Soaring energy costs have caused thousands of free charging stations to be removed from UK streets, putting a kink in government plans to switch drivers over to electric cars.
May 7, 2023 - "Thousands of free electric car chargers have been pulled from Britain's roads over the past year as soaring energy costs makes them unaffordable to offer. The number of chargers offering free electricity has fallen from 5,715 a year ago to 3,568, a drop of almost 40%. They now make up less than one in 10 public chargers on Britain’s roads, compared to one in five a year ago.
"The drop in free top-up charging spots is the latest blow to the Government’s ambitions to attract motorists to electric cars by making it cheap and convenient to charge them away from home. The figures, from Zap Map, which monitors installations across the UK and is used by the Government to publish official data on charging points, come as concerns about the price of owning an electric vehicle threaten to slow their adoption....
"Free charging points were installed by supermarkets and car park operators as a way to attract owners of battery-powered vehicles, but wholesale electricity prices spiked last year amid concerns about energy security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While prices have come down, they remain more than double what they were two years ago.
"Tesco stopped offering free electric car charging to shoppers in November. The supermarket was the UK’s biggest provider of free points, having introduced them to hundreds of car parks since 2019. The Irish electricity network ESB began requiring payment for more than 300 previously free charging points in Northern Ireland at the end of April.
"Melanie Shufflebotham, Zap Map’s co-founder and chief operating officer, said: 'Free charging has been more common as an incentive for locations like supermarkets and car parks to draw in customers. But as electric vehicles become mainstream it’s quite reasonable that it is in decline.... We will continue to see lots more chargers and many may still be free as some destinations look to encourage green travel, but the percentage is likely to be low. Meanwhile charging either at home or on the public networks will continue to be more affordable on a pence per mile basis than petrol or diesel.'"
May 6, 2023 - "The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines fell below 20 percent a few months after vaccination, with booster shots seeing effectiveness drop below 30 percent.... [A] review, published in the JAMA Network journal on May 3, analyzed 40 studies estimating vaccine effectiveness (VE) over time against laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and symptomatic disease. The studies were selected from 799 original articles, 149 reviews published in peer-reviewed journals, and 35 preprints.
"The review found that the vaccine effectiveness of a primary vaccination cycle against the Omicron infection and symptomatic disease was lower than 20 percent at 6 months from the administration of the last dose. Booster doses restored vaccine effectiveness to levels similar to those seen after administration of the primacy cycle dose. However, nine months after the booster dose, vaccine effectiveness against Omicron was found to be lower than 30 percent against infection and symptomatic disease.
"'The half-life of VE against symptomatic infection was estimated to be 87 days for Omicron compared with 316 days for Delta. Similar waning rates of VE were found for different age segments of the population. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against laboratory-confirmed Omicron or Delta infection and symptomatic disease rapidly wanes over time after the primary vaccination cycle and booster dose,' the study said....
"Vaccine effectiveness against Omicron infection was 44.4 percent a month after the completion of the primary vaccination cycle. This fell to 20.7 percent at six months and then to 13.4 percent at nine months. Vaccine effectiveness was found to be higher against the Delta variant as compared to the Omicron variant.... Effectiveness against symptomatic disease fell from 52.8 percent a month after completion of the primary vaccination cycle to 14.3 percent at six months and 8.9 percent at nine months.
“'Our estimates suggest that the initial VE could be different depending on the vaccine product, with higher VE found at one month from the second dose administration for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech compared with AstraZeneca and Sinovac.'
"With regard to age, vaccine effectiveness was found to be similar in younger and older age groups against the Omicron variant infection.... 'A significantly lower VE was found for both age groups for Omicron compared with Delta,' it stated."
May 5, 2023 - "Rochelle Walensky is resigning from her post as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She has overseen the agency since the beginning of President Joe Biden's term and greatly expanded the CDC's authority.
"Walensky's reign was chiefly characterized by her extreme reluctance to reverse the CDC's support for ongoing pandemic restrictions. When she took the helm in January 2021, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout was just getting underway, and there was good reason to believe that the most vulnerable people would soon enjoy robust protection from severe disease and death. Walensky, however, was not inclined to let the CDC's influence wane. For instance, she repeatedly extended the CDC's eviction moratorium, a policy that made it extremely difficult for landlords to collect rent; the Supreme Court finally struck down the illegal order in August 2021.
"Walensky firmly believed that CDC guidance on COVID-19 policies should reflect the up-to-date scientific consensus — that is, unless the science had arrived at a conclusion that vexed her. Walensky's CDC put incredible faith in junk studies that purported to prove the importance of mask mandates in schools. When the legitimacy of these studies came into question, she declined to reverse course and admit that ritualistically masking schoolchildren was unnecessary....
"When challenged on her policies, Walensky would demur and claim that CDC guidance on masks was just that — guidance. She sounded a similar note as COVID-19 adviser Anthony Fauci, who cloaked his enthusiasm for shutting down all of society under the guise of mere suggestion. The fact of the matter is that government policy makers at the local, state, and federal level routinely outsourced their COVID-19 decision making to Walensky and Fauci. They put their thumbs on the scales of lockdowns and mask mandates, and thus the U.S. continued these policies far longer than did our peer countries. The World Health Organization (WHO), in contrast, never recommended masks for children under 6 at all, and many Nordic countries were unwilling to mask kids up to age 11....
"Walensky wasn't necessarily looking to European peer countries.... She was far more inclined to celebrate the alleged success of China's 'really strict lockdowns,' which involved the country's authoritarian government starving some people via mandatory quarantine detention centers and trapping others inside burning buildings. (China eventually succumbed to the inevitable, gave up on its draconian lockdowns, and implicitly admitted that the 'zero-COVID' policy was a fantasy.)
"Walensky's CDC also pursued the questionable strategy of purging so-called misinformation about COVID-19 from social media. Throughout her time in charge, the CDC became the de facto internet speech police. Emails obtained by Reason show that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, routinely deferred moderation decisions to government health authorities. Meta might have thought it had little choice but to seek the CDC's input, as Biden had publicly declared that the social media platform's failure to suppress allegedly misleading content was 'killing people.' In any case, this is a dangerous precedent....
"Walensky's exit from the CDC comes just a few days before the official end of the national COVID-19 pandemic on May 11. Whoever takes over the agency should concentrate on rebalancing its decidedly unhealthy approach to individual liberty."
Nov 23, 2022 - "Ontario is seeing explosive growth in independent schools, according to a report done by the Cardus Institute.
"'Unlike Quebec and every Western province, Ontario offers zero taxpayer funding for independent schools, yet many parents value them enough to pay for tuition over and above the taxes they contribute towards district schools,' said Cardus Education Director and report co-author David Hunt in a Tuesday press release. 'Ontario’s Ministry of Education, political leaders, researchers, the media, and the public should seek to understand why our neighbours, friends, and family members are making these choices'....
"The report said there are at least 1,445 independent schools in Ontario — up by almost 52% since 2013-2014. Enrolment increased by 29,531 students from 2013-2014 to 2019-2020, the most growth of any Canadian province. The schools educated more than 154,000 students in Ontario as of 2019-2020.
"The report went on to say two-fifths of independent schools have a specialization, such as special education or Montessori. It added 4% of the schools are elite institutions. Three-quarters of elite schools are in the Greater Toronto Area. Less than two-fifths of them are religiously based.
"The report continued by saying one-quarter of independent schools are Jewish or Muslim. It said 64% of independent schools are in the suburbs, while 28% are in rural or semi-rural areas....
"Hunt said there is 'extraordinary diversity among Ontario’s independent schools.' 'Each school serves unique and specific student needs that district schools either don’t or can’t meet,' he said."
May 6, 2023 - "The Ontario government wants to promote diversity. That’s why it’s made 'equity' and 'inclusion' a key focus in K-12 schools. However, if Ontario wants to actually promote diversity in education, it should help increase school choice and expand the educational options available to parents.
"Unlike Quebec and the four Western provinces, Ontario does not fund independent schools, which means parents who wish to enroll their children in a non-government school must pay the full cost of tuition (along with their regular taxes that pay for the public school system). In essence, they pay twice for their children’s education.
"This might not be a problem for wealthier families who can easily afford high tuition fees, but it’s not so simple for middle- and lower-income families. As a result, only 6.9% of Ontario students attend independent schools compared to 13.2% in British Columbia and 11.7% in Quebec. The partial funding of independent schools by these provinces makes this option more affordable for many parents.
"Importantly, when provinces fund independent schools, they do so based on enrollment. Thus, it’s more accurate to say that money follows the student because independent schools only receive funds if parents choose to send their children there. Clearly, independent schools meet an important need for many families and should remain available as an option.
"Another positive reform would be to follow Alberta’s lead and allow the creation of charter schools. Contrary to what many people assume, charter schools are not independent schools but are rather autonomous, not-for-profit schools within the public system. And they’re non-sectarian, cannot charge tuition, and must be open to all students. Charter schools have proven to be quite successful in Alberta. Some charter schools, such as Foundations for the Future Charter Academy in Calgary, provide a traditional back-to-basics approach, while others, such as Boyle Street Education Centre in Edmonton, focus on alternative programs targeting at-risk youth. With the recent decision by the Alberta government to lift the cap on charter schools, the number of these schools—and the number of students enrolled in them—will continue to grow in that province."
The World Heath Organization has announced that Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern, more than three years after declaring the emergency.
May 5, 2023 - "On Friday, the World Health Organization [WHO] declared that Covid-19 was no longer a global health emergency. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu's announcement comes nearly three and a half years after the virus was first labeled a public health emergency of international concern.
"'The Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern,' Tedros said, according to the BBC. 'I've accepted that advice. It is therefore with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency.'
"Tedros noted that the announcement should not be taken to mean the virus no longer poses a risk. 'The worst thing any country can do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that Covid-19 is nothing to worry about,' he warned.
"In a statement, the WHO highlighted the fact that the pandemic had 'prompted countries to enhance their functional capacities, particularly related to emergency coordination, collaborative surveillance, clinical care, and risk communications and communication engagement'.... 'Reaching the point where COVID-19 can be considered as no longer constituting a PHEIC should be seen as an accolade to international coordination and commitment to global health.'"
May 5, 2023 - "The global COVID-19 health emergency is now over, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).... This is old news in the United States. The national COVID-19 emergency was officially terminated by a joint resolution of Congress and signed by President Joe Biden on April 10.... Nevertheless, the fact is that the pandemic was effectively over for most Americans well before the declarations made by Congress and the WHO.
"Back in December 2021, I reported on an article in the journal BMJ by two researchers who noted that 'the end of the pandemic will not be televised.' In their article, Princeton historian David Robertson and University of Maryland pharmacy professor Peter Doshi ... asked, 'By what metric, then, will we know that it is actually over?' After reviewing the history of three 20th century influenza pandemics, including the Spanish flu ... Robertson and Doshi argued that ... the pandemic will 'gradually fade as society adjusts to living with the new disease agent and social life returns to normal.' Basically, epidemics socially end when people grow tired of panic mode and learn to live with a disease.
"As the vaccines rolled out and the risks associated with infection became clearer, most Americans felt increasingly comfortable returning to normal activities — shopping, dining out, and attending social gatherings — by the spring of 2021. It's taken our global and domestic public health authorities two years more to formally acknowledge that for most Americans, the COVID-19 emergency has been long over."
China's ambassador to Canada dismisses reports of "so-called 'China Interference'" as rumors hyped up by some Canadian politicians and media for political gain and attention, and "urges the Canadian side to immediately stop this self-directed political farce."
May 5, 2023 - "China has accused Canada of 'slander and defamation after it said Beijing targeted a member of its parliament and his family.... China said the allegation that it attempted to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong over his anti-China stance was 'nonsense'. Mr Chong, 51, previously accused China of human rights abuses.
"Canada is considering expelling Chinese diplomats over the issue and summoned its ambassador on Thursday.... Canada's foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly said that she asked her deputy minister to tell China's ambassador, Cong Peiwu, that Canada will not tolerate interference in its affairs.... Typically, summoning an ambassador is a diplomatic tool used by one country to publicly express anger or discontent against the other.
"On Friday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China was 'strongly dissatisfied with Canada's groundless slander and defamation of the normal performance of duties by the Chinese embassy and consulates in Canada'. It has 'lodged a strong protest' with Canada's ambassador to China, she added.
May 4, 2023 - "On May 4, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, H.E. CONG Peiwu met with the senior official of the Global Affairs Canada. Ambassador CONG set forth China's stern position and protested strongly on the Canadian side's threat to expel the relevant Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel based on rumors of the so-called 'China Interference' hyped up by some Canadian politicians and media.
"Ambassador CONG pointed out that China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. The Chinese diplomatic and consular officials always fulfill their duties in accordance with the relevant international conventions and the Consular Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China. In an attempt to make political gains and draw attention, driven by ideological bias, some Canadian politicians and media have been manipulating China-related issues, attacking and discrediting China. China strongly deplores and firmly rejects this.
"Ambassador CONG stressed that China's diplomatic and consular officials' normal performance must not be smeared, and China's sovereignty, security and development interests must not be violated. Once again, China strongly urges the Canadian side to immediately stop this self-directed political farce, not go further down the wrong and dangerous path. Should the Canadian side continue to make provocations, China will play along every step of the way until the very end."
Conservative MP Michael Chong wants to know why the Liberal government never told him that China's intelligence agency had planned to 'sanction' his family in Hong Kong, and why the Chinese diplomat behind the alleged plan is still in Canada enjoying diplomatic immunity.
May 3, 2023 - "A Canadian lawmaker has accused government officials of turning a blind eye to Chinese harassment of his family as pressure mounts on Justin Trudeau to launch a public inquiry into Beijing’s attempts to meddle in the country’s domestic politics. The Globe and Mail reported that China’s intelligence agency had sought information about Michael Chong’s family in Hong Kong 'for further potential sanctions' over the Conservative MP’s criticism of Beijing’s human rights abuses. The paper also reported that Zhao Wei, a Chinese diplomat in Toronto, was part of the harassment campaign.
"'The government did nothing about a person in Canada that was targeting me and my family and targeting other members of parliament,' Chong told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. 'The government knew about this two years ago and did nothing.' 'They didn’t expel [Zhao]. In fact, they continued to accredit this individual as a diplomat, giving this individual special rights and immunities not afforded to Canadians, allowing this individual to continue the correction and intimidation campaign,' he said, adding he believed there were 'political calculations' in the decision not to notify him....
"Chong has been an outspoken critic of Beijing and led a 2021 effort to hold a parliamentary vote to recognize China’s treatment of the Uyghur population as genocide. He said that he had made the decision years ago to cut off contact with family in Hong Kong out of an 'abundance of caution' for their safety and is unaware of what threats or harassment they may have faced....
"Trudeau said he was previously unaware of the allegations and only learned of them through the Globe’s reporting. The prime minister said he was later told by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that it 'wasn’t a significant enough concern' to notify him.
"Earlier in the day, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, said he found it 'very hard to believe'” that CSIS wouldn’t tell the prime minister or his top public safety minister about the threats. 'This is insane. You know, if any one of you were to threaten the family of an MP because of a vote in the House of Commons, you would be in jail. This guy’s not only not in jail, he’s in Canada with diplomatic immunity'....
"Both Poilievre and New Democratic party leader, Jagmeet Singh, have repeatedly called on the prime minister to call a public inquiry into China’s election interference efforts. A recently appointed special rapporteur, David Johnston, is expected to make a decision on whether to call an inquiry later this month."
