Myanmar coup foes tout minority-backed shadow government – The Washington Post

Opponents of Myanmar’s ruling junta went on the political offensive Friday, declaring they have formed an interim national unity government with members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s ousted cabinet and major ethnic minority groups.

The move comes on the eve of a diplomatic initiative to solve Myanmar’s crisis by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is expected to hold a summit next week.

Source: Myanmar coup foes tout minority-backed shadow government – The Washington Post

Big Chile study finds Chinese vaccine slashes COVID deaths – The Washington Post

A real-world study of millions of Chileans who had received the Chinese-developed CoronaVac vaccine has found it 67% effective against symptoms and 80% against death from COVID-19, the South American country’s Health Ministry said Friday.

Ministry adviser Rafael Araos said the study covered 10.5 million people, including 2.5 million who had received both doses of the vaccine and 1.5 million who had received a single dose between Feb. 2 and April 1.

It counted cases starting 14 days after application of the second dose of the vaccine, which in Chile was given 28 days after the first.

The vaccine has been widely used across the world, though not in the United States or Europe.

Source: Big Chile study finds Chinese vaccine slashes COVID deaths – The Washington Post

Black Lives Matter: When will US police understand?

Blogger's World!

Looks like the US police will never understand that Black lives matter, even after what the country went through following the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

A white police officer has now been taken into custody for shooting a young Black motorist to death during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb.

The fatal shooting of Daunte Wright triggered three nights of protests and civil unrest.

Minnesota authorities have charged with second-degree manslaughter Kim Potter, the Brooklyn Center police officer who was arrested on April 14 for killing 20-year-old Wright during an April 11 traffic stop.

The incident occurred amid the ongoing trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was last year charged with murder and manslaughter in the May 2020 death of Floyd.

Potter, a 26-year veteran of the police department, resigned from her post on Tuesday after Wright’s death sparked protests. Police Chief Tim Gannon also…

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Our moringa tree comes into its own; and notes on Jamaica’s tea-drinking habits

Petchary's Blog

Over the years, I have posted photos of our belovedmoringa tree, and sung its praises. In fact, it’s three trees, but they have intertwined over the years, so I think of it as one.

Several years later, how have our trees evolved? Looking back at the pictures I had shared, I realise that their character has changed. They are not as pretty and fluffy as it used to be, fluttering brilliant green leaves like lace and white flowers.

Their bark is rough and scarred. They are still skinny and straggly, and of course much taller. Moringa trees around town are often mercilessly hacked into shape by zealous gardeners along roadsides. Ours just do exactly what they feel like doing – which is mostly lean into other trees and plants – including a young neem tree and at the same time growing upwards – higher than the roof of…

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Frittata Primavera — Micro of the Macro

Packed with fresh herbs, tomatoes, shallots, and green onions, and requiring just over half an hour from start to finish, this tasty stovetop frittata is a favorite Sunday morning breakfast in our house. The first vegan egg-like dish I learned to prepare, although delicious, took way too long. First there was the chopping, next the […]

Frittata Primavera — Micro of the Macro

Tougher virus restrictions expanded across Japan metropolitan areas

The Japanese government decided Friday to expand tougher COVID-19 restrictions to all three of the country’s major metropolitan areas centering on Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya as infections surge less than a month after a state of emergency was lifted.

Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama along with Aichi were added to the list of prefectures subject to the measures, including asking restaurants and bars to close by 8 p.m. with fines for noncompliance. The steps will take effect Tuesday and remain in place through the Golden Week holidays until May 11.

Source: Tougher virus restrictions expanded across Japan metropolitan areas