Twenty-three experts tell Helen Branswell what surprised them the most about the pandemic. / STAT China is now proclaimed "the center of Covid." A professor at Yale Law School offers China-related predictions for 2023. / The Guardian, Twitter Temperatures for January reach an all-time high in a
China lashes out at a dozen nations placing "discriminatory" restrictions on its travelers. Meanwhile, the year's biggest economic event gets going. / Forbes, The Economist California prepares for a third atmospheric river. The rest of the country prepares for severe weather as a result of the second
In a visit to DC, Zelenskyy requests more US support through aid and weapons. / Politico See also: Possible explanations for how Zelenskyy even traveled to the US. / BBC News US life expectancy falls for a second straight year—to its shortest since 1996—due to Covid deaths and drug overdoses.
The House Ways and Means Committee votes to release former President Trump's tax returns in the next couple days. / NPR Details on the government funding package expected to pass this week. / Wake Up to Politics Wells Fargo will pay a record $3.7 billion to settle claims of
Russia's war in Ukraine and Iran's protests limited their respective abilities to interfere in America's midterm elections, according to a US military official. / Associated Press The big takeaway from the final Jan. committee hearing: Though Trump and others will be referred to the DoJ
A Chinese health official says his country faces three waves of Covid infections this winter. / BBC News Helen Branswell: Early flu season in the US may be peaking early. / STAT Research shows doctors and their families are less likely to follow guidelines about medicine. / MIT News Which countries performed best
The US pledges $55 billion to the African continent over the next three years, playing catch-up to China’s investments. / Reuters, South China Morning Post Elections across Africa are becoming increasingly competitive. / The Economist Ukrainian commanders say Russia may be planning a new attack on Kyiv early next year.
The Senate passes $858 billion defense legislation that includes funding for Ukraine and Taiwan and rescinds the military's vaccine mandate. / CNN EU leaders agree on more sanctions for Russia and €18 billion in financing for Ukraine. / Reuters The Senate has also approved a short-term funding bill to
The Federal Reserve raises its benchmark interest rate to the highest level in 15 years, indicating no reductions until 2024. / CNBC Eight social media influencers are charged in a $100 million stock manipulation scheme. / Business Insider A study from the CDC says US deaths tied to long Covid exceeds 3,
Biden signs legislation requiring same-sex and interracial marriages to be recognized across state lines. / NPR Because it also provides concessions to nonprofit religious groups, the Respect for Marriage Act opens the door for further discrimination against same-sex couples. / The New Yorker From 2014: After moving to a state
