News of the World

[kyonides]

Havana syndrome likely caused by directed microwaves

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55203844

Mystery illness suffered by US diplomats in Cuba was most likely caused by directed microwave radiation, a US government report has found.
The report by the National Academies of Sciences does not attribute blame for the directed energy waves.
But it said research into the effects of pulsed radio frequency energy was carried out by the Soviet Union more than 50 years ago.
The illnesses first affected people at the US embassy in Havana in 2016-17.
Staff and some of their relatives complained of symptoms ranging from dizziness, loss of balance, hearing loss, anxiety and something they described as "cognitive fog". It became known as "Havana syndrome".
The US accused Cuba of carrying out "sonic attacks", which it strongly denied, and the incident led to increased tension between the two nations.
A 2019 US academic study found "brain abnormalities" in the diplomats who had fallen ill, but Cuba dismissed the report.
Canada also cut its embassy staff in Cuba after at least 14 of its citizens reported similar symptoms.

It's a weird coincidence that both American and Canadian diplomats had suffered similar symptoms in the same country.

India officials investigate mystery illness

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55209763

Officials in India are investigating the cause of an unidentified illness which led to more than 140 people being admitted to hospital over the weekend.
The patients, from Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, had a wide range of symptoms from nausea to fits and falling unconscious, doctors said.
Local media said the patients had taken coronavirus tests, all of which were negative.
A medical officer at Eluru Government Hospital told The Indian Express: "The people who fell sick, especially the children, suddenly started vomiting after complaining of burning eyes. Some of them fainted or suffered bouts of seizures".
Many of those taken to hospital recovered and were quickly discharged.
Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas said that blood samples did not find any evidence of a viral infection.

Venezuela holds National Assembly poll amid opposition boycott

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-55211149

Venezuelans have been voting in legislative elections that are set to hand socialist President Nicolás Maduro control of the only official body still controlled by the opposition.
Most opposition parties are boycotting the polls for the National Assembly.
The boycott is being led by opposition leader Juan Guaidó who has been in a two-year power struggle with Mr Maduro.
The Organization of American States (OAS) has also said it will not recognise the result.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has described Sunday's poll as "a fraud and a sham".

The results announced by the illegitimate Maduro regime will not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people.

Since it's highly likely that Maduro will take over the assembly, Guaidó will get in some serious troubles to hinder Maduro's attempts to further destroy the Venezuelan economy.

Most of California faces strict new lockdown as cases surge

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55198173

Large parts of the US state of California are facing a strict new lockdown, as Covid-19 cases surge across the state and the country.
More than half of the state's 40 million people will be subject to a stay-at-home order, as announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday.
Many businesses will be closed, and people will be banned from meeting anyone outside their household.
The order was triggered by intensive care capacity in hospitals shrinking.
The southern part of the state and its central valley will be the first areas to come under the new restrictions, at 23:59 local time on Sunday (07:59 GMT on Monday).
Other areas could follow within days. San Francisco will have its own local lockdown also starting on Sunday.

I know it's quite hard to keep the number of infections low or under control but not even WHO supports lockdowns anymore.

Trump says lawyer Rudy Giuliani has Covid-19

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55210243

President Donald Trump says his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for Covid-19.
The president wrote in a tweet: "Get better soon Rudy, we will carry on!"
Mr Giuliani, who has been leading the Trump campaign's legal challenges to the 2020 election results, is the latest person in the president's inner circle to be infected.
Mr Giuliani, 76, has been taken to the Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC, according to US media reports.

Let's hope this won't affect the team in charge of challenging the ballot counts in Georgia and elsewhere in the US.