5 things to know for March 23: Boulder, Covid-19, Israel, White House, China

The AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is gaining steam after the company released new data on its effectiveness. A US clinical study found that the vaccine was 79% effective against symptomatic disease and 100% effective against severe disease and hospitalization, although an independent US council expressed concern that the data were complete. . However, the Biden administration will borrow about 4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in Canada and Mexico as the shootings await approval in the United States. The President of South Korea has just received the AstraZeneca vaccine himself and, starting today, adults aged 65 and over in his country can. Although there are still concerns that travel and rallies could fuel another wave in the United States, experts estimate that vaccine use has already saved about 40,000 American lives.

Israelis are heading to the polls today for the country’s fourth general election in less than two years. Political leaders have failed to form a decisive government after the last three elections and there is no guarantee that it will be any different. Most likely, the vote will serve mainly as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Although he has won praise for recent diplomatic agreements and for handling the pandemic, the 15-year-old leader is also on trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. While Netanyahu’s Likud party is likely to come out on top this time, polls show that up to 13 parties could win 120 seats in the Knesset, making it even more difficult to form a cohesive government.

White House advisers are expected to present a $ 3 trillion proposal for jobs and infrastructure to President Biden shortly after this week. The massive plan is part of Biden’s promised economic agenda during his campaign and is the second phase of his “rescue” and “recovery” strategy (after the coronavirus rescue bill). Part of the new plan focuses on infrastructure and clean energy, and the other on what is called the “care economy” – things like early education and childcare. No final decisions have been made on the plan, but Biden says he will work with Democrats in Congress to find the best way forward.

The United States and several international allies have announced coordinated sanctions against two Chinese officials for “serious human rights violations” against Uighur Muslims. The announcement, in cooperation with the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, is a collective motion of condemnation for Beijing’s repression of Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang Province. China immediately struck, announcing sanctions against 10 EU politicians and four entities for “spreading malicious lies and misinformation”. This recent review will likely be an important topic of conversation when Chinese and Russian officials meet in Beijing this week, as both countries are bitter about international community sanctions.

And if you travel, will you be able to behave like a normal person and not like a starving adventure hermit who has been living in the shadow of a pandemic for a year?

They just want to do it – but only at certain stores and websites.

A reminder that it’s only March and that there are a lot of potential donuts.

Taste that crunchy and juicy American culture.

God, he doesn’t have to brag.

About as many unaccompanied migrant children were detained at the southern U.S. border between February 28 and last Saturday, overshadowing the number of detained minors throughout February. Senior Biden administration officials traveled to Mexico yesterday to discuss managing migration with government officials as growth continues.

Houthi Deputy Foreign Minister Hussin Al-ezzi, reacting to Saudi Arabia’s embrace of a proposal to end the six-year conflict in Yemen between the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The plan also involves lifting a maritime and air blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia in the region.

With the time and talent needed to make these sweet works of art, well, they are too cute to eat! They’re also clay, so … they’re definitely not edible anyway. (Click here to view.)