A mediator in Russia's war with Ukraine, China's Xi holds call with Zelenskyy

#Ukraine #Zelensky #Xi Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky by telephone on Wednesday for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fulfilling a longstanding goal of Kyiv which had publicly sought such talks for months. Zelensky immediately signalled the importance of the chance to open closer relations with Russia's most powerful friend, naming a former cabinet minister as Ukraine's new ambassador to Beijing. #Ukraine #Xi #Zelensky

We won’t sit by or seek to profit from war, Ukraine leader told

KYIV/BEIJING: Chinese president Xi Jinping spoke to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy by telephone for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fulfilling a longstanding goal of Kyiv which had publicly sought such talks for months.

Zelenskyy immediately signalled the importance of the chance to open closer relations with Russia’s most powerful friend, naming a former cabinet minister as Ukraine’s new ambassador to Beijing.

Describing the hour-long phone call as “long and meaningful”, Zelenskyy tweeted: “I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations.”

Xi told Zelenskyy that China would send special representatives to Ukraine and hold talks with all parties seeking peace, Chinese state media reported.

Xi, the most powerful world leader to have refrained from denouncing Russia’s invasion, made a state visit to Moscow last month. Since February, he has promoted a 12-point peace plan for Ukraine, greeted sceptically by the West but cautiously welcomed by Kyiv.

China will focus on promoting peace talks, and make efforts for a ceasefire as soon as possible, Xi told Zelenskyy, according to the Chinese state media reports.

“As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible country, we will neither sit idly by, nor pour oil on fire, still less seek to profit from it,” Xi said.

In a readout of the call on Telegram messenger, Zelenskyy said the two leaders discussed “possible cooperation to establish a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine”.

The White House welcomed the call, which it said it had no advanced knowledge of, but said it was too soon to tell whether it would lead to a peace deal.

“That’s a good thing,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said. “Now, whether that’s going to lead to some sort of meaningful peace movement, or plan, I don’t think we know that.”

France also welcomed the call, with President Emmanuel Macron’s office saying the French leader had pushed Xi to hold this call with Zelenskiy during his visit to Beijing this month.

The 14-month war is at a juncture, with Ukraine preparing to launch a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months following a Russian winter offensive that made only incremental advances despite the bloodiest fighting so far.

There are no peace talks in sight, with Kyiv demanding Russia withdraw its troops and Moscow insisting Ukraine must recognise its claims to have annexed seized territory. 

 

Beijing's role as peacemaker gains stature

 

Beijing's role as peacemaker gains stature

Xi, Zelenskyy talk on ties, Ukraine crisis on phone

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call on Wednesday at the invitation of the latter, during which the two leaders exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis. Chinese analysts said that China is now likely to get more involved on the diplomatic front to contribute to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and the role that China could play has been sincerely welcomed by both Kiev and Moscow, despite some voices from the West, especially the US, that have tried to distort China's mediation efforts. 

Xi says dialogue only viable way out for Ukraine crisis

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis, and no one wins a nuclear war.

China's special envoy to Ukraine will play positive role in promoting peace talks: Foreign Ministry

The special representative of the Chinese government to Ukraine will be someone who is familiar with relevant affairs and can play a positive role in promoting peace talks, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked on the phone discussing bilateral ties and the Ukraine crisis.

 

Get booster to evade new variant: the Arcturus subvariant !

 New COVID variant causing itchy, watery eyes

WHO monitoring new Covid-19 Arcturus subvariant detected in over 20 countries | THE BIG STORY

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PETALING JAYA: Health experts have advised the public to take precaution amid confirmation that the Arcturus viral subvariant has been detected in the country.

Professor in Public Health Medicine and Health Economy in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said although the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.16 (Arcturus) viral subvariant is highly infectious, nothing pointed to it being more dangerous than other Omicron variants currently in circulation.

“It is advisable for people to get a booster shot if they have not received one and wear a face mask whenever in crowded spaces,” she said, adding the government will soon be offering Bivalent vaccines which are especially effective for Omicron variants.

Prof Sharifa said symptoms of the Arcturus subvariant included itchy or sticky eyes, as well as high fever and cough – particularly among children.

“The Arcturus subvariant is highly infectious because it is difficult to be traced by our antibodies and because of that, it can cause people who already had Covid-19 in the past to be reinfected.

“This will cause an increase in Covid-19 cases in time to come, and the World Health Organisation has classified the Arcturus subvariant as a ‘variant of interest’ (VOI) that will be under careful observation,” she added.

Public Health Medicine Specialist Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the subvariant was fairly new and not much details was known about it so far.

“It is predicted to be more infectious and may cause a rise in cases, but regardless, people should be vigilant and follow the SOP including masking up and getting a booster shot,” he said.

Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health in Universiti Malaya Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming said Arcturus was the dominant variant in India and causing a new wave but added that cases were mostly with mild symptoms.

“According to WHO, while this variant seems to be spreading faster and escapes immunity, it does not seem to be causing more severe illness in individuals or in the population infected with Arcturus.

“However, even though it is not more lethal than other Omicron subvariants, we should take it seriously as it may cause severe illness to vulnerable groups,” she said.

Prof Moy said whether a variant will cause a wave in a country depended on the immunity of the population as well as the variant which was last dominant there.

“The public should practice TRIIS: Test, Report, Inform, Isolate and Seek medical help if infected.

“Those who do not have their vaccination up to date and have not taken a booster dose should do so as soon as possible,” she said.

On Monday, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said a total of 12 cases involving the Arcturus viral subvariant had been detected in the country.

Six cases were detected in Sarawak, four in Selangor and two in Kuala Lumpur, she said.

The XBB.1.16 subvariant was first detected in the country in March, but the minister said the situation was under control and that health facilities were not under any pressure. 

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Important to mark DNA Day, crucial for discovery of the genome’s sequence

 

photo: afp relaxnews

EVERY year on April 25, the global scientific community unite to celebrate DNA Day, marking the momentous completion of the human genome project in 2003 and the discovery of the double helix in 1953.

On April 25, 1953, James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, Rosalind Franklin and colleagues published papers in the journal Nature on the structure of DNA. By commemorating DNA Day, scientists and enthusiasts seek to emphasise the significance of DNA research and inspire future generations to pursue advancements in genetics.

DNA is like a recipe book for living things; it stores vital information that is passed down from one generation to the next. The information is stored in the form of genes that determine the characteristics of an organism, and is protected and held in place by chromosomes. In humans, the genome is made up of approximately three billion base pairs of DNA. Studying the genome and its variations can therefore provide insights into the causes of genetic disorders and help researchers develop new treatments.

DNA holds significant potential in the fields of medicine, anthropology and forensics. In forensics, DNA is frequently used to determine the guilt or innocence of suspects as well as to identify unknown deceased individuals, by analysing DNA collected from hair, skin or blood samples. DNA can also be used to trace a person’s ancestry and determine their ancestral homeland.

In medicine, genetic testing can identify mutations in a person’s DNA that increase his/her risk of developing certain diseases, such as breast or ovarian cancer. DNA sequencing can also help doctors develop personalised treatment plans for patients with cancer or other diseases by identifying specific genetic mutations driving the disease’s growth. In some cases, DNA testing can also diagnose rare genetic diseases that might be difficult to identify otherwise.

Additionally, newborns can be screened for certain genetic conditions that may not be apparent at birth, allowing for early interventions or treatments that can improve outcomes for them.

Precision medicine is an advanced approach that considers the individual characteristics of each patient, in particular their genetic profile. This approach has the potential to revolutionise scientific and medical progress and improve the health of families by providing doctors with the resources to identify specific treatments for various illnesses.

Historically, most medical therapy development has focused on the “average patient” using a “one-size-fits-all” approach to treatment. While this may be beneficial for some individuals, it can be completely ineffective for others. With precision medicine, doctors can develop tailored treatments that are customised to a patient’s specific needs, leading to more effective and personalised care.

That’s why it’s so crucial for us to have a full picture of the human genome, and why the discovery of the genome’s sequence was welcomed by academics and doctors everywhere.

As our knowledge of DNA and the information it encodes grows, we may one day live in a society with fewer and better-managed diseases, longer lifespans, and individualised medical care rather than mass-produced pharmaceuticals designed for the general population.

- PROF ZILFALIL ALWI, ABDUL HALIM FIKRI HASHIM and NOR RAFIDA MOHD SENI Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan

Prof Zilfalil heads the Malaysian Node of the Human Variome Project and is also Unesco Chair in Human Genetics on Thalassaemia, a programme that involves over 850 institutions across 117 countries. 

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