5 things to know on 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 efficacy. A US-based clinical trial has shown that the vaccine is 79% effective against symptomatic diseases and 100% effective against serious diseases and hospitalization, although an independent US council has expressed concern about the completeness of the data. Still, the Biden administration will lend about 4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada and Mexico, as the shots await U.S. approval. The president of South Korea has just received the AstraZeneca vaccine himself, and as of today, adults 65 years and older can also enter his country. Although there are still concerns that travel and mass gatherings could promote a new boom in the US, experts estimate that the use of vaccines has already saved about 40,000 American lives.

Israelis are going to the polls today for the country’s fourth general election in less than two years. Political leaders have not formed a decisive government after the last three elections, and there is no guarantee that this one will be any different. Most likely, the vote will serve primarily as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Although he has been praised for recent diplomatic deals and his handling of the pandemic, the country’s 15-year-old leader is also facing bribery, fraud and breach of trust. While Netanyahu’s Likud party is likely to come out on top this time around, polls show that as many as 13 parties could win seats in the Knesset with 120 seats, making the formation of a cohesive government all the more difficult.

White House advisers are expected to submit a $ 2 trillion, $ 3 trillion jobs and infrastructure proposal to President Biden as soon as this week. The massive plan is part of the economic agenda that Biden promised during his campaign and represents the second phase of his “rescue” and “recovery” strategy (after the coronavirus bill). One part of the new plan focuses on infrastructure and clean energy, and the other on the so-called “care economy” – things like early education and child care. No final decisions have been made on the plan, but Biden says he will work with the Congress Democrats to find the best way forward.

The US and several international allies have announced coordinated sanctions against two Chinese officials over ‘serious human rights violations’ against Uyghur Muslims. The announcement, in collaboration with the European Union, Canada and the United Kingdom and others, is a collective condemnation of the oppression of Beijing by Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang province. China has returned to the right and announced sanctions against ten EU politicians and four “malicious spread of lies and disinformation” institutions. This recent volley is likely to be a major topic of discussion when Chinese and Russian officials meet in Beijing this week, as both countries are bitter about the international community’s sanctions.

And if you travel, will you be able to act like a normal person and not an adventure-hungry hermit who has been living under the shadow of a pandemic for a year?

They want you to do just that – but only at specific stores and websites.

A reminder that it’s only March, and that it’s a LOT of potential donuts.

Taste that crunchy, juicy American culture.

Sorry, they do not have to brag.

It is about how many unaccompanied migrant children were detained on the southern U.S. border between February 28 and last Saturday, which obscured the number of minors arrested in February. Biden senior officials traveled to Mexico yesterday to discuss the management of migration with government officials as the boom continues.

Houthi Deputy Foreign Minister Hussin Al-ezzi, responds 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 the lifting of a Saudi-imposed sea and air blockade in the region.

With the time and talent it takes to make these lovely artworks, it’s just too pretty to eat! They are also clay … they are definitely not edible anyway. (Click here to see.)