(2021-03-20). VP Harris calls out people with 'biggest pulpits spreading hate' during Atlanta visit following spa parlors massacre. rt.com 
Kamala Harris made a not-so-subtle jab at ex-President Trump as she decried a surge a violence against Asian Americans. Trump and his supporters are accused of fueling hate in their attempts to blame China for Covid-19. | US Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden visited Atlanta, Georgia on Friday as part of their tour across the nation to promote the economic stimulus package and vaccination campaign successes. However, a spree of gun violence on Tuesday, which left eight people killed, six of them Asian American women, threw a wrench in the pre-planned trip's schedule. | Speaking after meeting…
(2021-03-20). Texas governor shreds Biden for 'inhumane' facilities for migrant kids, opens probe into Covid outbreak & lack of drinking water. rt.com 
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has opened a probe into conditions at detention centers for underage migrants, one of which faces a Covid-19 outbreak, blasting President Biden for his handling of a "humanitarian crisis" at the border. | "The Biden Administration has been an abject failure when it comes to ensuring the safety of unaccompanied minors who cross our border," Abbott said in a
(2021-03-20). [Comment] COVID-19, community trials, and inclusion. thelancet.com The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the research landscape with the emergence of platform trials. Platform trials are adaptive clinical trials in which patients with a single disease are randomly allocated to different treatments based on an algorithm to investigate whether various agents have clinical benefit.1 In The Lancet, the PRINCIPLE Trial Collaborative Group2 report no benefit of azithromycin compared with usual care (hazard ratio 1 ∑08, 95% Bayesian credibility interval 0 ∑95—1 ∑23) for suspected COVID-19 in older adults in the community.
(2021-03-20). [World Report] Aid agencies turn attention to diabetes. thelancet.com The rise in non-communicable diseases and their contribution to COVID-19 is prompting a shift in priorities. Sharmila Devi reports.
(2021-03-20). [Perspectives] Chris Butler: primary care research supremo. thelancet.com As Professor of Primary Care in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, UK, and a practising general practitioner in south Wales, Chris Butler has a bird's eye view of the potential impact of primary care research on clinical practice. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 research is a priority, with Butler co-leading the PRINCIPLE trial to try and identify treatments for the alleviation of COVID-19 symptoms in community settings. "I am hopeful that our innovations in research methods will identify effective early treatment for the disease", he says.
(2021-03-20). [Perspectives] Human flourishing in a health-creating society. thelancet.com The way we think about health and health systems needs to reflect the realities of the society we live in. There is no going back to the world before COVID-19. And, more fundamentally, it is time to finally leave behind the mindsets and practices of 20th-century medicine. COVID-19 is still doing terrible damage. Many countries are in the grip of a second or third wave of infections—in some cases worse than the first. COVID-19 vaccines bring optimism, but access to them is unequal for low-income and middle-income countries.
(2021-03-20). [World Report] Biden's first legislative victory: $1 ∑9 trillion for COVID-19. thelancet.com US President Joe Biden's first legislative triumph will fund the COVID-19 response and economic recovery, and address social determinants of health. Susan Jaffe reports from Washington, DC.
(2021-03-20). Nurses in Madison WI demand a decent contract. fightbacknews.org Madison, WI – Nurses at Meriter Hospital in Madison represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are coming to what could be their final bargaining session with management from UnityPoint Health. | Throughout the COVID pandemic, many of the 850 nurses represented at Meriter Hospital had to use up all or most of their paid time off due to being sick or exposed to the coronavirus. Nurses at Meriter continue to be pressured to work longer hours and extra shifts due to staffing shortages. | A press conference was held March 19 to support these essential frontline health care workers. Speakers included…
(2021-03-20). Cuba launches Phase 3 test of COVID vaccine, the first produced in Latin America. liberationnews.org 
Despite the most severe blockade conditions imposed by the U.S. government, Cuba's biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries have made outstanding achievements in the campaign to overcome COVID-19.
(2021-03-20). AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Suspended Across Europe. "Possible Autoimmune Reactions, Blood Clotting, Stroke and Internal Bleeding" globalresearch.ca UPDATE | France, Germany and Italy which had suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine, have resumed "after health officials sought to allay concerns it may cause blood clots" (VA Report) | This resumption of inoculations followed statements by the WHO and the European Medicines …
(2021-03-20). Bill Gates urges fans to eat synthetic meat to save planet, dismisses 'crazy conspiracies' about vaccines & 5G in Reddit AMA. rt.com 
Microsoft founder Bill Gates brushed away "crazy" conspiracy theories about himself, 5G and coronavirus vaccines during an 'Ask Me Anything' session on Reddit, where he promoted his new book and sung the praises of synthetic meat. | Gates
(2021-03-20). The Coronavirus Vaccine: The Real Danger is "Agenda ID2020". Vaccination as a Platform for "Digital Identity" globalresearch.ca What is the infamous ID2020? It's an electronic ID program that uses generalized vaccination as a platform for digital identity. The program harnesses existing birth registration and vaccination operations to provide newborns with a portable and persistent biometrically-linked digital identity.
(2021-03-20). MPs and campaigners demand the home secretary stops police clamping down on protests. thecanary.co 
Campaigners, MPs, and peers have Protecting the right to protest: | The letter was organised by Liberty and Big Brother Watch. It calls on the home secretary to provide guidance for police on how to facilitate protests during the pandemic. And it also asks for
(2021-03-20). [Articles] Seroprevalence and humoral immune durability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Wuhan, China: a longitudinal, population-level, cross-sectional study. thelancet.com 6 ∑92% of a cross-sectional sample of the population of Wuhan developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, with 39 ∑8% of this population seroconverting to have neutralising antibodies. Our durability data on humoral responses indicate that mass vaccination is needed to effect herd protection to prevent the resurgence of the epidemic.
(2021-03-20). [Correspondence] Control vaccine formulation. thelancet.com The Restoring Invisible and Abandoned Trials (RIAT) initiative is an international effort concerned with two fundamental problems in the scientific literature—many clinical trials are inaccurately or incompletely reported in journal publications and not all trials done are published. RIAT Support Center, funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, aims to address these problems by offering a methodology that allows other people to responsibly correct the record. We are writing with concerns about inaccurate and incomplete reporting in a trial published in The Lancet, and ethical concerns about the infor…
(2021-03-20). [Correspondence] Control vaccine formulation — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Peter Doshi and colleagues for their Correspondence that requests an erratum to our Article that was published in 2009.1 We note this same author group requested an erratum2 of a similar report from 2007 describing the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.3 We highly recommend reading Suzanne Gerland and Marc Steben response.4…
(2021-03-20). Biden Continues Conflict With China Through The Quad. popularresistance.org On March 12, the heads of government of four countries, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and US President Joe Biden, met for a virtual meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as the Quad. | Modi's opening remarks illustrate the emptiness of the public agenda; he called the Quad "a force for global good" with no details beyond a list of areas of collaboration ("vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies"). There was no direct mention of China during the meeting. | In the details relating to the launch…
(2021-03-20). Financial press fears Brazilians will be allowed to elect president of their choice. mronline.org 
The Brazilian Supreme Court this month dismissed all charges against former President Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva. A towering figure in national politics, Lula was the country's president for eight years between 2003 and 2011. | Newswire…
(2021-03-20). New York Times used 'deceptive disinformation' to smear Project Veritas, acted with 'reckless disregard' and 'malice', judge rules. rt.com 
A defamation suit from Project Veritas against the New York Times is moving forward, as a judge has ruled the newspaper posed opinion as fact in their coverage of the conservative news outlet. | A New York Supreme Court judge handed Veritas, known for its undercover and whistleblowing videos, a big "win" this week, allowing a defamation suit against the paper and two reporters to proceed forward. | In the ruling denying a motion to dismiss the suit, the Times was accused of acting with "actual malice" and "reckless disregard" in multiple articles covering a 2020 video report from Veritas on alleged illegal vot…
(2021-03-20). National Day of Action March 27: Call It What It Is, a Hate Crime! Stop Anti-Asian Violence, Stop China-Bashing! liberationnews.org 
The following national call to action was issued by the ANSWER Coalition Join the Sat. March 27 National Day of Action! Endorse the national day of action here Organize an event in your city — register your event here Find local actions in your city: San Francisco, CA 11 AM — 12 PM — A …
(2021-03-20). Why are hate crimes against Asian Americans on the rise? mronline.org 
Largely missing from this ongoing discussion is the role of the police and the capitalist state. The media has done an excellent job at depicting these violent acts as interpersonal and individual attacks. | Newswire…
(2021-03-20). At least six killed after factory owner calls in military in Hlaing Tharyar. mronline.org 
Police publicly executed a woman who was the leader of the workers. | Newswire…
(2021-03-20). Nuclear Fuel Buried 108 Feet from the Sea. dissidentvoice.org 
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (Credit: Nuclear Regulatory Commission) The most toxic substance on Earth is separated from exposure to society by Ω" of steel encased in a canister. — Paul Blanch, registered professional engineer, US Navy Reactor Operator/Instructor That eye-opener comes from renowned nuclear expert Paul Blanch in reference to spent fuel rods removed …
(2021-03-20). Milwaukee protesters demand justice for police killing victim Joel Acevedo. liberationnews.org 
On March 5, several dozen activists and community members gathered at Kosciuszko Park, going door-to-door in the neighborhood where Acevedo was killed, to inform the public about the upcoming trial.
(2021-03-20). Racism is behind anti-Asian American violence, even when it's not a hate crime. juancole.com 
By Pawan Dhingra | — Over the past year, attacks on Asian Americans have increased more than 150% over the previous year, including the March 16 murders of eight people, including six Asian American women, in Atlanta. Some of these attacks may be classified as hate crimes. But whether they meet that legal definition or …
(2021-03-20). Britain Threatens Humanity with Nuclear Winter without Explaining Why It Foresees War. dissidentvoice.org 
Both before the First World War and before the Second World War, the world public basically simply watched the arms build up and other preparations for war. This lackadaisical blandly interested public attitude seems to be present again. Criminally insane investors in war openly race forward with the inventing and manufacturing of ever new and …
(2021-03-20). Neoliberal Seattle mayor rejects federal funding, threatens eviction from hotel shelters to 130 people. liberationnews.org 
The housing crisis in Seattle and the rest of the country is a symptom of capitalism, where homes are built for profit and not shelter.
(2021-03-20). Cheap Fun Department: Job Growth Under Trump and Biden. cepr.net 
Okay, I'll admit that this is stupid, but you know damn well if the situation were reversed the Republicans would have this comparison all over the place. We don't even have to speculate. When President Obama assumed office with an economy in free fall from the collapse of the housing bubble, the Republicans were quick …
(2021-03-20). Parody video showing Trump knocking Biden down Air Force One stairs could lead to ASSASSINATION attempt, MSNBC analyst says. rt.com 
MSNBC regular Malcolm Nance has suggested that Donald Trump Jr. tweeting a parody video of his father using a golf ball to make Joe Biden fall on the steps to Air Force One "mainstreams the potential for danger." | Following Biden's already infamous falling spell on the steps to Air Force One this week, a parody video was quickly made and spread around social media that humorously shows former President Donald Trump to be the culprit behind the physical blunder after he hits a golf ball a tad too far. | Donald Trump Jr. was one of many users to share the video on Twitter, and a number of people believe this co…
(2021-03-20). Revenge of the stairs: White House dismisses Biden stumble as minor mishap in windy weather, but some jokingly blame Kremlin. rt.com 
Critics of Joe Biden had a field day after his awkward boarding of the Air Force One, bringing up his past mockery of Donald Trump's mobility issues. But some say (in jest) Joe should blame the Kremlin rather than strong winds.
(2021-03-20). Ex-president Bush, the man who waged brutal never-ending wars, claims Capitol riot left him 'disgusted'. rt.com 
Former US president George W. Bush claimed that despite the jaw-dropping violence unleashed by his own policies in Afghanistan and Iraq, he was left "sick to my stomach" by the January 6 raid on the US Capitol. | Admitting he "can't remember what [he] was doing" at the time he learned Trump supporters were swarming the Capitol building, Bush told the Texas Tribune he became physically ill "to see our nation's Capitol being stormed by hostile forces" in an interview conducted last month and published on Thursday as part of the SXSW 2021 festival. | While the vast majority of January's demonstrators were unarmed…
(2021-03-20). Libya orders investigation after bodies found in Benghazi. middleeasteye.net 
Libya orders investigation after bodies found in Benghazi | New prime minister says a cover-up could not be tolerated after bodies of more than a dozen people found shot dead | Sat, 03/20/2021 – 15: 50 | The main western and eastern factions that split apart in 2014 have publicly accepted Dbeibeh's government (Reuters) | Libya has ordered an investigation after more than a dozen bodies wer…
(2021-03-20). Turkey: Erdogan sacks another central bank chief after sharp rate hike. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey: Erdogan sacks another central bank chief after sharp rate hike | Naci Agbal, in post for less than five months, replaced by Sahap Kavcioglu, who had criticised his tight monetary policy | Sat, 03/20/2021 – 11: 28 | Naci Agbal had won market praise by aggressively raising interest rates (Reuters) | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan abruptly sacked Turkey's central bank chief on Saturda…
(2021-03-20). Ten Iranian nationals charged with evading US sanctions. middleeasteye.net 
Ten Iranian nationals charged with evading US sanctions | Eight men and two women accused of disguising $300m in transactions, including the purchase of two oil tankers | Sat, 03/20/2021 – 15: 43 | Prosecutors say the scheme dates back to 1999, when some of the defendants opened a business in Los Angeles, which was allegedly used to illegally funnel US dollars to Iran (AFP) | Prosecutors i…
(2021-03-20). Anger as Turkey quits European treaty on violence against women. middleeasteye.net 
Anger as Turkey quits European treaty on violence against women | President's decision to leave Istanbul Convention described as 'deplorable' amid growing cases of femicide in the country | Sat, 03/20/2021 – 09: 45 | A protest against Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, an international accord designed to protect women, in Ankara, 20 March 2021 (Reuters) | Thousands protested…
(2021-03-20). Khashoggi: Pro-democracy group serves Saudi crown prince with murder complaint. middleeasteye.net 
Khashoggi: Pro-democracy group serves Saudi crown prince with murder complaint | Lawsuit seeks compensation for damage caused to journalist's fiancee and US-based Democracy for the Arab World Now | Sat, 03/20/2021 – 10: 51 | Saudi Arabia denies that Mohammed bin Salman had any role in Khashoggi's murder (AFP) | The fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the pro-democracy organisation he established…
(2021-03-20). Saudi Arabia's Adel al-Jubeir confirms no normalisation deal with Israel. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi Arabia's Adel al-Jubeir confirms no normalisation deal with Israel | Minister of state for foreign affairs also says kingdom has made 'great strides' with regards to human rights | Sat, 03/20/2021 – 12: 45 | Jubeir, left, said relations with the United States were unlikely to change under President Joe Biden (AFP) | Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs, has said his countr…
(2021-03-20). Advierten de que en 20 años se duplicó el endeudamiento de América Latina. globalizacion.ca 
Eric Toussaint y Milan Rivié, especialistas del Comité para la Abolición de las Deudas Ilegítimas (CADTM) señalaron que en los últimos años se asistió a un aumento espectacular del stock y del servicio de la deuda en la región. | ´En…
(2021-03-20). Make Way for Kamala Harris, the Deep State's Dream President. strategic-culture.org 
With Biden barely aware of his surroundings, it is mere child's play to foist Harris into the leadership role | In what may become the most unexpected and, perhaps, unwanted political comebacks in American political history, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who never inspired much confidence on the 2020 presidential campaign trail, may soon find herself, through default, the next president of the United States. Should the world start praying for Joe Biden's continued good health? | As U.S. President Joe Biden enters the ninth week of his 'shadow presidency' without a single press conference under his belt, whil…
(2021-03-20). [Comment] COVID-19, community trials, and inclusion. thelancet.com The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the research landscape with the emergence of platform trials. Platform trials are adaptive clinical trials in which patients with a single disease are randomly allocated to different treatments based on an algorithm to investigate whether various agents have clinical benefit.1 In The Lancet, the PRINCIPLE Trial Collaborative Group2 report no benefit of azithromycin compared with usual care (hazard ratio 1 ∑08, 95% Bayesian credibility interval 0 ∑95—1 ∑23) for suspected COVID-19 in older adults in the community.
(2021-03-20). [World Report] Aid agencies turn attention to diabetes. thelancet.com The rise in non-communicable diseases and their contribution to COVID-19 is prompting a shift in priorities. Sharmila Devi reports.
(2021-03-20). [Perspectives] Chris Butler: primary care research supremo. thelancet.com As Professor of Primary Care in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, UK, and a practising general practitioner in south Wales, Chris Butler has a bird's eye view of the potential impact of primary care research on clinical practice. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 research is a priority, with Butler co-leading the PRINCIPLE trial to try and identify treatments for the alleviation of COVID-19 symptoms in community settings. "I am hopeful that our innovations in research methods will identify effective early treatment for the disease", he says.
(2021-03-20). [Perspectives] Human flourishing in a health-creating society. thelancet.com The way we think about health and health systems needs to reflect the realities of the society we live in. There is no going back to the world before COVID-19. And, more fundamentally, it is time to finally leave behind the mindsets and practices of 20th-century medicine. COVID-19 is still doing terrible damage. Many countries are in the grip of a second or third wave of infections—in some cases worse than the first. COVID-19 vaccines bring optimism, but access to them is unequal for low-income and middle-income countries.
(2021-03-20). [World Report] Biden's first legislative victory: $1 ∑9 trillion for COVID-19. thelancet.com US President Joe Biden's first legislative triumph will fund the COVID-19 response and economic recovery, and address social determinants of health. Susan Jaffe reports from Washington, DC.
(2021-03-20). [Articles] Seroprevalence and humoral immune durability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Wuhan, China: a longitudinal, population-level, cross-sectional study. thelancet.com 6 ∑92% of a cross-sectional sample of the population of Wuhan developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, with 39 ∑8% of this population seroconverting to have neutralising antibodies. Our durability data on humoral responses indicate that mass vaccination is needed to effect herd protection to prevent the resurgence of the epidemic.
(2021-03-20). [Correspondence] Control vaccine formulation. thelancet.com The Restoring Invisible and Abandoned Trials (RIAT) initiative is an international effort concerned with two fundamental problems in the scientific literature—many clinical trials are inaccurately or incompletely reported in journal publications and not all trials done are published. RIAT Support Center, funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, aims to address these problems by offering a methodology that allows other people to responsibly correct the record. We are writing with concerns about inaccurate and incomplete reporting in a trial published in The Lancet, and ethical concerns about the infor…
(2021-03-20). [Correspondence] Control vaccine formulation — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Peter Doshi and colleagues for their Correspondence that requests an erratum to our Article that was published in 2009.1 We note this same author group requested an erratum2 of a similar report from 2007 describing the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.3 We highly recommend reading Suzanne Gerland and Marc Steben response.4…
(2021-03-20). West Bank hospitals overwhelmed as Israel withholds vaccines. wsws.org The West Bank, with a population of 3.1 million Palestinians, has recorded more than 146,000 cases and 1,667 deaths since March 2020, likely an underestimate given the lack of testing facilities.
(2021-03-20). The Heat: China-U.S. talks conclude in Alaska. america.cgtn.com 
Chinese and U.S. officials have concluded their talks in Anchorage, Alaska after a strong and frank exchange. But, did the two economic superpowers find any common ground? The meetings, involving top diplomats from Beijing and Washington, saw fiery exchanges Thursday before the cameras. Relations between …
(2021-03-20). WSJ rage at 'woke' China foreshadows new redbaiting of social justice activists. mronline.org 
The Wall Street Journal editorial board has accused a major Chinese newspaper, and by extension the People's Republic of China, of exploiting progressive rhetoric around racial justice to create division in the United States. | Newswire…
