Aftermath of anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles
Workers clean up debris and torched cars in the wake of protests against the Trump administration immigration raids in downtown Los Angeles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
34 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump has zero credibility on the LA protests, but that may not matter
Washington: 'These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists,' US President Donald Trump said of people clashing with police on the streets of Los Angeles. 'They should be in jail.' Trump may have a point about some of the more extreme elements that have joined the protests in America's second-largest city to smash windows, loot and set cars on fire. But it's difficult to take him seriously – indeed, it's difficult to afford him any credibility at all – when this is the same man who just months ago pardoned and celebrated the rioters who stormed the US Capitol in his name on January 6, 2021. In LA, a relatively small group of protesters, demonstrators, rioters – whatever you want to call them – are copping the brunt of law enforcement and even the US military. In DC, Trump circumvented the legal system to set them free, even after some were convicted of seditious conspiracy, and lionised them as hard-done-by patriots. We may not be surprised by such blatant hypocrisy, but it is still striking to see it manifest so clearly, so obviously. No wonder the Democratic governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is so incensed by the treatment doled out to protesters in his state – even those whose behaviour he condemns. Liberal California is a favourite and familiar punching bag for Trump. During last year's campaign, and even in the middle of January's deadly bushfires, he threatened to withhold aid from the state if Newsom didn't bow to his demands on water policy. Every authoritarian regime needs enemies. And it's difficult to get away from the feeling that Trump is making an example of California as he presses on with the next phase of his mass deportation plan, and seeks to keep the domestic focus on immigration, and law and order.
The Age
34 minutes ago
- The Age
Trump has zero credibility on the LA protests, but that may not matter
Washington: 'These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists,' US President Donald Trump said of people clashing with police on the streets of Los Angeles. 'They should be in jail.' Trump may have a point about some of the more extreme elements that have joined the protests in America's second-largest city to smash windows, loot and set cars on fire. But it's difficult to take him seriously – indeed, it's difficult to afford him any credibility at all – when this is the same man who just months ago pardoned and celebrated the rioters who stormed the US Capitol in his name on January 6, 2021. In LA, a relatively small group of protesters, demonstrators, rioters – whatever you want to call them – are copping the brunt of law enforcement and even the US military. In DC, Trump circumvented the legal system to set them free, even after some were convicted of seditious conspiracy, and lionised them as hard-done-by patriots. We may not be surprised by such blatant hypocrisy, but it is still striking to see it manifest so clearly, so obviously. No wonder the Democratic governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is so incensed by the treatment doled out to protesters in his state – even those whose behaviour he condemns. Liberal California is a favourite and familiar punching bag for Trump. During last year's campaign, and even in the middle of January's deadly bushfires, he threatened to withhold aid from the state if Newsom didn't bow to his demands on water policy. Every authoritarian regime needs enemies. And it's difficult to get away from the feeling that Trump is making an example of California as he presses on with the next phase of his mass deportation plan, and seeks to keep the domestic focus on immigration, and law and order.
News.com.au
42 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Health Check: RFK delivers knockout jab to powerful US vaccines committee
US health secretary sacks 17-member panel that advises on US vaccine policy, to 're-establish public confidence in vaccine science' FDA delivers Argenica a stroke trial knock-back, but Syntara is in the fast lane EZZ Life Science soars up to 29% on Southeast Asia distribution deal In a move dubbed both dramatic and extraordinary, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has sacked all 17 members of a body that determines vaccine dosages and at what age they should be administered. In dehiring the Centers for Disease Control's advisory committee on immunisation practices, RFK said: 'a clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science'. Given the famed Kennedy family scion is an anti vaxxer (though he claimed otherwise at his confirmation), some may see the action through a different lens. RFK notes the 'rubber stamping' committee has never recommended against a vaccine – 'even those later withdrawn for safety reasons'. He cites the committee's 'perceived conflicts of interest' and eroded public trust in vaccines, health agencies and pharmaceutical companies. 'Some would try to explain this away by blaming misinformation or anti-science attitudes,' he writes. 'To do so, however, ignores a history of conflicts of interest, persecution of dissidents, a lack of curiosity and skewed science that has plagued the vaccine regulatory apparatus for decades.' Ouch! A central role According to Endpoints News, for four years the panel has played a central role in advising the government on public health policy. During its swansong meeting at the end of the month, the committee is likely to mull recommendations for Covid vaccines. 'RFK had already begun to undercut the committee's work after he unilaterally changed the Covid vaccine schedule to remove recommendations for pregnant women and to change the guidance for children,' Endpoints says. The newsletter says the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to approve Covid jabs only for older and at-risk Americans. The sackings come amid a sharp decline in US vaccination rates well before the Trump Administration took office in January. According to Johns Hopkins University research, childhood vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella have been declining since the start of the pandemic. Data from 2066 counties in 33 states shows an average decrease from almost 94% before the pandemic to about 91% after the pandemic, well below 'herd immunity' levels of 95%. Keep an eye on CSL and Medadvisor In an Australian context, stocks vulnerable to any official anti-vaxx measures are CSL (ASX:CSL) and MedAdvisor (ASX:MDR). While CSL derives the lion's share of revenue from blood plasma products, its Seqirus arm is exposed to US flu vaccine demand. Seqirus' December half revenue fell 9%, with 'low immunisation rates significantly impacting the US flu market.' The company believes the problem should right itself when the consequences of a bad flu season – such as increased hospitalisations – become apparent. Medadvisor runs medication compliance programs for Big Pharma, with vaccines accounting for 30 to 50% of its US revenue (depending on the season). Medadvisor's half-year results were impacted by two big pharmaceutical customers reducing their vaccine promotional budgets. Medadvisor chief Rick Ratliff suggests the 'vaccine fatigue and hesitancy' has been compounded by the number of new vaccines to hit the market. These include prophylactics for shingles, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and pneumococcal vaccines. FDA strikes down stroke trial Stroke drug developer Argenica Therapeutics (ASX:AGN) appears to have fallen victim to the FDA's staffing turmoil, with the agency slapping a 'clinical hold' on the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application. An IND is permission to start a trial; a 'clinical hold' means the applicant needs to do more homework. The agency declared the company's non-clinical data to support the IND 'is not adequate to support initiation of a proposed acute ischaemic stroke trial in the US at this time'. Argenica said it had expected 'some challenges' in receiving the go-ahead within the stipulated 30 days, 'due to current resourcing challenges at the FDA'. As a result, it submitted the application 'much earlier than required'. The company protests – mildly – that it had fulfilled the FDA's requirements, as outlined at a so-called type B meeting. 'Whilst we are obviously disappointed ... we are confident we can provide the additional data required by the FDA in a timely manner,' says Argenica CEO Liz Dallimore. The FDA decision does not affect Argenica's separate phase II trial being carried out here. The study is due for a readout in the September quarter. Meanwhile, the agency has granted advanced stage myelofibrosis developer Syntara (ASX:SNT) fast track designation for its drug candidate SNT-5505. As its name implies, fast track status enables more frequent FDA interaction and discussions on accelerated approval. Syntara says the FDA's stance recognises the significant unmet medical need in myelofibrosis, a rare and serious blood cancer. EZZ inks distribution deal EZZ Life Science (ASX:EZZ) is expanding its Asian foothold by signing up a distributor for Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore for its EZZ-branded products. The three-year deal with ROFA Enterprises Pty Ltd entails minimum purchases of $21 million over the contract term, with ROFA managing all local marketing, logistics and distribution costs. "This is a major milestone in our regional expansion strategy,' EZZ chair Glenn Cross says. 'ROFA's established presence and deep experience in Southeast Asia make them an ideal partner to help scale EZZ's brand footprint across these important markets.' Over the last decade, ROFA Enterprises has exported Australian and NZ dairy, health and beauty products to Southeast Asia. ROFA's distribution network includes more than 10,000 pharmacies, mother and baby stores, supermarkets, and online platforms. Based on genomic life sciences, EZZ has dozens of products on its books. Its bestsellers are lysine (amino acid) growth capsules, bone growth chews and the EZZ Smart Clarity Booster (for enhanced brain function). Investors applauded the deal, with EZZ shares soaring up to 29%. Study highlights Avita's burns treatment credentials Wounds management house Avita Medical (ASX:AVH) says a study of its flagship Recell shows the spray-on skin treatment has reduced hospitalisations by 36%. Avita cites US data aired at the British Burn Association's (BBA) annual meeting, which analysed more than 6300 patients treated with Recell between 2019 and 2024. These patients had total body surface area wounds of less than 30%. Compared with grafts, these patients had an average 35.7% reduction in hospital time, or 6.2 days. The company cites cost savings of $300 million over the 5-year study period. As with grafts, Recell uses the patient's own skin to treat the wound. The difference is the treatment requires only a small amount of material. 'Reducing hospital length of stay has a direct impact on the cost of care, especially in complex cases like severe burns,' Avita CEO Jim Corbett says. More than US 130 burn centres use Recell, but the company is seeking to expand into larger applications such as full-thickness skin defects.
