The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five (5) to eleven (11), at least five (5) months after completion of the primary vaccine series. Pfizer requested this EUA at the end of April, citing company data that showed that a third vaccine dose raised Omicron-fighting antibodies by thirty-six (36) times in this age group.

FDA Commissioner, Dr. Robert Califf, said in a News Release on Tuesday (17th May 2022), “While it has largely been the case that COVID-19 tends to be less severe in children than adults, the Omicron wave has seen more kids getting sick with the disease and being hospitalized, and children may also experience longer term effects, even following initially mild disease.” He added, “The FDA is authorizing the use of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age to provide continued protection against COVID-19.”

Tuesday's decision means anyone five (5) and older in the United States is now eligible for at least one (1) booster dose. Those who are fifty (50) and older and persons twelve (12) and older, who are immunocompromised in certain ways, are eligible for two (2) booster doses.

Studies from the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the effectiveness of two (2) doses of Pfizer's vaccine for children ages five (5) to twelve (12) dropped substantially during the Omicron surge, falling from 68% to about 12% against infection. However, two (2) doses continued to provide protection against more severe illness resulting in urgent care or hospitalizations.

Public Health Officials have urged Americans to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, including all recommended booster doses, as the best way to protect themselves and the people around them.

Moderna has also requested FDA authorization for a second COVID-19 booster shot for everyone eighteen (18) and older, but a decision has yet to be made regarding that request.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

​[Source: CNN]

The Sun, Moon and Earth will align Sunday night (15th May 2022) for a total lunar eclipse, which occurs when the Earth moves into place between the Sun and the Full Moon. As a result, the Earth casts a giant shadow across the lunar surface, bathing the Moon in the re­flect­ed red and or­ange hues of Earth’s sun­sets and sun­ris­es — which is why lunar eclipses are also referred to as Blood Moons.

Sunday’s event, also visible from Trinidad and Tobago, will occur for about an hour and a half, and will be one of the longest to­tal­i­ties of the decade. It will also be the first Blood Moon in a year.

Sunday's Full Moon is also considered a Super Moon, meaning it looks bigger and brighter than usual because it is at the closest point to Earth in its orbit, also known as ‘Perigee.’

The total lunar eclipse will be visible from portions of the Americas, Antarctica, Europe, Africa and the East Pacific. Meanwhile, a penumbral eclipse, where the outer part of Earth's shadow blankets the Moon, will be visible in New Zealand, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

[Editor’s Note: EDT times below = T&T times]

Depending on your location, a partial lunar eclipse begins at 10:28pm EDT (02:28 GMT on Monday). The Blood Moon will reach its peak at 12:11am EDT (04:11 GMT) on Monday before the lunar eclipse ends at 1:55am EDT (05:55 GMT). The penumbral moon phase of the eclipse will begin about an hour earlier and end about an hour after the partial eclipse, according to TimeandDate.com.

​You can watch the live stream of the total lunar eclipse below, beginning from 11am EDT on Sunday night, courtesy of NASA.

This will be the first of two (2) lunar eclipses in 2022. The next one will take place on 8th November 2022 and will be visible at least partially from Asia, Australia, North America, parts of Northern and Eastern Europe, the Arctic and most of South America, according to TimeandDate.com.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

​[Source: Space.com]

At least ten (10) people were killed in a racially motivated mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York on Saturday afternoon (14th May 2022). The shooting occurred at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Street. Police said a suspect is in custody. According to reports, investigators are reviewing a purported manifesto posted online in connection with the mass shooting.

Stephen Belongia, Special Agent in charge of the FBI Buffalo field office, said at a Press Conferences on Saturday that the FBI is assisting in the investigation. The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, according to Agent Belongia.

The Buffalo Police Department tweeted, “BPD on scene of a mass shooting at the Tops in the 1200 block of Jefferson Avenue. Police say multiple people have been struck by gunfire. The shooter is in custody. Motorists and residents are urged to avoid the area.”

Tops Friendly Markets released the following statement following the shooting: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence and our thoughts and prayer are with the victims and their families. Our top priority remains the health and well-being of our associates and customers. We appreciate the quick response by local law enforcement and are providing all available resources to assist authorities in the ongoing investigation.”

​Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted, “I am closely monitoring the shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo. We have offered assistance to local officials. If you are in Buffalo, please avoid the area and follow guidance from law enforcement and local officials.”

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

[Source: CNN]

The United States Embassy in Port-of-Spain announced on Friday (13th May 2022) that effective 17th May 2022, all Visa applicants will have the option to select home delivery of their Passport or documents. The Embassy said all fees for home delivery are determined by DHL and must be paid online.

All applicants, including mail-in Visa renewals, will have access to the home delivery option. Applicants who must appear for an interview will be able to update their delivery option in the Embassy’s scheduling website, up until the day before their appointment.

A 23-year-old man, identified as Isaiah Lee, is being held on $30,000 bail after a terrifying physical attack on legendary comedian Dave Chappelle. The incident happened last night (Tuesday 3rd May 2022) at Chappelle’s Hollywood Bowl performance — part of the “Netflix Is A Joke” festival.

The brazen attack came only a month and a few days after another comedian was attacked on stage — Chris Rock — with the infamous slap delivered by Will Smith.

According to reports, a man in the audience somehow got on stage and manhandled Chappelle, tackling him violently and slamming him on the hard stage. The attacker pointed a gun at Chappelle as he rushed him. However, Police later confirmed the gun was not real — it was a replica of a semi-automatic with a real knife attached to it. Chappelle, therefore, was in real danger during the violent attack.

​Serious questions are being raised today as to how the man managed to not only get past security to rush the stage, but also metal detectors to get into the venue.

An eyewitness told TMZ the attacker got up and started running as a swarm of people went after him. He was running around the screen on the stage when, as the eyewitness put it, “the mob caught up with him and beat the crap out of him, stomping on him.” The eyewitness said actor Jamie Foxx and rapper Busta Rhymes, who were both present for the show, got a few licks in as well.

The attacker was injured and taken by stretcher to an ambulance and is currently at Hospital. He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.

Chappelle was okay enough to continue with his act following the attack, telling the audience, “I don't know if that was part of the show. I grabbed the back of that n***** head, his hair was spongy, absorbent.”

Chris Rock just happened to be one of Chappelle‘s special guests last night. Following the attack, Chris walked on stage, hugged his friend Chappelle and said, “Was that Will Smith?” The audience erupted in laughter.

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

​[Source: TMZ]

The U.S. Department of State is in discussions to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Port-of-Spain. The Embassy said on Wednesday (27th April 2022), “Once a decision is concluded on a site, the Embassy will issue a statement. This important and exciting project will benefit the people of Trinidad and Tobago in many ways.”

The Embassy added, “The U.S. Government's commitment to the construction of a new Embassy is a powerful indicator of the longstanding, robust relationship between the people and Government of the United States and the people and Government of Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to providing scores of jobs during the new Embassy's construction, the project will showcase state-of-the-art and eco-friendly designs and materials. It will also allow us to better serve our constituents, improve the experience for Visa applicants, and provide new and improved facilities and services for those conducting business with the U.S. Government.”