Our Top 5 Stories for the Week of October 4, 2021

Updated October 10, 2021 | Infoplease Staff

It’s been a busy week, from malaria breakthroughs to increasing violence in Afghanistan. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top five stories of the week.

Coronavirus Updates for the Week of October 4

Photo Source: STRF/STAR MAX/IPx

• Case Numbers and Vaccine Updates: On Sunday, October 3, Dr. Fauci stated that things are looking up for Americans; however, vaccination rates could still stand to improve. Currently, 70 million eligible Americans need to be vaccinated. According to Johns Hopkins University, though, cases are down from 150,000 a day to 107,000 new cases a day.^[1] On Saturday, October 9, it was reported that experts believe booster shots for Covid will most likely become the norm. The FDA has yet to review data surrounding Moderna and Johnson and Johnson, but it is seeming that mixing doses will be the recommendations. The FDA and CDC will be reviewing data later this month.^[2] On Thursday, October 7, the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Antarctica. The vaccine was flown out to be administered to the 23 scientists still conducting research on the continent. Few Covid cases have been reported in the area, and strict measures will be put in place as the summer research season approaches.^[3] On Saturday, October 9, Brazil surpassed the grim number of 600,000 deaths, making it the country with the second highest death rate, right behind the US. President Bolsonaro continues to receive criticism from many civilians.^[4]
• Schools Still See Turmoil: On Thursday, October 5, the FBI announced that it will be working towards a solution to resolve the level of hostility displayed towards school employees. The number of threats and harassment targeted towards teachers and school boards has risen dramatically due to both Covid safety measures and the teaching of critical race theory.^[5] On Tuesday, October 5, Arizona Governor Ducey was sent a warning from the Treasury Department regarding his use of federal Covid-19 funds. Ducey allocated funding to only those public schools that open for in-person learning and don’t require masks, and he also used the money to create a second program for students’ transportation and education costs if their original school requires masks and they choose to attend a different school.^[6]
• Travel Restrictions: On Sunday, October 3, New Zealand’s government announced that starting November 1, all foreign nationals entering the country must be vaccinated against Covid. Travelers will now need to input their vaccination status when using the country’s isolation system, as well as show proof of their vaccination upon landing.^[7]

Source: [1]CNN [2]CNN [3]BBC [4]CNN [5]BBC [6]CNN [7]CNN

Check out some more Covid resources.

Major Voting and Legal Issues Take Place

Photo Source: AP Photo/Susan Walsh

• Government Shutdown Avoided: On Monday, October 4, tensions remained high despite President Biden’s choice to sign a spending bill and avoid a government shutdown late last month. Biden assured the public that his $1 billion infrastructure bill would pass, but Democrats are now at an impasse.^[1] Many Senators are opposing the addition of the Hyde Amendment, stating they will not pass the economic plan unless that amendment is omitted. The Hyde Amendment allows for government funds to be used for abortions in the case of rape, incest, or the mother’s health. In 2019, President Biden stated that he no longer supports the amendment, after years of showing his support.^[2]
• Texas Abortion Ban: On Friday, October 8, the legal battles regarding the Texas Abortion Ban continued to plague the area. A Texas Appeals Court put a temporary ban on the order last month blocking the bill, which means the bill is now allowed to stay in place for the moment. Activists are calling for the Supreme Court to step in.^[3]
• President Biden Undoes Many Trump-Era Policies: On Friday, October 8, President Biden undid many Trump-era moves. Biden announced expansions of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine, three national monuments former President Trump had scaled back protections for. Millions of acres will be restored to these areas.^[4] That same day, the Biden Administration scrapped a few more border wall contracts put in place by former President Trump. The Department of Homeland Security expects to cancel further contracts in those sections. The latest cancellations covered about 44 miles worth of border.^[5]

Source: [1]BBC [2]CNN [3]CNN [4]CNN [5]CNN

Take a look at a timeline of past government shutdowns.

Unrest in Afghanistan Continues

Photo Source: AP Photo/Abdullah Sahil

• Mosque Bombings: On Monday, October 4, a bombing at a Kabul mosque left at least 7 people dead. A Taliban spokesperson stated that it was Taliban officials attending a funeral at the mosque. Though the official targets are unclear, ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for the attack.^[1] On Friday, October 8, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for two more deadly attacks: one at the Shia mosque in North Afghanistan and one at a mosque in Kunduz. The bombing at the Shia mosque killed at least 46 people and injured another 143.^[2] At least 50 people were killed and many more injured at the attack that occurred in Kunduz, making it the deadliest attack since US troops withdrew last month.^[3]
• Health Care Collapse: On Friday, October 8, the UN released a report regarding the collapse of healthcare in Afghanistan. Medical employees have not been paid in 6 months and facilities are now out of equipment and medicine. The area is also facing an intense food shortage. The UN stated that more than 12 million Afghans are relying on aid for food.^[4]
• US and Taliban Talk: On Saturday, October 9, the US and Afghanistan held their first face-to-face talk since the withdrawal. The US had stated that these talks do not equate to its recognition of the Taliban as a government. The talks in Qatar are instead designed to focus on issues with extremist groups, humanitarian aid, and removing more US citizens. The two groups agreed to uphold the terms outlined in the Doha agreement in 2020. The US also agreed to help deliver Covid vaccines and humanitarian aid.^[5]

Source: [1]CNN [2]CNN [3] [4]CNN [5]BBC

Learn more about Afghanistan.

Major Breakthrough for Malaria Vaccine

Photo Source: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

On Friday, October 8, scientists made a major breakthrough regarding malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially made a long-awaited announcement endorsing the use of a new malaria vaccine. Ghana, Malawi, and Kenya have been the three trial countries for the vaccine. Thirty years of research has gone into the production of this vaccine. Further discussions have been put into place regarding the transfer of vaccine manufacturers to Africa. Scientists hope that the technology used to produce the Covid vaccine quickly can also be implemented for this new malaria vaccine.
Source: CNN

Learn more about malaria.

Fires and Hurricanes Continue to Ravage Areas

Photo Source: AP Photo/Ethan Swope

• Oil Spill in California: On Monday, October 4, officials stated that 3,000 barrels of oil spilled on a part of the Southern California coast after a pipeline breach occurred five miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. The spill is currently threatening wildlife, as officials see birds and fish wash ashore.^[1]
• La Palma Volcano: On Monday, October 4, the lava from Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma thickened after explosions caused part of a crater to collapse the night before. The lava seems to be following a similar path as previous explosions, sparing untouched areas. Some emergency calls have been made due to air quality, but officials do not believe they will have to perform any more evacuations for the time being.^[2]
• Cyclone Shaheen: On Monday, October 4, Shaheen, the tropical cyclone, battered Oman and Iran. At least ten people were killed during the storm, and many roads and electrical facilities were damaged. Winds were between 73 and 95 mph. After Shaheen hit land, it was downgraded to a tropical storm.^[3]

Source: [1]CNN [2]CNN [3]BBC