The 'highly mutated' COVID variant BA.2.86 — known as Pirola — has landed in Australia

A new COVID variant nicknamed "Pirola" has been detected in Australia after sparking a sped-up vaccination program in the United Kingdom.

A new variant in itself is not unusual — viruses evolve and change over time, and new mutated versions pop up frequently.

However, this one caught the attention of scientists.

What is BA.2.86, aka the Pirola variant?

According to the British Medical Journal, Pirola appears to have evolved from the Omicron subvariant BA.2, which was widely circulating in early 2022.

One case has been detected in Australia, in a laboratory in Western Australia, genomic sequencing data shows.

However, there could be more out there because only a fraction of all COVID-19 infections get submitted to for testing.

WA's health department said the case in Australia was "closely related – without significant differences – to those BA.2.86 strains reported from other countries".

The World Health Organization labelled BA.2.86 a "variant under monitoring" — which means they're keeping a close eye on it — in mid-August.

It has not been formally called a "variant of concern" yet or given a Greek name like Omicron or Delta.

Pirola is an informal nickname the variant received on social media from a community who track COVID variants.

Where did this new variant come from?

While new variants emerge all the time, scientists became interested in this one because of how mutated it was compared to its predecessor.

It has 33 changes to its spike proteins — the pointy part of the virus that infects human cells — compared to BA.2, analysis from China found.

To put that into context, that's the same magnitude of changes that made Omicron so distinct from the Delta variant which dominated the world in late 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-21/new-covid-strain-variant-pirola-ba-2-86-in-australia-symptoms/102873304

>>19585197

Australia has gone full globohomo

Foreign Ministry to provide $100mil to WHO for bolstering pandemic management as Albanese set to declare COVID-19 inquiry

The federal government has committed $100 million in funds to the World Health Organisation to "prevent, prepare and respond" to pandemics, ahead of the Prime Minister's long-anticipated announcement of an inquiry into Australia's COVID-19 response.

The Australian government has pledged $100 million in foreign aid to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a bid to bolster management of pandemics on a global scale.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong announced the funding package on the second day of the high-level UN General Assembly, following a convention debate in the area of Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPPR).

The government said it would provide $75 million in voluntary core funding over five years to the WHO and a further $25 million for the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.

“COVID-19 demonstrated that global challenges require collective action,” Minister Wong said in a statement.

“Our commitment to the WHO will support activities to mitigate the risk of future pandemics, including strengthening national health systems and responding to disease outbreaks.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will also work in collaboration with the WHO and its partners to support coordinated responses to other emerging diseases threats in the Indo-Pacific and ensure the global health system meets the region’s needs.

Ms Wong said this cohesive approach will help Australia “be better prepared for future shocks”.

“We need a strong global health system to help keep Australia, our region, and the world safe. This means a strong, capable WHO with the authority to respond quickly and decisively to complex health emergencies,” she said.

The commitment comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s long-awaited announcement of a 12-month COVID inquiry into Australia’s response to the pandemic since its onset.

Mr Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler will front the media on Thursday to release details about the special inquiry, which will scrutinise the work of both state and federal level jurisdictions.

Reportedly led by three medical and economy experts, it expected to take a deep dive into several factors surrounding pandemic management since 2020, including decisions around lockdowns, interstate border closures and the shutdown of schools and businesses.

As Opposition Leader during the first two years of the pandemic, Mr Albanese had committed to conducting an in-depth inquiry of some form, although saying in January 2022 it would be best suited for after “the heat of the pandemic” had settled.

The WHO declared in May this year the COVID-19 pandemic was no longer considered a global health emergency.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/foreign-ministry-to-provide-100mil-to-who-for-bolstering-pandemic-management-as-albanese-set-to-declare-covid19-inquiry/news-story/4bf5432cf639651384a02a6a9ca7a288

>>19585214

And now they are going to investigate themselves

Government to launch inquiry into federal, state and territory response to COVID-19 pandemic

An inquiry is set to be announced into the state, territory and federal governments' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler will announce the inquiry in Adelaide this morning.

The ABC understands the inquiry will not have the same powers as a royal commission but will be able to call witnesses and examine the response of federal, state and territory governments during the pandemic.

The inquiry will cover all responses since the COVID-19 pandemic began in January 2020.

The terms of the inquiry will be further fleshed out by the prime minister and Mr Butler but the ABC understands the probe will be led by medical experts.

Shadow Minister for Health Anne Ruston said she did not want the inquiry to become a "witch-hunt" against the former Coalition government.

"What we're saying is if you want to be genuine about this, make sure that the powers and the scope of the terms of reference are sufficient so that we really can get something out of this that's going to be genuinely beneficial," she told the ABC.

"Not just cherrypick the best bits and pieces that [the] government wants investigated."

In May this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic was no longer a global emergency.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-21/inquiry-to-be-announced-into-aus-government-covid-19-response/102882616

>>19585276

Judge Rebuffs Hunter Biden’s Lawyers, Orders Hunter to Appear IN PERSON at Arraignment on Federal Gun Charges

A magistrate judge on Wednesday ordered Hunter Biden to appear IN PERSON at his arraignment on September 26 on federal gun charges.

Hunter Biden was indicted on federal gun charges last Thursday.

Biden was indicted in a Delaware court on three counts related to his possession of a firearm while using drugs.

“Two of the counts carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, while the third has a maximum of five years,” NBC News reported.

Special Counsel Dave Weiss indicted Hunter Biden after the sweetheart plea deal fell apart last month.

Hunter Biden was charged with “one count of False Statement in Purchase of a Firearm, one count of False Statement Related to Information Required to be Kept By Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer, and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person who is an Unlawful User of or Addicted to a Controlled Substance.” ABC News reported.

Biden is expected to plead not guilty in a Delaware court on three counts related to his possession of a firearm while using drugs.

The judge rebuffed Hunter’s request to appear for his arraignment ‘virtually.’ The judge said Hunter Biden has to appear in person.

ABC News reported:

A federal magistrate judge on Wednesday denied Hunter Biden’s effort to avoid appearing in person at his arraignment on federal gun charges, ordering him to appear at a hearing scheduled for Oct. 3.

Judge Christopher Burke wrote that the president’s son “should be treated just as would any other defendant in our court.”

Hunter Biden’s legal team had sought to have him appear virtually, citing “the financial impact on government resources and the logistical burden on the downtown area of Wilmington” as reason enough to avoid an in-person appearance.

Prosecutors earlier Wednesday rebuffed that effort, arguing that an in-person arraignment is “important to promote the public’s confidence that the defendant is being treated consistently with other defendants.”

Judge Burke wrote that in his twelve years on the bench — with the exception of the pandemic — he “cannot recall ever having conducted an initial appearance other than in person.”

The Gateway Pundit reported back in October 2020 that his then-lover and deceased brother’s widow tossed the gun in the trash. Hunter admitted this in an online conversation with his family when they accused him of inappropriate conduct in front of a child.

And on the next day, TGP provided additional text messages from Hunter Biden that were devastating.

In a long text that Hunter sent to a family friend, Hunter exposed all that was going on with him and his family. (See also the Illustrated Primer)

TGP shared texts where Hunter comes across as borderline crazy. Hunter shared that his dead brother’s wife, Hallie Biden, whom he had an affair with, threw his gun away and the police, FBI and Secret Service got involved. Hallie claimed she did this because she was afraid Hunter would harm himself or the kids!

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/09/judge-rebuffs-hunter-bidens-lawyers-orders-hunter-appear/

Former US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund’s Shocking Admission Regarding Federal Assets at US Capitol Grounds on Jan 6

On Tuesday, The Gateway Pundit reported that there was a letter released by the House Judiciary Committee of testimony from former Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Washington Field Office that acknowledged there were numerous FBI confidential human sources (CHS) in the crowd on January 6th at the US Capitol. There were so many involved, from different Field Offices, that D’Antuono recommended:”‘to do a poll or put out something to people saying w[ere] any CHSs involved‘ so the FBI could try to ascertain how many CHSs had been in attendance.”

Prior to that letter being released, former US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund sat for a hearing with the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight. During the questioning by Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), he asked Chief Sund questions about law enforcement being embedded in the crowd and whether or not there is a process for a federal agency to be on Capitol Grounds in plain clothes. Specifically, Rep. Murphy asked:

“Do you know if the FBI or DHS had any plain-clothes employees in the crowd on January 6th?”

Chief Sund responded:

“Only what I’m learning from the GAO report that came out in [in audible]”

This is remarkable to consider that the Chief of the US Capitol Police was not aware of any Federal law enforcement or employees who were working in plain clothes on the Capitol grounds that day. Chief Sund discussed this briefly during his interview with Tucker Carlson that we covered at The Gateway Pundit (around the 36 min mark). Chief Sund claims that if the FBI had reached out to anyone, it could have been his Deputy Chief, Yogananda Pittman, who was in charge of intelligence. Pittman, who received a sweetheart deal to remain on as a USCP Deputy Chief on unpaid leave in order to reach her time required for a penchant, has not yet been subpoenaed and is now the Chief of UC-Berkley’s Police Department.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/09/former-us-capitol-police-chief-steven-sunds-shocking/

>>19585370

Shots fired outside US Embassy in Lebanon

No was was hurt in the incident, a spokesperson said

Shots were fired at the US Embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday evening, spokesperson Jake Nelson told Reuters. He added that no injuries were reported.

“At 10:37 pm local time, small arms fire was reported in the vicinity of the entrance to the US embassy,” Nelson said.

“There were no injuries, and our facility is safe. We are in close contact with host country law enforcement authorities.”

The incident took place on the anniversary of the deadly suicide car bombing of one of the buildings belonging to the US diplomatic mission in Beirut in 1984. The attack carried out by Islamist militants claimed the lives of 23 people, including two Americans.

The embassy was moved from central Beirut to its current location in the Christian suburb of Awkar following another attack in April 1983, which killed 63 people. A new diplomatic compound is under construction on a 43-acre site.

https://www.rt.com/news/583316-us-embassy-beirut-shots/

~1775: BENJAMIN-FRANKLIN-SOLD-US-OUT: SHORT-STORY: Russell-Jay: Gould.

https://youtu.be/UCDpxU_696E