Good Monday Morning,
Russia Unrest
On Back Story with Dana Lewis podcast, it has started. Civil unrest linked to corruption in The Kremlin, and Putin's jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny has combined to ignite protests nation wide. On Saturday Jan 23 there were protests in more than 60 cities from the far east of Russia to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Police fought with demonstrators leading to the arrests of more than 2000 people who are demanding the release of Navalny and chanted "Putin out". Then reports as many as 3500 are now under arrest.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/7454521
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/01/23/protests-for-jailed-kremlin-critic-navalny-sweep-russia-a72708
On This Back Story, Bill Browder whose lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was killed in prison in Russia, the same prison where Navalny is now being kept.
And, a journalist, Aleysa Marohovskaya who was beaten in Moscow at the demonstration by police. Aleysa works for iStories media, one of many independent internet news companies Putin can't control.
And now The EU Parliament has called on Germany to halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. That would introduce a major financial consequence for Russia’s behaviour on human rights.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/01/23/protests-for-jailed-kremlin-critic-navalny-sweep-russia-a72708
As usual Russia tries to say all this unrest is because of America or because of external meddling. It’s unhinged and false. Russia has a huge internal problem they can’t lay off on anyone but Putin who tried to have Navalny murdered. Good luck floating this lie Russian Embassy.
Covid and Schools (EASTER)?
My kids are at home in London doing remote studying. It’s a key year for my 16 year old because the marks he gets this year determine what Universities he can apply to and attend. Or not! Will there be exams? Will Universities downgrade their grading of his marks because they were projected grades some of them, not exam marks because of the pandemic? Are we worried as every other parent in The World is about their kids being locked down for months and how that effect them? Of course we are, and NOW the British Gov. has given indications children will not go back to school until AFTER EASTER because teachers have yet to be vaccinated and schools help spread Covid19.
There is a call for teachers to be a priority now, but The UK Gov hasn’t committed. Looking at easter is way too late for kids who are isolated, and have largely been forgotten about in this pandemic. Why can people get on a flight to go to Dubai for a vacation, but we can’t get our kids back to school?
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/24/ministers-wont-commit-to-reopening-schools-in-england-after-easter-holidays
Unlike most countries In Israel they are vaccinating 16 to 18 year olds so they can return to school and take exams.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-55788922
Israel though is well ahead of others in vaccinating their population, now roughly 1/4 of the population of 9 million has had a vaccine.
In France and other European countries many schools are still open. And may have to close soon they say. So it’s a helter skelter covid policy across Europe.
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210125-top-advisor-warns-france-probably-needs-new-lockdown-as-early-as-february
The UK may move now be forced close borders and force anyone arriving into hotel quarantine. So much criticism here the Gov should have done this a long time ago.
Vaccine first dose jabs continue to be a major point of debate. Pfizer clinical trials show one dose is highly effective. So the gap between the first and second dose has been delayed to allow more people to be vaccinated. How big should the gap be?
There is evidence meantime, The South African and Brazil variants are vaccine resistant. Can we stop those variants from spreading? They are already in Europe and America. Can the vaccines be ‘tweaked”? The experts say yes but where’s the evidence that can happen?
Impeachment
The articles of impeachment will be introduced for a trial in the Senate today, but there seems to be some confusion on when the senate trial will actually begin. The Republican leader Mitch McConnell wants to delay the trial until mid February. And of course actually getting a conviction in the senate is doubtful since many Trump allies will oppose the vote to convict.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/house-sending-trump-impeachment-to-senate-gop-opposes-trial-donald-trump-president-senate-gop-house-b1792075.html
Ok so that’s a quick look at Mondays news. I know these letters have been very focused on Covid and American politics but that’s because right now those have been huge headlines. And Covid will continue to dominate our lives.