Omicron BA.4.6 subvariant gains momentum in US: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2022-10-07/omicron-ba-4-6-subvariant-makes-up-nearly-14-of-covid-variants-in-u-s-cdc . In the vaccine-virus arms race, the virus has put forward a new contender with significant ability to evade some current treatments.
Omicron BF.7 also becomes more prevalent: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-10-07/cdc-omicron-subvariants-ba-4-6-bf-7-increasing-while-ba-5-declines . So along with the surge in Europe, a fall surge in the US now appears likely.
White House promotes slow COVID booster campaign: https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2022-10-07/white-house-says-covid-booster-campaign-going-well-should-pick-up . The slowness on our side of the arms race is another reason we face a significant fall surge.
Will China revise its Zero COVID policy failure?: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-10-06/analysis-as-china-party-congress-looms-signals-sought-on-easing-covid-policy .
WSJ: Cancer-detecting blood tests gain favor: https://www.wsj.com/articles/blood-tests-behind-illuminas-7-1-billion-antitrust-battle-gain-ground-11665143042 .
WSJ: Arizona state appeals court blocks 1864 territorial abortion law: https://www.wsj.com/articles/arizona-appeals-court-blocks-territorial-era-abortion-law-11665194904 . The law is inconsistent with more recently passed laws.
WSJ: Sterilization containers recalled: https://www.wsj.com/articles/medical-device-maker-recalls-sterilization-containers-over-potential-breaches-11665165457 .
US jobs market remains strong: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/08/1127636584/appeals-court-ruling-allows-arizona-abortions-restart . WSJ: More: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/07/jobs-report-september-2022.html . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-jobs-market-is-still-too-hot-11665153541 . In response, the stock market has given up all the gains of Monday and Tuesday, and then some. Some people now understand that the Fed will be raising rates for the rest of this year and into 2023. More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fed-on-track-for-another-large-rate-rise-after-jobs-report-11665150383 . Others, however, search for other data points to keep living in their fantasy world: https://www.wsj.com/articles/september-jobs-report-shows-slower-wage-gains-11665170908 .
WSJ: Why HIMARS is winning the war for Ukraine: https://www.wsj.com/articles/himars-transform-battle-for-ukraine-modern-warfare-11665169716 . The HIMARS’ huge advantages in precision and speed are shredding Russian positions with limited susceptibility to return fire.
Uvalde suspends entire school district police force: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uvalde-school-district-suspends-entire-police-department-school-shooti-rcna51258 . This town appears to be in complete crisis. The school shooting demonstrated a complete lack of leadership from the senior people present. So why are the rank-and-file cops being suspended? Perhaps we will hear more about the results of the various investigations , which could conceivably explain this action. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/uvalde-texas-school-police-department-suspended-11665166752 .
Oath Keepers considered bringing guns to January 6 rally: https://news.yahoo.com/oath-keepers-members-discussed-bringing-firearms-to-dc-ahead-of-jan-6-riot-trial-messages-show-001326094.html . “If we’d had guns, I guarantee we would have killed a hundred politicians.” This reminded me of Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony before the January 6 committee that Orange Julius wanted the Secret Service to allow armed individuals into his rally because they wouldn’t hurt him (see this newsletter and specifically this link in that newsletter: https://news.yahoo.com/cassidy-hutchinson-january-6-trump-weapons-rally-mags-183111081.html%20 ). You have to wonder what Orange Julius knew and when he knew it.
Oath Keepers leader promoted violence in advance of January 6 rally: https://news.yahoo.com/oath-keepers-leaders-rhetoric-became-aggressive-threatening-in-lead-up-to-jan-6-prosecutors-say-201754886.html . The prosecutors are proving a strong case for this difficult-to-prove crime.
Nobel Peace Prize to anti-Russian activists: https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-science-oslo-nobel-prizes-maria-ressa-ba114b1802b85dfdddc5274efd060b2c . So this award reflects the Nobel Committee’s regular practice of calling attention to antiwar activists. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-belarusian-human-rights-activist-ales-bialiatski-with-russian-ukrainian-groups-11665133704 .
US curbs chip exports to restrain China’s military: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-restricts-semiconductor-exports-in-bid-to-slow-chinas-military-advance-11665155702 . Again, however, the vulnerability of Taiwan Semiconductor remains a huge risk to the US. We should be doing everything to get their US plant built.
Easter Island wildfire damages the famous Moai heads: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-10-07/chiles-easter-island-moai-statues-face-irreparable-damage-after-wildfire . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-of-easter-islands-famous-moai-statues-damaged-in-fire-11665173637 .