New coronavirus mutation in Vietnam: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2021-05-29/vietnam-detects-hybrid-of-indian-and-uk-covid-19-variants . This information appears preliminary. The new variant is apparently a version of B.1.617.2, one of the Indian variants. It contains a new mutation similar to one found in the UK variant. However, this could be a combination of those variants, or convergent evolution of B.1.617.2. More: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/05/29/1001590855/vietnam-detects-new-highly-transmissible-coronavirus-variant . Still more: https://apnews.com/article/vietnam-india-coronavirus-pandemic-health-c4c0a7c9f2e3b03c9cea2bf6fdcad70d . And: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/29/vietnam-detects-new-hybrid-of-two-covid-variants . More: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/556076-vietnam-identifies-new-highly-transmissible-variant-of-coronavirus .
Olympians’ COVID waiver: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/news/olympics-covid-waiver-tokyo-athletes-202234569.html . This is the lawyerly thing to do. However, it seems offensive given that organizers make huge sums off many amateur athletes.
WSJ: COVID personal financial woes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cost-of-covid-19-treatment-has-left-families-destitute-around-the-world-11622280600 . Note that tone-deaf WSJ assigns this problem to less-developed nations. This is a cogent argument for federally enforced Medicaid expansion.
Congressional Democrats consider Medicaid expansion: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/29/medicaid-expansion-red-states-491353 . This should get done, in my view. So the existing resistance in red states has nothing to do with appropriate policy. But it has everything to do with the politics of hate currently dominating the Republican Party. There are 12 remaining “refusenik” states. In addition to Wisconsin, Missouri and Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Tennessee have been ongoing battlegrounds.
UK sees surge from Indian variant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-rise-in-u-k-as-variant-from-india-takes-hold-11622289600 . Essentially, we are going to learn the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the Indian variant by a nationwide real-time experiment in the UK. At least full reopening does not occur until June 21, so the possibility of course correction remains for now.
Brazil sees nationwide protests over COVID response: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazilians-stage-nationwide-protests-against-president-bolsonaros-covid-response-2021-05-29/ (link replaced 11/6/21).
Republican trust in OJ medical advice “plunges” from 66% to 57%: https://www.mediaite.com/news/republican-trust-in-donald-trumps-medical-advice-plunges-9-points-since-april-but-its-still-really-high/ . Uh-huh. So where do they stand on injecting bleach? 57% remain delusional.
Alternative appears for January 6 study: Presidential commission: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/calls-mount-for-biden-to-form-presidential-1-6-commission-after-gops-cowardly-filibuster/ar-AAKw0Xb?li=BBnb7Kz . This could appear to be meddling in Congressional affairs, but it is a major ongoing security threat.
There could be 9 competitive Senate races in 2022: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/9-senate-seats-most-likely-to-flip-in-2022/ar-AAKwh07?li=BBnb7Kz .
WSJ: Canada’s abuse of First Nations people: https://www.wsj.com/articles/canadian-indigenous-community-discovers-remains-of-boarding-school-students-11622314138 . Specifically, the Catholic church operated the Kamloops school. It reminded me of similar mass deaths in Ireland: https://www.euronews.com/2021/01/12/report-expected-to-detail-how-9-000-children-died-in-18-care-institutions-across-ireland . And of course there has been centuries of protection of pedophile priests.
Several celebrity deaths reported today: BJ Thomas: https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/29/entertainment/singer-bj-thomas-death/index.html . Gavin MacLeod: https://www.npr.org/2021/05/29/1001606416/gavin-macleod-love-boat-captain-dies-at-90 . Mark Eaton: https://sports.yahoo.com/jazz-great-mark-eaton-dies-at-64-163926871.html .