All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

TikTok reveals specific U.S. and global user growth numbers for the first time

Beginning to think all this pressure is from some sort of “deal” between Facebook and President…

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Video-sharing application has emerged surging growth both in the U.S. and internationally.

Jumblat Holds Talks with Hariri at Center House

Politics as usual after game changer blast and economic meltdown will not work. W140

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Monday evening at the Center House with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat.

“The meeting dealt with the latest political developments and the general situation,” Hariri’s press office said in a terse statement.

Remdesivir of scant benefit in hospitalized COVID patients, study finds | CIDRAP

The antiviral drug remdesivir had little effect in patients with moderate COVID-19 in 105 hospitals in the United States, Europe, and Asia in a randomized, controlled, open-label trial published late last week in JAMA, adding to a mixed picture of the drug in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), which are considered the gold standard for gauging interventions.

Source: Remdesivir of scant benefit in hospitalized COVID patients, study finds | CIDRAP

FDA OKs use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 | CIDRAP – (caving to pressure for President’s hoed for political gain)

Hahn’s interpretation of the 35% reduction in mortality was widely disputed by scientists on Twitter, who used the same data from the Mayo Clinic to show that 3.2 people out of 100—not 35—would be saved by the administration of convalescent plasma. The difference is in relative versus absolute risk, with 35% being the percent improvement but, because the rate of those seeing improvement was so low—8.7% to 11.9%—the absolute reduction is much smaller.

Also, even for that small absolute improvement, the plasma would need to be administered within 3 days versus 7, according to the Mayo data. (problem – who gets test results back within 3 days?)

 

Source: FDA OKs use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 | CIDRAP

Miami Dolphins to admit 13,000 fans for NFL opener in ‘risky’ plan

Profit first, health a poor third?

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  • South Florida has been a hotspot for Covid-19 cases recently
  • Decision has divided politicians and upset opposition coach

The Miami Dolphins will allow up to 13,000 socially distancing fans to attend their home opener against Buffalo on 20 September, a decision that divided political leaders and upset Bills coach Sean McDermott.

The same plan will be in place for the University of Miami’s home opener against UAB at the Dolphins’ stadium on 10 September.

Continue reading…

Bolsonaro’s attempt to shut down debate over mystery payments backfires

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After Brazilian president threatens journalist over questions about family’s financial dealings, reporters flood social media with the same question

Brazil’s social media-savvy leader is facing perhaps the most severe online backlash of his presidency after unsuccessfully trying to snuff out questions about his family’s financial dealings by warning a journalist he wanted to “smash his face in”.

Jair Bolsonaro issued the threat on Sunday, after a reporter from one of Brazil’s leading newspapers asked him to explain why a former policeman with alleged links to Rio’s mafia had paid thousands of pounds into the bank account of his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro.

Continue reading…