Good Morning,
Debt Ceiling
Top Senate Democrats and Republicans said on Thursday that they had struck a deal to allow the debt ceiling to be raised through early December which temporarily delays a first-ever default on the national debt. The Republicans and Democracts agreed to finally have a vote as early as Thursday on a short-term extension, with potentially as few as 11 days left before a possible default.
This will boost the legal debt cap by $480 billion, which will would be enough to allow the government to continue borrowing through at least Dec. 3. But clearly President Biden’s grand spending plans on social programs and green energy will have to be scaled back.
Submarines Collide?
The U.S. has not clearly said what happened in the South China Sea, but confirms the USS Connecticut hit “an unknown object” on Saturday, and a dozen sailors were injured. Nuclear powered fast attack submarines don’t just bump into things, and was this a collision with another (Chinese?) submarine?
The submarines nuclear power plant was not effected by the collision say officials.
On Back Story we interviewed a British submarine Commander on the deal which will see Australia receive nuclear powered submarines to counter China’s presence in the Indo Pacific and asked “what are we doing chasing the Chinese around in nuclear submarines”?
Have a listen.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/9292698
Flu and Covid
Concerns are being raised by British health officials about the first winter of flu and Covid circulating at the same time. People are being urged to get flu shots, as research shows those infected with both viruses are more than twice as likely to die as someone with Covid alone.
The UK is rolling out vaccines to 12-15yr olds, in fact my sons school will administer the vaccines next week, with parents permission of course. And in the U.S. Pfizer has asked for regulatory clearance to offer vaccines to 5 to 11 yr olds.
Facebook/Instagram - Hate and Profit
This week a former facebook employee gave compelling testimony to a Senate Committee charging Facebooks "advertising-based business model needs to keep people on its platforms for as long as possible, and the company exploits negative emotions to achieve that".
On this Back Story podcast will the revelations achieve change at Facebook and Instagram or are the hurdles too great to police hatred on these enormous social platforms?
Host Dana Lewis interviews Professor Siva Vaidhyanathan the head of Deliberative Media Lab, Media Studies Department, University of Virginia.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/9328712
NATO kicks out Russian Delegation
The head of NATO announced 8 members of Russia’s delegation to NATO (Russia is not a member of NATO but has observer status) have been kicked out for alleged spying activities.
The expulsion was not linked to a specific incident said NATO, but it did not give any more details.
Have a good weekend everyone and happy Thanksgiving to Canadians who normally celebrate the holiday on Saturday or Sunday, ahead of Thanksgiving Monday Oct. 11.
Dana
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58836218
https://www.newsweek.com/american-sailors-injured-after-uss-connecticut-strikes-unknown-object-south-china-sea-1636780#:~:text=U.S.%20Navy%20sailors%20were%20injured%20after%20an%20attack,about%2011%20sailors%20experienced%20minor%20or%20moderate%20injuries.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/10/07/nato-says-had-to-react-to-russian-malign-activities-a75233