China eases its harsher coronavirus policies amid mounting public pressure. / Quartz Social media suggests a growing number of Chinese people know someone who has Covid, a month prior to millions celebrating the lunar new year. / The Economist See also: "Based on what we have seen in Hong Kong, this
In the week ending November 26, more than 34,000 positive flu tests were reported in the US, the most in a single week during any flu season on record. / Vox Avian influenza has led to the deaths of over 52 million birds in the United States this year. / Smithsonian
More drone strikes attack Russia. Ukraine doesn't claim responsibility, but a presidential advisor taunts the Kremlin on Twitter. / USA Today, Twitter An explainer why sanctions against Russia will cause long-term damage, but presently aren't working. / NPR For today's Senate runoff in Georgia, five
A senior official in Iran suggests the morality police have been disbanded, but local media say his remarks have been "misinterpreted." / BBC News Supposedly, a decision will be made in December on whether to abolish the mandatory hijab altogether. / The Economist France bans short haul domestic flights in
Russia says it "will not accept" the G7's $60-a-barrel price cap on its oil exports. / Reuters Internal documents show the US Army planned to sponsor Call of Duty streamers to attract Gen Z recruits. / Motherboard "It is easy to see Metallica as an
China plans to announce an easing of its Covid quarantine protocols and a reduction in mass testing. / Reuters Helen Branswell: Hong Kong's zero Covid policy, in the face of Omicron, led to half the population getting infected within two months. / STAT Unrelated: A Buddhist temple in Thailand goes
France becomes the first major western power to support trying Russian officials over the war in Ukraine. / The Guardian Millions of people in Ukraine are said to be without power as winter nears. / BBC News Christopher Blatterman: Peace gets tricky when both sides of a war find the idea of
The United States Senate passes legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriage. Meanwhile, a court in Japan upholds a ban. / CNN, Reuters The White House asks Congress to avert a rail strike, which could cost the American economy as much as $2 billion per day. / Voice of America Jay
China announces a new social credit law, attempting to codify past experiments. / MIT Technology Review To understand China's zero-covid policy, it's helpful to think of it "as a steampunk pandemic response." / The Economist Unrelated: Cities where "vision zero," regarding traffic deaths,
In China, protests over Covid lockdown restrictions intensify across multiple cities and universities. / BuzzFeed News Related: With its anti-propaganda team now decimated, Twitter is being overwhelmed by spam in attempts to drown out coverage of the protests. / The Washington Post Iran wants the US suspended from the World Cup
