Sunday, February 7, 2021

Six In The Morning Sunday 7 February 2021

 

Myanmar: tens of thousands march against military coup for second day

Large demonstrations across country despite junta blocking internet access and restricting phone lines

Guardian reporter in Yangon and  south-east Asia correspondent

Demonstrators in Myanmar have vowed to continue their protests until their elected leaders are released and democracy returns, as tens of thousands of people poured on to the streets of towns and cities across the country for a second day.

Large crowds gathered in the main city of Yangon and elsewhere, condemning the military for ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup.

“Today is about Myanmar’s democracy,” said one protester, Myint Oo, 23. “Our hero Aung San Suu Kyi and our president U Win Myint must be freed.


UK vaccine gambles paid off, while EU caution slowed it down


The European Union has chosen a careful route in its vaccine campaign to defeat the coronavirus pandemic

French pharmaceutical startup Valneva had big news in September: a government contract for 60 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine candidate.

The buyer? The United Kingdom — not the European Union, as might be expected for a company on the banks of the Loire.

“What a true waste," bristled Christelle Morancais, president of the Pays de la Loire regional council, as she tried to wrap her head around the missed opportunity. The British, she told The Associated Press, “rolled out the red carpet for this company, helping with financing and the set-up. ... And we were powerless.”

The Power of Reliable DataCan Vaccines from Russia and China Be a Game Changer?

China and Russia have been exporting their vaccines for months, despite a lack of data on safety and efficacy. On Tuesday, though, it was announced that Sputnik V from Russia is both. If the Chinese vaccines likewise stand up to rigorous examination, it would be a huge step forward in the fight against COVID-19.



A huge number of people in Germany and other European countries can hardly wait to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In Serbia, by contrast, it has sometimes appeared difficult to find someone willing to accept the jab. The syringes in the country, after all, were not filled with a product from Western pharmaceutical companies, but with a vaccine developed by the Chinese company Sinopharm. Nevertheless, Serbian Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar elected to become the first person in his country to receive the vaccine.

"I was guided by two basic facts. First, that the vaccine meets all the safety criteria. And second, that it is effective," says Lončar, a medical doctor. He received his injection in January. "When I was convinced of all the above, I was able to stand up before the citizens of Serbia and suggest that they start mass vaccination."


Honduras hardened its abortion ban. These women remain undeterred

Honduran Congress put a lock on decades-old ban on abortion weeks after Argentina legalised it in landmark decision.

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