Category Archives: Misc

Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine in Trinity College Dublin

Yesterday.

Via Extra Live:

The European Centre for Disease Control and the European Medicines Agency’s Covid-19 task force has concluded that it is too early to consider using a fourth dose of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines in the general population.

However, both agencies have agreed that a fourth dose (or second booster) can be given to adults 80 years of age and above, after reviewing data on the higher risk of severe Covid-19 in this age group and the protection provided by a fourth dose.

Whole population ‘likely’ to get booster in autumn (Extra Live)

Meanwhile…

‘At the moment we’re focusing all our efforts on vaccination. And NIAC’s advice so far has been sound. So I think it’s not unreasonable to look at giving a fourth dose to people who are at higher risk of getting severe COVID if they do get [the virus].

‘I suppose what we do have is that vaccines are really very safe. So if you’re thinking of an intervention like a fourth dose, the worst case scenario is that you give someone a vaccine that they didn’t 100% need — that’s not a particularly high-risk thing to do.

‘We can [also] see on the ground that immunity to coronaviruses like SARS-CoV2 wanes very rapidly. So I think, realistically, we are looking at the possibility of a fourth dose in the Autumn.’

Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine in Trinity College Dublin

Hmm.

Protection against infection offered by fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose wanes quickly, Israeli study finds (CNN)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

Qui savait?

Janet, probably.

From Doomsland (1923) by Shane Leslie.

Badhands – First Of The Day

Start as you mean to go on.

Badhands aka Dan Fitzpatrick (top) shares a brooding live band performance in Sonic Studios of a song from his new album Far Away.

It’s a slow-build, Jim.

Dan writes:

“First of the Day was one of the most difficult songs to record on the album, with its big arrangement and mix of instrumentation. When we play it live it’s a lot looser and more raw, so I really wanted to make a live video of the song that would capture the energy and unhinged nature of the band’s performance when we play it at gigs.”

Badhands album launch gig is in Whelans tomorrow evening.

Nick writes: Putting on the Fitz.

Badhands

This afternoon.

Dublin Airport.

Escalating.

Lengthy queues for early flights at Dublin Airport (RTE)

President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the Finnish parliament this morning

This morning/afternoon.

Helsinki, Finland.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (without his friend) told Finland’s parliament  that a “sanction cocktail, that would be remembered just like Molotov cocktails” is needed to halt Russian aggression.

Zelensky asked Finland to “show even more leadership” in the European Union, saying this will be “the biggest contribution in the security of Europe.”

He said that Ukraine needs weapons “that some of the EU partners have,” as well as “powerful efficient sanctions against Russia on a permanent basis.”

Adding:

“We need to think about how to protect Europe from the Russian energy weapon. How much longer can Europe ignore the introduction of embargo against oil supplies from Russia?”

Yesterday: Hello Mum

Meanwhile…

Yesterday.

Angel Dzhambazki?

Meanwhile…

Kramatorsk railway station

This afternoon.

Via CNN:

The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement Friday calling the missile strike on a railway station in the Ukrainian city a “provocation.”

The statement mirrored recent denials of the indiscriminate killing of civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.

“All the statements of representatives of the Kyiv nationalist regime about the alleged ‘missile attack’ by Russia on April 8 at the railway station in Kramatorsk are a provocation and absolutely do not correspond to reality,” the statement said.

“On April 8, the Russian armed forces did not conduct or plan any artillery fires in the city of Kramatorsk.

“We emphasize that the Tochka-U tactical missiles, the wreckage of which was found near the Kramatorsk railway station and published by eyewitnesses, are used only by the Ukrainian armed forces.”

Ukrainian forces have the Soviet-designed Tochka missile in their inventory but it has also been used by Russian and separatist forces in the past.

Russian Ministry of Defense calls Kramatorsk strike a “provocation” (CNN)

Getty

Meanwhile…

Gulpski.

Marine Le Pen and French President Emmanuel Macron

This afternoon.

French President Emmanuel Macron accused his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen of lying to voters about her campaign platform as he sought to rally support two days before the French presidential election’s first round.

Via Reuters:

Macron, whose re-election seemed a foregone conclusion just weeks ago, is now facing a stiff challenge from Le Pen. Her solid comeback in opinion polls has put her victory within the margin of error in some surveys.

“Her fundamentals have not changed: it’s a racist programme that aims to divide society and is very brutal,” Macron told Le Parisien newspaper. “There was a clear strategy (from Le Pen’s camp) to hide what is brutal in her programme.”

Le Pen told broadcaster Franceinfo that she was “shocked” at Macron’s accusation of racism which she rejected, saying her programme aimed at putting the rights of French people first, regardless of their origin.

Macron hits out at Le Pen, regrets entering election race late (Reuters)

TVF

This afternoon.

Via Irish Times:

The first woman to be appointed as president of the High Court, Ms Justice Irvine took up the role in June 2020.

Now aged 65, the judge has consistently said she intended to serve between two to three years in the role and those close to her are not surprised at her announcement on Friday to a meeting of her High Court colleagues of the departure in late July at the end of the next court term.

Speculation is already rife about who will succeed Ms Justice Irvine to the third most senior position within the judiciary.

Among the names being mentioned are High Court judges Mr Justice Denis McDonald and Mr Justice David Barniville.

Other names featuring in speculation include three Court of Appeal judges, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, Mr Justice Maurice Collins and Ms Justice Caroline Costello, and two judges of the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Gerard Hogan and Ms Justice Marie Baker.

High Court president Ms Justice Mary Irvine to retire in July (irish Times)

RollingNews