Good Friday morning!
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Astra Zeneca Vaccine
The reviews are in and they tell us exactly what we thought they would about a vaccine that can save lives, and is essential in Europe where their vaccination program is badly behind other nations. The Astra Zeneca is now deemed safe and there is “no evidence” it can be linked to bloods clots, according to UK and EU regulators who say the benefits of the vaccines far outweigh any risks.
But there is also incomplete medical studies on the thrombosis that was found in a handful of cases. In the UK, five cases of cerebral sinus vein thrombosis (CSVT), among 11 million people who have received the vaccine, occurred in men aged between 19 and 59. One of these was fatal. Other cases were discovered in European countries, but the medical consensus it these incidents fall within normal statistical risk and the vaccine benefits against a disease which is killing people is paramount.
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced he will be taking the Astra Zeneca vaccine today, and Britain is discussing easing its lockdown beginning in April as more than 12 million have been vaccinated, with all doses being offered a first dose by July.
But, the issue has been in Countries like Germany, France and Italy where they suspended vaccinations out of an “over abundance of caution”. Of course now that has created an even larger chill in people who were hesitant to take the vaccines in the first place. Many Nations will have challenges now in convincing people the vaccines, especially Astra Zeneca is good to take, as Europe is in the middle of a wave of new infections and lockdowns.
France over night announced a new lockdown in Paris and 16 regions because of a third wave of Covid that is rapidly filling hospitals. French President Macron had tried to rely on curfews instead of full lockdowns but now says;
"Let's be clear, we're in a third wave mostly down to the rise of this famous British variant” Macron said late Wednesday after a day of talks with medical staff and local mayors in the Paris region. "The situation is critical. It's going to be very hard until mid-April."
National figures for daily infections had remained steady at around 20,000 a day in February, but new cases have risen 20 percent in the last week alone.
National figures for daily infections had remained steady at around 20,000 a day in February, but new cases have risen 20 percent in the last week alone.
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210318-france-to-announce-new-coronavirus-restrictions-for-the-paris-region
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56447367
https://www.dw.com/en/astrazeneca-germany-other-european-countries-to-resume-use-of-vaccine/a-56922088
#StopAsianHate
The numbers of attacks on Asians in America is disturbing and shows comments by former President Trump and many others like calling Covid 19 “the China flu” matter. Anti Chinese rhetoric has served to spread hatred and ignite violence on innocent people and is disgusting on every level. It’s not just the shootings at three Atlanta massage parlours which left 8 dead including 3 Asian women, but that in itself was horrendous. There have been hundreds of assaults and hate crime against Asians in the last year and many U.S. lawmakers acknowledged a heightened sense of fear among Asian Americans as a result of the increasing number of hate incidents.
Rep. Judy Chu of California reminded people of the effect of anti-Asian rhetoric.
“As we wait for more details to emerge, I ask everyone to remember that hurtful words and rhetoric have real life consequences,” she wrote on Twitter. “Please stand up, condemn this violence, and help us #StopAsianHate.”
The House held its first hearing on Anti-Asian discrimination in three decades in which a Democratic congresswoman tearfully confronted a Republican on the panel, saying members of his party had used language she said put “a bull’s-eye” on Asian-Americans.
Republican Chip Roy angered many in and out of the hearing by condemning China’s communist party and the handling of the outbreak of the virus, instead of using the moment to condemn Asian violence, and he spoke about justice in Texas with lynching. Bizarre! Roy later issued a statement saying “no apologies”.
https://apnews.com/article/why-georgia-attacks-spur-fears-asian-americans-72ecc8974065044306d2847ed2f0e76b
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/03/18/us/atlanta-shootings-massage-spa
#StopAsianHate
QAnon
Much has been said about the future of the bizarre cult QAnon and its future without its spiritual leader Donald Trump, and the broken predictions of Trumps return to the White House in January and then March.
The cult pushes ridiculous notions of a Democratic cabal which murders children and conspires with the dark state. Many people in the pandemic spending too much time on line, and on fringe websites have been lured by QAnon which has expended internationally.
On this Back Story with host Dana Lewis we talk to the Soufan Centres Jason Blazakis who see's QAnon as a dangerous extremist organization that may have foreign Government's pushing the disinformation.
And, Samantha North, of North Cyber Research who discusses countering disinformation.
LINK:
https://backstorywithdanalewis.buzzsprout.com
Russia
President Vladimir Putin has responded to U.S. President Biden’s remark made in an interview this week in which he accused Putin of being a killer, and said he would pay a price soon for his activities in the 2020 U.S. election.
Putin quoted a play ground term usually levelled by children mocking the U.S. leader's remarks, saying "it takes one to know one" and wished 78-year-old Biden good health.
Putin oddly challenged Biden to an on line live debate to discuss Russian-American relations.
Note the Kremlin generally needs competition with America as a distraction from internal problems, and Putin uses threats from abroad to bolster his standing. Biden just handed him a gift at a time his internal standing is deteriorating. More on this next week when the U.S. is expected to deliver more sanctions and as we reported yesterday Russia has withdrawn it’s Ambassador from Washington.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/03/18/putin-invites-biden-to-virtual-talks-a73290
China
A rare public display of tension between the American and Chinese delegations beginning talks in Alaska were designed to be on camera and against the usual rules of diplomacy. China called out America for lecturing on human rights after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in opening remarks “We will ... discuss our deep concerns with actions by China, including in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber attacks on the United States, economic coercion of our allies”.
China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi responded in front of cameras with a 15 minute lecture to the Americans “the United States uses its military force and financial hegemony to carry out long arm jurisdiction and suppress other countries,” Yang said.
“It abuses so-called notions of national security to obstruct normal trade exchanges, and incite some countries to attack China,” he added.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/19/friday-briefing-us-china-talks-anchorage-alaska
That’s enough for your Friday brief. Thanks for reading and please share this news letter to at least one friend?
Have a good weekend.
Dana