(2021-03-06). Drug Lobby Asks Biden to Punish Foreign Countries Pushing for Low-Cost Vaccines. zcomm.org
(2021-03-06). Tough night shift: Senate passes an amendment to Covid bill… just to vote on an almost identical one later. rt.com 
As Senators pulled an all-nighter to pass Joe Biden's Covid-19 relief bill, they apparently didn't care about time, as they voted on an amendment to extend unemployment pay, an hour after voting on an almost identical amendment. | The Senate voted on Friday night against adjourning business until Saturday morning, ensuring that senators would stay on Capitol Hill overnight voting on a flood of amendments to President Biden's long-anticipated Covid-19 relief bill, a $1.9 trillion package that includes $1,400 stimulus checks for eligible Americans and bailouts for state and local governments. | Some of these ame…
(2021-03-06). California gives green light for Disneyland reopening after Covid restrictions shutter theme park for 1 year. rt.com 
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is preparing to welcome visitors for the first time in over a year after the iconic theme park was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. | California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced on Friday that the state's amusement parks will be permitted to reopen with limited capacity starting on April 1. | Read more | | "We feel like now is the appropriate time to begin t…
(2021-03-06). 'No new directives, period': New York lawmakers vote to strip Governor Cuomo of emergency Covid powers with veto-proof majority. rt.com 
Legislators in New York have sent a bill to Governor Andrew Cuomo's desk seeking to eliminate his "temporary" emergency pandemic powers, securing a veto-proof majority to impose stricter limits on the state government. | Both chambers of the state legislature approved the bill on Friday in a largely party-line vote, with most Republicans opposing the measure on the grounds that it does not go far enough in curbing Cuomo's authorities. With sizable Democrat majorities in the State Assembly and Senate, however, the law passed with ease. | "Today, under this new legislation the governor will no longer be able to…
(2021-03-06). Covid vaccine-induced swelling can lead to false cancer diagnosis, doctors warn. rt.com 
Cancer experts and radiologists in the US are warning Covid-19 vaccine recipients that an otherwise normal immune response can be mistaken for cancer if it appears on a mammogram or other cancer screening. | Prior to major offensives against infections and unwanted intruders, some of the body's defense forces, the white blood cells, gather in lymph nodes. However, lymph nodes, especially in the armpit, can swell up following Covid-19 vaccinations. | As cancer screenings continue parallel to vaccination drives across the world, a scan conducted soon after vaccination may yield a false positive and cause unneces…
(2021-03-06). [World Report] Medical oxygen crisis: a belated COVID-19 response. thelancet.com More than a year into the pandemic, global health agencies have set up a taskforce to address the vast unmet demand for medical oxygen. Ann Danaiya Usher reports.
(2021-03-06). [Editorial] Do we care about who cares? thelancet.com International Women's Day, on March 8, provides an opportunity to highlight the contributions of women around the world and reflect on the gains in gender equity that have been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a harmful effect on women, especially those who were already disadvantaged, and has widened health and social inequities. Rises in gender-based violence, child marriage, and school dropouts of girls, reduced access to sexual and reproductive health services, and economic insecurities due to job loss, withdrawal from the workforce, and stalled career progression are a blow to gender eq…
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Single-dose Oxford—AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine followed by a 12-week booster. thelancet.com Vaccines to prevent COVID-19 infection are crucial for an effective global pandemic response. In The Lancet, Merryn Voysey and colleagues1 report the updated primary efficacy results for the Oxford—AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine from three single-blind, randomised controlled trials in the UK and Brazil and one double-blind study in South Africa.2—4 The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine was granted emergency use authorisation in adults by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency5 in December, 2020.
(2021-03-06). [Obituary] Charles Kiggundu. thelancet.com Obstetrician and gynaecologist who advocated for reproductive health and rights. He was born on April 17, 1965, in Uganda's Luwero District, and died from COVID-19 complications on Dec 29, 2020, in Kampala, Uganda, aged 55 years.
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Thank you to The Lancet's reviewers of 2020. thelancet.com In 2021, many of us are still looking back to 2020 and trying to make sense of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those working in medicine and science, 2020 was unusual and difficult. The rapid research advances made to understand SARS-CoV-2, to describe the clinical course and long-term consequences of COVID-19, and to develop treatments and vaccines are incomparable. This incredible progress is a testament to the hard work and dedication of countless researchers and clinicians worldwide.
(2021-03-06). Non-essential businesses in Sao Paulo state close amid infection spike. laprensalatina.com Sà£o Paulo, Brazil, Mar 6 (efe-epa).- All non-essential shops and businesses in Sao Paulo, Brazil's richest and most populous state, closed down on Saturday for the next few weeks due to a serious spike in cases and deaths from Covid-19, which have pushed the healthcare system to the verge of collapsing. With 46 million inhabitants, …
(2021-03-06). Urban Sun, the ultraviolet light that 'cleans' public spaces of Covid. laprensalatina.com Imane Rachidi Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Mar 6 (efe-epa).- Vaccines against Covid-19 are the light at the end of the tunnel, but a mix of scientific and artistic creativity can lend a helping hand in times of pandemic. That's where Urban Sun, a project by Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde, has stepped in, promising to reduce the …
(2021-03-06). Dalai Lama receives first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in India. laprensalatina.com New Delhi, Mar 6 (efe-epa).- Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, 85, received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Saturday in India and urged the rest of the population to have the "courage" to do the same. The Dalai Lama was administered the vaccine at a hospital in the city of Dharamshala, in the …
(2021-03-06). Lebanon's caretaker prime minister threatens to resign his duties over economic crisis. middleeasteye.net 
Lebanon's caretaker prime minister threatens to resign his duties over economic crisis | Hassan Diab said he would stop performing his duties in order to pressure the formation of a new government | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 15: 03 | Lebanon's caretaker premier Hassan Diab (3rd R) watches as actor Salah Tizani (aka Abu Salim al-Tabl) receives a dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the R…
(2021-03-06). Mumia Health Update / March 6 Global Virtual Street Meeting. indybay.org On Saturday Mumia Abu-Jamal was hospitalized. When he put in a sick call slip and was seen by the SCI Mahanoy medical staff he was taken immediately to the hospital suffering chest pain and shortness of breath. Diagnosed with congestive heart failure he was given a battery of tests…At the hospital his seriology blood test was positive for Covid-19.
(2021-03-06). Corona vaccines-nothing would work without public funding. indybay.org "The Covid 19 crisis is a perfect test of whether a more public health approach to innovation and production will prevail in the years ahead. Although recent vaccine news has raised hopes, it has also exposed the broken business model of the pharmaceutical industry and cast doubt on the prospects of getting a vaccine to people and achieving the concept of 'health for all.'" (Ms. Mazzucato)…
(2021-03-06). "Fraudulent Marketing": The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Is an "Unapproved Product" which Is "Permitted for Use" globalresearch.ca Pfizer Inc, is currently involved in marketing its experimental mRNA vaccine …
(2021-03-06). Malawi receives first batch of coronavirus vaccine. yenisafak.com Malawi received its first batch of 360,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from the UN COVAX facility."The vaccines will be distributed to all the 28 districts across the country to first support frontline health and social workers," said Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda.She said the administration of the vaccines is expected to start on March 15.Malawi already received 360,000 syringes from UNICEF and 3,625 safety boxes that will be used for vaccinations."After a year of discruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 32,000 Malawians infected with the virus and 1,000 lives lost, the path for recovery fo…
(2021-03-06). Iran COVID-19 update: 8,212 cases, 82 deaths in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Mar. 06 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 8,212 COVID-19 infections and 82 deaths due to the disease in the past 24 hours.
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Offline: It's time to ask questions and learn lessons. thelancet.com 1 year on from WHO's assessment, on March 11, 2020, that its Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) had evolved into a full blown coronavirus pandemic, what can we conclude? Many governments have decided not to conclude anything. They argue that it is still too soon to learn lessons. With over 2 ∑5 million deaths worldwide, and 1 million more predicted by June 1, this political deflection is no longer sustainable. Indeed, it is unconscionable. While governments resist accountability, countries are seeing unofficial inquiries spring up to fill the vacuum.
(2021-03-06). Even Tories are now sh*tting on the government's 'wrong' 1% NHS payrise. thecanary.co A former Conservative health minister has said that it's the "wrong time" to be restraining the pay of NHS workers who have gone "above and beyond" during the pandemic. | The "wrong time": | In a sign that a Conservative rebellion over the government's 1% pay rise recommendation may be brewing, MP Dr Dan Poulter has called for a rethink on the proposal. | Poulter has been assisting on the NHS front line during the pandemic. He said it's "very valid" for ministers to turn their attention to paying back the £400bn borrowed during the coronavirus crisis — but it is the "wrong time to be making th…
(2021-03-06). [Perspectives] Robin Shattock: novel vaccine developer. thelancet.com Robin Shattock took an "unconventional route" into science. "Unlike most people who set off and went to university and did a PhD, I set off to the university of life and was more interested in being an actor or a rock star…A little bit later in life, I realised I actually needed to earn a living", he admits. That realisation in the late 1980s led to laboratory work, including HIV diagnostics, at the UK's Public Health Laboratory Service and further part-time study. In 1990, he joined St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, as a research assistant and did a part-time PhD, kick-starting a caree…
(2021-03-06). [Department of Error] Department of Error. thelancet.com Voysey M, Costa Clemens SA, Madhi SA, et al. Single-dose administration and the influence of the timing of the booster dose on immunogenicity and efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine: a pooled analysis of four randomised trials. Lancet 2021; 397: 881—91—In this Article, in figure 3, some of the datapoints on the graphs and the key on the left panel have both been corrected. These corrections have been made to the online version as of March 4, 2021, and the printed version is correct.
(2021-03-06). [Department of Error] Department of Error. thelancet.com Voysey M, Costa Clemens SA, Madhi SA, et al. Single-dose administration and the influence of the timing of the booster dose on immunogenicity and efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine: a pooled analysis of four randomised trials. Lancet 2021; 397: 881—91—In this Article, in figure 3, some of the datapoints on the graphs and the key on the left panel have both been corrected. These corrections have been made to the online version as of March 4, 2021, and the printed version is correct.
(2021-03-06). Vaccine imperialism: China vs. the Western world. workers.org 
Vaccine Racism: How wealthy nations stockpile life-saving vaccines while poor countries and poor people within these countries are ignored. How Western countries criticize China, despite China's success in containing the virus and providing vaccines to the world. Feb. 23 China and Russia are among the first countries in the world . . . |
(2021-03-06). Scores killed in Yemen's Marib over 24 hours. middleeasteye.net 
Scores killed in Yemen's Marib over 24 hours | The UN warned of a humanitarian crisis as thousands are displaced by Houthi offensive | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 09: 47 | Armed Houthis at the funeral of another fighter killed during recent fighting in Marib (Reuters) | At least 90 combatants have been killed in fighting around Yemen's Marib governorate over a single day, government sources said.
(2021-03-06). Anti-Communist Political Science: Propaganda for the Yankee Capitalist State. dissidentvoice.org 
Orientation I returned to college 20 years after dropping out in the late 1960s. After a couple of weeks in the political science class I was taking, I challenged the instructor by asking: "Where are the Marxists and anarchists in your presentation of political science?" Here is what I was told. "Marxists and anarchists are …
(2021-03-06). Women in Afghanistan worry peace accord with Taliban extremists could cost them hard-won rights. juancole.com 
Mona Tajali and Homa Hoodfar | — Three Afghan women who worked at a media company were gunned down in Jalalabad in early March. In January, unidentified gunmen killed two female Supreme Court judges in Kabul. These are the latest victims on a long list of assassinations and attempted assassinations of female politicians and women's …
(2021-03-06). Rosa Luxemburg at 150: a revolutionary legacy. mronline.org 
Rosa Luxemburg, one of the great leaders in the history of the socialist movement, was born in Poland (then a province of the Russian empire) 150 years ago this month, on 5 March 1871.
(2021-03-06). Ready to Work with Netanyahu: Mansour Abbas Splinters Arab Vote in Israel. dissidentvoice.org 
At a glance, it may appear that the split of Arab political parties in Israel is consistent with a typical pattern of political and ideological divisions which have afflicted the Arab body politic for many years. This time, however, the reasons behind the split are quite different. As Israel readies for its fourth general elections …
(2021-03-06). Who signed the pro-testing appeals? mronline.org 
Education Trust, led by former Secretary of Education John King, sent two letters to the Biden administration, urging the administration not to allow states to receive waivers from the mandated federal testing.
(2021-03-06). U.S. to continue using Guaido to rob Venezuelan assets abroad. mronline.org 
The continuation of the Trump administration's aggressive policies toward Venezuela by the Biden administration is reflected in the recent meeting between the new U.S. Secretary of State and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
(2021-03-06). ICE to allow detainees to appeal arrest if they feel their detention does not 'align' with Biden's immigration policy. rt.com 
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has created an appeals process that will permit migrants to challenge arrests and deportations if they feel their treatment does not reflect the Biden administration's own policies. | Overseen by a senior official in Washington, DC, the ICE Case Review Process is part of the White House's wide-ranging immigration reforms. | In a statement, the agency said that the appeals process could be used by individuals who believe that their case does not "align with ICE's enforcement, detention, and removal priorities." | Shifting away from Donald Trump's strict enforceme…
(2021-03-06). 'At least hold the pictures up': House GOP leader receives poor reviews for Dr. Seuss reading amid censorship controversy. rt.com 
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has been accused of playing childish political games after he shared a video of himself reading Dr. Seuss, apparently as a protest against the 'cancelation' of the late author's books. | Days after Dr. Seuss' estate announced that six of the author's books would no longer be published due to racially insensitive imagery, McCarthy took to Twitter to show solidarity with the late children's author. | "I still like Dr. Seuss, so I decided to read Green Eggs and Ham," he wrote, adding: "RT if you still like him too!" | I still like Dr. Seuss, so I decided to read Green E…
(2021-03-06). Texas high school cancels 'Rules of Chivalry Day' assignment after outrage over girls being told to OBEY male classmates. rt.com 
A Lubbock, Texas high school has apparently taken a lesson from unwoke history too far, causing public outrage by instructing girls to "obey any reasonable request" by male classmates to learn about medieval "rules for chivalry." | The 'Rules of Chivalry Day' assignment at Shallowater High School has been cancelled after a review determined that, despite its historical context, "it does not reflect our district and community values," superintendent Anita Herbert said in a statement. The matter has been addressed with the offending teacher, who wasn't identified. | According to copies of the assignment that wer…
(2021-03-06). Pentagon 'assessing systems' after TENS OF THOUSANDS of servers compromised in global Microsoft hack… blamed on 'Chinese hackers'. rt.com 
The US military is reviewing its networks following a hacking spree linked to a vulnerability that gave backdoor access to tens of thousands of Microsoft Exchange servers, in a massive attack the company has blamed on China. | "We are aware of the Microsoft threat intelligence center's report. We are currently assessing our networks right now for any evidence of impact," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters at a Friday presser. "We're also taking all necessary steps to identify and remedy any possible issues related to the situation." | Joint Force headquarters… is coordinating with the Nationa…
(2021-03-06). BLM backfire? US public opinion shifts on George Floyd's death, law & order, as racial divide widens after summer of riots — poll. rt.com 
US public opinion on the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody has shifted since the early days of last year's Black Lives Matter protests, with trust in law enforcement growing after violent unrest in the streets. | Just 36 percent of respondents in a USA Today/Ipsos
(2021-03-06). Todo el mundo está mirando. workers.org 
"Un ataque contra uno es un ataque contra todxs." Este famoso lema laboral, popularizado por los Trabajadores Industriales del Mundo hace más de un siglo, es más significativo hoy que nunca. Pero tiene un doble significado para los trabajadores de Amazon, donde la tasa de lesiones en el lugar de . . . |
(2021-03-06). Broadbent Institute Head smears Ashton, Robinson and Internationalism. dissidentvoice.org 
Broadbent Institute head Rick Smith should just be frank and say he hates Palestinians and doesn't care about internationalism. On Tuesday Smith tweeted that it was disturbing that NDP MP Niki Ashton was doing an upcoming fundraiser for the Progressive International with former British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. In response to former NDP MP …
(2021-03-06). Tunisians protest for LGBT rights activist's release. middleeasteye.net 
Tunisians protest for LGBT rights activist's release | Rania Amdouni had been repeatedly targeted since protests began against police repression | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 15: 59 | Tunisian activist Rania Amdouni at a protest in January (AFP) | Hundreds of Tunisians demanded the release of an activist sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly insulting a police officer. | The incident for…
(2021-03-06). Turkey: Erdogan's human rights initiative raises eyebrows of beleaguered activists. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: Erdogan's human rights initiative raises eyebrows of beleaguered activists | Despite Ankara announcing the new initiative, the co-chair of Turkey's Human Rights Association says the situation is worse than ever | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 10: 00 | President of the Human Right Association (IHD) Eren Keskin speaks to journalists during a demonstration in front of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on…
(2021-03-06). Egypt's President Sisi in Sudan with Ethiopia's dam on agenda. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt's President Sisi in Sudan with Ethiopia's dam on agenda | Egyptian leader's visit continues diplomatic push for support and renewed talks on controversial mega-project | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 11: 14 | Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meets with the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Burhan, in Egypt in October (FILE/AFP) | Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has arrived in S…
(2021-03-06). Pope Francis meets Iraq's top cleric Ali Sistani in 'historic' meeting. middleeasteye.net 
Pope Francis meets Iraq's top cleric Ali Sistani in 'historic' meeting | Leaders of Catholic Church and Shia Islam call for religious tolerance in unprecedented meeting | Sat, 03/06/2021 – 09: 25 | A handout picture provided by the Vatican media office shows Pope Francis meeting top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in the Iraqi shrine city of Najaf (AFP) | Iraqis have hailed a "
(2021-03-06). Government accused of 'snatching away' promised NHS pay rise as the outrage grows. thecanary.co 
The organisation representing NHS Trusts in England is challenging the government over its defence of a controversial 1% pay offer to health workers. | Growing controversy: | NHS Providers said the NHS has conducted detailed work around implementing a long-term plan. It claimed that in this plan the government assumed an NHS pay rise in 2021/22 of 2.1%, not 1%. | It comes amid growing anger at the pay offer, with the main nurses' union setting up a £35m industrial action fund. And another union is urging the public to support a slow hand clap next week as protest against the proposals. | Deputy chie…
(2021-03-06). [World Report] Medical oxygen crisis: a belated COVID-19 response. thelancet.com More than a year into the pandemic, global health agencies have set up a taskforce to address the vast unmet demand for medical oxygen. Ann Danaiya Usher reports.
(2021-03-06). [Editorial] Do we care about who cares? thelancet.com International Women's Day, on March 8, provides an opportunity to highlight the contributions of women around the world and reflect on the gains in gender equity that have been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a harmful effect on women, especially those who were already disadvantaged, and has widened health and social inequities. Rises in gender-based violence, child marriage, and school dropouts of girls, reduced access to sexual and reproductive health services, and economic insecurities due to job loss, withdrawal from the workforce, and stalled career progression are a blow to gender eq…
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Single-dose Oxford—AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine followed by a 12-week booster. thelancet.com Vaccines to prevent COVID-19 infection are crucial for an effective global pandemic response. In The Lancet, Merryn Voysey and colleagues1 report the updated primary efficacy results for the Oxford—AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine from three single-blind, randomised controlled trials in the UK and Brazil and one double-blind study in South Africa.2—4 The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine was granted emergency use authorisation in adults by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency5 in December, 2020.
(2021-03-06). [Obituary] Charles Kiggundu. thelancet.com Obstetrician and gynaecologist who advocated for reproductive health and rights. He was born on April 17, 1965, in Uganda's Luwero District, and died from COVID-19 complications on Dec 29, 2020, in Kampala, Uganda, aged 55 years.
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Thank you to The Lancet's reviewers of 2020. thelancet.com In 2021, many of us are still looking back to 2020 and trying to make sense of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those working in medicine and science, 2020 was unusual and difficult. The rapid research advances made to understand SARS-CoV-2, to describe the clinical course and long-term consequences of COVID-19, and to develop treatments and vaccines are incomparable. This incredible progress is a testament to the hard work and dedication of countless researchers and clinicians worldwide.
(2021-03-06). [Comment] Offline: It's time to ask questions and learn lessons. thelancet.com 1 year on from WHO's assessment, on March 11, 2020, that its Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) had evolved into a full blown coronavirus pandemic, what can we conclude? Many governments have decided not to conclude anything. They argue that it is still too soon to learn lessons. With over 2 ∑5 million deaths worldwide, and 1 million more predicted by June 1, this political deflection is no longer sustainable. Indeed, it is unconscionable. While governments resist accountability, countries are seeing unofficial inquiries spring up to fill the vacuum.