Good morning,
Pope to Iraq
Pope Francis visits Iraq today, after Pope Paul was forced to cancel a visit to besieged Christians in 2000 because of disagreements on a trip between the Vatican and then Saddam Hussein. The risks to this Pope are real and very high in a country still battered by sectarian violence and divided Government but Francis says “For some time I have wanted to meet that people who suffered so much, and meet that martyred Church,” Francis said. Across the middle east christians are a minority that is often pushed to the fringe and face violent suppression.
https://www.reuters.com/article/pope-iraq-int/pope-says-he-must-go-to-iraq-because-people-cannot-be-let-down-idUSKBN2AV0YW
Vaccines Blocked
The struggle in Europe to pressure drug manufacturers to restrict their exports, and favour European countries reached new heights as Italy blocked Astra Zeneca from exporting vaccines to Australia. Europe is behind on vaccine production, and has only receive 40 million Astra Zeneca doses instead of a promised 100 million because of production problems at two facilities in Belgium and the Netherlands.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56279202
Richer countries keeping vaccines can cause a world shortage which means at the going rate it will take over 4 years for the world to get vaccinated!
New Variant UK
No it’s not the new English variant discovered back in December, and not the South African or the Brazil variant, but this is a new UK variant which has in common with the above a mutation which makes it vaccine resistant. The UK variant, is further proof the longer the virus circulates, the wider the spread (America lifting mask mandates in some States) the more the mutations and rising chances our new vaccines will suddenly be rendered out of date requiring boosters and new vaccines on top of new vaccines. Where does this pandemic end? We are far from out of this and it could be years of fighting Covid.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/new-covid-19-strain-identified-in-the-uk-with-16-cases-discovered-so-far/ar-BB1efrxg?c=15356565144135902005%252C5838778661397970223%252C14538222384861498451&mkt=en-us
By the way my teenage sons are going back to school today for a covid tests in advance of returning to classes Monday, ending what has been months of home learning via computer link. I am relieved and so are they, but at the same time the increased risks for the spread of covid is high, with 10 million students returning to the class room-about one fifth of the British population. Masks will be worn in common areas but likely not mandatory in classrooms which hopefully will be well ventilated because of the airborne virus.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/masks-compulsory-for-englands-secondary-school-pupils
Texas Masks
President Joe Biden said it’s the “last thing we need” and “neanderthal thinking” referring to Texas Governor’s Greg Abbot’s decision to order the state 100% open and lifting mask mandates. Now many retail outlets announce they will keep mask requirements in place including Starbucks, Target, CVS and Kroger. Why do people support U.S. politicians who have put them in harms way during a pandemic?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/03/04/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/
Letter to W.H.O. (Gain of function)
A letter from 2 dozen scientists, demand the W.H.O. reconsider the origins of covid in China and the question was it spill over from a lab in Wuhan, and there are reports the W.H.O. will scrap it’s interim report on the origins of covid under U.S. pressure.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-investigators-to-scrap-interim-report-on-probe-of-covid-19-origins-11614865067?mod=latest_headlines
Many researchers know the lab in Wuhan had done experiments in the past with strengthening Sars-CoV from bats to determine how the virus could mutate in the future and on our Back Story podcast, even the former U.S. Ass. Sec. of Defence Andy Weber believes it may have been a lab escape. Have a listen it’s terrifying how these ‘gain of function experiments’ were first banned and then allowed to proceed;
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/6565870
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/health/covid-virus-origins.html
Nuclear Hotlines
Believe it or not there is no sophisticated way for nuclear nations, which can find themselves on the brink of war to communicate in a crisis. Think of India vs Pakistan or Russia and America which still rely on antiquated insecure phones and audio links that can be hacked or intercepted and blocked. A major push is on for a new nuclear hotline system linking the nine nuclear states (yes 9 because Israel has nukes and we all know that) to talk down a crisis. Listen to our exclusive story on this on Back Story with Dana Lewis podcast;
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/8067453
Myanmar
More demonstrations are planned today despite an escalation of violence by the military junta which ordered live fire Thursday on protesters killing 3 dozen people.
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210305-diplomatic-revolt-against-myanmar-s-junta-deepens-amid-brutal-crackdown
U.n Human rights chief Michelle Bachelet demanded the security forces halt what she called their "vicious crackdown on peaceful protesters."
Royals
Watch this weekend the interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who are expected to speak out against British media and their treatment in The U.K. They are accused of hypocrisy saying they want to be left alone, but continue to do interviews and seek media money for their very public projects. And now the Palace is fighting back releasing the fact more than 11 staff members who worked for Markle accuse her of bullying. There is now an official probe into allegations against Markle.
It’s a bitter fight with Buckingham Palace in the press and will go from hot to meltdown this next week. The Scotsman has an entertaining write through;
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/meghan-markle-is-being-smeared-amid-growing-feud-with-buckingham-palace-e2-80-93-ayesha-hazarika/ar-BB1efcf6
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/entertainment/article/2001405406/at-least-10-ex-aides-of-meghan-markle-and-harry-queuing-up-to-assist-bullying-probe
Ok…whew busy Friday. I can’t write more today. Please - all we ask is you share this newsletter and if you want to comment on the content subscribe otherwise it’s free. Excuse my typos.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Dana