emerge as a true innovation leader, India must act with urgency and ambition. The building blocks are clear — world-class talent, robust infrastructure, strong industry-academia linkages, and catalytic public procurement. These steps will help India transition from being a consumer of global technologies to a developer of frontier solutions. Transforming India's innovation ecosystem needs both direction from government policy and participation of private enterprise. This is not a time for incrementalism. We need to act boldly, and private enterprise must be at the heart of this transformation. Amitabh Kant is India's G20 Sherpa, and former CEO of NITI Aayog. The views expressed are personal Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
New Covid variant NB.1.8.1 detected at US airports amid rise in cases. Check for symptoms and preventive measures
A new Covid variant, NB.1.8.1 has been detected in multiple international travelers arriving at major US airports, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Covid variant is believed to be driving a surge in cases across China and parts of Asia, according to a report in CBS News. The CDC's airport screening program has detected multiple cases of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to a large surge of the virus in China. ALSO READ: US sees COVID variant NB.1.8.1 surge: Why are more than 300 people in America still dying from pandemic every week? Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ovo su cipele koje bi svaki muškarac trebao imati ducencenn Kup teraz Undo New Covid variant NB.1.8.1 found at US airports Cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant have been identified among international travelers arriving at airports in California, Washington state, Virginia, and the New York City area, according to data from Ginkgo Bioworks, the CDC's airport testing results recently published on GISAID—the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data—reveal that the cases originated from travelers coming from several countries, including Japan, South Korea, France, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan. The testing was conducted between April 22 and May 12, according to the records. In addition to being detected through airport screenings, the NB.1.8.1 COVID-19 subvariant has been reported in the community by health officials in Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. The earliest cases in the U.S. date back to late March and early April. Live Events Although NB.1.8.1 has not yet become widespread in the United States, experts are closely monitoring it. This subvariant, part of the JN.1 lineage, has become dominant in China. Health authorities in Hong Kong and Taiwan have reported rising hospitalizations and emergency room visits, prompting renewed calls for public masking and efforts to stockpile vaccines and antiviral medications. Preliminary studies suggest NB.1.8.1 does not significantly outperform other circulating strains in immune evasion. However, it may bind more effectively to human cells, potentially increasing its transmissibility. ALSO READ: Are summer jobs for US teens becoming extinct? Know the truth behind declining opportunities The variant was a key topic at a recent meeting of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) vaccine advisory panel. Moderna and Pfizer presented early findings indicating that updated vaccines targeting LP.8.1—a JN.1 descendant now dominant in the U.S.—may also protect against NB.1.8.1. The panel unanimously recommended updating COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall and winter to target a JN.1-based variant. However, there was debate about whether to use the newer LP.8.1 or retain the previous season's formula. While nationwide COVID-19 levels remain low, FDA officials warned that viral evolution remains unpredictable. 'Although one can't predict evolution... the overwhelming odds are that what predominates in the next few months will come from something that's circulating now,' said Dr. Jerry Weir, director of the FDA's Division of Viral Products. Dr. Natalie Thornburg of the CDC echoed the cautious outlook, noting that while this past winter did not see a major variant shift, the situation could change. 'We didn't see a major strain replacement this past winter, but that doesn't mean it won't happen soon,' she said, adding that the virus appears to be settling into a seasonal pattern, with peaks typically in summer and winter. For now, U.S. health officials are maintaining close coordination with international partners and continuing rigorous surveillance as new variants emerge. ALSO READ: In Trump's 'big, beautiful bill', what do the US taxpayers get? Check details New Covid variant in US As of May 2025, a new COVID-19 variant named NB.1.8.1, a descendant of the Omicron sublineage JN.1, has been identified as a contributing factor to recent increases in COVID-19 cases across Asia and has also been detected in the United States. First identified in China, NB.1.8.1 has rapidly become the dominant strain there, leading to significant increases in COVID-19 cases. Its presence has also been confirmed in other parts of Asia, including Singapore and Hong Kong, and more recently, in the United States through airport screening programs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated NB.1.8.1 as a SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring (VUM) due to its increasing global prevalence. This variant is derived from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1, with the earliest sample collected on January 22, 2025. It was officially classified as a VUM on May 23, 2025. ALSO READ: Tom Cruise net worth: How much money does the 'Mission: Impossible' star currently have? Symptoms of NB.1.8.1 The symptoms of NB.1.8.1 are largely consistent with those of previous Omicron variants. Commonly reported symptoms include: sore throat, fatigue, mild cough, fever, muscle aches and congestion. In some cases, individuals have experienced persistent low-grade hyperthermia, a condition where the body temperature is elevated beyond normal due to failed thermoregulation, differing from typical fever. Other reported symptoms include headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal issues. Transmissibility and Spread NB.1.8.1 has demonstrated a higher transmissibility rate compared to some earlier variants. Preliminary data suggest that this variant has an enhanced ability to bind to human cells, potentially leading to increased infection rates. The variant has been detected in travelers arriving at major U.S. airports, including those in California, Washington, Virginia, and New York. Its spread underscores the importance of continued surveillance and public health measures. Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalizations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation. ALSO READ: 'They can't add 2+2': Trump's controversial claims on Harvard students regarding remedial math Preventive Measures To protect yourself and others: Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots. Wear masks in crowded or enclosed spaces. Practice good hand hygiene. Monitor for symptoms and get tested if you feel unwell. Follow local health guidelines and advisories
Los Angeles Times
15-03-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Bird flu mutation associated with increased disease severity found in two cats
A genetic mutation of the H5N1 bird flu virus — a mutation associated with increased infectiousness and disease severity — has been found in two cats, in what scientists say is another indication of the risks posed by the virus. The fact that the cats have the mutation 'is a continued example of how this virus is evolving in nature and should concern everyone,' said Seema Lakdawala, a microbiologist at Emory University in Atlanta. Henry Niman, founder of vaccine research firm Recombinomics Inc., reviewed the sequence data and reported the results to The Times. The gene that Niman identified in the sequence data, known as PB2 E627K, has been associated with increased mammal-to-mammal transmission and disease severity in laboratory animals. It is a similar mutation to the one found in San Bernardino dairy cows earlier this week, but has a slightly different origin. The cows were infected with the B3.13 strain of H5N1 — which has been circulating widely in dairy cows since last March. The cats were infected with the newer D1.1 strain, which is widespread in wild birds — and has also now appeared in a few cattle herds in Nevada and Arizona. Niman said he believed the two cats were based in New Jersey and infected last month based on the scientific nomenclature used to label the genetic sequences. The New Jersey Department of Public Health and Raritan Township, which reported a cluster of infected cats last month in Hunterdon County, couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Since the beginning of 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported 51 H5N1-infected cats. They include both household pets and feral felines, and have been found in 13 states since the beginning of the year, including California, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and New Jersey. There have been more than 100 reported since last March, when the outbreak was first reported in dairy cows. According to the New Jersey Department of Public Health, the infected cats all lived on the same property. One was feral, another was an indoor/outdoor cat. The living situation of the remaining four cats is unclear. On Thursday, the genetic sequences of H5N1 virus taken from two infected cats were added to GISAID — the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data — a publicly-accessible gene data bank. Richard Webby, an infectious disease expert at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., said the discovery of the mutation wasn't alarming in and of itself. 'This mutation has sporadically popped up in other mammal infections over the past few years,' he said. 'It's an easy change for the H5 viruses to make and it does so relatively frequently.' It'll become concerning, he said, if it spreads more widely. There have been no reports of infected humans in New Jersey, and a press release from the state said the people who interacted with the infected cats were asymptomatic. That Feb. 28 release said that the infected cats had no known reported exposures to infected poultry, livestock, or consumption of raw (unpasteurized) milk or meat, 'but did roam freely outdoors, so exposure to wild birds or other animals is unknown.' Since the outbreak started last March, 70 people in the U.S. have been infected with H5N1; one person has died.
