australiannationalreview--2020-09-08--Numbers show lockdowns didn’t help contain COVID-19

Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic , the United States has now carried out two large-scale experiments in public health — first , in March and April , the lockdown of the economy to arrest the spread of the virus , and second , since mid-April , the reopening of the economy .
The results are in .
Counterintuitive though it may be , statistical analysis shows that locking down the economy didn ’ t contain the disease ’ s spread , and reopening it didn ’ t unleash a second wave of infections .
Given the high economic costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , imposing lockdowns appears to have been a large policy error .
At first , when little was known , officials acted in ways they thought prudent .
But now evidence proves that lockdowns were an expensive treatment with serious side effects and no benefit to society .
TrendMacro , my analytics firm , tallied the cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases in each state and the District of Columbia as a percentage of population , based on data from state and local health departments aggregated by the Covid Tracking Project .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensity of the lockdown in each jurisdiction .
That is measured not by the mandates put in place by government officials , but rather by observing what people in each jurisdiction actually did , along with their baseline behavior before the lockdowns .
This is captured in highly detailed anonymized cellphone tracking data provided by Google and others and tabulated by the University of Maryland ’ s Transportation Institute into a “ Social Distancing Index.
” Measuring from the start of the year to each state ’ s point of maximum lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 , it turns out that lockdowns correlated with a greater spread of the virus .
States with longer , stricter lockdowns also had larger outbreaks .
The five places with the harshest lockdowns — DC , New York , Michigan , New Jersey and Massachusetts — had the heaviest caseloads .
It could be that strict lockdowns were imposed as a response to already severe outbreaks .
But the surprising negative correlation , while statistically weak , persists even when excluding states with the heaviest caseloads .
And it makes no difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors , such as population density , age , ethnicity , prevalence of nursing homes , general health or temperature .
The only factor that seems to make a demonstrable difference is the intensity of mass-transit use .
We ran the experiment a second time to observe the effects on caseloads of the reopening that began in mid-April .
We used the same methodology but started from each state ’ s peak of lockdown and extended to July 31 .
Confirming the first experiment , there was a tendency ( though fairly weak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most to have the lightest caseloads .
The states that had the big summer flare-ups in the so-called “ Sunbelt second wave ” — Arizona , California , Florida and Texas — are by no means the most opened up .
The lesson isn ’ t that lockdowns made the spread worse — though raw evidence may suggest that — but that lockdowns probably didn ’ t help , and opening up didn ’ t hurt .
It defies common sense .
In theory , quarantine ought to control the spread of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though we are aware of no researcher who understands why not .
We aren ’ t the only researchers to have discovered this statistical relationship .
We first published a version of these findings in April .
In July , a publication of The Lancet published research that found similar results looking across countries rather than US states .
“ A longer time prior to implementation of any lockdown was associated with a lower number of detected cases , ” the study concludes .
Those findings have now been enhanced by sophisticated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the reopening phase .
There are experimental controls that all this research lacks .
There are no observable instances in which there were either total lockdowns or no lockdowns at all .
But there is no escaping the evidence that , at minimum , heavy lockdowns were no more effective than light ones , and that opening up a lot was no more harmful than opening up a little .
So where is the science that would justify the heavy lockdowns many officials are still demanding ?
With the evidence we now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials should hesitate before demanding the next lockdown and causing the next recession .

Numbers show lockdowns didn’t help contain COVID-19.
By Donald Luskin
Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has now carried out two large-scale experiments in public health — first, in March and April, the lockdown of the economy to arrest the spread of the virus, and second, since mid-April, the reopening of the economy. The results are in. Counterintuitive though it may be, statistical analysis shows that locking down the economy didn’t contain the disease’s spread, and reopening it didn’t unleash a second wave of infections.
Given the high economic costs and well-documented long-term health consequences beyond COVID-19, imposing lockdowns appears to have been a large policy error. At first, when little was known, officials acted in ways they thought prudent. But now evidence proves that lockdowns were an expensive treatment with serious side effects and no benefit to society.
TrendMacro, my analytics firm, tallied the cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases in each state and the District of Columbia as a percentage of population, based on data from state and local health departments aggregated by the Covid Tracking Project. We then compared that with the timing and intensity of the lockdown in each jurisdiction. That is measured not by the mandates put in place by government officials, but rather by observing what people in each jurisdiction actually did, along with their baseline behavior before the lockdowns. This is captured in highly detailed anonymized cellphone tracking data provided by Google and others and tabulated by the University of Maryland’s Transportation Institute into a “Social Distancing Index.”
Measuring from the start of the year to each state’s point of maximum lockdown, which range from April 5 to April 18, it turns out that lockdowns correlated with a greater spread of the virus. States with longer, stricter lockdowns also had larger outbreaks. The five places with the harshest lockdowns — DC, New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts — had the heaviest caseloads.
It could be that strict lockdowns were imposed as a response to already severe outbreaks. But the surprising negative correlation, while statistically weak, persists even when excluding states with the heaviest caseloads. And it makes no difference if the analysis includes other potential explanatory factors, such as population density, age, ethnicity, prevalence of nursing homes, general health or temperature. The only factor that seems to make a demonstrable difference is the intensity of mass-transit use.
We ran the experiment a second time to observe the effects on caseloads of the reopening that began in mid-April. We used the same methodology but started from each state’s peak of lockdown and extended to July 31. Confirming the first experiment, there was a tendency (though fairly weak) for states that opened up the most to have the lightest caseloads. The states that had the big summer flare-ups in the so-called “Sunbelt second wave” — Arizona, California, Florida and Texas — are by no means the most opened up.
The lesson isn’t that lockdowns made the spread worse — though raw evidence may suggest that — but that lockdowns probably didn’t help, and opening up didn’t hurt. It defies common sense. In theory, quarantine ought to control the spread of an infectious disease. Evidently not in practice, though we are aware of no researcher who understands why not.
We aren’t the only researchers to have discovered this statistical relationship. We first published a version of these findings in April. In July, a publication of The Lancet published research that found similar results looking across countries rather than US states. “A longer time prior to implementation of any lockdown was associated with a lower number of detected cases,” the study concludes. Those findings have now been enhanced by sophisticated measures of actual social distancing and data from the reopening phase.
There are experimental controls that all this research lacks. There are no observable instances in which there were either total lockdowns or no lockdowns at all. But there is no escaping the evidence that, at minimum, heavy lockdowns were no more effective than light ones, and that opening up a lot was no more harmful than opening up a little. So where is the science that would justify the heavy lockdowns many officials are still demanding?
With the evidence we now possess, even the most risk-averse health officials should hesitate before demanding the next lockdown and causing the next recession.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-08--Tens of thousands of Australians stand up for fellow Victorians with rallies around Australia

Tens of thousands of Australians stand up for fellow Victorians with rallies around Australia .
What the media doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ .

Tens of thousands of Australians stand up for fellow Victorians with rallies around Australia.
By Sarah Mills
What the media doesn’t want you to see.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-08--Victorian Facist Police now targeting grandmas sitting in the Park

Victorian Facist Police now targeting grandmas sitting in the Park .
Police manhandling two elderly women peacefully sitting on a @ @ @ @ @ point of this Melbourne lockdown fear pandemic .
Watching police sneak up to snatch a @ @ @ @ @ innocent women ’ s hands it is clear the brutal force and fascist authority displayed @ @ @ @ @ Andrews is seeping into our community like the evil it is .
Are we going @ @ @ @ @ while Dan musters increasingly violent gangs to torment the very ones who pay his wages @ @ @ @ @ family ’ s fed ?
Doubt it .
We may be slow to anger , @ @ @ @ @ cut the head off a deadly snake that has slithered too close to our dear @ @ @

Victorian Facist Police now targeting grandmas sitting in the Park.
By Friends Of Truth
Police manhandling two elderly women peacefully sitting on a park bench is the lowest point of this Melbourne lockdown fear pandemic.
Watching police sneak up to snatch a phone from one of the innocent women’s hands it is clear the brutal force and fascist authority displayed by Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews is seeping into our community like the evil it is.
Are we going to sit on our hands while Dan musters increasingly violent gangs to torment the very ones who pay his wages and keep his police force family’s fed? Doubt it.
We may be slow to anger, but we are quick to cut the head off a deadly snake that has slithered too close to our dear loved ones.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-08--Belarusian President Claims IMF & World Bank Offered him a Bribe to Impose COVID Restrictions

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said last month via Belarusian Telegraph Agency , BelTA.
, that World Bank and IMF offered him a bribe of $ 940 million USD in the form of “ Covid Relief Aid.
” In exchange for $ 940 million USD , the World Bank and IMF demanded that the President of Belarus : • imposed “ extreme lockdown on his people ” • force them to wear face masks • impose very strict curfews • impose a police state • crash the economy Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko REFUSED the offer and stated that he could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his people above the needs of the IMF and World Bank .
This is NOT a conspiracy .
You may research this yourself .
He actually said this !
Now IMF and World Bank are bailing out failing airlines with billions of dollars , and in exchange , they are FORCING airline CEOs to implement VERY STRICT POLICIES such as FORCED face masks covers on EVERYONE , including SMALL CHILDREN , whose health will suffer as a result of these policies .
And if it is true for Belarus , then it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
The IMF and World Bank want to crash every major economy with the intent of buying over every nation ’ s infrastructure at cents on the dollar !

Belarusian President Claims IMF & World Bank Offered him a Bribe to Impose COVID Restrictions.
By Martin Armstrong
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said last month via Belarusian Telegraph Agency, BelTA., that World Bank and IMF offered him a bribe of $940 million USD in the form of “Covid Relief Aid.” In exchange for $940 million USD, the World Bank and IMF demanded that the President of Belarus:
• imposed “extreme lockdown on his people”
• force them to wear face masks
• impose very strict curfews
• impose a police state
• crash the economy
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko REFUSED the offer and stated that he could not accept such an offer and would put his people above the needs of the IMF and World Bank. This is NOT a conspiracy. You may research this yourself. He actually said this!
Now IMF and World Bank are bailing out failing airlines with billions of dollars, and in exchange, they are FORCING airline CEOs to implement VERY STRICT POLICIES such as FORCED face masks covers on EVERYONE, including SMALL CHILDREN, whose health will suffer as a result of these policies.
And if it is true for Belarus, then it is true for the rest of the world! The IMF and World Bank want to crash every major economy with the intent of buying over every nation’s infrastructure at cents on the dollar!


australiannationalreview--2020-09-08--Is the Victorian Health Minister Brett Sutton funded by Bill Gates?

Is the Victorian Health Minister Brett Sutton funded by Bill Gates ?
Evidence has emerged that Brett Sutton has a @ @ @ @ @ disclosed to the Victorian people .
He works for the Burnett Institute , which just @ @ @ @ @ funding by the world ’ s largest tax dodge structure the Bill and Melinda Gates @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories ” , that Dictator Adam Andrews is taking advice from Bill Gates is @ @ @ @ @ .
Is Dan Andrews so-called supercomputer modelling none other than Gates funded falsified modelling that @ @ @ @ @ in March such as the Imperial College in London which was so inaccurate its modeller @ @ @ @ @ .
Gates has a clear agenda .
It ’ s a Globalist medical tryanny using @ @ @ @ @ world Govt .
Yes it ’ s a conspiracy .
But No .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
Calls for Bill Gates arrest globally have been getting louder .

Is the Victorian Health Minister Brett Sutton funded by Bill Gates?
By Staff reporter
Evidence has emerged that Brett Sutton has a clear conflict of interest not disclosed to the Victorian people.
He works for the Burnett Institute, which just so happens to have received funding by the world’s largest tax dodge structure the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The so-called “conspiracy theories”, that Dictator Dam Andrews is taking advice from Bill Gates is backed up by credible evidence.
Is Dan Andrews so-called supercomputer modelling none other than Gates funded falsified modelling that caused western governments to lockdown in March such as the Imperial College in London which was so inaccurate its modeller had to resign in disgrace.
Gates has a clear agenda.
It’s a Globalist medical tryanny using WHO as his new one world Govt.
Yes it’s a conspiracy.
But No.
It’s no longer a theory.
Calls for Bill Gates arrest globally have been getting louder.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-09--A video re my new $1 million Dollar challenge that Bill Gates is behind the Coronavirus falsified Gl

A video re my new $ 1 million Dollar challenge that Bill Gates is behind the Coronavirus falsified Global Pandemic @ @ @ @ @ mainstream media is selling dangerous Conspiracy theories without evidence .
There is way more evidence @ @ @ @ @ there is that he isn ’ t .
But hey don ’ t take my @ @ @ @ @ 1 million is up for grabs .

A video re my new $1 million Dollar challenge that Bill Gates is behind the Coronavirus falsified Global Pandemic for political purposes and the mainstream media is selling dangerous Conspiracy theories without evidence.
By Jamie McIntyre
There is way more evidence he is behind it then there is that he isn’t.
But hey don’t take my word for it.
$1 million is up for grabs.
Gates is also influencing Victorian events.
www.australiannationalreview.com
Original source: https://www.facebook.com/100001092086344/posts/3366372023409167/


australiannationalreview--2020-09-09--2GB Radio Host Ben Fordham accuses me of inciting violence against Dan Andrews

2GB Radio Host Ben Fordham accuses me of inciting violence against Dan Andrews .
Firstly Ben , Dan Andrews doesn ’ t need me to incite violence against him as he is doing a good job all by himself .
Plus I have no semi assault high-powered weapons that he has armed the Victorian police with , who were inciting violence against innocent protesters on the weekend , and dragged a pregnant mum out of her home in handcuffs in front of her kids to achieve publicity for “ tough Dan ” for simply posting on Facebook , or arresting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a rest and sit down .
I didn ’ t tell anyone to be violent towards Dan Andrews as you ’ ll hear below .
I just highlighted he should flee Victoria while he safely can as soon he won ’ t be able to because Victorians will eventually have enough if they haven ’ t already .
I think that ’ s just honest and valid commentary .
What do you think ?
I think we know who the violent lunatic is and that ’ s Dan Andrews so Ben @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against us , the people or for Dictator Dan Andrews .
I suggest Ben you get your facts right or do you have an issue that you are losing listeners in droves because you represent dodgy mainstream media ?
And I represent the growing threat of independent media that people are shifting to in mass .
My followers feel free to contact 2GB advertisers and tell them if they don ’ t stop supporting mainstream media such as 2GB ’ s Ben Fordham ’ s show to he apologises , mainstream media that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracies and are traitors to our people and Democracy , you will boycott their products unless they shift their advertising to independent media such as www.australiannationalreview.com Listen below to his recording and my response .

2GB Radio Host Ben Fordham accuses me of inciting violence against Dan Andrews.
By Jamie McIntyre
Firstly Ben, Dan Andrews doesn’t need me to incite violence against him as he is doing a good job all by himself.
Plus I have no semi assault high-powered weapons that he has armed the Victorian police with, who were inciting violence against innocent protesters on the weekend, and dragged a pregnant mum out of her home in handcuffs in front of her kids to achieve publicity for “tough Dan” for simply posting on Facebook, or arresting granny’s in the park needing to take a rest and sit down.
I didn’t tell anyone to be violent towards Dan Andrews as you’ll hear below. I just highlighted he should flee Victoria while he safely can as soon he won’t be able to because Victorians will eventually have enough if they haven’t already.
I think that’s just honest and valid commentary. What do you think?
I think we know who the violent lunatic is and that’s Dan Andrews so Ben you are either with us, or against us, the people or for Dictator Dan Andrews.
I suggest Ben you get your facts right or do you have an issue that you are losing listeners in droves because you represent dodgy mainstream media?
And I represent the growing threat of independent media that people are shifting to in mass.
My followers feel free to contact 2GB advertisers and tell them if they don’t stop supporting mainstream media such as 2GB’s Ben Fordham’s show to he apologises, mainstream media that lie to us and push mainstream media conspiracies and are traitors to our people and Democracy, you will boycott their products unless they shift their advertising to independent media such as www.australiannationalreview.com
Listen below to his recording and my response.
Share your thoughts.
https://www.2gb.com/ben-fordham-condemns-violent-threats-against-daniel-andrews/
Original source: https://www.facebook.com/100001092086344/posts/3368470103199359/


australiannationalreview--2020-09-09--Oxford vaccine trial facing ‘challenge’ as volunteer suffers suspected serious adverse reaction

The Oxford coronavirus vaccine trial is facing a “ challenge ” , the health secretary has admitted , after it was put on hold due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in one of its volunteers .
Researchers have paused the trial while they investigate the reaction in one of the participants in the UK , it was announced on Tuesday night .
“ As part of the ongoing randomised , controlled global trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine , our standard review process was triggered and we voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of safety data by an independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – the drugmaker working with Oxford University – said .
They explained it was a “ routine action ” and that it is speeding up the investigation to minimise any potential impact on the trial ’ s timeline .
“ We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials , ” they added .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News ’ Kay Burley programme the pause is not necessarily cause for concern and that it has already overcome one such delay .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular vaccine , ” he says .
“ It ’ s not actually the first time it has happened to the Oxford vaccine and it ’ s a standard process in clinical trials.
” Asked if it is a setback , Mr Hancock replied : “ Not necessarily , it depends on what they find when they do the investigation .
“ There was a pause earlier in the summer and that was resolved without a problem.
” The nature of the adverse reaction and when it happened are not currently known .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause in recruiting new participants and dosing current ones .
It is not uncommon for trials to be put on hold , but scientists are under pressure to develop a vaccine to help curb the pandemic .
Most serious adverse reactions that occur after vaccination are not related to the injection and are coincidental health problems , the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has said .
When a vaccine is given to a large number of people , it is likely that a few people will experience a medical problem around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not prove any cause and effect .
Even so , researchers will need to investigate if there is any link .
In July , early results from the trial showed the vaccine was safe and produced strong immune responses in volunteers .
No unexpected adverse reactions were recorded at the time , although more than half of 1,000 participants reported mild or moderate side effects including fever , headaches , muscle pain and soreness at the injection site .
Phase three trials of the Oxford vaccine had recently expanded to the US , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were also underway in South Africa and Brazil .
Experts believe finding a vaccine is the only way for the world to return to normal in the future and there are currently nine vaccine candidates in larger phase three trials .
But it is not known how well a vaccine will work , and the top US infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci recently warned the chances of it being almost 100 % effective are “ not great ” .
“ We don ’ t know yet what the efficacy might be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be 50 % or 60 % .
I ’ d like it to be 75 % or more , ” he said .

Oxford vaccine trial facing ‘challenge’ as volunteer suffers suspected serious adverse reaction.
By Emily Mee
The Oxford coronavirus vaccine trial is facing a “challenge”, the health secretary has admitted, after it was put on hold due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in one of its volunteers.
Researchers have paused the trial while they investigate the reaction in one of the participants in the UK, it was announced on Tuesday night.
“As part of the ongoing randomised, controlled global trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine, our standard review process was triggered and we voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of safety data by an independent committee,” a spokesperson for AstraZeneca – the drugmaker working with Oxford University – said.
They explained it was a “routine action” and that it is speeding up the investigation to minimise any potential impact on the trial’s timeline.
“We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials,” they added.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News’ Kay Burley programme the pause is not necessarily cause for concern and that it has already overcome one such delay.
“It is obviously a challenge to this particular vaccine,” he says.
“It’s not actually the first time it has happened to the Oxford vaccine and it’s a standard process in clinical trials.”
Asked if it is a setback, Mr Hancock replied: “Not necessarily, it depends on what they find when they do the investigation.
“There was a pause earlier in the summer and that was resolved without a problem.”
The nature of the adverse reaction and when it happened are not currently known.
Clinical holds usually mean there is a pause in recruiting new participants and dosing current ones.
It is not uncommon for trials to be put on hold, but scientists are under pressure to develop a vaccine to help curb the pandemic.
Most serious adverse reactions that occur after vaccination are not related to the injection and are coincidental health problems, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
COVID vaccine ‘hugely promising’
When a vaccine is given to a large number of people, it is likely that a few people will experience a medical problem around the time of vaccination – but this does not prove any cause and effect.
Even so, researchers will need to investigate if there is any link.
In July, early results from the trial showed the vaccine was safe and produced strong immune responses in volunteers.
No unexpected adverse reactions were recorded at the time, although more than half of 1,000 participants reported mild or moderate side effects including fever, headaches, muscle pain and soreness at the injection site.
An Oxford Vaccine Group scientist works at the laboratory
Phase three trials of the Oxford vaccine had recently expanded to the US, recruiting up to 30,000 adults.
Trials were also underway in South Africa and Brazil.
Experts believe finding a vaccine is the only way for the world to return to normal in the future and there are currently nine vaccine candidates in larger phase three trials.
But it is not known how well a vaccine will work, and the top US infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci recently warned the chances of it being almost 100% effective are “not great”.
“We don’t know yet what the efficacy might be. We don’t know if it will be 50% or 60%. I’d like it to be 75% or more,” he said.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-09--C0VlD Vaccine Patent Warned of “DELIBERATE C0R0NAVlRUS RELEASE”

Newly unearthed documents from Moderna Pharmaceuticals Covid patent application include a claim of concern about a “ deliberate release of @ @ @ @ @ before the official emergence of Covid-19 .
In addition , it turns out that Moderna @ @ @ @ @ right to even release its vaccine in the next few weeks because the company appears @ @ @ @ @ exisiting patent for the core technology .
Is this why Moderna ’ s executives are @ @ @ @

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australiannationalreview--2020-09-09--Victoria the communist state. Australian journalist (Not main stream) gets detained and arrested. Th

Victoria the communist state .
Australian journalist ( Not main stream ) gets detained and arrested .
This incredible footage @ @ @ @ @ Victoria the communist state .
Australian journalist ( Not main stream ) gets detained and @ @ @ @ @ has just been released .
Australia has gone to shit and I for one have @ @ @ @ @ feels the same… ?

Victoria the communist state. Australian journalist (Not main stream) gets detained and arrested. This incredible footage has just been released.
By David Nieuwenhoven
Victoria the communist state. Australian journalist (Not main stream) gets detained and arrested. This incredible footage has just been released. Australia has gone to shit and I for one have had enough. Anyone else feels the same…?


australiannationalreview--2020-09-09--AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study put on hold due to suspected adverse reaction in participant in t

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study put on hold due to suspected adverse reaction in participant in the U.K. A large , Phase 3 study testing a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford at dozens of sites across the U.S. has been put on hold due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in a participant in the United Kingdom .
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca , a frontrunner in the race for a Covid-19 vaccine , said in a statement that the company ’ s “ standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , AstraZeneca said it initiated the study hold .
The nature of the adverse reaction and when it happened were not immediately known , though the participant is expected to recover , according to an individual familiar with the matter .
The spokesperson described the pause as “ a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials , while it is investigated , ensuring we maintain the integrity of the trials.
” The spokesperson also said that the company is “ working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline.
” An individual familiar with the development said researchers had been told the hold was placed on the trial out of “ an abundance of caution.
” A second individual familiar with the matter , who also spoke on condition of anonymity , said the finding is having an impact on other AstraZeneca vaccine trials underway — as well as on the clinical trials being conducted by other vaccine manufacturers .
Clinical holds are not uncommon , and it ’ s unclear how long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the progress of the company ’ s trial — and those of all Covid-19 vaccines in development — are being closely watched given the pressing need for new ways to curb the global pandemic .
There are currently nine vaccine candidates in Phase 3 trials .
AstraZeneca ’ s is the first Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial known to have been put on hold .
Researchers running other trials are now looking for similar cases of adverse reactions by combing through databases reviewed by a so-called Data and Safety Monitoring Board , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Phase 3 trial in the U.S. in late August .
The U.S. trial is currently taking place at 62 sites across the country , according to clinicaltrials.gov , a government registry , though some have not yet started enrolling participants .
Phase 2/3 trials were previously started in the U.K. , Brazil , and South Africa .
There are a number of different reactions that can qualify as suspected serious adverse reactions , symptoms that require hospitalization , life-threatening illness and even death .
It was also not immediately clear which clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though a clear possibility is the Phase 2/3 trial underway in the U.K .
While it ’ s still unclear how severe and rare the adverse event may be , the finding could impact how quickly efficacy data from the U.K. trial will be available .
Those data are considered integral to any bid to seek an emergency use authorization for the vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — and potentially jeopardize President Trump ’ s efforts to fast-track a vaccine ahead of the November election .
A Phase 1/2 study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of 1,000 participants given the vaccine experienced side effects .
All of the side effects , which included fever , headaches , muscle pain , and injection site reactions , were deemed mild or moderate .
All of the side effects reported also subsided during the course of the study .
The vaccine — known as AZD1222 — uses an adenovirus that carries a gene for one of the proteins in SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes Covid-19 .
The adenovirus is designed to induce the immune system to generate a protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been used in an approved vaccine , but has been tested in experimental vaccines against other viruses , including the Ebola virus .
The Phase 3 trial in the U.S. aims to enroll about 30,000 participants at 80 sites across the country , according to a release last week from the National Institutes of Health .
It was not immediately clear what steps were being taken at study sites across the U.S. in response to the hold .
Clinical holds in ongoing studies often involve a pause in recruiting new participants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s deemed in the interest of participant safety to continue dosing .
In the statement from AstraZeneca , the company spokesperson noted that “ in large trials illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully.
” The spokesperson also said the company is “ committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials .
”

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study put on hold due to suspected adverse reaction in participant in the U.K.
By REBECCA ROBBINS | ADAM FEUERSTEIN | HELEN BRANSWELL
A large, Phase 3 study testing a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford at dozens of sites across the U.S. has been put on hold due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in a participant in the United Kingdom.
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca, a frontrunner in the race for a Covid-19 vaccine, said in a statement that the company’s “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”
In a follow-up statement, AstraZeneca said it initiated the study hold. The nature of the adverse reaction and when it happened were not immediately known, though the participant is expected to recover, according to an individual familiar with the matter.
The spokesperson described the pause as “a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials, while it is investigated, ensuring we maintain the integrity of the trials.” The spokesperson also said that the company is “working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline.”
An individual familiar with the development said researchers had been told the hold was placed on the trial out of “an abundance of caution.” A second individual familiar with the matter, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the finding is having an impact on other AstraZeneca vaccine trials underway — as well as on the clinical trials being conducted by other vaccine manufacturers.
Clinical holds are not uncommon, and it’s unclear how long AstraZeneca’s might last. But the progress of the company’s trial — and those of all Covid-19 vaccines in development — are being closely watched given the pressing need for new ways to curb the global pandemic. There are currently nine vaccine candidates in Phase 3 trials. AstraZeneca’s is the first Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial known to have been put on hold.
Researchers running other trials are now looking for similar cases of adverse reactions by combing through databases reviewed by a so-called Data and Safety Monitoring Board, the second person said.
AstraZeneca only began its Phase 3 trial in the U.S. in late August. The U.S. trial is currently taking place at 62 sites across the country, according to clinicaltrials.gov, a government registry, though some have not yet started enrolling participants. Phase 2/3 trials were previously started in the U.K., Brazil, and South Africa.
There are a number of different reactions that can qualify as suspected serious adverse reactions, symptoms that require hospitalization, life-threatening illness and even death. It was also not immediately clear which clinical trial the adverse reaction occurred in, though a clear possibility is the Phase 2/3 trial underway in the U.K.
While it’s still unclear how severe and rare the adverse event may be, the finding could impact how quickly efficacy data from the U.K. trial will be available. Those data are considered integral to any bid to seek an emergency use authorization for the vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — and potentially jeopardize President Trump’s efforts to fast-track a vaccine ahead of the November election.
A Phase 1/2 study published in July reported that about 60% of 1,000 participants given the vaccine experienced side effects. All of the side effects, which included fever, headaches, muscle pain, and injection site reactions, were deemed mild or moderate. All of the side effects reported also subsided during the course of the study.
The vaccine — known as AZD1222 — uses an adenovirus that carries a gene for one of the proteins in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. The adenovirus is designed to induce the immune system to generate a protective response against SARS-2. The platform has not been used in an approved vaccine, but has been tested in experimental vaccines against other viruses, including the Ebola virus.
The Phase 3 trial in the U.S. aims to enroll about 30,000 participants at 80 sites across the country, according to a release last week from the National Institutes of Health.
It was not immediately clear what steps were being taken at study sites across the U.S. in response to the hold. Clinical holds in ongoing studies often involve a pause in recruiting new participants and dosing existing ones, unless it’s deemed in the interest of participant safety to continue dosing.
In the statement from AstraZeneca, the company spokesperson noted that “in large trials illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully.” The spokesperson also said the company is “committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials.”


australiannationalreview--2020-09-09--Why Melb protests were targeted by Police but Black Lives Matter protests weren’t, and what if they

Why Melb protests were targeted by Police but Black Lives Matter protests weren’t, and what if they lock down all Australian States as planned

Why Melb protests were targeted by Police but Black Lives Matter protests weren ’ t , and what if they @ @ @ @ @ as planned .
Why Melb protests were targeted by Police but Black Lives Matter protests @ @ @ @ @ what if they lock down all Australian States as planned .
And my $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ is behind the Coronavirus falsified pandemic for political agendas .


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--Is Candace Owens a future US Presidential Nominee?

Australian National Review ’ s community of readers and following is stronger than ever .
However , advertising revenues across @ @ @ @ @ especially without a paywall .
Will you help us remain a force for good and @ @ @ @ @ government and industry ?
We want to continue on our mission to enforce a free @ @ @ @ @ day and age where mainstream media and big corporations are going all out to suppress @ @ @ @ @ without supporters donations we can ’ t fund ANR .
By supporting The Australian National @ @ @ @ @ can afford , you can help us ensure that everyone is informed of the truth @ @ @ @ @ press for years to come .


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--NSW Police campaign backfires spectacularly – over 4000 hilarious comments

Get your facts from a trusted source – www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--World Bank caught out selling Corona Virus test kits including to Australia back in 2017 and 2018

World Bank caught out selling Corona Virus test kits including to Australia back in 2017 and 2018 .

World Bank caught out selling Corona Virus test kits including to Australia back in 2017 and 2018.
By Staff Reporter
It appears the World Bank has been exposed exporting Covid test kits to countries around the world from 2017 including Australia in 2018.
Yet the Coronavirus only was known in late Dec 2019
Or was it known to be coming for release years before as alleged in the most watched documentary in human history the “Plandemic“
What adds more to the “so called conspiracy theory“ is the World Bank rather than explaining how this could be, simply changed the website the day after to call them “medical test Kit’s“


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--More Doctors saying COVID is a scam

More Doctors saying COVID is a scam

More Doctors saying COVID is a scam .


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--It’s a lie you will get your life back after a Vaccine

It ’ s a lie you will get your life back after a Vaccine .
The Oxford Vaccine fail , @ @ @ @ @ side effects , is shining a spotlight on a fraudulent industry that has never had @ @ @ @ @ any vaccine .
Plus it ’ s a lie they will end lockdowns after the @ @ @ @ @ you can have your life back .


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--How to hurt mainstream media and limit their power

How to hurt mainstream media and limit their power .
One action step we can all take is to contact @ @ @ @ @ Australia and other countries and tell them if they don ’ t stop supporting mainstream @ @ @ @ @ some of their advertising budget to independent media sites you suggest such as www.australiannationalreview.com then @ @ @ @ @ .
We must hurt mainstream media where it hurts them the most being the hip @ @ @ @ @ to support independent media who will support the truth and our democracy and support our @ @ @

How to hurt mainstream media and limit their power.
By Jamie McIntyre
One action step we can all take is to contact advertisers of mainstream media in Australia and other countries and tell them if they don’t stop supporting mainstream media and refuse to transfer some of their advertising budget to independent media sites you suggest such as www.australiannationalreview.com then we will boycott their products.
We must hurt mainstream media where it hurts them the most being the hip pocket, and shift advertisers to support independent media who will support the truth and our democracy and support our fellow Australians.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--Moderna Covid Vaccine maker links to Gates filed a patent 9 months before the Coronavirus about a “d

Moderna Covid Vaccine maker links to Gates filed a patent 9 months before the Coronavirus about a “ deliberate release @ @ @ @ @ unearthed documents from Moderna Pharmaceuticals Covid patent application included a claim of concern about a @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus ” 9 months before the official emergence of Covid-19 .
In addition , it @ @ @ @ @ not have the legal right to even release its vaccine in the next few weeks @ @ @ @ @ be infringing on an exisiting patent for the core technology .
Is this why Moderna @ @ @ @ @ their stock ?

Moderna Covid Vaccine maker links to Gates filed a patent 9 months before the Coronavirus about a “deliberate release of SARS Coronavirus“
By Time2awake
Newly unearthed documents from Moderna Pharmaceuticals Covid patent application included a claim of concern about a “deliberate release of SARS coronavirus” 9 months before the official emergence of Covid-19. In addition, it turns out that Moderna may not have the legal right to even release its vaccine in the next few weeks because the company appears to be infringing on an exisiting patent for the core technology. Is this why Moderna’s executives are selling their stock?


australiannationalreview--2020-09-10--Rumors that Dan Andrews could be gone within weeks as his party plans a mutiny

Although I ’ m sure Australians and Victorians don ’ t just want Andrews gone but the entire party gone @ @ @ @ @ entire 19th Century outdated and broken political system gone and replaced with a 21st Century @ @ @ @ @ a movement back in 2013 before the “ Deep state and dodgy Govt agencies and @ @ @ @ @ ” .

Unverified still but strong mail.
Although I’m sure Australians and Victorians don’t just want Andrews gone but the entire party gone.
And I want the entire 19th Century outdated and broken political system gone and replaced with a 21st Century Political System I launched as a movement back in 2013 before the “Deep state and dodgy Govt agencies and media traitors went after me”.
https://www.21stcenturyaustralia.net/


australiannationalreview--2020-09-11--The vaccine industry is unaccustomed to this level of scrutiny

The vaccine industry is unaccustomed to this level of scrutiny .
The vaccine industry is unaccustomed to this level of @ @ @ @ @ doses now mandated for children had endured critical appraisal by so many eyeballs , not @ @ @ @ @ gotten close to an FDA license .
Since none of these companies have ever had @ @ @ @ @ safety against a true inert placebo , they have always been able to dismiss these @ @ @ @ @ sad “ coincidence ” .

The vaccine industry is unaccustomed to this level of scrutiny.
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The vaccine industry is unaccustomed to this level of scrutiny. If the 72 doses now mandated for children had endured critical appraisal by so many eyeballs, not one of them could have gotten close to an FDA license. Since none of these companies have ever had to test their products for safety against a true inert placebo, they have always been able to dismiss these sorts of tragic outcomes as sad “coincidence”.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-11--Why be puzzled? It’s simple Don’t follow WHO’s guidelines that inflate deaths and you have lower dea

Why be puzzled ?
It ’ s simple Don ’ t follow WHO ’ s guidelines that inflate deaths and you have lower deaths .
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 26.35 million people , with just four countries accounting for over 15 million cases .
They are the United States , Brazil , India and Russia — the same four that have been at the top for months .
The US surprised the world when it rose to the top spot in multiple COVID-19 statistics , both for the total number of confirmed cases and the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country has surpassed America .
But scientists who are studying the pandemic have also identified another surprise of the pandemic .
Some expected the African continent to be affected most heavily by the virus , but that wasn ’ t the case .
South Africa stands out when it comes to the number of total cases , with nearly 631,000 infections .
But fewer than 15,000 people have died of COVID-19 .
These figures are puzzling scientists looking to understand how the virus behaves and how it can be beaten .
The hypothesis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the spread of the virus doesn ’ t stand when it comes to the entire African continent .
Developing countries like Brazil and India showed that the virus couldn ’ t be contained once it reached densely populated , but poor , neighborhoods .
Experts expected the same thing to happen in Africa , but it didn ’ t .
If anything , Africa is doing better than any other continent , both when it comes to cases and casualties .
As BBC News explains , even if those numbers are significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than other continents right now .
“ I thought we were heading towards a disaster , a complete meltdown , ” Professor Shabir Madhi told BBC News .
The UK ’ s top virologist echoed what others must have thought about the African coronavirus outbreak .
But South Africa ’ s death rate is almost seven times lower than in the UK .
Salim Abdool Karim , the head of the country ’ s COVID-19 response team , told the BBC that “ most African countries don ’ t have a peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t understand why .
I ’ m completely at sea , ” he added .
He explained that factors like population density would be a critical factor that would favor the rapid spread of the illness inside the African continent .
Crowding in poverty-stricken areas makes social distancing all but impossible , and that increases the risk of COVID-19 spreading .
One hypothesis that can explain the disparity between Africa and other continents concerns the overall age of the population .
In general , the population of Africa is younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another hypothesis will sound familiar to those who have been following coronavirus developments closely .
Some researchers have shown that other human coronaviruses that cause common colds can elicit an immune response that could provide protection against COVID-19 .
South African researchers went to work on that idea , attempting to analyze five-year-old blood samples that were conserved from a flu vaccine trial in Soweto .
The plan was to look for any evidence that would explain why the African continent is faring much better against the illness than others .
Those samples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stop to the research .
But the idea stands .
The same crowded neighborhoods that would lead to the quick spread of other coronaviruses may have protected the population from SARS-CoV-2 .
“ It ’ s a hypothesis .
Some level of pre-existing cross-protective immunity … might explain why the epidemic didn ’ t unfold [ the way it did in other parts of the world ] , ” Mahdi said .
“ The protection might be much more intense in highly populated areas , in African settings .
It might explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] have asymptomatic or mild infections.
” “ I can ’ t think of anything else that would explain the numbers of completely asymptomatic people we ’ re seeing .
The numbers are completely unbelievable , ” he said .
But if that hypothesis is true , why have Brazil and India seen massive COVID-19 surges in the past few months ?
Karim warned that even considering the evolution of the pandemic on the continent so far , Africa isn ’ t out of the woods .
“ I ’ m not sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread like crazy here , ” he said .

Why be puzzled? It’s simple Don’t follow WHO’s guidelines that inflate deaths and you have lower deaths.
By Chris Smith, BGR
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 26.35 million people, with just four countries accounting for over 15 million cases. They are the United States, Brazil, India and Russia — the same four that have been at the top for months. The US surprised the world when it rose to the top spot in multiple COVID-19 statistics, both for the total number of confirmed cases and the number of deaths. Since then, no other country has surpassed America.
But scientists who are studying the pandemic have also identified another surprise of the pandemic. Some expected the African continent to be affected most heavily by the virus, but that wasn’t the case. South Africa stands out when it comes to the number of total cases, with nearly 631,000 infections. But fewer than 15,000 people have died of COVID-19. These figures are puzzling scientists looking to understand how the virus behaves and how it can be beaten.
The hypothesis that poverty should have a significant impact on the spread of the virus doesn’t stand when it comes to the entire African continent. Developing countries like Brazil and India showed that the virus couldn’t be contained once it reached densely populated, but poor, neighborhoods.
Experts expected the same thing to happen in Africa, but it didn’t. If anything, Africa is doing better than any other continent, both when it comes to cases and casualties. As BBC News explains, even if those numbers are significantly underreported, Africa still has it much better than other continents right now.
“I thought we were heading towards a disaster, a complete meltdown,” Professor Shabir Madhi told BBC News. The UK’s top virologist echoed what others must have thought about the African coronavirus outbreak. But South Africa’s death rate is almost seven times lower than in the UK.
Salim Abdool Karim, the head of the country’s COVID-19 response team, told the BBC that “most African countries don’t have a peak,” which is surprising. “I don’t understand why. I’m completely at sea,” he added.
He explained that factors like population density would be a critical factor that would favor the rapid spread of the illness inside the African continent. Crowding in poverty-stricken areas makes social distancing all but impossible, and that increases the risk of COVID-19 spreading.
One hypothesis that can explain the disparity between Africa and other continents concerns the overall age of the population. In general, the population of Africa is younger than in regions hardest-hit by COVID-19.
Another hypothesis will sound familiar to those who have been following coronavirus developments closely. Some researchers have shown that other human coronaviruses that cause common colds can elicit an immune response that could provide protection against COVID-19. South African researchers went to work on that idea, attempting to analyze five-year-old blood samples that were conserved from a flu vaccine trial in Soweto. The plan was to look for any evidence that would explain why the African continent is faring much better against the illness than others. Those samples were compromised by technical issues that put a stop to the research.
But the idea stands. The same crowded neighborhoods that would lead to the quick spread of other coronaviruses may have protected the population from SARS-CoV-2.
“It’s a hypothesis. Some level of pre-existing cross-protective immunity … might explain why the epidemic didn’t unfold [the way it did in other parts of the world],” Mahdi said. “The protection might be much more intense in highly populated areas, in African settings. It might explain why the majority [on the continent] have asymptomatic or mild infections.”
“I can’t think of anything else that would explain the numbers of completely asymptomatic people we’re seeing. The numbers are completely unbelievable,” he said.
But if that hypothesis is true, why have Brazil and India seen massive COVID-19 surges in the past few months? Karim warned that even considering the evolution of the pandemic on the continent so far, Africa isn’t out of the woods. “I’m not sure whether one day the epidemic is going to spread like crazy here,” he said.


australiannationalreview--2020-09-11--My million dollar challenge that Bill Gates is behind the Corona Virus

My million dollar challenge that Bill Gates is behind the Corona Virus .
A video re my new $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ Gates is behind the Coronavirus falsified Global Pandemic for political purposes and the mainstream media @ @ @ @ @ without evidence .


australiannationalreview--2020-09-11--MELBOURNE RESIDENTS TERRORIZED BY GESTAPO – PEOPLE RAIDED FOR SIMPLY POSTING ON FAKEBOOK

MELBOURNE RESIDENTS TERRORIZED BY GESTAPO – PEOPLE RAIDED FOR SIMPLY POSTING ON FAKEBOOK .


australiannationalreview--2020-09-11--Extradition Trial of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Begins in London

As the long-awaited extradition hearing for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gets underway in London , his legal adviser , Jennifer Robinson , says the case could set a chilling precedent for press freedoms around the world .
“ He faces 175 years in prison for doing his job as a journalist and a publisher .
That ’ s why this case is so dangerous , ” says Robinson .
Assange faces numerous charges , including under the U.S .
Espionage Act , related to the release of diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks that revealed war crimes committed by U.S. forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a possible life sentence if he is extradited to the U.S. AMY GOODMAN : We ’ re going to turn right now to London .
This week , WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is appearing in court for the first time in six months , after his extradition hearing was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Assange has been held in London ’ s high-security Belmarsh prison since he was arrested in April 2019 at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London , where he had taken refuge for almost seven years .
As Assange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested on 18 new charges from a U.S. indictment filed in June .
Assange is wanted in the United States for exposing U.S. war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan .
He faces 175 years for espionage and hacking charges .
On Tuesday , the proceedings were briefly adjourned after Assange shouted , quote , “ Nonsense !
” as James Lewis , a lawyer acting for the U.S. government , told a witness that Assange was facing extradition proceedings over the publication of the names of informants , and not for handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to witness Clive Stafford Smith testifying that documents published by WikiLeaks had exposed , quote , “ grave violations of law , ” such as targeted U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan .
The judge warned Assange he would be removed from the courtroom if he yelled again .
Protests in defense of Assange and press freedom have taken place in London and in cities around the world .
This is Julian Assange ’ s father , John Shipton , speaking Monday as he left the London courthouse .
AMY GOODMAN : For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an update from Jennifer Robinson , the human rights attorney who ’ s been advising Julian Assange and WikiLeaks since 2010 .
She ’ s joining us during the court ’ s lunch break right outside the courthouse .
Jen Robinson , welcome back to Democracy Now !
You are seeing Julian Assange for the first time in six months .
He ’ s been at the high-security Belmarsh prison for a year and a half , and then under lockdown because of COVID .
Can you describe , well , what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time and what these charges are against him , including the new ones that were just brought ?
So , we saw Julian for the first time in six months as a result of the COVID shutdown .
He hasn ’ t had any social or legal visits since the pandemic broke out , which has left him incredibly isolated in prison .
And it was surprising to us to see that he has lost a lot of weight .
And we , of course , have continuing concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being both inside the embassy and now in a high-security prison in these circumstances .
Of course , you mentioned in your opening that we now have had not one , but two superseding indictments .
He was arrested on a second superseding indictment on Monday that the Department of Justice issued in June .
We were first told that it made no substantive difference , and we ’ re now told that those new allegations , which include allegations related to Edward Snowden , providing assistance to the NSA whistleblower Edward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case and could form part of separate criminal allegations if he is returned to the United States .
This is part of what we say the U.S. government is trying to shift the goalposts , as it were .
We heard from our defense counsel in court on Monday that , of course , this is perhaps in response to the strength of our case that the U.S. government is now shifting and changing its case , almost 18 months after they started and after the closing and submission of evidence from both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and highly irregular process in any kind of extradition case , and certainly one as unprecedented as this .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Jennifer Robinson , what about these new hacking allegations , bringing them so late in the process here as the hearing has started ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : I think adding these additional , quote , “ hacking ” allegations , which are general and questionable and , of course , are denied by Mr. Assange , I think is the Department of Justice ’ s attempt to try and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosures and , of course , the evidence that we ’ ve heard this week and seen in the publications around the world , evidence of war crimes , human rights abuse , corruption the world over .
It is a clear press freedom case .
And the attempts by the Department of Justice to somehow create this as a hacking case , when there is absolutely no evidence of any hacking by Mr. Assange , I think , demonstrates their desire to move away from the important issues on press freedom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence this case — in the evidence this week from Clive Stafford Smith , the founder of Reprieve , about the importance of WikiLeaks ’ disclosures about U.S. extraordinary rendition , torture , and , importantly , drone strikes and extrajudicial killings in Pakistan , and how those disclosures have been essential in his work , both in terms of holding the U.S. government accountable for those actions in Pakistan , but also with respect to his Guantánamo litigation in the United States .
We ’ ve also heard evidence from professor Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on First Amendment that this case represents and the history of the Espionage Act being threatened against journalists by various presidents , including Roosevelt and Nixon , and now , in this case , by President Trump himself .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Specifically , you mentioned Mark Feldstein ’ s testimony and the evidence he presented .
One of the interesting things , as I ’ ve reviewed that statement of his , was not only his historical look at how the press in America for many — really , for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan press , but he also talks about how the First Amendment doesn ’ t protect the press as an industry , but as a technology .
Could you — for our viewers and listeners who are not aware of professor Feldstein ’ s testimony , could you elaborate on that portion of his evidence ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : Well , Professor Feldstein explained at some length the importance of the First Amendment and how it protects every American citizen and any person within U.S. jurisdiction , their ability to — their free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it protects the media ’ s ability to communicate with sources , receive information and publish it in the public interest .
What we ’ re seeing — what he pointed out about the danger of this particular case is the breakdown of the distinction between sources and journalists .
So , we ’ ve often seen that sources who make unlawful or unauthorized disclosures are prosecuted and can face criminal prosecution as a result of their disclosures .
But historically , that has never been directed at the media .
The First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in receiving and publishing that information in the public interest , which is exactly what WikiLeaks did .
And in this case , what the Trump administration is alleging is that Julian Assange , by virtue of having communications with Chelsea Manning , receiving information from Chelsea Manning and publishing that information , is somehow conspiring and is conspiring in the underlying criminal act .
And we ’ ve seen this same prosecution strategy now rolled out in Brazil by President Bolsonaro against Glenn Greenwald .
That ’ s why this is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of activity that journalists engage in all day , every day , across the United States and elsewhere around the world , which is why The New York Times and The Washington Post have both , in their editorials , said that this is criminalizing public interest journalism and news gathering practices that have been used for decades .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to explain to people that Jen Robinson is standing outside the courtroom at the lunch break , and there are many protesters who are there , as there have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Julian Assange is in the midst of a month-long extradition hearing , whether he will be extradited to the United States .
We wanted to turn to Julian in his own words .
We haven ’ t been able to speak to him in Belmarsh prison , but I went to London and interviewed him when he had political exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2015 .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s Julian Assange inside the Ecuadoran Embassy before he was taken a year and half ago by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Belmarsh prison .
This is Nils Melzer , the United Nations special rapporteur on torture , who visited Julian last year in London ’ s high-security Belmarsh prison .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s Nils Melzer , the United Nations special rapporteur on torture , who visited Assange at Belmarsh .
Jen Robinson , for people who aren ’ t familiar with Julian Assange ’ s case , if you can talk about what he is — the underlying charges here , where Britain will decide whether to extradite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he faces 175 years ?
What was it that WikiLeaks released , the millions of documents around Afghanistan , Iraq , etc.
?
And what was Chelsea Manning ’ s role in this , and the significance of what she did ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : Well , Julian has been charged under the Espionage Act , the first time in the history of the United States , for receiving , publishing — receiving and publishing classified U.S. information .
That includes the “ Collateral Murder ” publication , the Iraq rules of engagement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It includes the Iraq and Afghan war logs , which demonstrated that the United States government was not sharing the truth about what was actually happening in those conflicts , including the killing of more than 15,000 civilians in the context of the Iraq War .
And he ’ s also being prosecuted in relation to the State Department cables and the publication of those cables , which revealed human rights abuse and corruption the world over .
These are incredibly important publications , for which he was nominated for the Nobel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , won the Walkley Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism .
And he faces 175 years in prison for doing his job as a journalist and as a publisher .
That ’ s why this case is so dangerous .
And as you ’ ll be hearing , the evidence that will be heard over the next four weeks is from journalists , from NGOs , such as Reprieve — is what we heard from yesterday — talking about the importance of these leaks , how they ’ ve been used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of human rights litigation , in terms of holding governments to account for their wrongdoing , and more evidence also about the prison conditions that Julian will face if he is in fact returned to the United States to face prosecution .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Jen Robinson , could you talk about the fact that it was President Trump , when he was running for president , as a candidate , actually said in public statements that he loved WikiLeaks , and he urged them , if they had information on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappeared emails , to release them , that now it is the Trump administration that is seeking to prosecute him and extradite him back to the United States ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : That ’ s right .
There ’ s certainly been a change in approach from President Trump , from prior to being elected and now in his role as president .
What we saw was a change in position from the Trump administration .
We now know that there was no indictment under the Obama administration .
Of course , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand jury process .
But the indictment was not issued until well into the Trump administration .
And we had indications that the Trump administration was going to take a different approach , when Mike Pompeo , as head of the CIA , declared that WikiLeaks is a hostile nonstate intelligence agency and that they would be working to take WikiLeaks down and that Julian ought not benefit from First Amendment protections , followed very quickly by statements by the attorney general , Jeff Sessions , saying it was a priority to prosecute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen the outcome of that .
We see an indictment where Julian faces 175 years in prison .
This is part of , we say , the Trump administration ’ s attack on journalism , and war on whistleblowers and journalism .
And it is a precedent that will be used against journalists not just in the United States , but journalists around the world , because the most dangerous thing about this — and a position that the United States attorney has made clear in his evidence before this court — is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking to exercise jurisdiction over journalists and publishers outside of the United States for publishing information about the United States , they are also saying that they will exercise that jurisdiction , but at the same time foreign publishers and journalists will not benefit and should not benefit from First Amendment protections .
And that should be very concerning for journalists everywhere around the world .
AMY GOODMAN : And , of course , many of the news organizations in the United States worked with Julian Assange , like The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan .
Have they come out to the extent that you would like to see , and would it make a difference ?
As well , if you can talk about what you expect to see over this month ?
Is Daniel Ellsberg testifying today , one of the most famous whistleblowers in the world ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : That ’ s correct .
So , we will be seeing over the next four weeks evidence from a number of experts on the free speech implications of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be giving evidence about his own experience as the leaker of the Pentagon Papers .
We ’ ll be hearing evidence from expert witnesses about the nature of the grand jury process , the nature of the U.S. prosecution process and the prison conditions inside prison .
AMY GOODMAN : And the role of U.S. press , so significant because it ’ s the U.S. that ’ s seeking the extradition of Julian Assange , again , for which he would face 175 years in prison ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : Historically , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been disappointing .
We ’ ve been saying since 2010 that this was a risk and that if this precedent would be sought as against WikiLeaks , it could be used against The New York Times and other media organizations and journalists .
But since this indictment was issued by the Trump administration , we ’ ve seen unanimous responses , from The Washington Post , from The New York Times , from news organizations and free speech NGOs the world over , that this is a dangerous precedent for journalism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Julian ought to be released immediately .
We ’ ve had a resolution from the Council of Europe calling on the U.K. to release Julian because of the danger of this precedent for press freedom .
So , I think that it is true to say that there is , I think , a chorus of mainstream media organizations , NGOs , and indeed some governments , that say that this case is dangerous and it ought to be shut down .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Jen Robinson , how is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the situation in the prison with COVID and the potential for him to be exposed ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : Well , as I explained , we haven ’ t been able to visit him in prison since the pandemic broke out .
All social and legal visits were canceled , which means he ’ s been even more isolated than he was before in this high-security prison .
Because of his long-term — having been effectively in prison long-term , his seven-and-a-half years inside the embassy and now inside the prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues , along with other health concerns , which make him particularly susceptible to COVID .
It has been difficult to even have videoconferencing with him , because of his doctor ’ s advice that he shouldn ’ t be moving within the prison because of the risk of contracting COVID .
And there have , in fact , been a number of deaths , COVID deaths , inside the British prisons since the outbreak of the pandemic .
So , we ’ ve been very concerned about his health from a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his health as a result of this long-term imprisonment .
And it ’ s very unusual .
This is a publisher who is being held on remand in a high-security prison because of an indictment and an extradition request from the Trump administration .
You know , it is having a serious impact on his health .
And we will be hearing further evidence , psychiatric evidence , about the impact this has had on Julian , and what will happen to him and the doctor ’ s concerns for him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
AMY GOODMAN : Is there any discussion between your team , Julian Assange ’ s legal team , and the Trump administration over a pardon ?
JENNIFER ROBINSON : That will be the subject of evidence in these proceedings , so you ’ ll have to wait to see what happens in court .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , we , of course , will continue to follow the case of Julian Assange .
He has been in captivity , either in political exile inside the Ecuadorian Embassy or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over eight years at this point , the last six months in almost total lockdown at the high-security prison because of the pandemic .
We ’ ll continue to cover this case .
Jennifer Robinson , human rights attorney who ’ s been advising Julian Assange and WikiLeaks since 2010 , speaking to us right outside the courthouse during the lunch break of the case around Julian Assange .
When we come back , we look at how decades of U.S. military intervention in Central America has led to the ongoing migrant crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American journalist Roberto Lovato , author of the new book Unforgetting .
Stay with us .

Extradition Trial of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Begins in London.
By Jennifer Robinson
As the long-awaited extradition hearing for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gets underway in London, his legal adviser, Jennifer Robinson, says the case could set a chilling precedent for press freedoms around the world. “He faces 175 years in prison for doing his job as a journalist and a publisher. That’s why this case is so dangerous,” says Robinson. Assange faces numerous charges, including under the U.S. Espionage Act, related to the release of diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks that revealed war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He faces a possible life sentence if he is extradited to the U.S.
AMY GOODMAN: We’re going to turn right now to London. This week, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is appearing in court for the first time in six months, after his extradition hearing was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Assange has been held in London’s high-security Belmarsh prison since he was arrested in April 2019 at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London, where he had taken refuge for almost seven years. As Assange arrived at the courthouse Monday, he was arrested on 18 new charges from a U.S. indictment filed in June. Assange is wanted in the United States for exposing U.S. war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. He faces 175 years for espionage and hacking charges.
On Tuesday, the proceedings were briefly adjourned after Assange shouted, quote, “Nonsense!” as James Lewis, a lawyer acting for the U.S. government, told a witness that Assange was facing extradition proceedings over the publication of the names of informants, and not for handling leaked documents. The comment was a response to witness Clive Stafford Smith testifying that documents published by WikiLeaks had exposed, quote, “grave violations of law,” such as targeted U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan. The judge warned Assange he would be removed from the courtroom if he yelled again.
Protests in defense of Assange and press freedom have taken place in London and in cities around the world. This is Julian Assange’s father, John Shipton, speaking Monday as he left the London courthouse.
JOHN SHIPTON: I think the case is a fraud against the court. That’s what I think: fraud against the court applied by the American Department of Justice. Julian is an Australian citizen. The publications are in the United Kingdom. And yet he is kidnapped and judicially abducted to the United States to spend 175 years in jail.
AMY GOODMAN: For more, we go to London for an update from Jennifer Robinson, the human rights attorney who’s been advising Julian Assange and WikiLeaks since 2010. She’s joining us during the court’s lunch break right outside the courthouse.
Jen Robinson, welcome back to Democracy Now! You are seeing Julian Assange for the first time in six months. He’s been at the high-security Belmarsh prison for a year and a half, and then under lockdown because of COVID. Can you describe, well, what it’s like to see him now for the first time and what these charges are against him, including the new ones that were just brought?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: Good morning, Amy.
So, we saw Julian for the first time in six months as a result of the COVID shutdown. He hasn’t had any social or legal visits since the pandemic broke out, which has left him incredibly isolated in prison. And it was surprising to us to see that he has lost a lot of weight. And we, of course, have continuing concerns about his health, given the long-term impacts of being both inside the embassy and now in a high-security prison in these circumstances.
Of course, you mentioned in your opening that we now have had not one, but two superseding indictments. He was arrested on a second superseding indictment on Monday that the Department of Justice issued in June. We were first told that it made no substantive difference, and we’re now told that those new allegations, which include allegations related to Edward Snowden, providing assistance to the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, now are part of the case and could form part of separate criminal allegations if he is returned to the United States.
This is part of what we say the U.S. government is trying to shift the goalposts, as it were. We heard from our defense counsel in court on Monday that, of course, this is perhaps in response to the strength of our case that the U.S. government is now shifting and changing its case, almost 18 months after they started and after the closing and submission of evidence from both parties. It is a very unusual and highly irregular process in any kind of extradition case, and certainly one as unprecedented as this.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Jennifer Robinson, what about these new hacking allegations, bringing them so late in the process here as the hearing has started?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: I think adding these additional, quote, “hacking” allegations, which are general and questionable and, of course, are denied by Mr. Assange, I think is the Department of Justice’s attempt to try and shift the case away from the Manning disclosures and, of course, the evidence that we’ve heard this week and seen in the publications around the world, evidence of war crimes, human rights abuse, corruption the world over. It is a clear press freedom case. And the attempts by the Department of Justice to somehow create this as a hacking case, when there is absolutely no evidence of any hacking by Mr. Assange, I think, demonstrates their desire to move away from the important issues on press freedom.
We’ve heard already in the evidence this case — in the evidence this week from Clive Stafford Smith, the founder of Reprieve, about the importance of WikiLeaks’ disclosures about U.S. extraordinary rendition, torture, and, importantly, drone strikes and extrajudicial killings in Pakistan, and how those disclosures have been essential in his work, both in terms of holding the U.S. government accountable for those actions in Pakistan, but also with respect to his Guantánamo litigation in the United States.
We’ve also heard evidence from professor Mark Feldstein about the unprecedented nature of the attack on First Amendment that this case represents and the history of the Espionage Act being threatened against journalists by various presidents, including Roosevelt and Nixon, and now, in this case, by President Trump himself.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Specifically, you mentioned Mark Feldstein’s testimony and the evidence he presented. One of the interesting things, as I’ve reviewed that statement of his, was not only his historical look at how the press in America for many — really, for a couple of hundred years was a highly partisan press, but he also talks about how the First Amendment doesn’t protect the press as an industry, but as a technology. Could you — for our viewers and listeners who are not aware of professor Feldstein’s testimony, could you elaborate on that portion of his evidence?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: Well, Professor Feldstein explained at some length the importance of the First Amendment and how it protects every American citizen and any person within U.S. jurisdiction, their ability to — their free speech. And, of course, it protects the media’s ability to communicate with sources, receive information and publish it in the public interest.
What we’re seeing — what he pointed out about the danger of this particular case is the breakdown of the distinction between sources and journalists. So, we’ve often seen that sources who make unlawful or unauthorized disclosures are prosecuted and can face criminal prosecution as a result of their disclosures. But historically, that has never been directed at the media. The First Amendment is understood to protect the media in receiving and publishing that information in the public interest, which is exactly what WikiLeaks did. And in this case, what the Trump administration is alleging is that Julian Assange, by virtue of having communications with Chelsea Manning, receiving information from Chelsea Manning and publishing that information, is somehow conspiring and is conspiring in the underlying criminal act.
And we’ve seen this same prosecution strategy now rolled out in Brazil by President Bolsonaro against Glenn Greenwald. That’s why this is so dangerous, because this is the kind of activity that journalists engage in all day, every day, across the United States and elsewhere around the world, which is why The New York Times and The Washington Post have both, in their editorials, said that this is criminalizing public interest journalism and news gathering practices that have been used for decades.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to explain to people that Jen Robinson is standing outside the courtroom at the lunch break, and there are many protesters who are there, as there have been protesters in cities around the world, as Julian Assange is in the midst of a month-long extradition hearing, whether he will be extradited to the United States. We wanted to turn to Julian in his own words. We haven’t been able to speak to him in Belmarsh prison, but I went to London and interviewed him when he had political exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2015.
JULIAN ASSANGE: The U.S. government, in terms of its attack on WikiLeaks, has tried to construct a theory which, if permitted, will be the end of national security journalism, not just in the United States, but also about the United States. That claim is that journalists can’t solicit information from sources and to solicit information is to be involved in a conspiracy. And —
AMY GOODMAN: An accomplice to the conspiracy.
JULIAN ASSANGE: Yeah. And the United States, in terms of the charge types that it’s trying to charge me with — those include conspiracy and conspiracy to commit espionage — this is rubbish. We cannot tolerate this at the political level or the media level.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s Julian Assange inside the Ecuadoran Embassy before he was taken a year and half ago by British police and he was put in the Belmarsh prison. This is Nils Melzer, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, who visited Julian last year in London’s high-security Belmarsh prison.
NILS MELZER: I spoke with him for an hour just to get a good first impression. Then we had a physical examination for an hour by our forensic expert, and then we had the two-hour psychiatric examination. And all three of us had the same impression — and, well, I had certainly an impression, and the medical doctors had a diagnosis, that they — we all came to the conclusion that he showed all the symptoms that are typical for a person that has been exposed to psychological torture over an extended period of time.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s Nils Melzer, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, who visited Assange at Belmarsh. Jen Robinson, for people who aren’t familiar with Julian Assange’s case, if you can talk about what he is — the underlying charges here, where Britain will decide whether to extradite him to the United States, where he faces 175 years? What was it that WikiLeaks released, the millions of documents around Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.? And what was Chelsea Manning’s role in this, and the significance of what she did?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: Well, Julian has been charged under the Espionage Act, the first time in the history of the United States, for receiving, publishing — receiving and publishing classified U.S. information. That includes the “Collateral Murder” publication, the Iraq rules of engagement, which demonstrates war crimes in Iraq. It includes the Iraq and Afghan war logs, which demonstrated that the United States government was not sharing the truth about what was actually happening in those conflicts, including the killing of more than 15,000 civilians in the context of the Iraq War. And he’s also being prosecuted in relation to the State Department cables and the publication of those cables, which revealed human rights abuse and corruption the world over.
These are incredibly important publications, for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Sydney Peace Prize, won the Walkley Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism. And he faces 175 years in prison for doing his job as a journalist and as a publisher. That’s why this case is so dangerous.
And as you’ll be hearing, the evidence that will be heard over the next four weeks is from journalists, from NGOs, such as Reprieve — is what we heard from yesterday — talking about the importance of these leaks, how they’ve been used in terms of political movements, in terms of human rights litigation, in terms of holding governments to account for their wrongdoing, and more evidence also about the prison conditions that Julian will face if he is in fact returned to the United States to face prosecution.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Jen Robinson, could you talk about the fact that it was President Trump, when he was running for president, as a candidate, actually said in public statements that he loved WikiLeaks, and he urged them, if they had information on the Hillary Clinton emails, the supposed disappeared emails, to release them, that now it is the Trump administration that is seeking to prosecute him and extradite him back to the United States?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: That’s right. There’s certainly been a change in approach from President Trump, from prior to being elected and now in his role as president. What we saw was a change in position from the Trump administration. We now know that there was no indictment under the Obama administration. Of course, that whole process was secret because of the grand jury process. But the indictment was not issued until well into the Trump administration.
And we had indications that the Trump administration was going to take a different approach, when Mike Pompeo, as head of the CIA, declared that WikiLeaks is a hostile nonstate intelligence agency and that they would be working to take WikiLeaks down and that Julian ought not benefit from First Amendment protections, followed very quickly by statements by the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, saying it was a priority to prosecute WikiLeaks. And now we’ve seen the outcome of that. We see an indictment where Julian faces 175 years in prison.
This is part of, we say, the Trump administration’s attack on journalism, and war on whistleblowers and journalism. And it is a precedent that will be used against journalists not just in the United States, but journalists around the world, because the most dangerous thing about this — and a position that the United States attorney has made clear in his evidence before this court — is that not only is the U.S. government seeking to exercise jurisdiction over journalists and publishers outside of the United States for publishing information about the United States, they are also saying that they will exercise that jurisdiction, but at the same time foreign publishers and journalists will not benefit and should not benefit from First Amendment protections. And that should be very concerning for journalists everywhere around the world.
AMY GOODMAN: And, of course, many of the news organizations in the United States worked with Julian Assange, like The New York Times, like The Washington Post, in exposing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Have they come out to the extent that you would like to see, and would it make a difference? As well, if you can talk about what you expect to see over this month? Is Daniel Ellsberg testifying today, one of the most famous whistleblowers in the world?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: That’s correct. So, we will be seeing over the next four weeks evidence from a number of experts on the free speech implications of this indictment. Daniel Ellsberg will also be giving evidence about his own experience as the leaker of the Pentagon Papers. We’ll be hearing evidence from expert witnesses about the nature of the grand jury process, the nature of the U.S. prosecution process and the prison conditions inside prison.
AMY GOODMAN: And the role of U.S. press, so significant because it’s the U.S. that’s seeking the extradition of Julian Assange, again, for which he would face 175 years in prison?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: Historically, I think the position of the U.S. press has been disappointing. We’ve been saying since 2010 that this was a risk and that if this precedent would be sought as against WikiLeaks, it could be used against The New York Times and other media organizations and journalists. But since this indictment was issued by the Trump administration, we’ve seen unanimous responses, from The Washington Post, from The New York Times, from news organizations and free speech NGOs the world over, that this is a dangerous precedent for journalism and for freedom of the press, and that Julian ought to be released immediately. We’ve had a resolution from the Council of Europe calling on the U.K. to release Julian because of the danger of this precedent for press freedom. So, I think that it is true to say that there is, I think, a chorus of mainstream media organizations, NGOs, and indeed some governments, that say that this case is dangerous and it ought to be shut down.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Jen Robinson, how is Julian Assange’s health? What’s the situation in the prison with COVID and the potential for him to be exposed?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: Well, as I explained, we haven’t been able to visit him in prison since the pandemic broke out. All social and legal visits were canceled, which means he’s been even more isolated than he was before in this high-security prison.
Because of his long-term — having been effectively in prison long-term, his seven-and-a-half years inside the embassy and now inside the prison, he has a number of respiratory issues, along with other health concerns, which make him particularly susceptible to COVID. It has been difficult to even have videoconferencing with him, because of his doctor’s advice that he shouldn’t be moving within the prison because of the risk of contracting COVID. And there have, in fact, been a number of deaths, COVID deaths, inside the British prisons since the outbreak of the pandemic. So, we’ve been very concerned about his health from a pandemic perspective, but also seeing a decline in his health as a result of this long-term imprisonment.
And it’s very unusual. This is a publisher who is being held on remand in a high-security prison because of an indictment and an extradition request from the Trump administration. You know, it is having a serious impact on his health. And we will be hearing further evidence, psychiatric evidence, about the impact this has had on Julian, and what will happen to him and the doctor’s concerns for him, if he is returned to prison in the United States.
AMY GOODMAN: Is there any discussion between your team, Julian Assange’s legal team, and the Trump administration over a pardon?
JENNIFER ROBINSON: That will be the subject of evidence in these proceedings, so you’ll have to wait to see what happens in court.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, we, of course, will continue to follow the case of Julian Assange. He has been in captivity, either in political exile inside the Ecuadorian Embassy or at the high-security Belmarsh prison, for over eight years at this point, the last six months in almost total lockdown at the high-security prison because of the pandemic. We’ll continue to cover this case. Jennifer Robinson, human rights attorney who’s been advising Julian Assange and WikiLeaks since 2010, speaking to us right outside the courthouse during the lunch break of the case around Julian Assange.
When we come back, we look at how decades of U.S. military intervention in Central America has led to the ongoing migrant crisis. We’ll speak with Salvadoran American journalist Roberto Lovato, author of the new book Unforgetting. Stay with us.