Vaccine passports in international travel: https://apnews.com/article/europe-coronavirus-pandemic-health-lifestyle-travel-0e0697983a2a93dcde7aa1bbcc325c68 .
WSJ: Drug companies lobby countries against vaccine patent waivers: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-makers-press-countries-to-oppose-patent-waiver-11622021402 . The waivers are a two-edged sword. However, the pandemic certainly looks like a Black Swan event.
Fauci believes booster shots will be needed: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-05-26/fauci-coronavirus-vaccine-booster-shots-likely-necessary . We have inadequate information about the variants. However, most data indicates the vaccines are less effective against the variants than the original strain. That argues strongly for a multivalent booster shot covering all the variants. Here is confirming real-time evidence: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-05-26/australias-victoria-state-likely-to-enter-covid-19-lockdown-media-reports . More: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/27/millions-in-australia-plunged-into-snap-covid-19-lockdown .
WSJ: FDA authorizes third antibody drug: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-treatment-from-vir-glaxosmithkline-is-approved-11622066958 .
Latest info on variant dangers: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-dangerous-are-new-fast-spreading-coronavirus-variants/ .
The India variant is spreading globally: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/26/covid-strain-first-detected-in-india-found-in-53-territories-who .
WSJ: COVAX falters as vaccine distribution remains unequal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-a-grand-plan-to-vaccinate-the-world-against-covid-unraveled-covax-11622045728 .
WSJ: WHO considers approval of second Chinese vaccine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-seeks-more-data-on-second-chinese-covid-19-vaccine-up-for-approval-11622019526 .
Biden calls for intelligence report on COVID origins: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-ap-top-news-politics-pandemics-f98d73476a1a4942ca5528fa5dfff70f . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-calls-for-intelligence-report-on-origins-of-covid-19-11622049664 . And Facebook alters policy on COVID origin posts: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-ends-ban-on-posts-asserting-covid-19-was-man-made-11622094890 . This demonstrates the very difficult task of moderating content on a service allowing posting.
Support for “Havana syndrome” sufferers inadequate: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/diplomats-send-letter-state-dept-leaders-saying-havana-syndrome-sufferers-n1268580 . there is a bipartisan bill in the Senate to address the issue: https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-warner-rubio-shaheen-introduce-bill-support-victims-%E2%80%98havana-syndrome%E2%80%99 .
WSJ: Google patient data deal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-strikes-deal-with-hospital-chain-to-develop-healthcare-algorithms-11622030401 .
Expert warns Tokyo Olympics looks like superspreader event: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-yale-doctor-warns-that-upcoming-tokyo-olympics-looks-like-a-superspreader-event-155114865.html .
WSJ: Japan’s ongoing COVID emergency: https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-looks-to-extend-covid-19-state-of-emergency-11622029625 .
WSJ: India pandemic creates global IT support exposure: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-companies-retool-as-covid-19-surge-hits-indias-tech-talent-11622026800 .
Taiwan COVID cases surge: https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/17/asia/taiwan-covid-outbreak-intl-hnk/index.html .
WSJ: The Journal praises the Dow Jones Industrial Average: https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-praise-of-the-dow-on-its-birthday-11622026801 . The logic in this article seems shaky. Yes, the Dow has certain aspects which make it a poor measure of market performance. But the article then argues that this is a good thing. Goodhart’s Law says that a good measure becomes a target, which makes it cease to be a good measure. Thus, being a poor measure can save something from being a poor measure. Huh? More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/dow-jones-industrial-average-celebrates-125-years-as-wall-streets-bellwether-11622001661 .
WSJ: EU considers more antitrust enforcement against Facebook: https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-eyes-formal-antitrust-investigation-into-facebook-11622040255 .
Amazon acquires MGM studio for $8.45 billion: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-mgm-deal-antitrust-concerns-115921763.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-deal-for-mgm-marks-long-awaited-win-for-some-hedge-funds-11622042905 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-to-buy-hollywood-studio-mgm-for-8-45-billion-with-debt-11622033315 . While this is $550 million lower than the price rumored yesterday, it is still an almost 54% premium over the recent estimate of MGM’s value at $5.5 billion.
WSJ: Will Shell be forced to reduce carbon emissions?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shell-ordered-by-dutch-court-to-cut-carbon-emissions-11622038961 . Climate change at Exxon: https://www.wsj.com/articles/activist-wins-exxon-board-seats-after-questioning-oil-giants-climate-strategy-11622050087 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-giants-are-dealt-devastating-blows-on-climate-change-as-pressures-intensify-11622065455 .
WSJ: Ford moving aggressively toward electric vehicles: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ford-expects-40-of-global-vehicle-volume-to-be-fully-electric-by-2030-11622033457 . Will the pick-up trucks have an electronic “vroom-vroom” noisemaker?
Amy Cooper sues Franklin Templeton over termination: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/woman-falsely-accused-black-bird-140335391.html . Presumably she is an at-will employee, in which case there is no case here. Frankly, she is an unsympathetic plaintiff and this just makes her look more “entitled”. Counseling would have been a better choice than litigation.
WSJ: Super moon lunar eclipse photos: https://www.wsj.com/articles/lunar-eclipse-photos-see-the-super-flower-blood-moon-up-close-11622024186 .
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” author passes: https://apnews.com/article/eric-carle-dead-ecea17d72ddee561be73e1593cbbd05d . Hadn’t really thought about this before, but of books I’ve read the most times, this and other children’s books dominate the list. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/eric-carle-beloved-childrens-book-author-dies-at-91-11622072148 .