Latest US Omicron subvariant news: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cdc-says-now-tracking-covid-193926976.html . XBB is a hybrid of two BA.2 subvariants. However, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, subvariants of BA.5, remain the dominant US subvariants.
Zero COVID protests spread in China: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-11-26/xinjiang-loosens-some-restrictions-after-lockdown-protests . Lockdowns have significant risks as well as social and economic costs. More on the deadly apartment fire: https://apnews.com/article/china-fires-6a1b6902e6ccf87e064f1232045a2848 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-protests-spread-over-governments-covid-restrictions-11669516403 .
Whooping cough rates fall in Maine: https://apnews.com/article/health-infectious-diseases-maine-covid-whooping-cough-8fd6fe84bc89cc611d71c376468bcfce . Precautions have reduced high pertussis rates across the state.
WSJ: Russia continues assault on Ukrainian power grid: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-strikes-leave-six-million-in-ukraine-without-power-11669460694 .
Ukraine remembers the Holodomor: https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/special/ukraine/holodomor-memorial-day-honoring-ukrainian-victims-90th-anniversary-stalins-genocide-famine/ . The current Russian assault on Ukrainian civilians recalls Stalin’s Great Famine, in which millions of Ukrainians were literally starved to death. So today’s Remembrance Day recalls this tragedy 90 years ago.
Gavin Newsom tells Biden he will not run for president in 2024: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3751158-newsom-says-he-wont-run-for-president-in-2024-even-if-biden-doesnt-seek-reelection/ . Newsom remains a better choice for vice president than Kamala Harris.
WSJ: We don’t really understand science: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-science-for-determining-climate-change-damage-is-unsettled-11669436469 . Sigh. We know that human activity is rapidly increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which in turn traps more heat. This heat directly links to almost every climate disaster we see: stronger storms, warmer oceans, shifts in the jet stream, and so on. So problems in quantifying attribution hardly mean that we don’t know these occurrences are all linked to global warming.
Irene Cara passes at 63: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/26/1139275959/fame-flashdance-irene-cara-dies . The singer-songwriter was best known for exuberance, as expressed in “Fame” and “Flashdance”. An excellent legacy, I’d say. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/irene-cara-fame-and-flashdance-singer-and-actress-dies-at-63-11669479165 .
Michigan finally gets a win at Ohio State: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35115426/michigan-thumps-ohio-state-2nd-straight-rivalry-win . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/michigan-ohio-state-jj-mccarthy-jim-harbaugh-11669501033 . Michigan dominated the second half. So they left no question of the superior team today.
World Cup 2022: Messi pulls Argentina out of its nightmare: https://sports.yahoo.com/lionel-messi-pulls-argentina-out-of-a-world-cup-nightmare-in-2-0-win-over-mexico-205951101.html . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/argentina-mexico-world-cup-lionel-messi-11669497361 .