covid-19 Archives

5Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Globalization, Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis

The COVID Leak and Political Coverup

Much remains a mystery about the COVID-19 virus. But there are some answers. Controversy, Conclusions and the Complicated Quest for Answers February 5, 2026—Six years after the worldwide outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that killed over 7 million people, researchers are still asking how the virus started. Today, it is perhaps even more relevant to seek the truth about what happened. Given the breakdown in international law and the abandonment of foundations to punish war crimes, mass atrocities, and genocide, the public must ensure that scientific research is honorable. Snapshot of the Impact First, here is a brief overview of the virus's global impact: The World Health Organization estimates that 7,109,667 people have died from the virus since 2019. Some areas were hit har...

A Critical Look At US Funds For Risky Science Abroad

10Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Globalization, Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis

A Critical Look At US Funds For Risky Science Abroad

Former CDC Director Calls for Reinstatement Of Obama-Era Ban On Gain-Of-Function Experiments April 10, 2023—As a House Oversight Subcommittee investigates the origins of the deadly COVID-19 virus that killed millions of people around the world, new details about the role of global collaboration in science come to light. Today, the Washington Post published a groundbreaking and extensive report on how U.S. government agencies fund high-stakes research on unknown pathogens around the world. Specifically, since 2012, U.S. agencies spent billions of dollars on research of pathogens in at least 78 countries. And though the research includes dangerous virus hunting, safety standards and regulations have not kept pace with the experiments. Furthermore, according to the Post report by David ...

Facing A Surge In COVID-19, China’s Epidemic Control Is Put To The Test

16Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

Facing A Surge In COVID-19, China’s Epidemic Control Is Put To The Test

WHO Asks China To Cooperate On Understanding COVID-19 Origins January 16, 2023—After a three-year span of its zero-COVID policy ended last month, China's health system is once again being put to the test. On Saturday health officials held a press conference releasing information and putting a positive spin on China's management of the virus. But the World Health Organization is asking health officials in China for more detailed data. Furthermore, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wants China to coordinate more to help the agency understand the origins of the virus. China's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference on COVID-19 on Saturday, January 14, 2023. WHO Seeks Information, Transparency Since ending its strict zer...

Status of the World’s Vaccination Levels

15Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Infographic

Status of the World’s Vaccination Levels

Vaccination Status Varies Widely By Country January 15, 2022--With the recent toss up over tennis great Novak Djokovic's vaccination status in the land down under, it is worth looking at the wider story of the vaccine distributions around the world. In terms of global health and economic recovery from the 2020-2022 pandemic, there is no issue more relevant than vaccine distribution. Even though the current makeup of vaccines are not strong enough to prevent infection with the Omicron variant, as the World Health Organization acknowledged this week, anecdotal evidence suggests they still prevent worst-case scenarios for the people who catch it. The maps below show which countries are on track for achieving mass vaccination and which are not. In the first picture, the depiction show...

14Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Types of News: Analysis

The Irony of Cancelling Novak Djokovic

Tennis star Novak Djokovic faced a worldwide "circus" and firestorm this week over his decision to travel while unvaccinated. Australia Pulls Plug on Tennis Star's Visa Exemption over Vaccine Status It’s with great irony that an Australian immigration minister is leading what appears to be a massive public punishment against the world’s top tennis star just ahead of the Australian Open. And yes, it is over his vaccine status. Yes today, amid much of a media storm this week about the visa and vaccine status of Novak Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open, an immigration official pulled the plug. It’s not exactly an example of cancel culture. But it’s close. “Today I exercised my power under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on...

Foreign Diplomats Discuss Path To Sustainable Development

16Jul

By Steve BerlinNo Comments

Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Types of News: Brief

Foreign Diplomats Discuss Path To Sustainable Development

July 16, 2021—International diplomats cast a particular eye this week on the needs of the world’s poorest countries. As they met under the leadership of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), representatives looked at ways the poorest countries are trying to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. The high-level delegation meetings come amid warnings by the OECD and others that developing countries are at a high risk for rising discontent and protests as many economies struggle to recover from the global pandemic. Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 Representatives to the meetings this week met both in person and virually. They worked on a draft agenda for sustainable development goals for 2030. The draft agenda for SDGs is a significant document for the United Nations. It...

U.S. Raises ‘Deep Concerns’ About Conclusions of WHO Investigation

16Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, Diplomacy, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Raises ‘Deep Concerns’ About Conclusions of WHO Investigation

Feb. 16, 2021-As the United States reengages with the World Health Organization under the new administration, its top national security officers are raising "deep concerns" about the credibility of the organization. The criticism comes as the WHO completed a controversial mission to Wuhan, China to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 virus. The WHO team, which included 17 participants representing China, ignored key information that scientists from the lab in Wuhan collected bats and virus samples from caves in China and brought them back to the lab. In the end, the WHO ceded the mission of scientific discovery to that of collaborating with China. U.S. Membership On his first day of office January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden informed UN Secretary General António Guterres...

WHO Mission Gives China Political Win, Overlooks Evidence About Bats in Wuhan Lab

15Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, Globalization, Disintegration, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Analysis

WHO Mission Gives China Political Win, Overlooks Evidence About Bats in Wuhan Lab

February 15, 2021--Over a year after the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization concluded a four-week investigatory mission in Wuhan, China, making comments favoring the Chinese government's narrative. It was a political win for China and a significant loss for science. In almost a surreal and surprising outcome, the mission team downplayed the possibility the virus started in a Wuhan lab and pointed to other theories popular in China. "All the work that has been done on the virus and trying to identify its origin continue to point to a natural reservoir of this virus and similar virus in bat population," said Peter Ben Embarek, the head of the WHO Mission in Wuhan. "But since Wuhan is not a city or environment close to this bat environment, a direct ...

In the Midst of Pandemic, China Sets Economic Growth Target Aside

22May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

In the Midst of Pandemic, China Sets Economic Growth Target Aside

May 22, 2020--As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered the government's work report at the start of China's 13th National People's Congress, one thing was notably missing: a target for economic growth. For decades, China's strength has come from a nearly single-pointed focus on increasing the size of its economy. Today, as its nation's leaders gather in the Great Hall of the People for their annual legislative session, the focus is on recovering from the ongoing blows of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The COVID-19 epidemic is the fastest spreading, most extensive, and most challenging public health emergency China has encountered since the founding of the People's Republic," Mr. Li said as he delivered his address to delegates. "At present, the epidemic has not yet come to an end, while th...

15May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

U.S. House Primed to Vote on Massive $3 Trillion Stimulus

May 15, 2020-The U.S. House is scheduled to vote today on a new supplemental spending bill for the current fiscal year. It's the fifth in a series of COVID-19 related stimulus bills, and it is massive in both physical size and its $3 trillion expense. Called the HEROS Act, the 1,815-page bill would extend unemployment benefits to furloughed workers for an additional six months, provide direct payments to businesses, give additional checks worth up to $1,200 for individuals, provide health care to unauthorized immigrants, financial support to farmers, renters and workers and $1 trillion for states and local governments. The Congressional Budget Office, which normally provides estimates for spending bills, has not published a report on the bill. Partisan Support Democrats are sp...