United States: Deadly fungal infection spreading at an alarming rate

A drug-resistant and potentially deadly fungus has been spreading rapidly through US health care facilities, NBC News reported quoting a new government study.

The fungus, a type of yeast called Candida auris, or C. auris, can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems. The number of people diagnosed with infections — as well as the number of those who were found through screening to be carrying C. auris — has been rising at an alarming rate since it was first reported in the United States.

The increases, “especially in the most recent years, are really concerning to us,” the study’s lead author, Dr. Meghan Lyman, chief medical officer in the CDC’s Mycotic Diseases Branch, said in an interview. “We’ve seen increases not just in areas of ongoing transmission, but also in new areas.”

The CDC's new warning, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, comes as Mississippi is fighting a growing outbreak of the fungus. Since November, at least 12 people have been infected with C. auris with four "potentially associated deaths," according to the state's health department, Tammy Yates, spokesperson for Mississippi State Department of Health said in an email.

There has been ongoing transmission at two long-term care facilities, although cases have been identified at several other facilities in the state.

"Unfortunately, multi-drug resistant organisms such as C. auris have become more prevalent among our highest risk individuals, such as residents in long-term care facilities," said Yates.

The fungus can be found on the skin and throughout the body, according to the CDC. It's not a threat to healthy people, but about one-third of people who become sick with C. auris die.

In the CDC report, researchers analyzed state and local health department data on people sickened by the fungus from 2016 through December 31, 2021, as well as those who were “colonized,” meaning they were not ill but were carrying it on their bodies with the potential of transmitting it to others who might be more vulnerable to it.

The number of infections increased by 59%, to 756, from 2019 to 2020 and then by an additional 95%, to 1,471, in 2021.

The researchers also found that the incidence of people not infected with the fungus but colonized by it increased by 21% in 2020, compared to 2019, and by 209% in 2021, with an increase to 4,041 in 2021 compared to 1,310 in 2020.

Most concerning was the increasing numbers of fungus samples resistant to the common treatments for it. Lyman hopes the paper will put C. auris on health care providers’ radar and spur facilities to practice “good infection control.”

The new findings are “worrisome,” said Dr. Waleed Javaid, an epidemiologist and an infectious disease expert and director of infection prevention and control at Mount Sinai Downtown in New York.

“But we don’t want people who watched 'The Last of Us' to think we’re all going to die,” Javaid said. “This is an infection that occurs in extremely ill individuals who are usually sick with a lot of other issues.”

Even if C. auris moves beyond health care facilities and into communities, it’s unlikely to become a problem for healthy people who do not have invasive medical devices, such as catheters, inserted into their blood vessels, Javaid said.

The main problem is preventing the fungus from spreading to patients in hospital intensive care units, Javaid said. Unfortunately C. auris can colonize not only people who come in contact with the fungus, but also patient rooms.

“By its nature it has an extreme ability to survive on surfaces,” he said. “It can colonize walls, cables, bedding, chairs. We clean everything with bleach and UV light.”

While the fungus was first identified in 2009 in Asia, scientists have determined that C. auris first appeared around the world about a decade earlier, after they re-examined older data and discovered instances where C. auris had been mistakenly identified as a different fungus, Dr. Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said in an interview.

“It’s the pattern we’ve observed with these types of pathogens,” he said. “Often they start out extremely rare, then they emerge in more and more places and become widespread.”

It's important to stop the pathogen so it doesn’t spread beyond hospitals and long-term facilities like the drug-resistant bacteria MRSA did, Snyder said.

“It’s not unusual to see MRSA in the community now,” Snyder said. “Will that happen with C. auris? I don’t know. That’s partly why the CDC is raising the alarm.”

Dozens of platforms in UKCS to go standstill

Unite the union announced on Monday, March 20 that major oil and gas operators in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) face a tsunami of industrial unrest within weeks as around 1400 offshore workers across five companies demand a better deal on jobs, pay and conditions.

Unite, whose members will take action at companies enjoying record-busting profits, predicts that platforms and offshore installations will be brought to a standstill due to the specialized roles its members undertake. 

The action will hit major oil and gas operators including BP, CNRI, EnQuest, Harbour, Ithaca, Shell and Total.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Oil and gas companies have been given free rein to enjoy massive windfall profits in the North Sea; drilling concessions are effectively licences to print money.

“1400 offshore workers are now set to take strike action against these employers who are raking it but refusing to give them a fair share of the pie. This will create a tsunami of industrial unrest in the offshore sector.  

“Unite will support these members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

The prospective action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders crane operators, pipefitters, platers, and riggers working for Bilfinger UK Limited, Stork construction, Petrofac Facilities Management, the Wood Group UK Limited and Sparrows Offshore Services.

John Boland, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite has received unprecedented support in favour of industrial action in the UK Continental Shelf. It is the biggest mandate we have received in a generation in the offshore sector. There is no doubt that this is directly linked to oil and gas companies reaping record profits while the workforce gets scraps from the table. 

 “Unite’s members are angry at the corporate greed being shown by offshore operators and contractors. Now these major global companies are set to face the consequences as dozens of offshore platforms will be brought to a standstill in a matter of weeks.”

Around 700 offshore workers at Bilfinger UK Limited are set to down tools after Unite members voted in favor of taking industrial action as part of a pay dispute.  Bilfinger workers are demanding an increase above the base rate of pay set in the Energy Services Agreement (ESA) for 2022.  

Meanwhile, 350 Stork construction workers are set to take strike action after Unite members also supported industrial action in a dispute over working rotas and rates of pay.

Unite members employed by Petrofac Facilities Management Limited on the FPF1 platform also voted in favour of strike action. Around 50 workers are involved in the dispute over holiday entitlements. Offshore workers can be asked to work at any time for no additional payment. The operator, Ithaca Energy, has a clawback policy of 14 days, double the industry norm of 7 days.

Unite members employed by the Wood Group UK Limited on TAQA platforms similarly voted to take strike action. Around 80 members are involved in the dispute which is focused on a 10% cut made to salaries in 2015 worth around £7,000 a year.

The mandates for industrial action follow the recent announcement by Unite that around 200 Sparrows Offshore Services workers will take strike action across more than 20 oil and gas platforms in disputes over pay. Strike action is set to hit various platforms from 29 March and until 7 June in a series of 24, 48 and 72-hour stoppages. This action will hit a number of major operators including BP, Shell, Apache and Harbour Energy. 

A further two industrial action ballots are due this week at Petrofac BP involving around 80 workers (21 March), and at Worley Services UK Limited on Harbour Energy platforms involving around 50 workers (24 March) in disputes over pay. The pending ballot results could bring the final total to around 1500 offshore workers taking industrial action.

Unite recently blasted the UK Government's inaction on taxing oil firms as BP posted the biggest profits in its history as it doubled to £23 billion in 2022. BP’s bonanza profits come after Shell reports earnings of £32 billion, bringing the combined total profits of the top two energy companies in Britain to a record £55 billion.

Sri Lanka to receive first tranche of IMF bailout funds in two days

Sri Lanka will get the first $330 million tranche of the International Monetary Fund's bailout in the next two days, the global lender said on Tuesday, putting the onus on the cash-strapped nation to rein in its debt to sustainable levels.

Economic mismanagement coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic left Sri Lanka severely short of dollars for essential imports at the start of last year, tipping the island nation into its worst financial crisis in seven decades.

The IMF's Executive Board on Monday approved a nearly US$3 billion bailout for Sri Lanka with the endorsement expected to catalyze additional external support for the country to the tune of US$3.75 billion from the likes of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other lenders.

The office of the country's president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said the program will enable it to access up to US$7 billion in overall funding.

"Sri Lanka is no longer deemed bankrupt by the world," Wickremesinghe said in a video statement released by his office. "The loan facility serves as an assurance from the international community that Sri Lanka has the capacity to restructure its debt and resume normal transactions."

The IMF funding will, however, not immediately help millions of Sri Lankans, who are being squeezed by soaring costs of living, high income taxes of up to 36% and a 66% increase in power tariffs. The economy is expected to shrink by 3% this year after contracting 7.8% in 2022.

Half of the families in Sri Lanka have been forced to reduce the portions they feed their children, according to a survey by Save the Children released this month.

Shehan Semasinghe, Sri Lanka's state minister of finance, said the IMF bailout was absolutely essential for the country.

"But now we have to patiently focus on very difficult reforms going ahead. We have to continue to work together to rebuild Sri Lanka's economy and move it towards recovery," he said in a statement late on Monday.

The Colombo Stock Exchange All-Share index was down 0.6% as of 0629 GMT, while the Sri Lankan rupee strengthened 6.45% against the dollar.

Bonds were up by 0.73 cents to 1.50 cents across tenors, with the March 2029 bond leading the gains.

Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Asia and Pacific Department at IMF, said debt sustainability was one of the key criteria for the IMF to approve a bailout for any economy.

Going forward, Sri Lanka's disbursements from the bailout package would be tied to reviews that take place every six months, Breuer said, adding that the IMF has not set any growth target but has put in place an inflation band of 12-18% for the country to achieve by end of 2023.

Sri Lanka's retail prices have eased from last year's peaks but still hover over 50%.

Securing financing assurances from China and India and all its major bilateral creditors was key to Sri Lanka's efforts of unlocking the IMF bailout and putting its economy back on track.

The island nation aims to announce a debt-restructuring strategy in April and step up talks with commercial creditors ahead of an IMF review of the bailout package in six months, its central bank governor told Reuters earlier this month.

"We need to keep in mind that it's still going to be a difficult road no matter how much potential funds or support is being thrown at Sri Lanka," Katrina Ell, senior economist at Moody's Analytics, told Reuters.

"Ultimately, it comes down to them being able to successfully address some of the systemic problems in terms of economic management, fiscal management."

 

 

 

 

Al-Qasabi meets with Iraqi Prime Minister

Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Foreign Trade Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, who is also the head of the Saudi side of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, is visiting Iraq to strengthen economic relations between the two countries and follow up on the outcomes of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council.

During the visit, Al-Qasabi met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, conveying greetings and appreciation from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince, wishing Iraq further progress and prosperity.

The minister also met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Dr. Muhammad Ali Tamim (Head of the Iraqi side of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council), the Iraqi Minister of Trade Atheer Al-Ghurairy, and the President of the Supreme Judicial Council Dr. Faiq Zaidan.

The meetings dealt with ways of consolidating the strategic partnership within the framework of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council.

The Coordination Council aims to enhance communication between the two countries and to elevate bilateral relations in various fields, including economics, development, security, investment, tourism, culture, and media.

Washington denounces Xi visit to Moscow

According to Reuters, Vladimir Putin and his dear friend Chinese leader Xi Jinping planned more talks on Tuesday after a Kremlin dinner where the isolated Russian president showcased his most powerful ally in the face of Western opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Washington denounced Xi's visit, saying the timing just days after an international court accused Putin of war crimes indicated Beijing was providing Moscow with diplomatic cover to commit additional crimes.

It was Xi's first trip abroad since he obtained an unprecedented third term last month. The Chinese leader has been trying to portray Beijing as a potential peacemaker in Ukraine, even as he deepens economic ties with his closest ally.

Putin and Xi greeted one another as dear friend when they met in the Kremlin on Monday, and Russian state news agencies later reported they held informal talks for nearly 4-1/2 hours, with more official talks scheduled for Tuesday.

In televised comments, Putin told Xi he viewed China's proposals for resolution of the Ukraine conflict with respect. He confessed to being slightly envious of China's very effective system for developing the economy and strengthening the state.

Xi, for his part, praised Putin and predicted Russians would re-elect him next year.

Moscow has been publicly promoting plans for a visit by Xi for months. But the timing gave the Chinese leader's personal support new meaning, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on Friday accusing Putin of war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine.

Moscow denies illegally deporting children, saying it has taken in orphans to protect them. It opened a criminal case against the court's prosecutor and judges. Beijing said the warrant reflected double standards.

The West says the warrant should make the Russian leader a pariah.

"That President Xi is travelling to Russia days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Putin suggests that China feels no responsibility to hold the Kremlin accountable for the atrocities committed in Ukraine," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

"Instead of even condemning them, it would rather provide diplomatic cover for Russia to continue to commit those grave crimes.”

White House spokesman John Kirby said Xi should use his influence to press Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine, and Washington was concerned that Beijing might instead call for a ceasefire that would let Russian troops stay.

China has released a proposal to solve the Ukraine crisis, largely dismissed in the West as a ploy to buy Putin time to regroup his forces and solidify his grip on occupied land.

Russia and China do not have the same network of friends and partners around the world as the United States, and that's why they are tightening their relationship now, Kirby said.

"It's a bit of a marriage of convenience, I'd say, less than it is of affection," Kirby told reporters.

Washington has said in recent weeks it also fears China might arm Russia, which Beijing has denied.

 

 

Is the United States being isolated?

Despite all the doubts, ifs and buts the recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is considered a significant diplomatic achievement not just for the two sides, but also for the entire region. For the United States which has long thrived on the war economy, consolidation of this era equals eternal isolation. The United States is being isolated. 

The agreement was welcomed by many countries inside and outside the region, but shortly after the news broke out, a very strong and loud trend started to emerge and that was the notion of credibility.

It is not hard to read the intentions of China to act as a mediator to bring peace back to a region which is of significant importance, especially for those who are familiar with China’s economic ambitions and its race with the US to win the title of first economic power. To economically grow bigger, a safe West Asia is vital for China. And so is for Iran and Saudi Arabia.

But the open arms of many countries to embrace the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia speaks volumes about the changing nature of international relations.

The truth is, the world is tired of settling disputes in an old fashion which involves a violent militaristic approach. And this is the core of the multipolar world order notion.

For decades, since WWII, the US along with NATO had made it clear that every country in the world has to choose between two and only two options, either you are with us, or before you know, democracy will be marching in the streets of your capital.

But this mentality has changed unprecedentedly even amongst the most loyal allies of the US against the background of some rather surreal incidents in world in recent years, the most important of which is the war in Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine proved that once the US prescribes war as a solution, peace will not even have a dog door to get into the room, even if it requires sabotaging the daily life of all nations in the Continental Europe.

The biggest state-sponsored act of terrorism against the European Union since the world wars, namely blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines, which the Western mainstream media have been struggling to drag into margins by pointing fingers at different/irrelevant suspects, has opened Europeans’ eyes wide to the bitter truth, there is no coming back from what has already started.

No effort to achieve peace gained support from the US, no diplomatic endeavor was sponsored, not even the call for a proper investigation into the explosion of the pipelines met with praise. And today, Ukraine which is nothing but a shadow of its former self, explains the reasons behind all that by openly speaking about how it’s fighting a war on behalf of the US and NATO.

The obvious victims of this historical fiasco are the citizens of Ukraine and Europe who have to live through a symphony of inflation and fear on a daily basis. The recent anti-war and anti-NATO movements in the US and Europe indicates the partial awareness in Western societies which puts a dreamlike image of a Europe without a war in the horizon, but in this tireless political/militaristic scam that every minute counts, it seems the Europeans do not care about time at all.

This is not the first time the self-centered actions of the US and European politicians raise eyebrows in the West. The US lied about the weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq. It lied about the tyranny of Assad’s government in Syria. It lied about Afghanistan hosting terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks. It withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal (JCPOA) without even asking the opinion of its European partners. The United States even lied about the mRNA vaccines it had produced to combat Coronavirus. It lied about the possible origins of Covid-19 in order to deflect attentions and not saying one single word about the Fort Detrick military-based bio-lab complex in its soil while keeping the WHO investigators outside the country’s doorsteps. The list goes on, but what was presented as the backgrounds of the war in Ukraine was the latest in the long line of shameless lies of the US to its allies.

What was said above, although not being comprehensive, takes us back to where we started: credibility. And the United States seems to be suffering a deepening crisis.

It is true that almost everyone is watching the turn of events in West Asia with pessimism and caution, but the frame which was recorded on March 10 can neither be undermined nor ignored, because it represents a new era with unique tendencies and characteristics.

The new era is based on securing the most possible advantages for all sides of every deal, without giving an uncontrollable higher hand to one side. In this era, maintaining peace will be the first and foremost in the list of international priorities of countries even when it comes to their national interests, because competitions will be of economical nature.

 

 

Pakistan: Agriculture Strongest Forte

Agriculture is the strongest forte of Pakistan’s economy. Over the years, the sector has played a key role in achieving food security, boosting exports and ushering foreign direct investment in the country. It provides raw material to two of the large scale manufacturing industries i.e. textiles and clothing and sugar.

The sector contributes around 20% to country’s GDP, accounts for more than 60% of total export-proceeds earned by the country and provides employment to nearly 45% of the total labour force. Pakistan ranks eighth worldwide in farm output - it is among the leading producers of Wheat (7th), Rice (11th), Cotton (4th), Sugarcane (5th) and Mango (4th).

The most important crops are wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and rice, which together account for more than 75% of the value of total crop output. Lately Pakistan joined the Club of wheat exporting countries by achieving over 25 million tons of the staple food grain per annum.

Over the years the government introduced agriculture assistance policies, including increased support prices for many agricultural commodities and expanded availability of agricultural credit.

Much of the Pakistan's agriculture output is utilized by the country's growing processed-food industry. The value of processed retail food sales has grown considerably over the years.

Lately Pakistan joined the Club of wheat exporting countries by achieving over 25 million tons of the staple food grain per annum. During the outgoing financial year Wheat output was a little below 25 million tons. Rice production was around 7.5 million tons. Maize crop size was reported around 7.3 million tons. Cotton and Sugarcane production remain below the target.

Wheat is staple food grain and many bakery products are made from it. This year due to some issues faced during wheat procurement, the quantity bought by the government remained below target. However, private sector purchased substantial quantity. It is necessary to point out that due to the shortage of modern gain storage silos; nearly 15% of the wheat produced goes stale before reaching the market.

Rice is the second main staple food crop and also another major exportable commodity. Pakistan produces different verities of rice, but Basmati enjoys a unique preference because of grain size and its aroma. Traditionally, Pakistan has been exporting rice in bulk which used to fetch lower price. Lately, many brand of rice have attained global recognition, but India continues to give tough competition in the global markets.

Red Chilli is a major crop of Pakistan as also exported in large quantity. Chilies are one of the largest traded spices in the International market. In Sindh, Chilies are mainly grown in Kunri, a small town of Umer Kot district. The area contributes around 85% of Pakistan’s red chili production and it is also known as one of the largest production centers for red chilies and also known as the red chilli capital of Asia. Export of red chilli can help in earning substantial foreign exchange.

Maize is also an important crop that can be cultivated on average quality soil. It is said that each and every part of the plant is consumed by human beings and animals. Two of the most consumed forms are oil and flour. It is also an important source of non-animal protein for chicken feed. At an average the country produces about 7 million tons of maize.

Soybean is an important source of edible oil. Seed is processed to extract oil for human consumption and its meal is a rich source of protein, primarily used as feed for poultry, dairy, beef and fish industry. Currently, soybean cultivation in Pakistan is highly negligible. Owing to its nutritional value and multiple uses, it is also called the “Golden bean”. Interestingly, all the soil and climatic conditions of all the four provinces are suitable for soybean. As the soybean can help cut edible oil imports to a significant extent, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research needs to launch a massive awareness drive at federal level in close coordination with provincial agricultural departments.

The contribution of agriculture in economy of the country can be further enhances by exercising better crop management, containing post-harvest losses by constructing modern storage and logistic facilities and achieving greater value addition. Developing a robust rural economy will also contain influx of people in search of job to cities, from rural areas.

Pakistan is among the top five largest cotton producing countries of the world. Pakistan is also known as ‘Cotton Country’. Cotton is the basic raw material for country’s largest industry, Textiles and Clothing, which contributes more than 60% to Pakistan’s total export proceeds. Bulk of the Textile and Clothing exports now comprises of value added products. Major buyers of made in Pakistan Textiles and Clothing are United States, European Union, China and some oil-rich Middle Eastern countries. Cotton seed-oil contributes a significant quantity of total edible oil produced in the country and oil-cake being used to feed mammals.

Sugarcane is the second largest cash crop of Pakistan. It is being cultivated in Punjab, Sindh and KPK. There are about 85 sugar mills operating in the country, producing over 4.2 million tons sugar annually, sufficient to meet the local demand. Two by-products of sugarcane are molasses and baggase. Bulk of the molasses is exported but lately many mills have also started producing and exporting alcohol, which is used in the production of biofuel. Baggase is commonly used in the production of chip board, an efficient alternative for wood. It is also used as fuel in brick kilns.