Good morning,
Astra Zeneca Vaccine
Last Thursday I decided to go ahead with my Astra Zeneca vaccine despite several countries raising concerns about blood clots, and brain hemorrhages but with little evidence presented and denials by the manufacturer that there was a problem.
But since then the list of nations halting the vaccine rollout has grown and now Germany, Italy, and France has stopped the vaccine, citing several deaths which included “unusual clotting” in the brain. But, experts including the World Health Org say the evidence of a problem is thin, and that the vaccine is safe. And it’s important to remember that here in the UK there has been over 12 million people vaccinated largely with Astra Zeneca and no reports of issues.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/15/world/europe/astra-zeneca-vaccine-europe.html
The concern about the vaccine couldn’t come at a worst time for the EU which is now facing a third wave of covid 19 and just as new lockdowns are being announced in Italy. Astra Zeneca has fallen short of supplies to the EU, which has been struggling to replace the vaccine with other manufacturers regardless of the health issue now raised by these blood clot cases. If vaccine hesitancy is already a problem, this doesn’t help and The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization warned against an exodus from vaccines that would undermine rollout efforts at a pivotal moment.
“We do not want people to panic,” the W.H.O.’s chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, said at a news conference, adding that no link had been found between the clotting disorders reported in some countries and Covid-19 shots. A W.H.O. advisory committee plans to meet on Tuesday to discuss the vaccine.
Russia Sputnik
Meantime, Russia has criticized The U.S. for pressuring Brazil to reject the Sputnik V vaccine, claiming America put politics over world health concerns. An annual U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report said officials had worked to dissuade Latin American countries from accepting aid from “ill-intentioned states” including Russia, Cuba and Venezuela. Russia and America have accused each other of mounting disinformation campaigns over vaccines and the pandemic instead of nations working together to defeat Covid 19.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/03/16/russia-slams-us-over-brazil-coronavirus-vaccine-pressure-a73250
Canada and SKY ECC
The Canadian founder and CEO of the communication app Sky ECC has been accused by indictment in a grand jury investigation of knowingly and intentionally facilitating import and distribution of drugs through use of the encrypted app. Sky Global bills itself as the maker of the “world’s most secure” messaging app for individuals and corporations.
But, according to authorities, clients of the Vancouver company over the years have come to include transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and money laundering, which the company formally denies.
Prosecutors in San Diego, Calif., alleges that Jean-François Eap, Sky Global’s founder and CEO, and Thomas Herdman, a former distributor of Sky Global devices, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in profit by allowing the app to be used by drug dealers.
On Monday, visitors to Sky Global’s website were greeted with a message saying the domain had been “seized” by the FBI as part of an ongoing investigation.
The company had advertised that as part of its services, Sky Global guarantees that messages stored on its devices can be (and will be) remotely deleted by the company if the device is seized by law enforcement or otherwise compromised.”
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/03/14/arrest-warrant-issued-for-canadian-ceo-after-authorities-allege-companys-messaging-app-is-used-by-international-crime-groups.html
Nuclear arms Race
Britain is lifting the cap on the number of nuclear warheads it can stockpile by more than 40%, and that will be announced by P.M. Boris Johnson will announced today ending 30 years of gradual disarmament since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The increased limit, from 180 to 260 warheads, is contained in a leaked copy of the integrated review of defence and foreign policy reported by British press.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/15/cap-on-trident-nuclear-warhead-stockpile-to-rise-by-more-than-40
On Back Story with Dana Lewis we report on a new nuclear hotline proposed linking the 9 nuclear nations, because of gaps in crisis communications and real concerns a nuclear exchange are becoming more, not less likely;
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/8067453
If you haven’t already please subscribe to the podcast. It’s also free.
Syria
This week is a horrible anniversary, marking a decade since the uprisings began in Syria and a civil war that has raged on claiming the lives of 500 thousand Syrians, and displacing half of Syria’s pre-war population of 23 million, including more than five million who are refugees, mostly in neighbouring countries.
Bashar Assad has clung to power supported by Russian President Putin and Russian warplanes and ground troops. What would have happened if Russia and America and Turkey had cooperated to bring about regime change and normalize the country?
Syria became a battle ground for Al Qaeda and ISIS and Turkey fought its war against Kurdish rebels while America and European nations intervened to contain and attempt to destroy ISIS. Assad controls only about 65% of the country now and the rest is in the hands of American supported Kurds, Turkish forces, and Al Qaeda affiliated forces.
https://www.rescue.org/press-release/after-10-years-syria-crisis-remains-major-acute-humanitarian-emergency
That’s a quick update on news you should know! Please, is you are not a paying subscriber to this news letter, that’s ok. It will remain free. But, you could help us by sharing it to at least one other person? Thanks!
Dana