This Week in Explainers: Why AstraZeneca withdrew its COVID-19 vaccine from across the world

It’s been another week of big developments.

AstraZeneca in a shocking move announced it was withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine from across the world.

This, just weeks after admitting its jab caused a ‘rare side effect.’

Meanwhile, in the US, Indian students are seemingly staying away from campus protests in Columbia.

Closer to home, the Maldives is begging Indian tourists to return after a significant drop in travellers to the archipelago.

China is on a gold buying spree and inflating the pricing of the precious metal.

All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from the world.

1. The headline alone, AstraZeneca withdraws COVID vaccine, was eye catching.

That the news came just week after the company said its jab caused a rare side effect left many second guessing the decision to take the vaccine.

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But do you really need to worry?

Is your country one of those that used AstraZeneca’s jab?

And why did the company withdraw the vaccine?

2. Campuses in the US remain in an uproar.

Students have set up encampments, teachers have joined in, in-person classes have been cancelled and university bosses have been summoned before the US House to testify about anti-semitism on campuses.

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However, Indian students, the second-largest group of international scholars in the US, seem to have little to no presence among the demonstrations.

But why is that? Are Indian students concerned about somehow being swept up in the tumult? And if so, what are they worried about?

This article gives you an up close look.

3. Indians come back.

That was the message this week from the Maldives’ tourism minister.

The island nation has seen its flow of Indian tourists slow immensely after a boycott following three government ministers making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

But what did Ibrahim Faisal say?

How many Indian tourists actually visited Maldives?

And what has been the fallout of the boycott?

Click here to know more.  

4. For the past few years, China has been having a love affair with gold.

Not only is the country the world’s largest producer of gold, it is also the biggest consumer.

And it is powering the yellow metal to brand new highs.

While gold was the provenance of middle-aged women, experts say that’s no more the case and many customers are now in their 20s.

Meanwhile, the People’s Bank of China (PBC) is also increasing its exposure to gold.

But what’s behind this affinity? And where does gold go from here?

5. Supporters of Donald Trump are taking their devotion to a new level.

Admirers of the former president are turning up to rallies in nappies.

That’s not all – they are also wearing T-shirts that say “Real men wear diapers.”

But what prompted this bizarre turn of events amid Trump’s hush money trial in New York?

6. Over the years, Japan has made headlines for its somewhat strange attitude towards sex and romance.

Now, the youth are pioneering a new trend – marriage without sex and love.

This so-called friendship marriage” is replacing the more traditional union.

So what is it all about? How does it work? How many people are taking it to heart?

This piece gives you an insight into the latest trend in Japan.

7. For many people, a nice cold beer at the end of a long workday is just the ticket.

But have you ever considered why that is the case?

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences say there is actually a science behind what makes a child pint taste so good.

So why do we like cold beer? And what possible impact could this research have in real life?

You are all caught up on world affairs for this week. If you want to read and support more of our work, you can bookmark this page  .