Video Report - Elizabeth Warren Gets Heated With JPMorgan CEO Who Refuses To Refund Overdraft Fees From Pandemic

Video Report - ‘No Consent’: Why are immigrant women in the US having unnecessary medical procedures?

Video Report - How a NY special grand jury could impact Donald Trump

Anthony Fauci: Booster Shots Will Likely Be Needed But When Remains Unknown

 

By Nina Golgowski

“I don’t anticipate that the durability of the vaccine protection is going to be infinite — it’s just not,” he said Wednesday.

Americans vaccinated against the coronavirus will likely need a booster shot to ensure they remain protected. But exactly when still remains unclear, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday.

“I don’t anticipate that the durability of the vaccine protection is going to be infinite — it’s just not,” the infectious disease expert testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. “So I would imagine we will need, at some time, a booster. What we’re figuring out right now is what that interval is going to be.”

Fauci said researchers are continuing to monitor those involved in the vaccines’ original clinical trials to determine their resiliency. Thus far, it’s been determined that the protection can last anywhere from six months to a year.

The CEOs of vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna also suggested last week that Americans could need a booster shot eight to 12 months after completing their inoculations.

“People at highest risks (elderly, healthcare workers) were vaccinated in December/January. So I would do [a] September start for those at highest risk,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel told Axios.

Fauci has discouraged naming a timeline, however, until one is certain.

“We may not need it for quite a while,” he said in an interview last week with The Washington Post. “We are preparing for the eventuality that we might need boosters, but I think we better be careful not to let the people know that inevitably X number of months from now, everyone is going to need a booster. That’s just not the case.”

Offering increased protection against emerging variants may also be a reason for booster shots, as one infectious diseases expert recently told HuffPost.

“We know increasingly reassuring information about durability, but the variant question remains open — and a little ominous, I think, as you see what’s happened across the subcontinent, and how we’re getting a rise here in the United States of the Brazilian variant,” said Cameron Wolfe, an associate professor of medicine specializing in infectious diseases with Duke University’s School of Medicine.

Vaccine makers have said they are preparing to make alterations to their vaccines to better fight variants. Moderna recently announced that it has developed a variant-specific booster shot that has been shown to protect those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 against the variants from Brazil and South Africa. Both of those variants were detected in the U.S. in January of this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fauci-unknown-when-booster-shots-needed_n_60ae91b6e4b0d56a83f23e3e

OPINION: The Public Deserves to See This Legal Memo About Donald Trump

By Neal K. Katyal

The Biden Justice Department appears to be making a serious mistake by trying to keep secret a Trump-era document about former Attorney General William P. Barr’s decision to clear his boss, former President Donald Trump, of obstructing justice.

The American people have a right to see the memo. Then they can decide whether Mr. Barr used his power as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer as a shield to protect the president.

This month, Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court in Washington ordered it released. Were this an ordinary criminal case, her order would represent a remarkable intrusion into prosecutorial secrecy, and I would have appealed when I was acting solicitor general.

But the document is anything but ordinary. It concerns attempts at the highest levels of government to shield the attorney general’s boss from criminal liability. It is, in essence, the people’s memo, and with its appeal, the Justice Department is attempting to hide it from public scrutiny.Faced with a Freedom of Information Act request from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington to release the document, Judge Jackson engaged in a thorough review of the material. Her conclusion was startling: Mr. Barr was “disingenuous.” And the affidavits the Justice Department used to justify withholding the materials “are so inconsistent with evidence in the record, they are not worthy of credence.”As an institutionalist, I believe the long-term interests of the Justice Department generally do not swing from one administration to the next. My tenure in the Obama administration running the Solicitor General’s office, which decides for the federal government whether it will appeal judicial orders, was devoted to that principle.So it’s understandable how the Justice Department reached its decision in this case. We generally don’t want prosecutors to have their internal analysis released to the public, for fear of undermining ongoing law enforcement investigations and for chilling frank advice and discussion. That is, I suspect, why the Justice Department authorized the appeal. It doesn’t want the Freedom of Information Act to be used as a weapon to undermine prosecutors.

But in this case, absent additional information, that rationale seems wrong. The appearance, if not the reality, of what Mr. Barr did to the Justice Department cannot be ignored: He used his mighty prosecution powers to protect the Trump administration and its friends, including the president.

That is what Judge Jackson’s opinion, in the end, was all about. After reading a full set of documents related to the memo, she said: “So why did the attorney general’s advisers, at his request, create a memorandum that evaluated the prosecutorial merits of the facts amassed by the special counsel? Lifting the curtain reveals the answer to that too: getting a jump on public relations.”

These shenanigans came after Mr. Barr was revealed to have written a memo for Mr. Trump while a private citizen, a long document that concluded that, yes, you guessed it, the president was not guilty of obstruction of justice.

The Justice Department is the one cabinet agency that has a value in its name — “justice.” Its iconography — a blindfolded Lady Justice — underscores the idea that everyone has to play by the same rules. Mr. Barr appears to have desecrated that cardinal principle. The public has a right to know what he and his Justice Department lawyers did and why they did it.We already had one by-the-book official, the special counsel, Robert Mueller, try to apply regular principles to a deeply abnormal presidency, and we witnessed the result: a distorted impeachment and the nullification of potential criminal charges.The problem for the new Justice Department is: What does it do now? Should it depart from ordinary rules because the last administration did so? If it doesn’t appeal Judge Jackson’s decision, isn’t the department allowing a precedent to be set that private litigants can ask for and get all sorts of prosecutorial materials?No. Good surgeons don’t always operate, and good appeals lawyers don’t always appeal. Here, Justice Department lawyers could have safeguarded the department’s interests by saying they disagreed with the decision, but because it was a trial court decision, it was not precedential for other cases and not appropriate to appeal.And the department then could have voluntarily released the memo without conceding that it was required by the Freedom of Information Act. When the Justice Department doesn’t appeal a decision, that doesn’t mean it agrees with it. Lawyers there decide not to appeal all the time for many reasons. In short, there were better solutions here that would have walked the tightrope between the public’s need to know and the Justice Department’s general need to protect prosecutorial interests.

In the end, there must be a zone of confidential government decision-making and privacy. Good government depends on it. But that zone is a two-way street: It also depends on government officials who behave as if they deserve to be there. The Justice Department’s decision to appeal Judge Jackson’s order treated this case like any other garden-variety case.

It wasn’t.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/opinion/trump-barr-obstruction-justice-doj.html

ساقی غاړ می راوړی په زنار یې زینتي کړه - آهنگساز: ناشناس - Pashto Music

Both the incumbent and former federal government has deprived the people of lower riparian of their rightful share of water – says Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

The Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had said that there is dire need for a new water accord, based on justice, equality, and free from political partisanship. Water should be distributed among the provinces with complete transparency and without favoring one province at the cost of the other. The PTI-led federal government, however, had shown that it can not rise above partisan politics and is willing to collectively punish Sindh for rejecting the selected. The issue of depriving Sindh and Balochistan of water are of national importance, and core to the stability of the federation, and it is extremely condemnable that the federal government has actively deprived provinces it doesn’t rule of their fair share, the Chairman PPP said.

While addressing a press conference at the village of Bashir Ahmed Halepoto in Talluka Matli, the Chairman PPP said that the water crisis in Sindh was a serious issue as the future of the people of Sindh is directly linked to smooth and equitable supply of water to Sindh. Unfortunately, both the previous and incumbent federal governments have played with fire by depriving the people of the lower riparian of Sindh of water. He added that the water accord-1991, one the PPP opposed even then, was unbalanced from the start, and the incumbent selected PTI-led federal government were depriving Sindh of its rightful share even based on that unbalanced formula. The Chairman PPP regretted that Sindh’s representative member in IRSA was subjected to attacks and slander for voicing the concerns of the Sindhi people in meetings.

The selected PTI-led federal government should know that the answer to the genuine issues this country faces won’t be found by launching vitriolic ad hominem attacks to deflect from their criminal actions of depriving the people of Sindh and Balouchistan. The Sindh government, by lining over 1500 km of water courses and canals with cement, has already done much to for smooth delivery of water prevent water loss and has also allocated Rs.7 billion in the current fiscal budget to continue lining water courses and canals in Badin. The people of Badin would find that this would resolve most of their water woes and their issues with the LBOD, he added. The Chairman PPP went on to warn the the selected PTI-led federal government that the PPP would continue to challenge the ineptitude and corruption of the federal government in and outside the Parliament for as long as PTI continued to serve vested interests at the cost of the economic welfare of the Pakistani people.

“A government and its economic policies should serve the needs and aspirations of the people, not drafted and promulgated on the dictation of the IMF.”

In response to a question, the Chairman PPP said that it was common knowledge that he had discarded the sham show cause notice, and that he still stood by his decisions. The PPP is not answerable or beholden to either Nawaz Sharif or Maryam. As Leader of the opposition and President PMLN; Shahbaz Sharif is officially in charge of PMLN and henceforth, the PPP would engage with him for matters of national interest.He added that the PPP leadership holds Maulana Fazlur Rehman in high regard, and that the PPP was always engaged in principled politics. The PPP doesn’t believe in creating drama in the streets, while secretly cutting backdoor deals to come into power. Those who truly believe in democracy and civilian supremacy should join hands with the PPP rather than opposing it.In reply to another question pertaining to the attack on the journalist Asad Toor, he said that if the journalist fraternity was unsafe in a city like Islamabad under the nose of this sham of a federal government, then how could any journalist feel protected in the country. The fact that this incident occurred two days after the government tabled a bill on journalist safety, showed that the federal government was all talk and no substances.

The federal interior minister Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed, he added, instead of interfering and criticising others would do well to protect journalists in Islamabad. This incident has to be investigated thoroughly and the perpetrators and masterminds must be exposed, he added. To another question, the Chairman PPP said that it was on record that the selected PTI government have repeatedly stated that they owe no duty of care to the people of Sindh. The federal interior minister had gone so far as to sink to the levels of diatribes against the people of Sindh and that he owed the province an apology. The peace and tranquility in Sindh was a result of the painstaking combined efforts of Sindh government and Sindh Police, and it was of pivotal importance that all the departments work in complete harmony to ensure the continuity of that tranquility, he added.The Chairman PPP also condoled with the newly elected MPA Dada Muhammad Halepoto and Shahzad Halepoto on the sad demise of late MPA Bashir Ahmed Halepoto, in Bashir Halepoto Village in Talluka Matli.

Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah, ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Suhail Anwar Sial, MNA Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, and MPAs Taj Muhammad Mallah, Ejaz Shah Bukhari, Mir Allah Bux Talpur, Arbab Lutfullah and Tanzeela Qambrani, Special Assistants to Sindh CM, Jawaid Nayab Leghari and Pir Noorul Haq Qureshi, office-bearers Mir Sohrab Marri, Haji Ramzan Chandio, Asghar Halepoto, Sain Bux Jamali, Haji Rasool Bux Chandio, Khurram Karim Soomro and Tariq Ali Shah Jamot accompanied the Chairman PPP.

Following the press conference at Badin, the Chairman PPP inaugurated the Phuleli Canal restoration project at 30-miles cross regulator in Tando Muhammad Khan. Sindh Irrigation Minister Suhail Anwar Sial briefed the Chairman PPP on Phuleli Canal restoration project, which would irrigate over 1.5 million acres of agricultural land. The Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) managing director Preetum Das and Left Bank Canals Area Water Board (LBCAWB) Chairman Qabool Muhammad Khatyan assisted the minister Sial in briefing to the Chairman PPP. The Chairman PPP also visited the site of Phuleli Canal Restoration project that services and irrigates agricultural land in Badin and Tando Muhammad Khan. He commended the Sindh Irrigation Department on completing the public welfare project which cost Rs.3 billion. The Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was accompanied on his visit to the Phuleli Canal restoration by the Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah and Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/24905/

­­­­PPP demands not to use the name “PDM” without the PPP

Secretary General Pakistan Peoples Party, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari has said that “like-minded” people should not use the name PDM without PPP which is the party that has laid the foundation of this platform. He said that PPP as a political party believes in mutual respect in politics and defamatory attitude is intolerable.

Nayyar Bukhari said that PML-N and JUI’s bipartisanship is hurting democratic forces. He further said that the formation of Pakistan Democratic Alliance is based on the vision of Chairman PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Maulana Fazlur Rehman should tell us that who is benefitting from the criticism of PPP which is the leading party of PDM?
Nayyar Bukhari said that on one hand, Shahbaz Sharif invites the PPP at a dinner and on the other, his party’s second tier leadership hurls accusations at the same PPP. He said that the PPP was right to think that the people using the name of PDM were escaping from the action plan to get rid of the rulers and were also avoiding taking part in the elections.
Nayyar Bukhari said that the IMF backed people are preparing to impose more heavy taxes on the people in the budget and the PPP is opposing the government which has brought the tsunami of inflation and unemployment.
Pakistan Peoples Party will continue its struggle for constitutional, economic and human rights of the citizens of Pakistan and for strengthening democracy.

https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/24908/

#Pakistan - Asad Ali Toor - Another day another journalist attacked

 

Asad Ali Toor, a Journalist and Youtuber was assaulted by unidentified assailants outside his residence in Sector F-10 late on Tuesday night. CCTV footage shows three men leaving the journalist’s apartment in a hurry. Another clip shows Toor, struggling as he walks out of his apartment and neighbors untie him and help him.

The journalist was taken to a private hospital and images of his bleeding elbows were posted by several people. Later, it was reported that his condition is stable.

The matter gained popularity on social media however, the platform seems divided. Some are blaming the military establishment while others are claiming that the incident was staged.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took notice and ordered the Islamabad police chief to look into the matter.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted on the matter saying that this incident will only allow Toor’s voice to grow “stronger and louder”.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated her shock and sent prayers to the journalist in a retweet.

Moreover, Fatima Bhutto an acclaimed author and niece of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto condemned the attack in a tweet.

Amnesty International also took notice of the incident and tweeted on the contrasting incidents of presentation of the Protection of Journalists Bill in the National Assembly and the attack on Toor.

Last year, the journalist was accused of defaming the military and faced charges against him. The FIR lodged against him accused him to indulge in propaganda against Pakistan and its institutions on social media. However, the Lahore High Court absolved him of the charges as no evidence was found to support the charges.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/761798/another-day-another-journalist-attacked/

صحافی اسد طور پر حملہ، آصفہ بھٹو بھی بول پڑیں

اسلام آباد میں صحافی اسد طور پر نامعلوم افراد کے تشدد کے واقعے پر سابق صدر آصف زرداری اور شہید محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو کی چھوٹی صاحبزادی آصفہ بھٹو کا بھی بیان سامنے آگیا۔

سماجی رابطے کی ویب سائٹ ٹوئٹر پر جاری کیے گئے بیان میں آصفہ بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ ’اسد علی طور پر حملہ کسی فرد پر  نہیں بلکہ یہ ہماری بنیادی آزادیوں پر ہے۔‘

آصفہ بھٹو زرداری نے اپنے بیان میں موجودہ حکومت پر شدید تنقید بھی کی۔

اُنہوں نے کہا کہ ’حکومت کا یہ یقین بالکل غلط ہے کہ دھونس، ہتھکنڈوں اور ٹارگٹڈ حملوں سے حقیقت خاموش ہوجائے گی۔‘

آصفہ بھٹو کے ٹوئٹ پر صارفین کی بڑی تعداد اُن کی حمایت کرتے ہوئے کہہ رہی ہے کہ وہ اسد علی طور کے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں۔

دوسری جانب چیئرمین پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری، مسلم لیگ نون کی نائب صدر مریم نواز اور جمعیت علمائے اسلام (ف) کے سربراہ مولانا فضل الرحمیں کی جانب سے بھی صحافی اسد علی طور پر حملے کے واقعے کی شدید مذمت کی گئی ہے۔

واضح رہے کہ اسلام آباد میں نامعلوم افراد نے صحافی اور بلاگر اسد طور پر گھر میں گھس کر بہیمانہ تشدد کیا۔

جیونیوز نے صحافی پر تشدد کے بعد ملزمان کے فرار کی سی سی ٹی وی وڈیو حاصل کرلی، وڈیو کے مطابق تین ملزمان کو اسد طور کے فلیٹ سے فرار ہوتے دیکھا گیا۔

ویڈیو میں اسد طور کو بھی بندھے ہوئے ہاتھ پیروں کے ساتھ زخمی حالت میں اپارٹمنٹ سے باہر نکلتے اور مدد کے لیے پکارتے بھی دیکھا گیا۔

https://jang.com.pk/news/932376