Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#WuhanPneumonia #Covid19 #Vaccine
Peru suspends clinical trials of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine as tester develops neurological problems
Peru has temporarily suspended clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine made by Chinese drug giant #Sinopharm after detecting neurological problems in one of its test volunteers.
The National Institute of Health in Lima said on Dec 11, 2020 that it had decided to interrupt the trial after a volunteer had difficulty moving their arms, according to local media.
"Several days ago we signalled, as we are required, to the regulatory authorities that one of our participants (in trials) presented neurological symptoms which could correspond to a condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome," said chief researcher German Malaga in comments to the press.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare and non-contagious disorder which affects the movement of the arms and legs. Peru declared a temporary health emergency in five regions in June last year following multiple cases.
In the 1970s a campaign to vaccinate Americans against a supposedly devastating strain of swine flu ground to a halt after about 450 of those vaccinated developed the syndrome, which can also cause paralysis.
Peru's clinical trials for the Sinopharm vaccine were due to conclude this week, after testing around 12,000 people.
Source: Channel News Asia #Dec12
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/peru-suspends-clinical-trials-china-sinopharm-covid-19-vaccine-13757116
#GuillainBarreSyndrome #Paralysis
Peru suspends clinical trials of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine as tester develops neurological problems
Peru has temporarily suspended clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine made by Chinese drug giant #Sinopharm after detecting neurological problems in one of its test volunteers.
The National Institute of Health in Lima said on Dec 11, 2020 that it had decided to interrupt the trial after a volunteer had difficulty moving their arms, according to local media.
"Several days ago we signalled, as we are required, to the regulatory authorities that one of our participants (in trials) presented neurological symptoms which could correspond to a condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome," said chief researcher German Malaga in comments to the press.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare and non-contagious disorder which affects the movement of the arms and legs. Peru declared a temporary health emergency in five regions in June last year following multiple cases.
In the 1970s a campaign to vaccinate Americans against a supposedly devastating strain of swine flu ground to a halt after about 450 of those vaccinated developed the syndrome, which can also cause paralysis.
Peru's clinical trials for the Sinopharm vaccine were due to conclude this week, after testing around 12,000 people.
Source: Channel News Asia #Dec12
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/peru-suspends-clinical-trials-china-sinopharm-covid-19-vaccine-13757116
#GuillainBarreSyndrome #Paralysis
CNA
Peru suspends clinical trials of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine
Peru has temporarily suspended clinical trials of a Covid vaccine made by Chinese drug giant Sinopharm after detecting neurological problems in ...
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FreeJimmyLai #AppleDaily
Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence go to bat for imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon #JimmyLai
Top US officials are speaking out against the arrest and imprisonment of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the founder of Apple Daily.
U.S. Secretary of State #MikePompeo tweeted on the morning of Dec 12, 2020 (Asia time) that the Hong Kong's national security law “makes a mockery of justice.” He called for Lai's release, saying his only crime is speaking the truth about China's authoritarian Communist Party government.
Separately, US Vice President #MikePence also tweeted in support of Lai, “Today’s charges against Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong are an affront to freedom loving people around everywhere.”
Pence wrote. “Jimmy Lai is a hero and I remain inspired by his stand for democracy & the rights that were promised to the people of Hong Kong.”
Sources: Pompeo’s Twitter; New York Post #Dec12
Image: Stand News
https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1337577721048784896?s=09
https://nypost.com/2020/12/12/us-officials-go-to-bat-for-imprisoned-hong-kong-tycoon-jimmy-lai/
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliticalProsecution #CCP
Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence go to bat for imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon #JimmyLai
Top US officials are speaking out against the arrest and imprisonment of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the founder of Apple Daily.
U.S. Secretary of State #MikePompeo tweeted on the morning of Dec 12, 2020 (Asia time) that the Hong Kong's national security law “makes a mockery of justice.” He called for Lai's release, saying his only crime is speaking the truth about China's authoritarian Communist Party government.
Separately, US Vice President #MikePence also tweeted in support of Lai, “Today’s charges against Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong are an affront to freedom loving people around everywhere.”
Pence wrote. “Jimmy Lai is a hero and I remain inspired by his stand for democracy & the rights that were promised to the people of Hong Kong.”
Sources: Pompeo’s Twitter; New York Post #Dec12
Image: Stand News
https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1337577721048784896?s=09
https://nypost.com/2020/12/12/us-officials-go-to-bat-for-imprisoned-hong-kong-tycoon-jimmy-lai/
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliticalProsecution #CCP
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Global Affairs objected to Canadian military decision to cancel training with People's Liberation Army
Classified Canadian government documents released to media outlets, including The Globe and Mail, reveal that the department of Global Affairs disagreed with the Canadian military to cancel the winter military exercises with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in 2019.
In a memo to Ian Shugart, then deputy foreign minister, it was said that the "unilateral decisions" by the military to cancel previously agreed co-operation with the PLA "risk being interpreted by China or others in an unintended (and unhelpful) way" and "could also damage Canada's long-term defence and security relationship with China."
The diplomats feared that any reductions in military ties between the PLA and the Canadian army may be viewed as a "retaliatory move" concerning the cases of Meng Wanzhou and the two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, detained by China.
The revelations triggered a public outcry among Canadians. Critics said the disagreement indicates that Canada's China policy has been contradictory and incoherent. "It is more urgent than ever, in the context of an increasingly belligerent and assertive China, to present a united political front," said Charles Burton, a China expert. "This is really about the defence of our sovereignty and security on matters over which there is consensus across the political spectrum in Canada."
Sources: The Globe and Mail #Dec09
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-global-affairs-objected-to-canadian-military-decision-to-cancel/
CBC/Radio-Canada #Dec12
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-china-pla-peoples-liberation-army-1.5838658
#Canada #China #PLA
Classified Canadian government documents released to media outlets, including The Globe and Mail, reveal that the department of Global Affairs disagreed with the Canadian military to cancel the winter military exercises with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in 2019.
In a memo to Ian Shugart, then deputy foreign minister, it was said that the "unilateral decisions" by the military to cancel previously agreed co-operation with the PLA "risk being interpreted by China or others in an unintended (and unhelpful) way" and "could also damage Canada's long-term defence and security relationship with China."
The diplomats feared that any reductions in military ties between the PLA and the Canadian army may be viewed as a "retaliatory move" concerning the cases of Meng Wanzhou and the two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, detained by China.
The revelations triggered a public outcry among Canadians. Critics said the disagreement indicates that Canada's China policy has been contradictory and incoherent. "It is more urgent than ever, in the context of an increasingly belligerent and assertive China, to present a united political front," said Charles Burton, a China expert. "This is really about the defence of our sovereignty and security on matters over which there is consensus across the political spectrum in Canada."
Sources: The Globe and Mail #Dec09
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-global-affairs-objected-to-canadian-military-decision-to-cancel/
CBC/Radio-Canada #Dec12
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-china-pla-peoples-liberation-army-1.5838658
#Canada #China #PLA
The Globe and Mail
Global Affairs objected to Canadian military decision to cancel training with China’s People’s Liberation Army
Government documents show that officials at the highest levels of Global Affairs were alarmed that General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, had cancelled winter military exercises with the PLA in 2019
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Origin story: what do we know now about where coronavirus came from?
Maria van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization (WHO) virologist said that something happened at Christmas time in 2019.
On the evening of 30 December 2019, the Wuhan municipal health commission had issued an “urgent notice” online, warning all medical facilities to be on the alert and put into effect their emergency plans. It pointed the finger of suspicion for the outbreak at the Huanan [meaning South China] seafood market. Of a sample of 41 early confirmed cases, 70% were stall owners, employees or regular customers of the Huanan market, which sold seafood but also live animals, often illegally captured in the wild and slaughtered in front of the customer.
The market was closed by the Chinese authorities on 1 January 2020 and comprehensively cleaned and disinfected, which was helpful to hygiene but destroyed clues
It’s important for the entire world to know, so the WHO has been investigating since the outbreak began.
The Canadian doctor and epidemiologist appointed by WHO leading the investigation Bruce Aylward said, “from the moment you landed in China, you knew you were dealing with something very serious that the rest of the world wasn’t getting. You got off the plane and you were in an empty Beijing airport. It was absolutely stunning, your footsteps would echo through the great cavernous halls of Beijing airport, which is teeming day and night normally.”
Source: The Guardian #Dec12
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/12/where-did-coronavirus-come-from-covid?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Covid19 #Wuhan #WHO #China #Covid19Origin
Maria van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization (WHO) virologist said that something happened at Christmas time in 2019.
On the evening of 30 December 2019, the Wuhan municipal health commission had issued an “urgent notice” online, warning all medical facilities to be on the alert and put into effect their emergency plans. It pointed the finger of suspicion for the outbreak at the Huanan [meaning South China] seafood market. Of a sample of 41 early confirmed cases, 70% were stall owners, employees or regular customers of the Huanan market, which sold seafood but also live animals, often illegally captured in the wild and slaughtered in front of the customer.
The market was closed by the Chinese authorities on 1 January 2020 and comprehensively cleaned and disinfected, which was helpful to hygiene but destroyed clues
It’s important for the entire world to know, so the WHO has been investigating since the outbreak began.
The Canadian doctor and epidemiologist appointed by WHO leading the investigation Bruce Aylward said, “from the moment you landed in China, you knew you were dealing with something very serious that the rest of the world wasn’t getting. You got off the plane and you were in an empty Beijing airport. It was absolutely stunning, your footsteps would echo through the great cavernous halls of Beijing airport, which is teeming day and night normally.”
Source: The Guardian #Dec12
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/12/where-did-coronavirus-come-from-covid?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#Covid19 #Wuhan #WHO #China #Covid19Origin
the Guardian
Origin story: what do we know now about where coronavirus came from?
When Chinese scientists alerted colleagues to a new virus last December, suspicion fell on a Wuhan market. What have health officials learned since then?