Diabetes drug reduces long COVID risk: https://gizmodo.com/metformin-long-covid-trial-1849931810 . This important news will hopefully bear fruit in the struggle against long COVID.
China’s COVID tsunami worries world: https://apnews.com/article/health-china-disease-outbreaks-covid-19-pandemic-guangzhou-01318eb4fc58a0515d8e8bd1577e385d . As we have noted repeatedly, the mortality figures China is reporting do not make sense given that cases are in the hundreds of millions.
Chinese travelers need COVID test to enter: https://apnews.com/article/health-china-covid-19-pandemic-ab51ca49e69633ae7028db36d06c54f3 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-require-travelers-from-china-to-test-negative-for-covid-19-11672257619 . Following a number of other countries, the US will require Chinese travelers to have a negative COVID test result before entering the US. However, this report from Italian officials should scare the bejesus out of everyone: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3790837-nearly-half-of-passengers-from-china-to-milan-have-covid-italian-officials/ .
Retired pope’s health “worsening”: https://apnews.com/article/pope-benedict-xvi-health-worsening-updates-bd9657fbbf1ae76385a29a5c9395c58c . As Benedict is 95, and retired 10 years ago purportedly over health concerns, time seems to be running out. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pope-francis-says-retired-pope-benedict-xvi-is-very-sick-11672225120 .
Investigations open around Rep-elect George Santos: https://apnews.com/article/Republican-George-Santos-Investigation-New-York-d783ca654dc08aba892f694ef2584af7 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-george-santos-faces-probe-over-fabrications-and-inconsistencies-during-campaign-11672269886 . Follow the money. He solicited campaign funds under false pretenses. But the mystery of the $700,000 loan to his campaign described here yesterday seems central to this. What if he was angling to repay himself a loan that never existed?
FTX bankruptcy: Sam Bankman-Fried may have plea deal: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ftx-founder-sam-bankman-fried-to-enter-plea-deal-in-fraud-case/ar-AA15KAaC?cvid=c712c30d5fb9494c85d949d75de297d7 . Given that his partners have already taken plea deals, SBF would be wise to a deal if offered.
WSJ: Southwest Airlines continues its self-destruction: https://www.wsj.com/articles/southwest-airlines-lost-luggage-bags-cancellations-11672168712 . The airline seems likely to owe hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to displaced travelers. Southwest is perhaps to only major airline not to operate on a hub and spoke basis, and it is killing their staff and plane availability currently. WSJ: Outdated systems are another problem: https://www.wsj.com/articles/southwest-airlines-melting-down-flights-cancelled-11672257523 .
Avatar 2 passes $1 billion in global box office in just 2 weeks: https://people.com/movies/avatar-the-way-of-water-passes-one-billion-at-box-office/ . So this means the film is halfway to its break-even amount of $2 billion. Avatar 2 cost $400 million to make. However, its new animation techniques are said to be spellbinding.