Social Justice

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Is Said To Have Withstood Three Assassination Attempts Within The Last Week

Leave a comment

The Kremlin has dispatched two distinct groups of mercenaries to Kyiv to assassinate the Ukrainian President. According to The Times of London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has survived at least three targeted assassination attempts in the last week.

Since Russia’s unprovoked war on its western neighbor began last week, Zelenskyy has conducted business from a handful of bunkers scattered throughout the nation’s capital, having declined an offer from the United States to evacuate him. As a result, he is vulnerable to assassination attempts by teams of Kremlin-backed assassins. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told a Ukrainian television network that anti-war elements within Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) were instrumental in foiling several plots. Zelenskyy acknowledged in a defiant speech last week that he is “target No. 1” to “damage Ukraine politically by assassinating the head of state.” “However, we are not afraid of anything,” he stated. “We have no qualms about defending our country. We have no apprehensions about Russia.”

Last month, US officials warned that Russian forces had compiled a hit list of Ukrainian citizens murdered or detained in detention camps. According to reports, the Kremlin has dispatched two distinct groups of mercenaries to Kyiv in an attempt to carry out that directive. One is being organized by the Wagner Group, a private military contractor headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, dubbed “Putin’s Chef.” The other is a group of elite Chechen fighters that Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov’s Chechen Republic controls.
Danilov stated on Tuesday that a Chechen assassination attempt over the weekend failed and that the group responsible had been “destroyed.” Among those killed by Ukrainian forces was Chechen-Russian Gen. Magomed Tushayev, who faces charges of torturing and murdering LGBTQ+ people in Chechnya. “As we have seen in the past, we anticipate Russia will attempt to coerce cooperation through intimidation and repression,” a US official told Foreign Policy on condition of anonymity. “These acts, which have included targeted killings, kidnappings/forced disappearances, detentions, and the use of torture in previous Russian operations, would almost certainly target those who oppose Russian actions, including Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, as well as vulnerable populations such as religious and ethnic minorities and LGBTQI+ individuals.”

Reference

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Has Reportedly Survived 3 Assassination Attempts In The Last Week. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/volodymyr-zelenskyy-assassination-attempts_n_62223f97e4b0bd1df76b3a74?fbclid=IwAR2B4MTER6lt65YaUy3jWlO4SznrVYVLWzoHMbZg8GPpPs6-MlyL4rckb-o

Social Justice

Do you believe that COVID is still here?: Immunocompromised individuals express worry following the repeal of mask regulations

Leave a comment

While the majority of the country is eager to shed their masks, a sizable portion of the populace is unable to do so.

Credit: Tatiana Ayazo

According to many, the most challenging aspect of being immunocompromised is convincing others. Durk Carlisle, 41, of Redlands, has recently discovered that wearing a mask attracts attention. “Now that I’m wearing the mask, I enter a building and notice that people are staring at me oddly. They are still unaware that I have a liver disease and hence regard me as being too cautious “‘He stated. However, you cannot be too cautious as a liver transplant recipient. Carlisle received a new transplant last year after his liver was devastated by an inflammatory condition. He is now on anti-rejection medication. “Anti-immunosuppressive medications are required to suppress the immune system. However, it also impairs the immune system’s ability to fight off infections such as COVID “Dr. Michael de Vera, Loma Linda University Health’s Chief of Transplant Surgery, stated. Around 3% of Americans are transplant recipients, and millions more suffer from comorbid illnesses that increase their risk. “Diabetes. Obese patients with heart disease and underlying pulmonary problems “As de Vera stated. Doctors encourage immunocompromised patients to use caution in crowded circumstances and to exert as much control as possible. “I want to underline the importance of vaccination. It lowers the danger of developing severe COVID, and the other option is to continue wearing a mask “As de Vera stated. Carlisle has had vaccinations and boosters. He understands why people are tired of masks, but cautions against forgetting how many lives are at stake. “They could transmit it on to another person, who could then pass it on to someone who is immunocompromised. And, unwittingly, they may cause a fatality as a result of their failure to wear a mask “Carlisle explained.

Reference

‘COVID is still here’: Immunocompromised people express fears as mask mandates are lifted.https://abc7.com/immunocompromised-immune-system-covid-mask/11614945/?fbclid=IwAR0oOE_RJaaPJ8ydo8Qj60ii7sAKi8xPWXoxNLdvGHTTEmS4MlgCKU0TaFY

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

The extremely infectious omicron variation

Leave a comment

BA.2 is a strain of the extremely infectious omicron variation that seems to spread 30 percent more readily than the original. The danger is that dissemination will drastically increase in the not-too-distant future.

Thousands of people test positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. daily, and a small but growing fraction of them are for the more contagious omicron variant BA.2.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

BA.2 has already been discovered from coast to coast, accounting for 3.9 percent of all new infections in the United States. Although BA.2 does not seem to make patients worse than the original omicron, it may result in more severe disease and death if the drop in new cases is slowed. According to a new study, one of the remaining COVID-19 antibody therapies may be less efficient against BA.2. This virus seems to be a little better at avoiding the immune system than the last one. Because the virus is still present, we must take every precaution to safeguard ourselves.

Reference

More contagious version of omicron spreads in U.S., fueling worries.https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/21/1081810074/omicron-ba2-variant-spread?fbclid=IwAR12RMhI8BpQY_BZt4fNkJK5XZcj1SZMTmcM1Eu0iOPjE9G38hN_ohB1mWk

Culture, Politics, White House

Founder of a right-wing organization

Leave a comment

The founder of a right-wing organization whose members have been charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the assault on the United States Capitol spent around six hours on Wednesday, January 6, talking to the committee by Zoom from a prison in Oklahoma to the committee.

Image: Oath Keepers militia founder Stewart Rhodes poses during an interview session in Eureka, Mont., on June 20, 2016.
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes during an interview session in Eureka, Mont., on June 20, 2016.Jim Urquhart / Reuters file


According to one of his attorneys, the United States Marshals Service holds Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, who is now in custody in the Cimarron Correctional Facility in Cushing. Rhodes appeared virtually before the House committee on the Cimarron Correctional Facility. The detention institution is under contract with the United States Marshals Service, transferring Rhodes to the Federal Detention Center in Washington, D.C.
According to his attorney, Jonathan Moseley, Rhodes claimed his Fifth Amendment rights between 20 and 30 times but ended up talking for an extended period about the history of the Oath Keepers instead.
Moseley, a Virginia-based attorney whose other clients have included Kelly Meggs, Zach Rehl, a member of the Proud Boys, and other January 6 defendants, said the committee allowed Rhodes to “talk very freely” about the history of the organization. However, his attorneys prevented him from answering questions that could affect his criminal case. Rhodes is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes.
As long as they weren’t particular to November, December 2020, or January 2021, Moseley stated, “A lot of things about what they do and how they do it were discussed, as long as they weren’t specific to November, December 2020, or January 2021,” “He gave examples of how they operate and what they do,” said the author.
The ex-wife of the commander of the Oath Keepers claimed that he was “fulfilling his own narrative.”
Initially, the committee asked a series of “test questions” to determine what Rhodes would and would not share, according to Moseley. Still, it ended up asking “a lot of questions about the Oath Keepers that he was able to answer,” which Rhodes was able to answer, according to Moseley. Additionally, Kellye SoRelle, who took over as interim leader of the Oath Keepers when Rhodes was jailed last month, appeared before the committee on January 6.
According to Moseley, “I’m sure they were most interested in the stuff that criminal lawyers wouldn’t let him answer,” including communications with other groups such as the Proud Boys, contacts with key figures in former President Donald Trump’s orbit, and fundraising for events scheduled for January 6, among other things.
A request for comment from a committee representative did not respond instantly.
One of the committee’s aides recently said that the panel had heard testimony from more than 475 witnesses and had acquired more than 60,000 pages of documents as part of its probe.
Moseley said that Rhodes had previously promised to assist the committee to the extent that he was able before he was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia. Additionally, he claimed that Rhodes talked about his previous work with the Oath Keepers during the interview and that Rhodes became emotional when he told him about how members of the organization helped to secure a shop in Ferguson, Missouri, amid unrest after the killing of Michael Brown in 2014.
Federal prosecutors allege that Rhodes is the mastermind of a criminal conspiracy aimed at maintaining Trump in power despite the election of Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. In his statement to the other defendants, prosecutors claim, Rhodes said that there was “no standard political or legal way out of this,” and that they should be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
The United States Marshals Service is now in the custody of Elmer Stewart Rhodes III. According to his attorney, Jonathan Moseley, he asserted his Fifth Amendment rights between 20 and 30 times. Rhodes was stopped from answering questions that may have impacted his criminal prosecution by his counsel. They questioned him about contact with other organizations, such as the Proud Boys, and funding for the activities on January 6, among other things. In its inquiry, the panel heard testimony from more than 475 witnesses and acquired more than 60,000 pages of documents. Individuals should be aware that everything we do or say on the internet leaves a technical imprint on the world.

Reference

Oath Keepers founder spent six hours on Zoom with January 6 panel. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/oath-keepers-founder-spent-six-hours-zoom-jan-6-panel-rcna14667?fbclid=IwAR2hlUnUijt4xSgzpMDBufVR0d6iT7LP2ayOBII-JY8eU_LwKZSrq4j9eLk

Diet, disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Leave a comment

Vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, few large, higher-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to corroborate this. A recent RCT examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation in Finland. It found no association between vitamin D and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer. There is evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with nearly all primary chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and mortality.

It looked at data from 2,495 people, including those with no cardiovascular disease or cancer history. To provide further evidence of the relationship between vitamin D, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, the researchers behind the present study conducted the Finnish Vitamin D Trial. Despite the large doses, the study failed to see any effect of the supplementation on lowering the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] and cancer. Those who might benefit from the vitamin D supplementation — i.e., those with low serum vitamin D levels — are a small minority in the trials. Prof. Karani: “High-dose vitamin D supplementation may modestly reduce the risk of cancer death, but not overall cancer incidence.” Dr. Virtanen states, So far, there is no evidence that [Vitamin D] supplementation could prevent [SARS-CoV-2] infection. Still, it is well-documented that those, especially with the severe form of COVID-19, have low serum vitamin D levels.

It is also possible that this is a consequence of the [SARS-CoV-2] infection rather than the cause because it is known that acute infection leads to lower serum vitamin D levels. In addition, many of the COVID-19 patients are overweight or obese or have a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, which is associated with lower serum vitamin D levels, explained Dr. Virtanen. “It is challenging to obtain vitamin D from food intake alone unless that food is fortified with vitamin D. It would be essential to explore whether vitamin D supplementation can decrease the incidence of [cardiovascular disease] and cancers, as that would make a strong case for mandatory vitamin D fortification or promotion of fortified foods in the population.

Reference

Vitamin D supplements, heart health, and cancer risk. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vitamin-d-supplements-heart-health-and-cancer-risk?fbclid=IwAR0anIA4BSbVWh-5gq1EcPeh0-2HN8CGkxNh4ZlnIESqCqFndScGFYXPraE

disease, drugs, Health, medications

Fast-spreading Omicron variant

Leave a comment

A fast-spreading Omicron variant that causes milder illness compared with previous versions of the coronavirus has fueled the view that COVID-19 poses less of a risk than in the past. For those who do have symptoms, a higher proportion experience very mild illness, such as the sore throat or runny nose without the breathing difficulties typical of earlier infections.

Covid-19 Testing

Omicron is the fifth highly significant variant of the original SARS-COV-2, and it remains to be seen if the ability of the virus to mutate further will slow down. In fully vaccinated and boosted individuals without underlying medical conditions, Omicron “will not do too much damage,” said David Ho, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University.

Reference

Explainer: Why you should still try to avoid catching Omicron. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/why-you-should-still-try-avoid-catching-omicron-2022-01-12/?fbclid=IwAR3Wu9sI6Yum4sL57_fv9qsSfqqGk6meKH7GIdZ2fc_GofHdUpGV9jQ7peo

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

Omicron-specific vaccination

Leave a comment

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron accounted for more than 95% of all new cases in the United States last week. The representative verified that the production of doses of the Omicron-specific vaccination has already commenced. Symptoms of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant: Recent investigations indicate that Moderna Pharmaceuticals is working on an Omicron-specific variant vaccination. Moderna anticipates initiating advanced clinical studies for the vaccine early this year but did not say when. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s senior medical advisor, has recommended that Americans obtain booster injections, which are 75% effective at avoiding symptomatic COVID-19 infection.
Stéphane Bancel, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Moderna, said last week that he expects the current vaccine’s protection to fade. Moderna said on Monday in a website update that although the pharmaceutical company’s first line of defense against Omicron is a third dosage of its current vaccine, it is also creating an Omicron-specific booster injection.
Reference
Pfizer says its vaccine targeting Omicron will be ready in March. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-pfizer-omicron-variant-march/?fbclid=IwAR2AnmzLdZ_7a62wM76ClL4T8z0oQbad3cuHbuuqSLvSRSxV6SB6Ib1VSS4

Culture, equal rights, Ethics, government, Politics, Religion, Social Justice, White House

United States Supreme Court will hear arguments

Leave a comment

Amy and David Carson desired that their daughter Olivia attend Bangor Christian Schools, a private religious elementary through secondary school. Maine has said that it would not subsidize religious education. The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether the state violated the Carsons’ constitutional rights. Carson v. Makin is the most recent in a series of lawsuits petitioning the Supreme Court for a ruling on religious liberty. If the court decides widely, it might have a profound effect on the ability of religious organizations to receive public financing.

Getty Images (2); TIME


It has the potential to “eviscerate” rules prohibiting public sponsorship of religious education. Maine parents have filed a lawsuit against the state for failing to include their favorite schools in a tuition aid program. Plaintiffs and supporters contend that the state discriminates against religious individuals. The case follows a series of previous judgments on public support for religious organizations. The case sets the free exercise provision of the First Amendment against the establishment clause.
According to some legal experts, Carson v. Makin is likely to become an extension of Espinoza. Officials in Maine assert that religious schools do not give an education “equivalent to a public education.” Carson v. Maine calls into question the relationship between religious liberty and LGBTQ rights. Maine contends that Bangor Christian and Temple Academy in Maine discriminate against members of other faiths and instructors and students who identify as LGBTQ. Advocates fear that government money may flow to discriminatory schools if the plaintiffs win.
Maine is just a few states that give this kind of tuition assistance to pupils who live in areas without public school choice. However, experts are concerned that other states may experience similar pressure from religious groups to implement similar schemes. This possibility concerns Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

Reference

This Supreme Court Case Could Take a ‘Wrecking Ball’ to Separation of Church and State.https://time.com/6125676/maine-religion-schools-supreme-court-carson-makin/?fbclid=IwAR2y4KzyfGY6NuggKM8mZIgYpKYuhD_YqmKoiKzgnDJ7WUKGTBkFzCmgyW8

Diet, disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Worldwide about a possibly more transmissible version of the coronavirus

Leave a comment

Concerns are growing worldwide about a possibly more transmissible version of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As fresh instances are verified, scientists are scrambling to learn more. President Biden said that the mutation is “cause for concern, not a cause for panic” California verified the first case in the United States; omicron has been discovered in 16 states. In three days, the number of new coronavirus cases in South Africa has tripled.
The positive rate for Omicron increased from 1% in early November to 22.4 percent on December 2. The omicron version most likely acquired genetic material from a human virus that causes the common cold. A public health expert argues it is “premature to panic” over the mutation, which the World Health Organization has designated (WHO). Public health authorities in the United States are redoubling their efforts to distribute immunizations to everyone, including boosters for people who have previously been vaccinated. Within 100 days, Pfizer and BioNTech plan to have a “tailor-made vaccine” for the variation.
Each time the virus crosses between persons, it might undergo several genetic alterations. According to public health specialists, there is a strong likelihood that the new type has already spread to a number of nations beyond those where cases have been recorded. Public health professionals are advising the public not to make hasty judgments. Certain initiatives are already being scrapped in the aftermath of Omicron. Google said that it would delay its required in-office work beginning Jan. 10 for the length of the epidemic. Additionally, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor suspended the city’s New Year’s Eve event.

Reference

What to know about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/11/26/faq-new-variant-omicron/

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Warning about the Johnson & Johnson

Leave a comment

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a fresh warning about the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccination. The majority of the instances are recorded within two weeks after vaccination, and the majority of the victims are males over the age of 50. The administration’s attempts to increase vaccinations in places where skepticism about coronavirus vaccines is strong and the vaccination rate is low might be hampered by the new warning.

According to a frequently asked question (FAQ), 60 to 120 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome occur at a rate of 60 to 120 cases each week. According to reports, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has been linked to a rare but “likely indicates a small possible risk” sickness. An early warning safety network established by the CDC and FDA was alerted to the syndrome after reports were filed with the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). A doctor warns that the United States’ immunization efforts have “hit a brick wall.”He argues that the government should force vaccinations.

Vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna are now required by the FDA to include a warning about the dangers of coronavirus. Due to the difficulties at Johnson & Johnson’s Baltimore factory, approximately 75 million doses of the vaccine were thrown away. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are recommended for people 12 and older since the benefits of immunization substantially exceed the risks. A Boston man who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccination was the subject of a similar instance recounted in an editorial that appeared with the article.

Flu vaccination doses have regularly resulted in one or two more illnesses per 1 million doses delivered when there was an elevated risk. According to the group, there were examples of significant facial paralysis in the patients from England and India. Vaccine safety experts in Europe have advised that the AstraZeneca vaccine include a warning for Guillain-Barré.

Reference

FDA adds new warning on Johnson & Johnson vaccine related to rare autoimmune disorder. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07/12/johnson-and-johnson-warning/

"Know your plan and purpose for life it will bring you success"