Latest US subvariant data: https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2022-12-09/cdc-new-omicron-subvariants-xbb-bq-1-1-bq-1-increasing-in-the-u-s . The newest subvariants have significant ability to evade prior vaccination and natural immunity.
China’s COVID tsunami begins: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/beijing-braces-for-covid-surge-after-china-lifts-pandemic-curbs/ar-AA155jLw?cvid=f8226cdfa8dd4cc4aa82226546e48aa3 . As one person in this article complains, official case figures seem way understated. However, excess deaths will be more difficult to hide. Remember, projections are that China will have over 1.5 million deaths if Zero COVID is rapidly dialed back, given current low levels of vaccination. UPDATE: Confirmation of serious underreporting from AP: https://apnews.com/article/health-business-china-beijing-xi-jinping-e90e13c6224c8c6268418af03549c933 .
Meanwhile, the Chinese population fears the coming surge: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-12-09/quiet-streets-cautious-firms-signal-chinas-slow-exit-from-zero-covid . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-covid-19-reversal-sparks-rush-for-medicines-jabs-11670591676 . Stockpiling in such a large country will create shortages for the ill as the surge develops.
WSJ: China’s use of herbal remedies: https://www.wsj.com/articles/approaching-covid-wave-tests-chinas-embrace-of-herbal-remedies-11670596294 . Only 20% of those over 80 are vaccinated. Part of that reflects distrust of modern medicine. As such, COVID mortality among the elderly could be particularly severe.
WSJ: South Korea lowers the age of its population: https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korea-passes-new-law-making-everyone-a-little-younger-11670572863 . For certain uses, South Korea has followed a traditional aging scheme where children are considered to be 1 year old when born and then gain a year each successive New Year’s Day. So a child born on December 31 is age 2 on the following day. Eliminating this system reduces everyone’s age by 1 or 2 years.
Google cofounder has donated over $1 billion to Parkinson’s research: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2022/12/09/exclusive-google-cofounder-sergey-brin-has-quietly-donated-more-than-1-billion-toward-this-one-specific-disease/?sh=2767c6964d59 .
WSJ: UK faces major strikes over holidays: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-braces-for-biggest-strikes-in-years-over-the-holiday-period-11670540377 . Obviously, this creates both recessionary (sales) and inflationary (wages) pressures.
WSJ: UK loosens banking regulation: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-loosens-banking-regulation-in-bid-to-spur-financial-sector-after-brexit-11670604640 . This smacks of desperation. Loss of financial clout was a foreseeable outcome of Brexit, the second-stupidest move any major government has made in this century (the stupidest, of course, was OJ’s treatment of COVID as a hoax, which killed a million Americans).
Citibank predicts 2023 recession: https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/brace-recession-2023-job-losses-top-two-million-citi-says .
Kyrsten Sinema registers as an independent: https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/09/politics/kyrsten-sinema-leaves-democratic-party/index.html . As she expects to retain her committee assignments, she will retain some as yet undefined attachment to the Democrats. Still, one wonders how many millions the Democrats spent to elect her, and where those funds will come from in the future. Just FYI, Sinema is not particularly popular with any political group in Arizona: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/1/20/2075836/-Sen-Kyrsten-Sinema-s-favorables-among-Democrats-were-abysmal-even-before-she-tanked-voting-rights . Sinema is up for re-election in 2024. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sen-kyrsten-sinema-leaves-democratic-party-11670587227 .
WSJ: The GOP’s turnout problem: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mail-in-voting-fight-pits-donald-trump-against-ron-desantis-other-gop-leaders-11670591761 . This “fight” highlights the disease gripping the GOP. Putting artificial restrictions on your voters inevitably depresses turnout. Duh.
Climate change raises US vegetable prices: https://news.yahoo.com/climate-change-vegetable-prices-have-soared-in-the-us-195525306.html . This will not get better any time soon. The reduced water levels in the Colorado threaten all of Southern California’s agriculture.
WSJ: Orion returns to Earth: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nasa-prepares-for-orion-spacecraft-splashdown-to-conclude-artemis-i-mission-11670601516 .
World Cup 2022: A shocking classic as Croatia eliminates Brazil: https://www.npr.org/2022/12/09/1141848122/croatia-brazil-fifa-world-cup-quarterfinal-qatar . A scoreless grind for regulation, Neymar scored a spectacular goal for Brazil near the end of the first 15 minutes of extra time. But near the end of the second and final 15 minutes, Croatia evened the score. Croatia scored its first penalty kick, while the Croatian goalkeeper made a great save of Brazil’s first. Croatia scored on its next 3 penalty kicks, and when the fourth Brazilian penalty kick bounced off the left post, Croatia won, 4-2. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazil-croatia-world-cup-2022-neymar-penalty-kicks-11670607307 .
Argentina survives against the Netherlands: https://www.npr.org/2022/12/09/1141924263/argentina-netherlands-fifa-world-cup-quarterfinal . While Argentina was up 2-0 after 73 minutes, the Netherlands scored two late goals to even the match. Extra time was scoreless, but Argentina then prevailed 4-3 in penalty kicks. Argentina and Croatia meet Tuesday. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/argentina-netherlands-world-cup-penalty-shootout-messi-11670623047 .
Saturday: Morocco vs. Portugal and England v. France: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/england-france-southgate-kane-mbappe-11670601896 . Note that England has a horrible record in penalty kick shootouts. That is a deadly psychological burden in the World Cup.