Latest COVID symptoms list: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3697247-the-main-covid-symptoms-have-changed-research-shows/ . The changes reflect the emergence of the Omicron subvariants. While BA.5 is currently dominant, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are gaining. Therefore, this list may change again.
Vaccine side effects reflect robust antibody response: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/rsv-flu-respiratory-viruses-surging-children-infants-rcna53367 . On the one hand, this result seems obvious. However, Dr. Schaffner’s comments are almost in the direction of vaccine propaganda. His point is that the vaccine works even when a person has no side effects. Fair enough, but that is not the point of the study.
Contrast this study with an earlier one indicating that a strong immune response to COVID is behind the Paxlovid rebound.
COVID delays January 6 trial of Oath Keepers leader: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-biden-health-donald-trump-government-and-politics-01f0d5fb1a47268a53501787a37bf423 .
The fall “respiratory trifecta” grows: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/rsv-flu-respiratory-viruses-surging-children-infants-rcna53367 . Along with COVID, the flu and RSV, several other viruses are hospitalizing children across the country. More: https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610 .
African measles outbreak among unvaccinated children: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-10-24/covid-disrupted-measles-vaccinations-in-africa-and-now-cases-are-surging .
Economists expect 75 basis point increase at Fed November meeting: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2022-10-24/fed-to-hike-by-75-bps-again-on-nov-2-should-pause-when-inflation-halves-economists-reuters-poll . Me too. The economists also expect the Fed to back off rate hikes when inflation is halved. That may be true. However, my view is that inflation has morphed from a supply chain disruption to structural inflation, and will take some time to come down.
Stock doom and gloom from a major hedge fund manager: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/a-decades-long-bear-market-could-hit-the-us-stock-market-as-the-fed-gets-serious-about-reducing-its-9-trillion-balance-sheet-hedge-fund-manager-boaz-weinstein-says/ar-AA13jY8n?cvid=54f3c78c0b07469fb26703330fe1cf1b . I agree with his comments about the short-term effects. Interest rates must go up, asset values will go down, and there will be a US recession. Also, that recession is unlikely to be shallow.
However, his thesis is that as the Fed unloads its $9 trillion in Treasuries, interest rates will remain high for an extended period and asset returns will be damaged for decades. I disagree. The Fed has placed high priority on reversing inflation. Once that job is accomplished (which, I agree, could take a while), the Fed will not be as fixated in unloading the bonds (known as quantitative tightening) as they have been on inflation.
WSJ: China’s annualized growth rate at end of third quarter is 3.9%: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-economy-grew-3-9-in-the-third-quarter-11666576957 . Skepticism is healthy around this number, delayed during the party congress. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-xi-jinping-secure-in-power-faces-deepening-economic-challenges-11666622999 .
Rishi Sunak appointed British Prime Minister by Conservative lawmakers: https://apnews.com/article/british-politics-rishi-sunak-penny-mordaunt-europe-london-8e621dc1a9415eedc080cdfbd2d41754 . British markets rallied on the idea that Sunak is not Liz Truss, and so some level of stability has returned. However, the UK still suffers from inflation over 10% and the Conservative’s incredibly wrong-headed Brexit. Sunak currently is a considerable underdog to survive the next general election. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-is-rishi-sunak-uk-prime-minister-race-11666603463 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rishi-sunak-extends-lead-in-race-for-next-u-k-prime-minister-11666607256 .
DeMentis’ delusions of grandeur on full display: https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-10-24/florida-gov-desantis-faces-off-against-crist-in-only-debate . As has been obvious for so long, Ron fancies himself the successor of Orange Julius.
Russian TV presenter suspended for calling for mass murder against Ukrainian children: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-720433 . “Sorry” for advocating genocide? Even Fox News wouldn’t put this guy on the air … I hope …
Russia to bring “dirty bomb” warning to UN: https://thehill.com/policy/international/3702477-russia-will-bring-dubious-dirty-bomb-warning-to-un-security-council-report/ . This is laughable, except we’re talking about a dirty bomb here. Russia, of course, has engaged in shelling around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
WSJ: We think Russia is moving to defend Kherson: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-moves-to-defend-kherson-against-ukraines-advance-before-winter-11666601033 . Not so much. A territorial defense force is made up of Ukrainians in the area asked to fight against Ukrainian forces. That does not seem like a motivated military unit.
Ukraine claims it has shot down 2/3 of Russia’s kamikaze drones: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/ukraine-cites-success-downing-drones-195327687.html . Meanwhile, British intelligence concludes the Ukrainian drone kill rate has increased from 50% to 85% of the drones, which is consistent with an overall rate of 2/3. This 85% current rate was also reported by the Ukrainians a week ago: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-10-17/ukraine-shot-down-85-86-of-russian-drones-involved-in-latest-attacks-air-force .
WSJ: Russia exporting LNG to Europe: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-hidden-corner-of-the-energy-market-where-russian-exports-to-europe-are-booming-11666604773 . So some significant amount of energy is bypassing the sanctions.
WSJ: We miss the key fact in our own article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/winters-onset-will-change-russias-war-in-ukraine-11666608971 . As one would expect, winter conditions will be milder in southern Ukraine rather than the east. Expect fighting to switch to the south, because equipment movement will be easier.
Bob Woodward finally figures out what everyone already knows: Orange Julius is an “unparalleled danger” to American democracy: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bob-woddward-audiobook-trump-dangerous-democracy-threat_n_6356023fe4b0e376dc18f6ee . Well, I suppose 7 years late is better than never, but not by much.