Macron refuses Russia's PCR test in his Moscow visit

Elon Musk's Neuralink is accused of subjecting monkeys to extreme suffering, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway lift COVID-19 restrictions, the WHO warns it's too soon. Feb 13, 2022 [View in browser]( In today's agenda is Emmanuel Macron, the president of France. Macron visited Moscow to see Vladimir Putin this week. Later on, it turned out that he refused Kremlin's request to take a Russian COVID-19 test. His refusal to take the test caused the two presidents to sit at such a long table that many on social media mocked them. It is reported by sources that Macron refused to get tested in order to prevent Russia from getting his DNA. Well, are Macron's fears founded, and are the allegations even true? Greetings! I’m Mert, an editor here at IE. This is The Blueprint. Keep reading. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Elon Musk's new Starship video is like a Dune-themed space odyssey]( Is this what our future holds? [Elon Musk's new Starship video is like a Dune-themed space odyssey]( CULTURE [Macron refuses Russia's PCR test in his Moscow visit.]( [Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron ]( Sometimes you have to protect your own DNA. [Such may be the case]( with French President Emmanuel Macron in a recent visit to Russia, [according to a report from Reuters](. Two sources in Macron's entourage told the news outlet that Macron refused a Russian COVID-19 test when he arrived to see President Vladimir Putin in order to prevent Russia from getting his DNA. The end result was that Macron and Putin sat at tables so far apart that many on social media mocked them. "We knew very well that meant no handshake and that long table. But we could not accept that they get their hands on the president's DNA," one of the sources told Reuters. However, the fear of Russia stealing Macron's DNA was never confirmed, instead, when Macron’s office was asked about the allegation it replied: "The president has doctors who define with him the rules that are acceptable or not in terms of his own health protocol." - True and founded fears? The story begs the following questions: Are Macron's fears founded and are the allegations even true? Is it logical to believe that the French president would think that Russia could actually steal his DNA? After all, what would the nation even do with it? [Read More]( SCIENCE [Elon Musk's Neuralink is accused of subjecting monkeys to extreme suffering]( [a monkey behind a cage.]( Monkeys are [used for all kinds of experiments]( but in most cases, the research they are subjected to is humane. [This may not be the case]( for Elon Musk's biotech company Neuralink, [according to a recent report by Business Insider.]( The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), an animal-rights group, filed a draft regulatory complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday in which it claimed it had proof that the monkeys at Neuralink experienced "extreme suffering. " Out of a total of 23 monkeys being experimented on by both organizations, only seven were still alive in 2020. - Testing on humans? In April of 2021, [Neuralink released a video of a monkey]( playing pong with its mind using a Neuralink chip. The firm claimed it was moving [closer to testing its devices]( on humans. However, if PCRM's allegations prove to be true, this will definitely delay Neuralink's plans not only because of safety concerns but also because the animal rights group is planning to file a lawsuit against the firm. Could this spell the end of Neuralink? [Read More]( HEALTH [Sweden, Denmark and Norway lift COVID-19 restrictions, the WHO warns it's too soon]( [People wearing protective face masks]( There's no doubt that people have had enough of the coronavirus and [its accompanying restrictions.]( But is it time to scrap these measures? Some nations believe so. It all began with [Denmark lifting all restrictions]( on February 1. Norway followed by lifting many of its COVID-19 measures on the same date while Sweden lifted the majority of its remaining restrictions on February 9. However, [not all are on board]( with these new decisions. - A warning from the WHO. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference on February 1 that most regions of the world were undergoing a “very worrying increase in deaths” due to the introduction of the omicron variant. “More transmission means more deaths,” he explained. “We are not calling for any country to return to a so-called lockdown. But we are calling on all countries to protect their people using every tool in the toolkit – not vaccines alone.” Although it is good for economies and societies for circumstances in nations to go back to normal one has to wonder about the dangers of ignoring advice from experts in the field. If the preeminent health organization in the world says it's too soon to scrap restrictions then it is very likely indeed so. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Governments seem to be lifting the Covid-19 restrictions one by one… So, do you agree with the WHO warning that it is too early to lift restrictions? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Definitely, the pandemic still continues.]( [No, we've had enough. The show must go on.]( [I think restrictions should be phased out, but not lifted completely.]( [I don't think about COVID or the restrictions anymore.]( Yesterday’s Results Following the discussions on the consciousness of artificial intelligence (AI), we asked you about whether it is scary for AI to be conscious. It seems that 30% of the participants find it eery while 28% consider it as an absolutely terrible scenario. Sounds a little eery. 30% Absolutely terrible scenario. They can take our place! 28% I don't know enough about the subject. 24% I think they are already conscious and there is nothing to be afraid of. 17% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ Advances in medicine and agriculture have saved vastly more lives than have been lost in all the wars in history. ” Carl Sagan in The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark AND ANOTHER THING... - Winter Olympics [will be held on 100 percent fake snow]( for the very first time. Here are all the things to know about it. - Unlike many other carmakers, Lamborghini wants to [continue manufacturing gas-powered cars]( into the 2030s. (Engadget) - We can’t make transistors any smaller, is this [the end of Moore’s Law]( - UK's largest insurer Aviva says [VR headset-related damage claims increased]( by 31% in 2021, and TVs are the most damaged item. (Sky News) - A vaccine is all it takes [to prevent cancers caused by viruses]( a virologist says. - Voters in Switzerland are [expected to reject the ban]( on animal testing. (DW News) - With a chemical tweak, [plants can now regenerate faster]( when they get harmed. [Share to Win]SHARE TO WIN [All products]( Share The Blueprint! Give your friends deeper insights into engineering and tech, and win exclusive IE swag for free. [Read Details]( Share your link Copy & share your referral link with others. [ [Referral Program Terms and Conditions]( Prepared by Loukia Papadopoulos and Mert Erdemir Enjoy reading? 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