Amid RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Advocacy, Resistance to mRNA Therapy Intensifies

Utah and Tennessee have enacted laws mandating that foods containing vaccines be categorized as drugs, despite the fact that such products are not currently available. Legislators reference a University of California study that investigates the possibility of incorporating vaccines into lettuce.

“We’ll consume this batch of lettuce, take these mRNA vaccines, and then retest the DNA. The results will likely differ. This poses a risk.”

In reality, mRNA vaccines cannot alter genetic material because they do not interact with the cell nucleus, where DNA is located. While small amounts of DNA may be present in all vaccines—similar to what can be found in influenza vaccines—the Food and Drug Administration enforces strict limitations, typically rendering these levels negligible. Researchers have been exploring mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer for years, dating back to the 1990s with mice, and human trials since the early 2000s. Vaccines containing live viruses have recognized side effects; mRNA vaccines generally experience fewer adverse reactions compared to traditional vaccines.

“mRNA is not a foreign agent. It is something we are regularly exposed to,” stated Melissamua, Chief Science Officer at Moderna, the producer of the COVID vaccine. “Every time you consume whole foods, meat, or vegetables, you ingest substantial amounts of mRNA, which your body degrades and utilizes.”

Even should the bill fail to pass, its advocates assert they are in it for the long haul. Last month, Minnesota Republicans introduced a proposal to classify mRNA products as weapons of mass destruction, adding them to a list including natural PO, charcoal, bacteria, and mustard gas. This initiative mirrored the language of a bill drafted by Florida hypnotist Joseph Santhorne. In his newsletter, Mr. Santhorne lauded local Republican groups for passing resolutions supporting the ban and urged his followers to participate in political events to confront officials.

“It ‘punches them in their eyes,'” he remarked. “It carries significant psychological impact.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Arrest of Telegram co-founder intensifies stakes for European Union

The unexpected arrest of Pavel Durov, the co-founder of Telegram and a native of Russia, upon arriving in Paris from a private jet last Saturday night, has brought the previously overlooked social network into the limelight like never before.

Durov’s arrest, following an investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office into organized crime, child sexual abuse imagery, fraud, and money laundering on the platform, also raises the stakes for the European Union, which has implemented some of the most ambitious internet regulations in the world, notably the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA, set to take effect in November 2022, aims to govern online platforms that, in the words of EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, are “too large to manage,” requiring them to remove illegal content, safeguard children, and combat misinformation and other online harms.

The European Commission has distanced itself from the French investigation of Durov. A spokesperson stated, “This is solely a national criminal investigation conducted by French authorities in accordance with French criminal law.” They added, “It is unrelated to the DSA.”

The allegations against the 39-year-old tech magnate have intensified pressure on the European Commission and Belgium, the member state responsible for regulating Telegram on behalf of the EU. Jan Penfrat of the European Digital Rights Group (EDRi) questioned, “If content moderation is such a significant problem that it leads to criminal cases, why hasn’t the DSA addressed it yet?”

Telegram, a hybrid messaging service and social network with around 200,000 users, has been a cause for concern among European officials for some time. Despite attracting nearly a billion users worldwide, the service now faces stricter regulations under European law, despite having only 41 million monthly active users in the EU.

Enforcement of the law may face challenges, as some EU member states, including Belgium, are facing legal action for not appointing the Digital Services Coordinator, the entity responsible for implementing the DSA. Belgium has tasked the enforcement of the DSA to an organization that lacks the authority to investigate Telegram.

EU officials doubt Telegram’s assertion that its 41 million monthly active EU users place it just below the threshold for the strictest regulations. European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova expressed concerns over Telegram’s impact in certain member states.

The European Commission is reviewing Telegram’s user data to determine if it meets the criteria to be recognized as a “very large online platform.” Discussions between the Commission and Telegram are ongoing, with the platform required to publish its latest monthly user data by the end of the month.

Activists emphasize the importance of transparency from Telegram. EDRi’s Penfrat stated, “An online platform with such a significant user base should operate with more transparency, even if it is not officially considered a VLOP (very large online platform).”

“The public and regulators need to be informed about the platform’s operations,” Penfrat emphasized.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Acapulco, Mexico braces as Hurricane Otis rapidly intensifies into a perilous Category 5 storm

ACAPULCO, Mexico — Hurricane Otis intensified from a tropical storm to a dangerous Category 5 hurricane rapidly as it made its way towards Mexico’s South Pacific coast on Tuesday, ultimately making landfall near the resort town of Acapulco early Wednesday. The potential for devastating damage was predicted.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Otis had maximum sustained wind speeds of 160 mph by late Tuesday. It was located about 55 miles south-southeast of Acapulco and moving north-northwest at a speed of 9 mph.

A hurricane warning was in effect from Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo, with a hurricane watch in effect from Lagunas de Chacahua to Punta Maldonado.

Otis is expected to maintain its Category 5 hurricane strength until it reaches land, but it is anticipated to rapidly weaken thereafter due to Mexico’s mountainous region. Otis is forecasted to dissipate over southern Mexico on Wednesday night.

As rain began to fall and winds increased, people in Acapulco hurried home and tourists were forced to leave the beaches.

The state government of Guerrero announced the preparation of 396 evacuation centers to accommodate families affected by wind damage and rising waters.

The Mexican Army and Navy have deployed over 8,000 troops equipped with specialized equipment to aid in the rescue operations. The port of Acapulco, where approximately 300 fishing boats are docked, has been closed by the authorities.

Otis is expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rainfall to Guerrero, with certain areas possibly experiencing up to 15 inches. This raises concerns about landslides and flash floods in Guerrero’s steep mountains.

In the Atlantic Ocean, hurricane tammy After passing through the Lesser Antilles over the weekend, it continued northeast over open ocean with winds of 115 mph. Tammy was located approximately 925 miles south-southeast of Bermuda. The storm is expected to weaken by Thursday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Source: www.nbcnews.com