Chile’s Congress Votes to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

It is a fact that several countries in Latin America allow same-sex marriages at present such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Costa Rica, certain parts of Mexico, and Chile.

The Congress of Chile cast its vote a couple of months earlier for sanctioning a bill that legalized same-sex marriage and helped it to become a law. The bill was passed by the lower house of Congress known as the Chamber of Deputies with as many as 80 votes in favor, 2 abstentions, and 20 against. Chile’s Senate had already endorsed this bill. 

It was Michelle Bachelet, the socialist President, who first presented the motion in the year 2017. However, it had been stalled in Congress until Sebastian Piñera, the present President, extended his support.

Being a conservative, right-wing politician, Piñera announced some time earlier that he had full support for marriage equality. Now, we can expect him to sign the bill so that it becomes a law. According to the President, he is of the notion that it is the right time for equal marriage in Chile. This will help the people to form a family and lead an adorable lifestyle without discriminating by sexual orientation while enjoying the respect as well as protection rightly deserved by them. 

Here, we like to mention that soon Piñera has to step down from the post of President since his term is coming to an end. 

The news is that with the legalization of same-sex marriage, it will be possible for sex-sex couples to enjoy equal rights, for example, the right to adopt kids. 

World’s Second Tallest Building Set to Open in Malaysia

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

The 2nd tallest skyscraper on the planet is on the verge of completion and this will be done later this year. This particular structure, which is known as Merdeka 118 and situated in Kuala Lumpur, reaches a height of 678.9 meters which has gone past the previous 2nd highest skyscraper in the world named Shanghai Tower in China. While the Burj Khalifa located in Dubai has a height of 828 meters that of Shanghai Tower is 632 meters.

Constructed on the Merdeka site, where the country’s independence was announced in the year 1957, this establishment has 118 stories in total. Merdeka 118 houses a hotel as well as offices, along with a restaurant plus a dual-level observation deck. It can be considered to be the tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia right now.

According to Fender Katsalidis, the exterior design of this building has been modeled on some triangular shapes that we find in conventional Malaysian crafts and arts. Moreover, the theme’s elements have also been employed in the interiors.

The description asserts that there is a lower lobby at one end for hotel access while one will also come across an upper lobby intended for the retail and offices at the opposite end.

The construction of this establishment in Malaysia has been delayed by approximately 6 months due to the pandemic situation right now. There is a budget of approximately 5 billion Malaysian ringgits on this project as well which is roughly about $1.1 billion.

According to Fender Katsalidis, they are extremely happy due to their contributions to the assessment of the structure, which happens to be amongst the most culturally significant locations in the country.

Pfizer: Vaccine Booster Protects Against Omicron Variant

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

Immune System Support from companies like Transfer Point should be seriously considered in the current phase of the COVID pandemic.

The omicron variant was first spotted in South Africa and it is spreading quickly across the globe right now. It was declared by the companies that a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 booster will provide more protection against the virus as compared to the initial 2 doses of the vaccine. 

It has been revealed by lad tests made by BioNTech and Pfizer that their vaccine’s third dose will be able to provide antibodies successfully that will be capable of neutralizing the omicron variant at present. In fact, individuals who have taken only 2 doses will be more susceptible to the virus in the long run.

The companies have unearthed that this omicron variant is capable of bypassing the immune protection offered by the existing vaccines as compared to the earlier strains. However, it is not known for sure to what extent this new variant will be able to go through the defenses of the body over time.

Blood samples taken from all those that have only received the initial doses of the vaccines revealed that not adequate antibodies were produced against the omicron variant. Thus it is evident that in spite of safeguarding us from severe infections, the initial doses might not be enough when it comes to protecting us from the new variant. However, one thing is for sure receiving 2 doses will be protecting us in a better way than no doses at all. 

It has been suggested by the authorities that folks that have attained the age of 18 ought to receive a booster 6 months after receiving the initial 2 doses of the Moderna or Pfizer series or a couple of months following the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which consists of a single dose only. However, more research has to be made regarding the effectiveness of the booster dose in the long run. 

Dogs Trained to Detect COVID-19 Deployed Globally

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

Canines have a unique ability to detect the odors of COVID-19 when the virus is active. Dogs from Austria to Britain to Thailand have been deployed to detect its presence, delivering an extra safety line for border entry, large events, and other group activities.

Airports in Chile and Finland were the first to deploy dogs as a screening tool against COVID in 2020.

According to Austrian authorities who have trained at least two dogs to detect COVID, the success rate is far above 80%. 

It Takes About Three Months to Train Dogs to Detect COVID

When a dog is already trained to sniff out substances, it only takes about two weeks for trainers to help them recognize the presence of COVID.

It then takes another three months for them to be fully trained to detect its presence in masks, clothing, or other items.

Most countries don’t have specific plans to deploy canines trained to detect COVID-19, but there is global support to help those who want this defense line.

Dogs have a remarkable capability of picking up the volatile compounds that different infections cause in the human body. Their sense of smell is 10,000 times stronger than what humans have, which is why detecting the coronavirus is possible.

As the proof of concept work continues, you can expect to see more COVID-sniffing dogs at schools, airports, and public venues. Although the detection rate isn’t as high as some rapid antigen tests, it’s still a helpful tool to help us end this pandemic once and for all. 

Xi Jinping Looks to Expand Redistribution of Wealth

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

Almost every economic structure in the world today takes a mixed approach. That means a balance of capitalism and socialism is incorporated into our daily decisions.

The United States leans more toward the capitalism side of the equation. Although wealth redistribution isn’t a formal policy, communities charge taxes for things like public schools and infrastructure that everyone uses.

In China, the pendulum swings more to the socialism side of a mixed economy. That’s because communism is the primary emphasis in most areas, although some special districts have different rules that get followed. 

President Xi Jinping put the country on notice in 2021 that wealth redistribution for common prosperity was on the table. It seems that effort is getting a new push today. 

The Ruling Party Wants to Eliminate Poverty

China has often led the world in economic growth because of its emphasis on socialism in its mixed economy. That’s because most workers don’t earn competitive wages compared to the rest of the industrialized world.

In 2021, the wealthiest 20% of Chinese citizens earned more than ten times the poorest 20%. That figure hasn’t moved since 2015. 

The ruling party wants to reduce poverty in China’s most rural areas. Although some programs have helped achieve that goal, Jinping wants the wealthy to do more. By cracking down on the technology industry and reducing the emphasis on celebrity culture, several billionaires are on notice that the government wants what is in their accounts. 

Although no idea is off the table, the two primary efforts to create wealth redistribution are through property and inheritance taxes. In a nation already stressed by COVID concerns, these economics stresses must seem insurmountable. You can track this redistribution effort through your favorite news sites.

Jeff Bezos Pledges $2 Billion for Nature Initiative

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos committed $2 billion toward transforming food systems and restoring landscapes at the COP26 conference in 2021.

Several entrepreneurs and billionaires have come under fire in recent months for spending money on what seem to be trivial endeavors, such as taking trips to space.

Amazon has also had long-term criticism directed toward it from its workforce over its environmental practices.

The money will be coming through the Bezos Earth Fund, which currently plans to spend approximately $10 billion to fight climate change. 

Climate Change Is a Pressing Problem

When today’s parents were growing up, the environmental concerns taught in school involved the hole in the ozone layer. It was once described as an unsolvable problem, but the world committed to stop using the chemicals that caused the problem.

The planet was able to heal itself faster than most experts thought was possible.

That means a similar opportunity is available for climate change. The only problem is that some countries have not fully industrialized yet, while others rely on cheap manufacturing processes from the APAC region to fuel their economies.

Society is built on being a carbon source instead of being a carbon sink. Even nature is struggling to keep up because of deforestation, drilling, and similar practices.

Many businesses are pledging to achieve zero emissions by 2030, but this effort must have everyone step up. That means you’ll want to take your Organifi, review your current habits and practices, and make changes where it makes sense.

We only have one planet. By working together, we can solve this problem. 

DNA Evidence Reveals Identity of Paris Serial Killer

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

For several decades, a notorious serial killer in Paris was haunting the city’s crime squad. This person’s raping and murdering spree from 1986 to 1994 shocked the community, but they remained unsolved until this year.

A former military police officer confessed to being the serial killer right before his death. DNA matching proved that he was indeed present at several crime scenes.

Although all the crimes were shocking, the most disturbing attributed to him was the murder of an 11-year-old child. Her family reported her missing after she failed to show up at her school in 1986.

A lawyer representing the affected families lamented that we’ll probably never know the true extent of the man’s crimes. The killer’s death leaves many unanswered questions. 

The Serial Killer Committed Suicide

An investigator sent letters to 750 military police stationed in Paris during the time of the killing spree. After a potential identification, the man was summoned by police in September to give a DNA sample. His wife reported him missing just three days later.

The 59-year-old was discovered dead in a rented flat along the Mediterranean coast. A suicide note was found there with him, with the DNA collected from the scene matching the evidence taken at several crimes.

In two rapes of children, the man even identified himself as a police officer. That led investigators to believe that one of their own could be committing the crimes.

Now that the killer’s identity is confirmed, lawyers want additional unsolved cases reopened to retest any collected DNA from that era. 

Venezuela Subtracts Six Zeros from Currency to Control Inflation

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

Venezuela has dealt with record levels of inflation for several years. It has been such a significant problem in this South American nation that the year-over-year rate from 2020 to 2021 reached 1743%. 


That means a minimum wage salary in the country right now has a value of about $2.50 per month. Most retailers are accepting American currency instead because it delivers better results for them.

In an effort to curb this problem, the Venezuelan government announced its second monetary overhaul in three years. It’s removing six zeros from the bolivar currency to simplify the accounting. 

In 2018, the Government Removed Five Zeros from Its Currency

It’s the third time that Venezuela has removed multiple zeros from their currency in a bid to stop inflation. With the six eliminated this year, that means a total of 14 will have been taken away in the past decade.

Venezuela used to be a prosperous OPEC nation. The socialist government blames American sanctions for the problems, but it is more about interventionist macroeconomics and poorly planned social spending at a time when oil prices tanked. 

The actual value remains the same with the removal of six zeros. Since most shoppers use dollars in cash for purposes, most people say they won’t be affected by the change.

Until the economic imbalances of the country get fixed, this action might need to be retaken soon. The acute problems and this single change have virtually no impact on the nation’s macroeconomics. Keep an eye on the top news sites for updates.

Merck Reports COVID Pill Reduces Risk of Hospitalization

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

We’ve all seen the stories where seemingly healthy people get devastated by COVID-19. There are also numerous reports of people who eat healthily, get some sunlight, and include vitamins that barely have any symptoms.

Although including Thorne Research products is a great step for self-care, the COVID virus can create problems for anyone. That’s why Merck has worked to develop an antiviral pill while others have produced vaccinations.

The Merck COVID pill reportedly reduces the risk of hospitalization by half. 

This Pill Would Join Other Antiviral Care Products

Merck’s antiviral pill joins the infused product remdesivir and a generic steroid called dexamethasone to treat severe COVID cases. The other two products are typically given to patients once they’ve been hospitalized.

With the antiviral pill, Merck hopes to change the dialogue on how to treat or recover from COVID-19. 

The results from the Phase III study caused the company’s stock to rise nearly 10%. It produced such significant data that outside monitors recommended that the study stop early so that the treatment could proceed to market.

Merck says it is seeking emergency authorization use for the antiviral pill. 

Atea Pharmaceuticals is developing a similar product. Their shares went up by more than 20% on the news from Merck. 

With over 700,000 fatalities from COVID-19 in the United States alone, any treatment option is a welcome opportunity. Drugs similar to Merck’s have been linked to birth defects in some animal studies, but indications are that it doesn’t affect mammalian DNA – of which humans are included. 

Long-COVID in Children Might Be Less Severe Than Initial Reports

Posted on | by Wyatt Barnett

As the Delta variant creates massive health and logistical issues globally, authorities have discovered that the more transmissible version of COVID causes children to get infected more often than the original strain.

Since one of the side effects of this viral infection involves long-term symptoms (called “long COVID”), health officials were concerned that this issue could impact children in multiple ways.

The results were quite encouraging in a survey of 11- to 17-year-olds who tested positive for the coronavirus in England between September and March. As few as 2% of the youth population still had symptoms 15 weeks after diagnosis.

Those with Persistent Symptoms Need Additional Support 

The research team found that the children with the most persistent symptoms often experienced tiredness, headaches, and breathing difficulties. That’s why it is imperative for them to receive the support needed to maintain their health.

It should be noted that the study has not received publication in a medical journal. It also gathered information from youth without symptoms, creating a database of more than 50,000 responses.

About 53% of those who took the survey had at least one symptom because they are common within the general population. For those with a confirmed test only, that rate went up to 65%.

Although the figures paint a potentially disturbing picture for those affected by COVID, the long-haul issues don’t seem to be as prevalent in children. That’s good news for the millions of kids who are navigating their way through a tricky school year.