"Bizarro World": Researcher Calls Out Censorship After Journal Pulls COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events Analysis

A paper she co-authored based on her analysis was withdrawn by the academic journal Elsevier under circumstances that raised eyebrows among her colleagues. The journal declined to comment on the matter.

Rose received her PhD in computational biology from the Bar-Ilan University in Israel. After finishing her post-doctoral studies on molecular dynamics of certain proteins, she was looking for a new challenge. Switching to a new statistical computing software, she was looking for an interesting data set to sharpen her skills on. She picked the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a database of reports of health problems that have occurred after a vaccination and may or may not have been caused by it.

https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/bizarro-world-researcher-calls-out-censorship-after-journal-pulls-covid-19-vaccine-adverse

Texas Joins West Virginia In Boycotting BlackRock Over 'Decarbonization' Push

Typically, letters to investors don't elicit this kind of backlash. But given BlackRock's outsize influence on the US (and the global) economy, perhaps it's not surprising that a handful of US states with thriving energy industries are expressing their frustration with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and his latest essay about the importance of "stakeholder capitalism".

As we reported yesterday, West Virginia's state treasurer has announced that the state would end use of BlackRock funds for all state investments in retaliation for the firm's antagonistic stance toward the oil and gas industry.

Now, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has joined the fray, issuing a letter of his own late Wednesday urging his own state's comptroller, Glenn Hegar, to place BlackRock on a list of companies that have cut ties with the Texas oil and gas industry.

"If Wall Street turns their back on Texas and our thriving oil and gas industry, then Texas will not do business with Wall Street," Patrick wrote.

Unlike his previous letter to investors from 2021, when Fink announced BlackRock's commitment to achieving "net zero" emissions while pressuring energy companies to make climate protection more of a priority, Fink said in his latest letter that companies must balance the interests of many different stakeholders. In a sense, Fink was walking back BlackRock's hostile stance toward fossil fuel companies.

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/texas-joins-west-virginia-boycotting-blackrock-over-decarbonization-push

World rushes aid to tsunami-hit Tonga as drinking water and food run short

More ships and aircraft carrying aid are due to arrive in Tonga in coming days as the international community responds to calls for urgent assistance from the Pacific island nation following the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Key points:

The first ship from New Zealand is due to arrive today carrying fresh water and a desalination plant

Australia, China and others have made cash donations

Communications are being re-established but the nation's main internet connection is likely to remain out for weeks

The first flights from Australia and New Zealand landed in Tonga on Thursday with much-needed supplies of water for sanitation and hygiene as well as shelter, communication equipment and power generators.

The deliveries were dropped off without the military personnel coming into contact with people to ensure there was no coronavirus transmission.

Two Japanese aircraft carrying aid supplies left Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture for Tonga on Thursday and were expected to arrive today.

A New Zealand maritime sustainment vessel, HMNZS Aotearoa, carrying 250,000 litres of water and able to produce 70,000 litres per day through a desalination plant, was expected to arrive in Tonga today.

A second Australian aid flight had to turn back on Thursday due to in-flight issues and was also expected today, the Australian High Commission in Tonga said on Facebook.

More help is on the way with HMAS Adelaide en route from Brisbane and due in Tonga next week, it said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-21/tonga-volcano-tsunami-aid-efforts-drinking-water-food/100772496