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A law banning abortion from as early as six weeks into pregnancy has come into effect in the US state of Texas. It bans abortions after the detection of what anti-abortion campaigners call a fetal heartbeat, something medical authorities say is misleading. The law, one of the most restrictive in the country, took effect after the Supreme Court did not respond to an emergency appeal by abortion providers.
The Taliban on Wednesday showed off dozens of American-made armored vehicles along with newly seized weapons at victory celebrations in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. Fighters waved white Taliban flags from Humvees and armored SUVs at the military parade, where many of the vehicles appeared in near perfect condition. The Taliban also organized an air display with a recently seized Black Hawk helicopter.
A section of Japan is no longer administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine after black particles were found in a vial. BBC reports that a pharmacist in the Kanagawa Prefecture noticed the foreign substance while checking the vaccine before use. Takeda Pharmaceutical, a Moderna vaccine distributor in Japan, announced on Aug. 26 they were suspending three lots of the vaccine following the reports.
US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has started giving people doses of a pill against COVID-19 as part of a new clinical trial. The company’s oral antiviral treatment has entered a mid-to-late-stage trial and is being tested on adults with minor COVID-19 symptoms. Pfizer is one of several drug manufacturers hoping to develop the first antiviral pill to be taken for early signs of the illness.
Turkish Cypriot authorities have taken emergency action to stop an oil slick blamed on a faulty power plant in Syria from wreaking environmental havoc along some of the island’s finest unspoiled coastline. Environmental officials in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus – internationally recognized only by Ankara – said that 20,000 tonnes of fuel oil had spilled from the Syrian plant.