Good morning,
Astra Zeneca
17 European Countries have now suspended the Astra Zeneca vaccine after there were some blood clots which the European Medicines Agency say’s were not directly linked to the vaccine. It is political? Is it health? It's a ‘precautionary principle’ but the harm it is causing to vaccine confidence, and to suppressing the spread of covid 19 is huge. The suspension of the vaccine appears to be temporary, and is likely to be lifted soon say experts, and the British press notes 17 million people have now received the vaccine with no notable side effects, and blames France for taking a political decision that will not benefit its citizens who have shown reluctance to get vaccines.
I had the Astra Zeneca vaccine 6 days ago, and after 48 hours of mild flu symptoms feel completely back to normal. My 2nd dose will be in May.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/shameless-macron-suspended-astrazeneca-vaccine-just-because-merkel-did-minister-admits/ar-BB1eDFYY
Worth noting vaccine skeptics, is that Covid19 long haulers, the people who have had long term effects from catching the virus report the vaccines are helping them over come those nasty symptoms. No one is quite sure why yet but the benefits are clear they say.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/long-haul-covid-vaccine/2021/03/16/6effcb28-859e-11eb-82bc-e58213caa38e_story.html
Atlanta Shootings
8 people were killed over night by a gunman in Atlanta, targeting 3 massage parlours with most of the victims being Asian. No motive for Tuesday's shootings has yet been established. A 21 yr old man was later captured outside of Atlanta and on the run.
Hate crimes against Asian-Americans have spiked in recent months, fuelled by rhetoric that blames Asian people for the spread of Covid-19. In an address last week, President Joe Biden condemned "vicious hate crimes against Asian-Americans who have been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated."
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/16/us/atlanta-shootings-massage-parlor.html
Uber
The gig economy just had a major development with Ubers reaction to a high court ruling in Britain which says Uber drivers have a right to minimum wage, pensions, and holiday pay. Wow! Uber now says it will pay those benefits with massive implications for other economies and other firms seeking to engage workers as tenuously as possible using electronics to summon and dismiss workers by the minute as does the freelance taxi summoning Uber. The firm says all drivers would earn at least the National Living Wage, which is £8.72 an hour and rises to £8.91 next month, and it has parallels to a similar ruling in California.
Mick Rix, national officer of the GMB union, said: “Other gig economy companies should take note – this is the end of the road for bogus self-employment. Uber had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the right thing, but finally they’ve agreed to follow the ruling of the courts and treat their drivers as workers.” The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said Uber and other private hire companies now needed to recognise trade unions.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-britain/uber-to-give-uk-drivers-workers-rights-after-court-defeat-idUSKBN2B82Y7
Russia - U.S. Election
Russia didn’t change the election result in the America in 2020, but it sure tried is the conclusion of a 15-page report, released on Tuesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, outlined what it said were "influence operations" pushed by Russia as well as Iran.
It said Russian-linked individuals had spread unsubstantiated claims about President Biden ahead of the 3 November election. It also said a disinformation campaign sought to undermine confidence in the broader election process.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56423536
Canada Military Sex Scandal
This story appears to be only in its opening chapter, and will have serious implications for the Canadian military leadership as a Lt. Col. has accused commanders of wide spread sexual misconduct and cover up.
Lt.-Col. Eleanor Taylor recently sent a request to her commanding officer to release her from the military as soon as possible. “I am sickened by ongoing investigations of sexual misconduct among our key leaders,”
Taylor, is a veteran of Afghanistan and Deputy Commander of 36 Canadian Brigade Group, who wrote in her letter. “Unfortunately, I am not surprised. I am also certain that the scope of the problem has yet to be exposed.”
https://nationalpost.com/news/national/defence-watch/senior-female-canadian-forces-officer-quits-military-in-disgust-over-sexual-misconduct-allegations/wcm/132f80ff-3f81-4c30-a5b8-3b1ed60e4a68
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Have a great Wednesday everyone.
Dana