All posts by nedhamson

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

Trump says TikTok app will be banned in the US over security concerns

As per usual, no proof offered, claims to have power – next ban Twitter because it’s not “fair?”

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US President Donald Trump insists “I have that authority” to ban TikTok, a popular Chinese-owned video app that has raised national security and censorship concerns.

South Australian coronavirus vaccine candidate shows positive results in phase one human trials – ABC News

Lead researcher Professor Nikolai Petrovsky said the vaccine candidate had been shown to be safe and to induce antibodies that attack the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

“We’ve had no major side-effects in any of the subjects,” said Professor Petrovsky.

He said the vaccine had also shown positive results in trials on animals in the United States in protecting them from COVID-19 infection.

 

Source: South Australian coronavirus vaccine candidate shows positive results in phase one human trials – ABC News

Japan’s Okinawa declares state of emergency as coronavirus cases soar

Governor Denny Tamaki on on Friday (July 31) asked residents to avoid non-essential outings following a record new daily addition to the southern island’s total cases, the majority of which have been detected among US forces based there.

“We’re seeing an explosive spread of infections. We declare a state of emergency” through August 15, Tamaki told reporters, adding hospitals were being overwhelmed by the surge.

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TOKYO (AFP) – Japan’s Okinawa region has declared a state of emergency and asked people to stay home for two weeks as the popular tourist destination sees an “explosive spread” of coronavirus cases.

Governor Denny Tamaki on on Friday (July 31) asked residents to avoid non-essential outings following a record new daily addition to the southern island’s total cases, the majority of which have been detected among US forces based there.

“We’re seeing an explosive spread of infections. We declare a state of emergency” through August 15, Tamaki told reporters, adding hospitals were being overwhelmed by the surge.

The measures are non-compulsory and without the aggressive enforcement measures seen in Europe, but similar requests from authorities have been widely respected in Japan.

Okinawa reported 71 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing its total to 395.

US forces account for 248 of those cases, according to the local government, which has created tensions with local officials, including the governor who has said he was “shocked” by the high numbers.

There are approximately 20,000 US Marines in Okinawa, along with thousands more troops from other US military services.

Their presence on the island is a longstanding sore spot, with many in the region arguing they bear a disproportionate share of the burden of hosting American forces.

Okinawa’s move comes as Tokyo called for restaurants, bars and karaoke parlours to shut at 10 pm from August 3 until the end of the month after the number of daily cases hit a new record.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the capital would have to issue a state of emergency if cases continued to rise.

Japan has so far escaped the worst of the epidemic, with around 35,200 infections and just over 1,000 deaths since the first case was detected in January.

The number of cases has been on the rise since the central government lifted a nationwide state of emergency in May.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

South Korea arrests head of religious sect linked to 36% of country’s coronavirus cases

Prosecutors allege the 89-year-old conspired with other sect leaders to withhold information from authorities during the peak of the outbreak among his more than 200,000 followers.

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Prosecutors allege the 89-year-old conspired with other sect leaders to withhold information from authorities during the peak of the outbreak among his more than 200,000 followers.

Florida newspaper editorial board asks DeSantis to issue statewide mask order: ‘We’re dying here’ | TheHill

“Your daily upbeat message is hopelessly at odds with what Floridians are going through,” the editorial said. “You make it sound like everything is headed in the right direction. But it’s not.”

Studies and experts have maintained that wearing a mask is one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Florida has had more than 470,300 confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, and has the second-highest number of cases behind just California.

 

Source: Florida newspaper editorial board asks DeSantis to issue statewide mask order: ‘We’re dying here’ | TheHill

Fury as Conservative MP blames non-whites for UK coronavirus surge – world news – Hindustan Times – UK Racism still abounds – sadly.

Many pointed out that several non-white doctors and nurses had passed away after being infected while treating patients. Some posted images of large crowds on beaches in Bournemouth and elsewhere, violating lockdown rules, and of events with gatherings without social distancing.

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy remarked after Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a briefing on delaying lockdown easing due to a rise in cases: “Absolutely grim to hear the PM failing to correct these stupid, divisive remarks”.

“We’ve just had a huge rise in cases in Greater Manchester in a borough with one of the lowest BAME populations. Time to stop the blame game and give us all proper advice to follow”, she tweeted.

 

Source: Fury as Conservative MP blames non-whites for UK coronavirus surge – world news – Hindustan Times

COVID-19 is unleashing worker anger and a new union movement – Los Angeles Times

Support for unions is rising. Sixty-four percent of Americans approve of unions, nearly the highest level in 50 years. An MIT study found that 50% of non-union, non-managerial workers say they would vote to join a union. One reason for this trend is that many unions have worked to build public support, as when striking L.A. teachers demanded not just pay raises, but smaller class sizes and more nurses, librarians and school counselors.

Another promising sign is the changing generational support for labor. Americans age 18 to 34 are the age group most enthusiastic about unions. They were badly scarred by the Great Recession, they’ve grown up in an era of huge income inequality, and many have been inspired by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Indeed, many young Americans have been flocking into unions, including graduate students, cannabis workers, digital journalists, museum workers and workers at nonprofits.

 

Source: COVID-19 is unleashing worker anger and a new union movement – Los Angeles Times