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HMPV Virus: A New Pandemic Threat?
International Desk
04 Jan 2025, 11:08
Photo: Collected
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has seen a surge in outbreaks in China and Japan. This flu-like virus has already infected many, with medical professionals and public health experts warning it could escalate to a crisis similar to COVID-19.
Experts fear a new pandemic could emerge as early as 2025. While no specific disease has been identified as the next global threat, the growing prevalence of HMPV is raising concerns.
Reports and social media posts reveal overcrowded hospitals in China, with claims that multiple viruses, including HMPV, Influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and even COVID-19, are on the rise.
What is HMPV, and What Are Its Symptoms?
HMPV symptoms resemble those of the flu and other respiratory infections, particularly affecting children and immunocompromised individuals. Common symptoms include:
- Cough
- Fever
- Nasal congestion
- Shortness of breath
The incubation period for HMPV is typically 3–6 days, with symptoms varying in duration depending on the severity of the infection. While it may begin with mild cold-like symptoms, severe cases can lead to hospitalization due to bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma exacerbations, or ear infections.
How Does HMPV Spread?
HMPV spreads in ways similar to other respiratory viruses:
- Respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.
- Direct physical contact, such as handshakes or touching infected surfaces.
- Touching the face (mouth, nose, or eyes) after contact with contaminated areas.
Prevention and Protection
Although HMPV was first identified nearly two decades ago, no vaccine has been developed to date. Doctors suggest that preventive measures used against COVID-19 can also be effective in managing HMPV:
- Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoiding touching the face with unclean hands.
- Maintaining a safe distance from infected individuals.
Adhering to these measures can help reduce the risk of infection and keep the virus at bay.
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Jaguar Unveils Futuristic Electric Car Concept ‘Type 00’
Luxury carmaker Jaguar is making strides into the electric vehicle market with the unveiling of its bold new concept car, the Type 00. Showcased recently in Miami, the concept car offers a glimpse into the future of electric mobility, combining Rolls Royce-like elegance with the modernity of Tesla's Cybertruck.
The Type 00 is over five meters long, with a cutting-edge interior that redefines modern design. Dual large displays at the front serve multiple purposes, from providing essential driving information to offering entertainment options like music and video. Notably, the car lacks traditional rear windows or windshields, instead relying on side-mounted cameras to display rear views.
Jerry McGovern, Chief Creative Officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), acknowledged the unconventional design, stating, “It might feel unsettling to some, but that’s okay. Embracing change is essential to move forward.”
Available in striking “Miami Pink” and “London Blue,” the Type 00 promises an impressive range of up to 430 miles on a single charge. While Jaguar has yet to disclose pricing details, the car is expected to hit the market by the end of next year, signaling Jaguar’s ambitious leap into the electric vehicle era.
US Court Upholds Law Ordering Sale of TikTok
A US federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent firm ByteDance, in a move that could lead to a ban on the popular short video platform as early as next month.
The law — which was signed by US President Joe Biden in April — gave ByteDance one year to divest from TikTok or be banned from app stores in the US.
For a long time, US officials had raised alarm over the app's growing popularity among the country's youth, claiming that it could allow China to spy on its nearly 170 million users in the country.
TikTok argued that the law violates the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US constitution.
But the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, stating that the law was in line with long-standing regulatory practices and there was no intention to suppress specific expressions.
"The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States," the court said in an opinion written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg.
"Here the government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary's ability to gather data on people in the United States."
TikTok to appeal again
TikTok said it now plans to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.
"The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people," they said.
The spokesperson added that unless stopped, the statute "will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025."
Looming ban
TikTok said in its petition that a separation of ByteDance as mandated by the law was "simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally."
The app's fate now lies in the hands of two US presidents.
President Biden can grant a 90-day extension of the January 19 deadline to force a sale. However, it's unclear if ByteDance could show it had made progress towards a divestiture required to trigger the extension or if the government in Beijing would approve a sale.
President-elect Donald Trump — who takes office on January 20 — was unsuccessful in banning TikTok during his previous term in 2020. But in a change of stance, he said before the November presidential election that he would not allow the TikTok ban.
Low-pressure Likely to Form over Bay of Bengal Within 24 Hours
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has indicated that a low-pressure system may form in the central region of the southern Bay of Bengal within the next 24 hours.
This information was provided in the weather forecast issued on Saturday (December 7) for the 72 hours starting from 9 am.
The forecast states that the weather across the country is expected to remain dry, with a partly cloudy sky. Moderate to dense fog may form in some parts of the northern region late at night and early morning, while light to moderate fog is expected in other regions. Both day and night temperatures may decrease slightly.
For Sunday (December 8), from 9 am to the following 24 hours, the weather is expected to remain dry across the country with a partly cloudy sky. Moderate to dense fog may form in the northern regions late at night and early morning, while light to moderate fog is likely elsewhere. Night temperatures may rise slightly, while day temperatures will remain nearly unchanged.
For Monday (December 9), from 9 am to the following 24 hours, the weather is expected to remain predominantly dry across the country with a partly cloudy sky. Light to moderate fog may form in some areas late at night and early morning. Night temperatures may rise slightly, while day temperatures may decrease slightly. Over the next five days, temperatures are expected to drop further during both day and night.
The extended portion of the subcontinental high-pressure ridge lies over Bihar and adjoining areas. A seasonal low-pressure system is positioned over the southern Bay of Bengal with its extended section reaching up to the northeastern Bay of Bengal. A low-pressure system is expected to form in the central region of the southern Bay of Bengal within the next 24 hours.
From Ice to Hair BBQ: A New Trend in Chengdu
A food that looks like a bundle of human hair is actually thick, and black, and is being grilled like BBQ after marinated in oil and spices. It is also used in soups, mixed like noodles, or fried and eaten with vegetables. While it may sound strange, what you are seeing is not imaginary, but real.
Following the trend of ice BBQ, a bizarre new hair BBQ has emerged in China, called "Grilled Hair." This food trend has recently gained popularity in Chengdu, where food enthusiasts are flocking to try it. Its tempting aroma and unusual appearance have made it a viral sensation on social media.
This long, black, thread-like food looks like hair, but it's not human hair. It is a special type of Algae known as "Black Moss," which resembles a bundle of human hair.
The food is prepared in several steps. First, the black Algae is harvested, known as "Black Moss." Then, it is coated with oil, chili powder, soy sauce, chopped onions, and a special spice called "folded ear root" before being grilled. While the taste of this food is different, its appearance and aroma are the main attractions, drawing in curious people.
According to the restaurant owner, the dish was first created by a group of friends as a fun experiment. Many of them love experimenting with unusual things. After posting about it on social media, it quickly went viral. People in Chengdu are generally eager to try new, delicious foods, and this dish is no exception.
A local traveler said, "I saw the food on social media and decided to try it myself. It seemed like something different, so I wanted to give it a taste."
This black moss, which looks like hair, is also called "Hair Vegetable" by some. It mainly grows in the dry and barren desert regions of China. After harvesting, it is processed by drying in the air. Street food vendors in Chengdu have learned this new cooking method and started serving the food in a fun and interesting way, leading to its rise in popularity.
Elon Musk's Grok Chatbot: Now Free for All X Platform Users
Grok, the AI-powered chatbot initially available only to premium users of X (formerly Twitter), is now accessible to all users for free. Starting last Friday, free users can utilize the chatbot with certain restrictions. They are allowed to send up to 10 messages every two hours and analyze a maximum of three images per day. The update has been widely discussed on X, with app expert Nima Owji and others sharing posts about the new features.
A community post by the account Black Speaker revealed that along with opening Grok to free users, X has also discontinued the Grok 2 Mini model. Last month, TechCrunch reported that X had been testing a free version of Grok in specific regions globally.
This move is seen as Elon Musk’s effort to position Grok as a competitor to major AI platforms like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft. Musk is reportedly focused on accelerating the growth and reach of Grok AI, making it a significant player in the AI industry.
Launched in December last year, Grok enables X users to quickly find answers to a variety of questions. It can also pull updated information from the internet, making it a valuable tool for staying informed on any topic.
To develop its own AI solutions, Musk founded the company xAI in July last year. xAI is composed of former employees from DeepMind, OpenAI, Google Research, Microsoft Research, and Tesla, with Musk leading the team. Recently, xAI raised $600 million in funding, fueling speculation that Grok.
Google’s Quantum Chip “Willow” Sparks Debate on Parallel Universes
Google has unveiled its revolutionary quantum chip, Willow, reigniting discussions about the existence of parallel universes.
This groundbreaking chip, developed by Google Quantum AI, is capable of processing tasks in mere minutes that would take traditional supercomputers billions of years to complete.
The speed and efficiency of Willow have astonished the scientific community, challenging established norms of computational science.
Hartmut Neven, the head of Google Quantum AI, has linked Willow’s extraordinary performance to the intriguing possibilities of quantum mechanics, including the idea of parallel universes.
The chip leverages quantum superposition and entanglement, enabling it to handle computations far beyond the capabilities of classical systems.
The introduction of Willow marks a monumental leap forward in quantum computing technology, promising advancements in fields such as cryptography, material science, and artificial intelligence.
Beyond its practical applications, Willow has sparked a fresh wave of curiosity and debate about the mysteries of quantum physics.
'Online Editors Alliance' Begins Journey
The Online Editors Alliance began its official journey on Thursday (December 12).
The organization comprises heads of online and digital divisions of Bangladesh's news media, newspapers, and television outlets.
The announcement was made during a meeting attended by representatives from 35 prominent media organizations, marking a significant step towards enhancing coordination, experience sharing, and skill development in digital journalism.
Hasan Sharif, Online Editor of Daily Naya Diganta was elected as President, while Mizanur Rahman Sohel, Head of Online at Daily Bhorer Kagoj was appointed as General Secretary. The alliance also formed a 13-member executive committee for a one-year term.
Lutfor Rahman Himel of Banglanews24.com and KM Ziaul Haque of Jago News were named Vice Presidents. SAHM Kabir Ahmed of RTV Digital and Kamrul Islam Rubel of DBC Television were appointed Joint Secretaries.
Palash Mahmud of Daily Kalbela took the role of organizing secretary, Sharafat Hussain of Daily Ittefaq became assistant organizing secretary, Moin Bakul of Amader Shomoy was named finance secretary, and Masud Bin Abdur Razzak of Deepto TV assumed the role of office secretary.
Members of the executive committee are Anisur Rahman Bulbul of Kaler Kantho, Azad Baig of The Daily Star, and Mansura Chameli of Bangla Tribune.
In addition to the executive committee, heads of several other leading media outlets have been given general membership.
They include Forhad Hossain of Daily Manab Kantha, Golam Rabbani of Daily Khaborer Kagoj, Riaz Uddin of Ekushey Television, Mahmud Sohel of Gazi TV, Moudud Ahmed Sujan of Daily Sun, Golam Zakaria of Bay of Bengal Post, Arifur Rahman of Asian TV, Apel Mahmud of Desh Rupantor, Sajid Haque of Manabzamin, Moniruzzaman of Desh TV, Bipul Hasan of RTV, Mahtab Hossain of Desh Rupantor, Md Rashed Siddique of ATN Bangla, SA Rahman Galib of Daily Inqilab, Riajul Alam Rabby of Banglavision, SM Aminur Rahman of Protidiner Bangladesh, Shakib Sikandar of Kaler Kantho, HM Nahian of Bhorer Kagoj, Rony Reja of Daily Bangladesh, Mobin Hossain of Nagorik TV, Yubaraj Faisal of Naya Diganta, Nasir Uddin Patoari of Barta Bazar, AKM Imranul Haque of Daily Ittefaq, Rudro Mizan of News 24, and Zubayer Ahsan Jaber and Ataur Rahman of Daily Jugantor.
It was decided in the meeting that only the heads of online and digital or multimedia divisions of any national first-class news media can become members of this organization.
The alliance aims to create a unified platform for online journalism professionals, enhancing collaboration and setting new benchmarks for digital journalism in the country.
